Day 284 or October the 11th. Stick with the job
in hand. Our thoughts today are rooted in Mark
chapter 5 verses 22 and 23. Then one of the synagogue
leaders named Jairus came, and when he saw Jesus
he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with
him, My little daughter is dying. Please come
and put your hands on her, so that she will be
healed and live. And now the big picture surrounding
these verses. Today's passage covers a second
year in the ministry of Jesus. Once again it
is centred in Galilee, as was the first year.
Mark tells us about the healing of Jairus' daughter,
as well as Nazareth's rejection of Jesus as Messiah.
In these chapters we also hear about the feeding
of the five thousand, which is a miracle that
all four Gospels record. Apart from the resurrection,
this is the only one found in every Gospel. Incidentally,
it is only Mark who tells us that Jesus was a
carpenter. Matthew confirms that his father Joseph
was a carpenter, but none of the other Gospels
mentions this trade. The word that is translated
carpenter means so much more than a worker with
wood. It may be translated builder or even stonemason.
And now today's action step. We are told that
Jairus's daughter is 12 years old and in ancient
Jewish society that meant she would be a woman
on her next birthday. It must be devastating
enough to lose your daughter, but to lose her
just as she is maturing into a woman must add
to the heartbreak, as she will never be able
to bless you with grandchildren. As Jesus proceeds
to the little girl, he is interrupted by a woman
who has been seriously ill for, coincidentally,
twelve years. Jesus is not diverted from his
initial task. He takes care of the woman and
then continues to heal Jairus' daughter too.
Jesus is often interrupted in the Gospels, but
he never forgets to finish his first task. Don't
be diverted from what God has for you, even if
it means the path may be a bit wiggly in places.
Stick with it and complete the job.