Scripture: Mark 5 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. (v33)
Observe I think fear is many people’s response to Jesus. They were terrified when he calmed the storm They were afraid when he healed the demon-possessed. And this woman trembles with fear as she tells her story. I know what the first two were afraid of, but what about this woman? Why was she afraid? Jesus is going with a synagogue ruler and she tries to sneak in and get a surreptitious healing without anyone knowing. Jesus calls her out. Is this what she was afraid of? But Jesus responds to her with great gentleness.
Application Jesus is my best friend. ‘No one cares for me like Jesus’, the song says. But perhaps a little fear of him is okay..? His power is astonishing over the weather (Mark 4:35ff), over demons (5:1ff) and over disease (this passage). His power is exercised for me (among other things, of course). But it is, after all, power. Even though I love him and he loves me, I think I could stand to have a little fear of Jesus. That’s complete faith, I think.
Life application for today Try to think of Jesus as he is. (J.I. Packer had the phrase ‘the kindness of severity of God.) Meditate on the twinning of these two things in Jesus.
Prayer Jesus, increase in me an accurate picture of who you are that I may worship you aright.