Search

Home > The Christian Working Woman > Learning to Ignore


	Podcast:		The Christian Working Woman
	Episode:		Learning to Ignore
	Category:		Religion & Spirituality
	Duration:		00:14:28
	Publish Date:		2021-10-16 05:00:39
	Description:		Learning when to ignore—it’s true that it almost sounds like anything but a Christian message, don’t you think? Yet, truthfully there are times when we need discernment about what others are telling us and we truly need to ignore them. However, I want to reemphasize the importance of listening to others, too. It’s a wonderful way to show people compassion and a caring attitude—just by listening. But the opposite side of that truth is that there are times we should absolutely ignore what other people are saying to us. Not rudely, but quietly, just ignore. I saw this as I was reading about a time when Jesus chose to ignore people. That story is found in Mark 5:21-43. Jesus was approached by a synagogue ruler, Jairus, who pleaded earnestly with him to come and heal his little daughter who was dying. Here was one religious leader who was ready to believe in Jesus. Interesting how people can become believers really fast when they're in trouble, isn't it? Jesus agreed to go see his daughter, and on the way to his house some of Jairus's friends met them and reported that his daughter was dead, so there was no need to bother Jesus anymore. If ever there were words of death and gloom, this message was certainly that. "No need to try anymore," they told Jairus. "Forget it. Give up. Jesus might have been able to heal her, but she's dead now, and there's nothing he can do. So, don't even bother bringing Jesus with you. Just come on back home and mourn with the rest of us and bury your daughter.” This was the message Jairus's friends gave him. Jesus heard what they told Jairus. Notice in Mark 5:36 how he responded: "Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’“ In response to those words of death and doom, Jesus told Jairus to believe and not be afraid, and he completely ignored their bad report. Jesus ignored them because he knew what he intended to do, he knew the power of God in him, and their message of hopelessness was one to be ignored. Now, imagine how Jairus must have felt at this point. First, his friend—people he no doubt knew and trusted—report that his dear little daughter is already dead. I'm sure he knew they wouldn't tell him that if there was any doubt in their minds. Yet, here's Jesus telling him to ignore their report, refuse to be afraid, and continue to believe that Jesus will heal his daughter. Who does Jairus believe? Of course, he wants to believe that his daughter is not dead, but if he believes Jesus, he could really make a fool out of himself if she is dead. What does he do? Well, evidently Jairus chooses at this point to believe Jesus because they continue on their way to his house. And both Jesus and Jairus ignore the words of death and doom that his friends have delivered. Now, we need to understand that Jairus's friends weren't trying to do him any harm. Indeed, they were simply trying to make him face what they thought was reality. Obviously they didn't have faith in Jesus' power; they only believed what they could see, so their words to Jairus were faith-destroying words. I wonder what they said to Jairus during that walk to his house. Do you think they kept on trying to convince him that his daughter was dead and he was foolish to believe Jesus? I imagine they did, and in fact they probably thought he'd really gone off the deep end now. But Jairus ignored them—his good friends—and chose to believe Jesus. Then we see the scene when they arrive at the house. Everyone had declared the girl dead, and they'd already begun their mourning, crying and wailing loudly. You really have to put yourself in Jairus's shoes now, as he approaches with Jesus. Everyone is telling him, by words and actions, that his daughter is dead. Jesus is saying to ignore them, not be afraid and believe, and he's choosing to believe Jesus. But he looks very ridiculous to his friends. In fact, when Jesus announced to these unbelieving people that the child was not dead,
	Total Play:		0