Are you often in a hurry? What does hurry look like in your life? Do you see it as a good thing or a bad thing?
Think about times when you have been in a hurry; what caused the hurry? Was it due to a lack of planning or procrastination? Did something catch you by surprise, like an accident or someone in need, and you jumped into rush mode to do what was necessary?
As you ponder these questions, let your mind drift toward God. Do you think He is ever in a hurry? Is there ever a reason for Him to hurry?
This Sunday, we will unpack the story about Jairus and the bleeding woman found in Mark 5:21-43. The Gospel of Mark starts off very fast. If you pay attention to the pace of the narrative, Mark feels like a 100-meter dash, whereas the Gospels of Luke and Matthew feel more like a long walk in the park (John's Gospel is vastly different from the other three, but that is a subject for another day).
Take some time to read the first few chapters of Mark leading up to our story in chapter 5. Notice the pace, and then notice how the pace seems to slow down when we get to this story about Jairus and the bleeding woman. In this story, Jesus is on His way to heal Jairus' daughter when He is interrupted by a bleeding woman. The tension is almost palpable; everyone in the story knows Jairus. He is a very important man, and his daughter is on the verge of death. Jesus is on His way to save the day when He is interrupted by a nameless, bleeding woman, yet He is unhurried. He takes His time ministering to her, listening to her tell Him all about her troubles, and as a result, Jairus' daughter dies. Yet, Jesus is still unhurried.
I will say no more about this other than to encourage you to take your time this weekend and immerse yourself in this story. As you read, think about our tendency to rush and hurry. What are some things we miss due to our hurried, busy lifestyles? What are some things God may be highlighting that He wants you to see?
