Don’t be afraid, just believe

Mark 5:21-24 and Mark 5:35-43

In this fast-paced Gospel, we quickly move onto two stories entwined, Jesus raises a dead girl and heals a sick woman. In this case, we get two miracles for the price of one.

I am moved by this story very much. As a parent myself to a child of similar age I would never want to be in this situation but sadly death can come when we least expect it. In this story, death has come and human reactions to what people have heard that has happened are laid out in the open. Why?

We see people reacting to what has happened with despair ‘Your daughter is dead.’ and then they approach it with rational thoughts ‘Why bother the teacher anymore?’ Then we see emotions such as crying and wailing loudly and then people laugh at Jesus when he says ‘Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.’ The array of emotions is completed by feelings of astonishment to what has happened when Jesus tells the young girl to get up and she starts walking around.

Emotions are God-given and they give us information about the relational world, the way things are connected. They tell us what we need, but also give us energy to take action. Emotions, however, are not permanent states of being. Unfortunately, we tend to focus most on emotions that surface when we are faced with our fears. I wonder whether Jesus’s words ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe’ (NIVUK) are a key to challenging us to face our fears head on and be affirmed that God is with us no matter what. Perhaps we may be feeling astonishment when we experience God’s presence amidst our overwhelming emotions.