We are nearing the midway point of our Lenten journey, and this is the part of the season that is often the hardest for me. We can’t see the starting blocks in our rearview mirror, and the finish line is still somewhere over the horizon. It might feel like the “flyover” portion of our trip, but there is always hope if we pay attention to this itinerary between life, death, and resurrection.
Times like this remind me of how much of Jesus’ ministry is spent on the road. In Mark 5, Jairus, a leader of the synagogue, comes to Jesus and implores him repeatedly to come and heal his daughter who is at death’s door. Jesus agrees and follows the anxious father. As they move forward together toward a place of death and life, the ever-growing crowd begins to press in on him.
“Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?”’ He looked all round to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease’” (Mark 5:25-34, NRSV.)
This woman was not on the day’s calendar, but Christ still met her on the road between where he started and where he was going. Even though many crowded in on him, Jesus still felt her touch and knew her faith. I believe this story, and others, provide hope and purpose for those of us journeying between Ash Wednesday and Holy Week. These “traveling mercies” don’t always provide protection because we know sometimes past pain continues to linger. However, the Bible promises God’s presence throughout the journey.
May we all see God moving between here and there, now and then, the already and the not yet. Christ will continue to meet us on the road.
In Hope and Confidence,
Pastor Dave
Read the Gospels in 40 Days: Matthew 24-25
Photo by Naletu on Unsplash
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