Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
The story-within-a-story narration of Mark 5:21-43 returns in verse 35 to the dying daughter of Jairus: “While He yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, ‘Thy daughter is dead: why trouble thou the Master any further?’” Thus, the absolute joy of the healed woman and the abject sorrow of this little girl’s family stand side-by-side in Scripture. I often point out that the Bible is realistic, presenting all areas of life. This account powerfully presents this truth – and it is truth. As a pastor, I have spent parts of Christmas – that most joyous of days – visiting folks in nursing homes and hospitals. Obviously, those dear people dearly wanted to be elsewhere. I remember one Christmas when I worked on a service for a funeral the next day. Once, I spent the late hours of Christmas into the early hours of the following day in the home of a man who was severely depressed due to a mix up in his medicines. I also recall one summer Saturday when I officiated at a wedding in the morning and at a funeral in the early afternoon. (Before anyone comes up with a bad joke, the two were unrelated.) The point is that the Bible accurately mirrors life because it is the accurate Word of God. The command of Romans 12:15 thus directs us to the simultaneity of joy and sorrow in our lives: “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”