By 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.” So Jesus went with him. (Mark 5:22-24 NIV)
While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:35-36 NIV)
Years ago, the Nike Shoe Company introduced a huge advertising campaign. This campaign had two major components.
One component was the name recognition of one amazing athlete — Micheal Jordan. At the time, he was a household name as he and his Chicago Bulls teammates dominated professional basketball.
The other component was a simple phrase: “Just Do It”. This phrase was easy to say, easy to remember, and easy to understand.
Our Lord has a phrase that is easy to say, easy to remember, and easy to understand. It is simply “Just Believe”.
We are to just believe despite the circumstances around us. Jairus was with Jesus when he was notified that his daughter was already deceased. Time and distance seemed to be circumstances that could not be overcome.
Since God exists in eternity, time cannot constrain Him. II Peter 2:8 says, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” The raising of Lazarus four days after his death proves that time cannot hinder the power of God. The same is true of distance.
Acts 17:27 says that God is not far from any of us. Isaiah declared that the arm of the Lord is not too short to save. Surely we can take comfort in knowing that God is just a prayer away and more than able to reach our situation.
We are to believe despite the critics. Hear the people say, “She is already gone. Why bother Jesus any longer?” There was always someone trying to talk others out of believing Jesus when He was on this earth. There will always be someone trying to talk us out of our beliefs.
Notice what Jesus says about circumstances and critics. “Don’t be afraid. Just believe.” There is our phrase we need to hold on to — “Just believe.”
Oh, what about name recognition? Philippians 2:9-11 says, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
We have the phrase and we have the greatest of all names. So, just believe!
Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.
Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter — Breanna.
Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.
by leaps and bounds 