All of you need wisdom in relationships, especially in hopeless situations and even when you might be delivered from it. Sometimes, you need to speak and other times, silence is the best policy. I remember hurting my wife with something I said and wishing immediately that I had withheld my tongue. Other times, opening my mouth to encourage my sons would have been profitable instead of silence. In Mark 5, we observe a situation where Jesus wanted a recipient of healing to share the great things God did and at another time, to keep quiet.
The kingdom principles you observed in Mark 4:26-41 (organic growth, start small and bold faith) collide with today’s cultural values. A demonic person from Gerasenes bound with shackles experienced such mental and emotional turmoil that his chains were torn apart and he gashed himself with stones. Jesus casted out a “Legion of demons” so they entered 2,000 swine causing them to rush down a steep bank and be drowned in the sea. Rather than rejoicing that the formerly demon-possessed man was “sitting down, clothed and in his right mind,” the herdsmen became frightened and asked Jesus to depart from their region (Mark 5:1-17).
Instead of the man joining Him, Jesus said he should go home and report to his people the great things God did and how He had mercy on him. Everyone marveled over what Jesus had done for him (Mark 5:18-20).
Jesus met a synagogue official, Jairus, whose daughter was near death and a woman hemorrhaging 12 years who spent everything on physicians, but only grew worse. After touching Jesus’ garment, she immediately was healed of her affliction (Mark 5:21-29).
When He perceived power had gone from Him, Jesus asked, “Who touched My garments?” The disciples puzzled over his question since a multitude pressed in on Him. Jesus told the woman that her faith made her well–she experienced both spiritual salvation and physical healing (Mark 5:30-34).
While Jesus was still speaking, He overheard people telling the synagogue official about his daughter’s death and said, “Why trouble the Teacher anymore?” Jesus said to him, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” Peter, James and John accompanied Jesus to the synagogue official’s home and commanded the 12-year-old girl to rise from the dead. Immediately she arose and walked, which completely astonished them. Jesus gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and that something should be given her to eat (Mark 5:35-43).
Cultural values that clashed with Jesus’ healing in these three instances:
1. Demonic: making money (materialism)
2. Hemorrhaging woman: reliance on professional and medical services apart from trusting God through prayer (fees for services)
3. Synagogue official’s daughter: trust position or self instead of God’s deliverance or healing power. Christ’s strict order not to tell anyone about the healing makes no sense from a human perspective (human reasoning).
Sometimes God wants us to share miracles and healing with others like the Gerasene demonic (Mark 5:19). Other times, He wants us to be quiet like the synagogue official (Mark 5:43).
Could it be that God wants you to share about Christ’s works at the grassroots level “by becoming all things to all men” and be silent (“wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove”) with formal organizations that aren’t receptive to Christ since the “world hates you”? (I Cor. 9:19-23; Matt. 10:16; John 15:18-25). The word, wise, means “practically wise in relationships with others.” Ultimately, God designs situations where there is no way out because the situation is hopeless so all you can do is trust God through prayer. Other times, something practical like food is needed (synagogue official’s daughter).
Ask God for wisdom on how He wants you to share in a troublesome situation. What hopeless situation has God placed you that requires complete trust in Him. Right now, pray for deliverance or healing and watch God work!
