Mark 5:23-24
There
is power in human touch. Babies need human touch or they will not survive. They
need to know that someone will care for their needs. They need to feel safe in
order to develop into healthy adults emotionally and physically.
One
of the deficits that soldiers have when they are deployed is touch. They don’t
get the positive, touches that we need. They become physically isolated, even
though they live in very cramped quarters. Even adults need touch.
Sports
have created rituals to reinforce positive touch. Opposing teams often shake
hands after the competition has come to an end. They file past each other and
shake hands. “No hard feelings. Today just happened to be our day. Don’t give
up.” The words might not be there, but the handshake, the thump on the
shoulder, the ‘high five’ and the dance, the whole body lift or pile-on all
signify togetherness, connectedness and security. We are on the same team.
Our
text explores Jairus’ need to have Jesus come and touch his daughter. Jesus’
physical touch was not necessary for healing to happen. He could “just speak
the word” and the daughter would be healed. The touch was not so much for the
daughter as it was for Jairus. Jairus needed the touch. He needed the physical sign
of Jesus’ care.
Jairus
needed Jesus to come to where his daughter was. I guess she was so ill that she
couldn’t be moved. Or perhaps this was an impulsive act by Jairus. Maybe he had
no intention of asking Jesus for help. Jesus was considered dangerous, His
teaching too far from the mainstream to be accepted. But Jairus doesn’t care
that Jesus will be in his house and home. All those things are not that important
in that moment.
Jairus
needs the physical touch that Jesus had demonstrated on other occasions with
other people to be physically present with his daughter. She was so ill she
needed healing, and healing to the extent that if healing does not take place,
she will die.
A
friend of mine recently died of an illness. Within eight days he went from
diagnosis to death. His illness was desperate and acute. Fortunately for my
friend, he had settled the eternity question years ago. He lived in the grace
provided to him by Jesus’ death and resurrection. His body may have ceased to function,
but he is now in eternity, where not tears or sorrow or pain exist. His battle
is over. He is at peace.
Jairus
had no such assurance when he came to Jesus that day. Jesus could have refused
to come. He could have said that there were other priorities, that there were
great numbers of people who needed Him and going to help one young girl would
limit His impact that day. But Jesus often sought out the one in spite of the needs
of the many.
How
do you balance the one and the many? How do you “divide your time” with work,
family, community, and self? How do you know when enough is enough?