An event happened 30 years ago. When I finished the high school and applied for university, I was advised not to apply more than one (there is no JUPAS at that time), for this was treated as an act of unbelief to God. My mentor explained that if this was God’s will, one application was enough. Is what he said true? What is faith in God?
The story of Jairus is an example of faith. Put straightly, it is about to believe even in an unbelievable and impossible situation. When he knew that Jesus arrived the shore, he quickly went to meet Jesus, and requested him to heal his daughter at the point of death (v.23). At this moment, Jairus had a strong faith in Jesus in two ways. First, he believed that Jesus had the power to heal, and second, Jesus was willing to heal. Anyway, Jesus was touched by Jairus’ sincere. Unfortunately, Jairus’ daughter was dead before they arrived at his home. The story said nothing about any emotional disturbance of Jairus when he heard the news. Rather Jesus responded immediately by saying that ‘Do not fear, but believe’ (v.36). Jesus’ word was definitely a comfort to Jairus, but whether his daughter was really dead remained a problem for Jairus. If she was dead, what believe meant or whether believe could change the reality. We do not know whether Jairus’ daughter is dead or not, but the story is that it is Jesus who brings life to Jairus’ daughter.
The Bible does not go on to describe how Jairus reflects from this experience. As an observer, I have learnt three insights about ‘Do not fear, but believe’ from Jairus’ experience. First, the emergence of fear is not because we are afraid of something, such as, crockcoaches, but because we do not see any possibilities. Aung San Sui Kyi rightly explains that fear discourages one in pursuit for love and justice, and at the same time, fear makes one to be violence in order to cover up his fear. The latter is exactly what the police are in responding to the protestors in these two days. I have left Cheung Sha Wan Church for 23 years, and many people might have commented that the church would not be able to sustain too long, for there is no significant increase of the number of participants. This is true, but we should not be discouraged either giving in or madly looking for survival skill, not because we believe that we will bounce back one day, but because there is a mission to be completed.
Second, in order not to be discouraged by the disappointed reality, we have to be suspicious of the so-called reality. From the eyes of the people at that time, Jairus’ daughter is dead, and this is uncontroversial. But this is not what Jesus understands. Jesus says she is sleeping. This is not necessarily related to the power of Jesus, but rather this is about a different perspective. I am not suggesting that we should be optimistic all the time, but rather the reality is more than what we have seen. We Christians know this better. Death is the reality, but it is not just about the end. Ironically, there is resurrection in death. July 1 Rally has been held for 15 years, but there is nothing significant achievement, except 2003. Despite this, we should not be discouraged, for we are pleased to see the consciousness of the people is rising.
Third, when we focus on the reality, we may have forgotten that God is in human history. God is not a guest, but an actor in human history. God is never indifference. Jairus’ daughter is lucky, but this may not be the experience of many patients. Despite the fact of that we may not have the same experience as Jairus’ daughter, this would not discredit that God is in history. Since God is in history, the world is not as static and determined as what we see. God has his time, and we have to have faith in him.
Fatalism is alienated from the Christian faith, for the future is not yet determined, and God is in human history. However, there is a tendency that some Christians have turned to a kind of utopianism, and hold that God will do what they believe. Obviously, their belief in God is more about a manipulation of God instead of that ‘let God be God’. Returning to my experience that I have shared at the beginning, it is a mistake to reduce our faith in God to just a matter of one application. Why doesn’t God’s will have many options? Perhaps, the core issue is neither one nor many applications, but rather we should not be discouraged by the so-called reality. There are different dimensions of reality and God is in history.
The story of Jairus is an example of faith. Put straightly, it is about to believe even in an unbelievable and impossible situation. When he knew that Jesus arrived the shore, he quickly went to meet Jesus, and requested him to heal his daughter at the point of death (v.23). At this moment, Jairus had a strong faith in Jesus in two ways. First, he believed that Jesus had the power to heal, and second, Jesus was willing to heal. Anyway, Jesus was touched by Jairus’ sincere. Unfortunately, Jairus’ daughter was dead before they arrived at his home. The story said nothing about any emotional disturbance of Jairus when he heard the news. Rather Jesus responded immediately by saying that ‘Do not fear, but believe’ (v.36). Jesus’ word was definitely a comfort to Jairus, but whether his daughter was really dead remained a problem for Jairus. If she was dead, what believe meant or whether believe could change the reality. We do not know whether Jairus’ daughter is dead or not, but the story is that it is Jesus who brings life to Jairus’ daughter.
The Bible does not go on to describe how Jairus reflects from this experience. As an observer, I have learnt three insights about ‘Do not fear, but believe’ from Jairus’ experience. First, the emergence of fear is not because we are afraid of something, such as, crockcoaches, but because we do not see any possibilities. Aung San Sui Kyi rightly explains that fear discourages one in pursuit for love and justice, and at the same time, fear makes one to be violence in order to cover up his fear. The latter is exactly what the police are in responding to the protestors in these two days. I have left Cheung Sha Wan Church for 23 years, and many people might have commented that the church would not be able to sustain too long, for there is no significant increase of the number of participants. This is true, but we should not be discouraged either giving in or madly looking for survival skill, not because we believe that we will bounce back one day, but because there is a mission to be completed.
Second, in order not to be discouraged by the disappointed reality, we have to be suspicious of the so-called reality. From the eyes of the people at that time, Jairus’ daughter is dead, and this is uncontroversial. But this is not what Jesus understands. Jesus says she is sleeping. This is not necessarily related to the power of Jesus, but rather this is about a different perspective. I am not suggesting that we should be optimistic all the time, but rather the reality is more than what we have seen. We Christians know this better. Death is the reality, but it is not just about the end. Ironically, there is resurrection in death. July 1 Rally has been held for 15 years, but there is nothing significant achievement, except 2003. Despite this, we should not be discouraged, for we are pleased to see the consciousness of the people is rising.
Third, when we focus on the reality, we may have forgotten that God is in human history. God is not a guest, but an actor in human history. God is never indifference. Jairus’ daughter is lucky, but this may not be the experience of many patients. Despite the fact of that we may not have the same experience as Jairus’ daughter, this would not discredit that God is in history. Since God is in history, the world is not as static and determined as what we see. God has his time, and we have to have faith in him.
Fatalism is alienated from the Christian faith, for the future is not yet determined, and God is in human history. However, there is a tendency that some Christians have turned to a kind of utopianism, and hold that God will do what they believe. Obviously, their belief in God is more about a manipulation of God instead of that ‘let God be God’. Returning to my experience that I have shared at the beginning, it is a mistake to reduce our faith in God to just a matter of one application. Why doesn’t God’s will have many options? Perhaps, the core issue is neither one nor many applications, but rather we should not be discouraged by the so-called reality. There are different dimensions of reality and God is in history.
Thank you Kung.
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