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Over the past few days I’ve received a number of e-mails about Sunday’s message on Mark 5 and I’ve loved every one of them. They have challenged and encouraged me to go back to the text - expectant of what God still has to teach me. I know that I speak for Andy when I say that we are so grateful as you engage us in conversation. Don’t stop!!!

One of the people that had e-mailed me pointed out something that I wanted to share with you. As she was looking at the end of Mark 4 and Mark 5 she noticed that in three of the four stories the characters get what they want in the end - Jesus calms the waters and wind, the woman is healed of a 12 year disease, and Jairus’ daughter is raised from the dead. And while all of this is nice and good - she pointed out that life doesn’t always work out so cleanly. Storms rage on. People remain sick. Children die. And she’s right. Even when we surrender our fears to Jesus, our problems don’t always go away.

Which leads to a hugely important question: are you willing to surrender your life and turn over your fears even if you don’t get what you want? To quote the e-mail I received, “are we willing to be changed even if our situation doesn’t?”

This question is at the heart of our walk with Jesus, and one we must all answer for ourselves. Why do we surrender to Jesus? Why do we follow him? Why do we give him lordship over our lives? Is it so that we’ll get what we want in the end?

Jesus invites us to follow him not because doing so gets us what we want or punches our ticket to heaven. Jesus invites us to follow him simply because he loves us and wants us to know life to the fullest.

Ok. Keep the e-mails coming. I’m going to spend some time thinking through these questions right now. I invite you to join me.

We’re in Mark 5 this week. About half way through the chapter a massive crowd has (again) gathered around Jesus. They have heard the things he has been doing and saying and so they come - either out of curiousity or need - they come. It is in the midst of all this noise and commotion that a man by the name of Jarius falls at Jesus’ feet. His daughter is dying and he needs Jesus to come to his home to heal her. Jesus agrees and immediately they leave. While they are on their way some people from Jarius’ home arrive with the worst news. His daughter is dead. No need to bother the teacher now, they say. It’s too late.

But Jesus turns to Jarius and says: “Don’t listen to them; just trust me.”

If I had been Jarius I’m not sure if I would have been able to do that. Out of all the voices in my head, I’m not sure I could have believed the one voice that sounded different from all the rest. Would you have been able to?

I mean, the people who delivered the news were likely Jarius’ friends or family. Why would they lie to him about this? Exactly - they wouldn’t. She was dead. This was no joking matter. And then when they reach his home, all those who are gathered are wailing and weeping. Why? Because she is dead. There was nothing to argue about - nothing to do. It was over.

“Don’t listen to them; just trust me.”

Today, I invite you to ask these questions with me: who am I listening to?

Whose voice has my ear?

Do I believe Jesus’ words to me, even if they sound different from all the rest?

Back in middle school I remember learning the basic elements of any good story: relatedable characters who get caught up in escalating conflict, which finally reaches its climax and is followed by a resolution. Sorry to bring you back to the awkward middle school years, but is this ringing a bell? (Can you believe our parents paid to have our school pictures taken then?) Anyway…these elements, when put together well, create drama - drama that moves us. Drama that changes us.

Notice what is going on in the beginning of the book of Mark (we’re in chapter three this week). Right away we’re introduced to the most riveting and relatable person - Jesus - who calls the most ordinary people to follow him. Immediately after this, the conflict begins. People - all sorts of people - begin to challenge Jesus: John the Baptist’s disciples, the Pharisees, even Jesus’ family.

Now, when you think about it Mark didn’t have to tell us about these little skirmishes. He could have focused soley on the miracles - or on the conversations Jesus had with his disciples. But Mark makes sure we’re aware - from the beginning - that Jesus is being challenged. Why does Mark do this? There are lots of reasons, I suppose. But one, I think, is that Mark is trying to tell us a story. He’s not just writing a list of rules or teachings. He’s not even writing history for history’s sake. He’s writing a story - a story about real people, who walked on real dirt, who faced real challenges and struggles - and he wants us to feel this. To be moved. Ultimately, to be changed.

So my encouragement to you as we read through Mark together is to enter fully into the story. Don’t read it from a distance, but feel what is going on. Smell the smells. Hear the voices. Take on the emotions. If we do this, the Scriptures will come alive and change us.

Anticipating that change -

Chris

After some time off from blog-writing, Andy and I are back and we’re looking forward to our journey through Mark (see the reading schedule to join us).

But more than letting you know that we’ll be writing again, we wanted to strongly encourage you to JOIN the conversation. Sure….Andy and I like to read what we write - who doesn’t? (please note the sarcasm) - but we would take great delight in having you…yes, you….join us. To do so, simple click on the comment link below any post and start typing.

Oh sure, I know what you’re thinking: “I can’t write online. I don’t have anything good to say.” But as my dad told me when I crashed the lawnmower into a creek and blamed it on my brother, “Son, that’s hogwash.”

So…take the leap. Click and type. It doesn’t have to be long or fancy or impressive (just read our previous blog posts for the proof). But adding your voice benefits us all. We hope you join us!