Seek. Love. Serve.

Christianity is under attack.

But it’s nothing new.

We have to remember that.

And, in keeping with Christ’s example, we must respond appropriately.

How do we do that?

We’ve seen in Scripture Jesus reaching out to those who mock Him.

We’ve seen Him lovingly embrace those who sin against Him.

And, ultimately, we see Him forgive those who were murdering Him.

How amazing!

Through it all, Jesus never allows the mocking, the teasing, the laughing, the doubting, the false accusations, the betrayal of a friend, even death on a cross, to keep Him from doing God’s will.

In Mark 5:35-42, we read the story of Jesus honoring a grieving father’s faith by bringing his daughter back from death. When you read this, take note of the “mourners'” response to Jesus’ statement that “the child is not dead but asleep.”

While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?” Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 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 ruler, 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. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “”Talitha koum!”” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.

Did you see how the mourners responded to Jesus?

They laughed at Him.

The Savior of the World is standing before them, preparing to bring a girl back from the grave, and they laugh.

How does Jesus respond?

He didn’t yell. He didn’t insult them. He didn’t play the “I AM” trump card.

He simply “put them all out” and then proceeded to take only those who believed into the room to witness the miracle. Then He  brought the girl back to life.

This is a hard lesson for me to learn. In fact, as I see Christ mocked and doubted and the Word torn apart and misrepresented in our society, I get very defensive and upset. I want to scream: “Don’t you know Who you’re laughing at?”

Then I remember that I was there once.

I mocked. I doubted. I laughed at those who believed in something I didn’t yet understand.

And then I thank God for His grace and the believers who prayed for me and never wavered in their testimony of Christ’s love.

Our response in the face of adversity is to stay the course and do the job we are called to do.

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