Working through Mark, we’re regularly running into desperate people who are at their wit’s ends. The disciples certainly were when the waves were crashing over the boat. The demon-possessed man surely must have been desperate, with a bruised body and a controlled being. They were at the end of their rope. Each time, at the right time, Jesus intervenes to rescue and save.
This weekend, we’re going to meet two more people who were desperate for Jesus’ help. We’ll meet a woman who was broke, bleeding, and out of medical options. She also was ostracized from the church because of her condition; she was unclean. Oh, and did I mention that she had been enduring this condition for 12 years? Imagine that. The doors of the church were closed to her because of her bleeding. No doctors had been able to help her, and she had spent all she had in pursuit of such help. She had no more options.
But before she gets help from Jesus, another man comes with a dying daughter. His desperation is much more of an emergency. This woman could have gone on living in this terrible situation for years yet, but his daughter might not live the night. He came to Jesus for help with his daughter, and then, while his daughter is dying, Jesus stops on the way. He had no more options, and now Jesus hit the pause button on his journey. He was out of options, and he was out of time.
Yes, we’ll meet two people who were desperate and at the end of their ropes. We’ll meet two people who began to think that Jesus was late, that he was slow in keeping his promises. But, come and hear. Jesus is not late. He never is. He is not slow in keeping his promises, as some understand slowness. He is always right on time with the right help.
Can you see yourself in these two desperate characters? Maybe not today, but at another time, perhaps. Praying for help that never seems to come? Seeking solutions that never seem to find answers? Wondering to yourself, “Where is Jesus now?” Yet, in your desperation, you can be sure: Jesus is never late. He is always right on time with the right help just for you. We’ll be looking at Mark 5:21-43.
We are His! Pastor Nate
PS. Don’t forget that we have our annual voter’s meeting this Sunday after church.