Obedience

Mark 5: 38  When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

 

Observation

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 Jesus heals the child of the synagogue ruler even though she is dead or at least thought to be dead by the time He arrives.  Those present are astonished, but Jesus gives orders “not to let anyone know about this.”

 

Interpretation

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 I suggest to you that Jesus tells the witnesses of this healing (as He also did after some other miracles recorded in the gospels) because His time had “not yet fully come.”  Jesus would become the savior of His people, even all people, not by popular demand to “make Him king,” but by dying on the cross in payment for their sins.  That crucifixion would soon come to pass, but His time had “not yet fully come.”

 

Cross-reference

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 John 6:14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.

John 7:7  “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. 8å “Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” 9Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.

 

Application

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 It is in my best interest to serve Him obediently even, especially even, when I do not fully understand the reason for His commands.

What to you think?    From God’s perspective is your obedience to His commands more important  than  your  understanding  of  His commands ?

 

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