Month: October 2011

Mark’s story ( Mark Ch5 v22 to 43) Jairus, an important man in trouble.

Jairus was worried sick. His darling daughter aged 12 years old lay dying.

There was nothing he could do about it, the doctors tried, but failed. At the thought of losing her tears coursed down his cheeks. Then he saw Jesus! Never mind the crowds all around Him, He just might help. Jairus pushed through the people and knelt before Jesus. “My young daughter is dying, please come”.

Hope and joy sprang into his heart, Jesus would come, Jairus hurried to lead the way, but Jesus did not seem to see the urgency. Then He stopped and looked around .

“Who touched Me ?” He asked. What a question in a big crowd like this! “Come on Jesus” My need is important. But Jesus insisted.. “Who touched me “.

Who touched me ? Everyone did in a crowd this size.

“Come On Jesus”

“No someone touched Me, Power has gone from me “.

At last a woman comes and kneels before The Master. “I touched your garment “.

My how that woman talks on! – her life of suffering, the list of doctors, all the money paid out seeking a cure.

Jesus has to hear her life’s history. At last Jesus tells her “Your Faith has saved you”.

At last we all move on! Oh the time that has been wasted.

Jairus recognized the two servants running toward him.Their words hit him hard.

“Don’t trouble The Master, your daughter is dead”.

Grief and anger flood his mind,

If Only ! Now it is too late.! If only that woman… If only his daughter could have hung on to life a little longer…If only !

Calmly Jesus looks at poor Jairus. “Have Faith and believe”. He continues to walk on. Arriving He ignores the crowd of mourners and their ridicule that the little girl is only sleeping

Only Mum and Dad and the disciples enter the little girls room.

Taking her hand , “It is time to get up now” . She opens her eyes and sees the smiling face of Jesus. She runs to embrace her parents, She runs, skips and jumps for joy. Jesus and His disciples leave a happy house, with a hungry girl having breakfast.

Think ! How many of these feelings of Jairus have YOU experienced.

How little faith we all experience at times.

Jesus says “See I am with You always, even unto the end”.

May your Faith be always strong.

Greetings Gerald Gossage.

As a Minister I worked to a plan so that I visited my church members twice a year. Not only did I find this a help to those visited, but also a help to myself.

On one occasion I asked each member what version of the Bible they used and also asked if I could see their Bible . Some knew exactly what version they had: they might reply “RSV, or Good News, etc “. Others could not remember ! Some went straight to where their bible was , bedroom, book case, and one even the kitchen table. There were some who could not remember where they put it ! It always started a helpful discussion, and I learned some interesting things about the needs of each person.

As a youth I had learned that a disciple was a learner. I thought of them as wearing an ‘L’ Plate. An apostle was one who lived close to Jesus and found out many of the ways of God. They had passed their exams but never stopped learning. Christians are much the same today, they are often found to be a mixture of disciples and apostles. Some sadly it seemed have even stopped learning !

I once had a lovely group of young people who were making great strides towards becoming Christians, when their parents stopped their development in my church, and insisted that as they were christened as a baby at the C of E they must now be confirmed. After this happened they never attended either church saying that they were now Christians for life and they could forget church going and Bible reading.

Today we live in a country that had once had a practicing Christian population, as I remember from pre-war days. Today most people do not know God, never learned about Him or His way to live, and the future generation are mostly not being taught at all. .

Christians need to practice their faith by regular daily devotions and Bible study, To be learning and worshiping together with other fellow Christians, ( if they can find a suitable group) And to practice what they have learned and believe in the world in which they are called to live .

All that you are, and all that you have, is a stewardship to God, and one day we will be judged on what we did with that stewardship of time, treasure, and talent. This seems to be the only opportunity you have got. Get Back To Your Maker-God .His arms are open to welcome you, now.

Greetings from Gerald Gossage.