Sunday
School Lessons
Commentary by Walter Albritton
April 27
Faith in Christ Can Conquer Fear
Mark 5:21-43
Key Verse: Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not
fear, only believe.”
--Mark
In studying the
scriptures, I always ask for the Spirit’s enlightenment. My prayer is simple,
“Lord, show me a truth I have never seen before.”
The result, with this
passage, is a delightful new idea. The Lord helped me to observe that both
Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood “fell” at the feet of Jesus. Both
of them knelt down before Jesus, seeking his help.
Kneeling has been my
favorite position for praying. I have always been thankful that Methodist
churches provide a place to kneel at the altar of the church. I prefer the
practice of kneeling to receive the Holy Sacrament, though obviously it is the
“position” of the heart that matters most.
Now that my knees are
older and weaker, I realize that it is not always possible for everyone to
kneel at the altar. Sometimes I have to laugh and tell someone, “I can only
kneel if you will help me back up!”
Jairus was a powerful
leader in his community. We might not have expected him to kneel, but he did.
The suffering woman was awed by the power of Jesus, and she was at the end of
her rope. So we are not surprised by her kneeling.
The act of kneeling
before someone is a sign of humility. The one kneeling thus acknowledges a need
for help which the other person has the power to provide, and for which one is
unworthy to receive. Kneeling implies a swallowing of one’s pride.
It calls to mind a
phrase from a song, “Let me at thy throne of mercy, find a sweet relief;
kneeling there in deep contrition, help my unbelief.” The title of that great
old gospel song by Fanny Crosby stimulates a picture of a humble sinner
kneeling before the Lord: “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior.”
Review the gospel
stories and you discover that repeatedly, the people who came to Jesus for help
“fell at his feet.” They knelt before him, asking for mercy and healing.
As I look back over my
life, I realize there were many significant times of brokenness when I went to
my knees, asking for help from the Lord.
Both Jairus and the
woman with the issue of blood knelt before Jesus because each was powerless to
meet a desperate need. Both had
faith that Jesus could meet their
needs.
God not only requires faith
in order to “please” him, he delights in our faith, just as Jesus did. Faith is
trusting God to meet our needs through the riches of the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith is stronger than belief. I can believe
in God, that he exists, and that he
created all things. Faith takes belief a step further, allowing me to trust
God for personal guidance and provision of my needs. Faith is trusting that God hears my humble prayers and answers them according to his
best will for my life.
Fear can paralyze faith. Fear can cause us to doubt God’s love, or to doubt his
willingness to care about the concerns we bring to him in earnest prayer. Faith
must say to fear, “Get out of my life; I will not allow you to come between me
and my Lord. I will not permit you to deny me the blessings that God wants to
give me in response to my sincere faith.”
How long has it been since you needed the Lord’s help enough to get on
your knees, and exercising the gift of faith, humbly begged for mercy? No
matter how you answer the question, remember it is never too late to fall at
his feet and humbly pray! + + + +