“He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, ‘Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.’ But they laughed at him.”
This scripture is taken from Mark 5. It is where Jarius (a leader in the local synagogue) asks Jesus to heal his daughter who was sick and has just died. The mourners are already there, along with the musicians, and the somber grieving has begun. Jesus is laughed at for stating that the girl is asleep. I can only imagine that he is also scorned for interrupting the funeral traditions and protocol of their day. The process had begun.
When reading this passage this past week, I really honed in on the fact that Jesus was laughed at. It is one thing to have others disagree with you and politely dissent. It is another to be outright laughed at. And yet, Jesus’ parting words to us, known as the “great commission” call us to share his words to the “ends of the earth”.
This is a challenge for us all, if we are honest, especially in our day of religious skepticism. To be laughed at or scorned because of a faith-based comment that we make, is a legitimate possibility! How do we respectfully share? I struggle with this, particularly since my own faith has some gaping holes. I am no Biblical expert, and never want to come across as one.
A song many of us may have learned in childhood has the repeated line “and they’ll know we are Christians by our love”. Not that we shouldn’t put our sharing into words – and even share our doubts and struggles – but I think the best way to share the words of Jesus is through our love. After all, who will even listen to us if our actions speak anger and arrogance?
Find ways this week to show the love of Jesus in your actions, and if the opportunity arises, find a way to “use your words” as well!
Have a blessed week!
Diana Kongkeattikul
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