July 17 – Day 199 – Song of Songs 7-8; Mark 5

Song of Songs, chapter 7 begins with the continuation of Solomon’s words of love for his bride, and concludes with her calling him to come to her for their love to be consummated.  This chapter can make the prudish a bit concerned. Is this kind of thing supposed to be in the Bible?  While there may be few prudes left in the world, the passage makes it clear God both made and affirms sexual love in its proper setting: a committed marriage between a man and a woman, who are both committed to God. While Solomon’s “beloved” was hardly his only wife, after all he had 700 wives and 300 concubines, the Song of Songs shows us what is appropriate between a husband and wife when it comes to physical expressions of love.

Song of Songs concludes in chapter 8 with an expression of how powerful love can be. We’re told love is as strong as death, and that many waters cannot quench it.  The final words of the book address the bride’s younger sister, and are somewhat anti-climactic given the overall theme of the book.

As we return to Mark 5, we read of three major healings Jesus performed. First, Jesus healed a man who was possessed by as many as 2,000 demons.  He called himself, Legion, because he had so many demons.  The sad reality in this account is after Jesus healed the man, and the people of the area saw this once terribly violent and affected man, calm, whole, and in his right mind, they asked Jesus to leave.  This was too much for them to accept.  The man begged Jesus to let him go with Him, but Jesus told the man to go back and tell everyone in the cities of that area what the Lord had done for him.  The man did and we’re told everyone who heard what happened was amazed.

Next, while Jesus was on the way to Jairus’ house to heal his daughter, a woman worked her way through the tremendous crowd that was pressing against Jesus and touched Him.  With that touch, the woman was healed of a terrible bleeding disorder.  The woman had broken the Law of Moses by coming among the people in the crowd, and by touching Jesus.  Her bleeding disorder made her “unclean,” and therefore, she was prohibited from being near other people.  Her desperation made her ignore the Law, and her faith made her well.  Jesus recognized healing power had gone out from Him and asked His disciples who had touched Him?  They thought the question absurd given the density of the crowd, but the woman realized Jesus knew what had happened.  She came before Him, bowed down and told the whole story.  She had no idea how Jesus would respond.  Would He condemn her?  The short answer is: No! Jesus said “Daughter, your faith has healed you…”  This woman is the only person Jesus ever called daughter.  What a tender response. It might be one of the most powerful interactions Jesus ever had with someone He healed.

Finally, while Jesus was delayed with the woman, servants came from Jairus’ house to tell him his daughter had died.  Jesus told Jairus the girl had only fallen asleep.  They continued to Jairus’ house. When they entered, the scene was that of wailing and mourning.  Jesus told everyone the girl was only asleep, but they laughed at Him.  When they made their way to the girl’s room, Jesus took her by that hand and told her to get up.  She did!  As a dad, I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to have been Jairus in that moment.  I would have followed Jesus anywhere!  As we go about our lives, we must remember how much Jesus loves us, and how powerful He is to impact our lives.  Whatever healing we need: spiritual, physical, emotional, He has the ability to touch us.  He calls us sons and daughters.  He literally died for us, rose for us, reigns in power over us and prays for us.  The focus of our faith is Jesus.  He changes everything. As we go about this day, our faith in Him makes all the difference.

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