The Power of Miracle Thinking
35. While He was speaking, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, “Your daughter is dead: why do you trouble the Master any further?”
36. As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”
37. And He permitted no one to follow Him, except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
Mark 5:36-37
When the Miracle is Delayed
Miracle thinking automatically conjures thoughts of riches, good fortune, and happiness in the minds of worldly minded people. Yet when we think of Jesus Christ, who taught us to have a ‘miracle-mindset,’ His goals were all about Heavenly things and the Kingdom of God. He rejected the arguments of men that there was only so much that God could do. He rebuffed the concept that bad, evil, and death would prevail. Jesus even rebuked His Disciples whenever they would resort to fear rather than faith. He would tell them, “how is it that you have no faith?” “Why are you so fearful, where is your faith?” Fear only produces negativity or bad thoughts that cause us to doubt God’s Power.
If we believe in God’s Power, we should never allow negativity and bad thoughts to enter our hearts and minds. Even when bad things happen, we can still give honor to God and continue to believe that all things work together for good and for God’s Glory.
Our Scripture text brings us into the heart of a situation involving the synagogue leader’s daughter. This leader was likely a Levite who had the assignment of presiding over the local Jewish assembly. In this case, the synagogue leader had turned to Jesus for help on behalf of his dying daughter. There was a sense of urgency and expectancy that (Jesus can do this) and urgency (but death is threatening). In other words, the synagogue leader believed that Jesus could heal his daughter; but he also thought that Jesus must do this “before his daughter died.” Those two thoughts do not produce faith and will lead to fear, doubt, and distrust in the power of God.
As events unfolded, there was a delay in Jesus’ schedule. Jesus took time to minister to a woman with an issue of blood, and this left Jairus on pause. His miracle need was delayed by someone who interrupted the process. Meanwhile, the negative thoughts were probably racing through his mind and reminding him that his daughter was dying, and Jesus had taken time to do something else. That didn’t seem right.
Just when things got back on schedule, the bad word came from the home of the synagogue leader: his daughter has died. While He was speaking, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, “Your daughter is dead: why do you trouble the Master any further?” How would Jairus process this information? Would he walk back to his home and proceed with burial plans? Would he stop believing in Jesus or maybe try Jesus for future struggles? While he pondered his next steps, Jesus immediately responded. “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”
Remember those two opposing thoughts we spoke about earlier? Jairus had to choose whether to believe Jesus’ Word or believe that death was now in control. This is where we introduce “miracle thinking.” It is the belief that nothing is impossible with God. Even when life seems hopeless and we are lost in the swirling sea of no answers, Jesus’ Word tells us that everything is going to be alright. Someway, somehow, God is going to turn the situation around. This is miracle thinking.
While our struggle may not be the same as Jairus, we all struggle to believe sometimes; especially when we have lost someone or something. What is your struggle? Are you choosing to believe God’s Word, or will you believe the worst?
Choosing to Believe in Miracles
First and foremost, you and I do have a choice. Jairus had a choice of whether to accept the bad news about his daughter or to believe Jesus. Miracle thinking is not some complicated process nor is it some drawn out ceremony. It is the Word of Faith that we listen for in times when the world seeks to instill fear. There are three things that I believe defines “miracle thinking.”
1. We believe that God has complete control over the future not fate.
2. We believe that God always rewards faith.
3. We believe that God will always be with us and for us.
Let me emphasize that a miracle is not something that we assign a monetary value nor is it a political or social aspiration. A miracle is a move of God in a situation that seems to be otherwise hopeless. A miracle is believing that God can and will do when nothing else can do. A miracle is knowing that God did not bring you this far to abandon you. A miracle is leaning and depending on God when all other hope is gone. Jairus needed a miracle but Jesus wanted to engage him in Miracle Thinking.
We will get back to Jairus later but let us consider certain thoughts or mind processes that seem to dominate what people believe in our day. Recently, we have witnessed “hateful thinking” that has empowered some to feel that it is in their power to mistreat, persecute, and even kill others who are unlike them. Does hateful thinking come from God or does it come from the evil one? We know that it comes from the evil one because God made all men in His own image and God loves all mankind. Thus, hateful thinking has no place in the Kingdom of God. It simply is not from God and no one who believes in God will condone hateful thinking.
There is also “elite thinking” which focuses on some physical condition that makes some humans above other humans. This elitism could be based on wealth, race, geographic location, or a host of other human factors. Elite thinking gives some the notion that they should have more privileges, opportunities, and blessings than others who are not on the same scale as they are. At one point, our Federal Government promoted “elitism in America” through housing policies, hiring practices, and medical access. As a result, millions of Americans suffered and died from a lack of resources. This thinking is not always based on racial prejudice as much as it is based on economic and social privilege. It is a belief that the Haves should be treated differently than the Have-nots. The reason I say that it is not always racial is because Elite Thinking also exists in the Church. Some Church folk feel that they should have more Church recognition, privileges, and honor than others because they are of a certain family, position, or community status. But God is “no respecter of persons” so elite thinking really has no place in His Church.
Then there is “negative thinking” where people believe the worst in every situation rather than believing that God of the now is also God of the future. Negative thinkers or dooms day prophets always look for the worst to happen and believe that fatalism will somehow free people from worry. Such pessimism was expressed by the person that brought the bad news to Jairus. While they thought they were doing him and Jesus a favor, they were only celebrating the bad rather than the goodness of God.
My point is this: if the mind is capable of evil thinking, elite thinking, and even negative thinking, why would it be absurd to introduce “Miracle Thinking.” If God was not real, if God was not good, if God was not with us, we might be persuaded to give in to all those other mind-sets. But God is real. God is good, and God is with us. Therefore, we believe that a miracle is on the way. Not only do we believe that, but we also give our minds over to “Miracle Thinking.”
Jesus basically told Jairus to not give in to the negativity. Someone brought the report that his daughter had died, While He was speaking, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, “Your daughter is dead: why do you trouble the Master any further?” Not only had the person reported the bad news, but they had also suggested that there was nothing Jesus could do to change the outcome. What an insult to Grace! The nerve of this person to suggest to Jairus such negativity, as if the report should rule over God’s Word. Please note, Jesus did not address the Narrow Minded Naysayer and neither should you. Our Lord directed His Word to Jairus. As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”
Jesus let the synagogue ruler know that fear should not dominate the future. That Word, “don’t be afraid” was an encouragement to put the brakes on anxiety. Slow down and breathe. Quit having panic attacks because you don’t know what to do. God knows what to do because the future is in His Hands. You must believe that God is not only in control of your future but has orchestrated the situations and events for your future. ‘So-what’ if they don’t match your schedule, God has it on His calendar. Stop being afraid.
It is not enough just to reject fear, you must “Believe.” That is “miracle thinking.” Jesus did not say “believe;” He said, “ONLY believe.” You must rely on pure and undefiled, unfettered, unrelenting faith. It is the faith that pushes every other argument out of the picture. The picture that Jairus carried in his mind was that of a dead daughter, but Jesus was telling him to change the picture with faith. “Only believe.” Jesus was going to reward faith not the fear.
Think about it, how many times have we approached God out of fear rather than coming to Him in faith. That is what Jesus was telling Jairus. Approach God with your faith not with your fear. God knows we are human, but He has given us faith to believe in the face of difficulty. Don’t give in to the fears of life; give in to the faith of God Almighty. Even if God does not answer in the way we expect, we will still find comfort to face any situation because we are confident in God’s ability.
While many of us would head to the end of the story when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter by His Word. That approach causes you to miss the Miracle Thinking message. We have already said that Miracle Thinking rests on three truths. There is the truth that God is in complete control of the future. There is the truth that God always rewards our faith. It is this third truth that helps us when we think one thing, but God does another. Miracle Thinking finds refuge in the thought that God will always be with us and for us. No matter what happened next, Jesus was with Jairus. Miracle Thinking does not depend on our ability to come up with answers but faith in God and to know that He is able.
Please note that Jesus did not allow others to follow them to Jairus’ home nor did Jesus allow the mourners to stay in the home as He performed the miracle. They were not part of the faith environment. They did not understand miracle thinking. What is Jesus telling us? When Miracle Thinking takes over, every other thought should be put out of our mind. Jesus did not want Jairus and his wife to have any distractions. All negativity was put out of their minds so they could enjoy the miracle. While we would look at the miracle itself, we really should focus on the Miracle Worker in the room. Here was an impossible situation in the minds of many but not for those who were thinking on the miracle level. Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” As they believed (miracle thinking) Jesus took their daughter by the hand and called her back to life (the miracle). This miracle does not suggest that miracles depend on our thinking, but it does recognize that miracle thinking helps us embrace the miracle results. Thank God for miracles.
Jairus and his wife were rewarded for their faith in God as their daughter was restored to life by Jesus. We can always receive God’s miracle because we believe that the greatest miracle is God with us. Believing that truth opens the door to all miracles.