Following Jesus When You DoubtSample

Devotion

Jairus and the woman approached Jesus differently. Jairus approached him directly: “When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, ‘My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live’” (Mark 5:22–23). The woman approached him indirectly: “She came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed’” (Mark 5:27–28).

Neither way was wrong or right. Most likely, the way they approached Christ had to do with their stations in life. Jairus was a respected leader in the community. The bleeding woman was an outcast from society based on Jewish law. She shouldn’t have been out on the street in public, much less touching the tassels of Jesus’ cloak. She probably feared that if she approached Jesus directly, she would be denied, as it was against the law for him to touch her.

Sometimes we approach Jesus boldly. We know what we need and believe that he can give it to us. Other times, we approach Jesus hesitantly. We’re afraid to ask for what we need because we don’t think we deserve it or we’re unsure he will give it to us. We can learn something from Jairus and the bleeding woman. It doesn’t matter what state we’re in when we approach Christ—desperate, doubting, bold, or uncertain. What matters is that we approach him. We come to him as we are and ask him for what we need. He will not turn us away.

Respond

1. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple tore in two (see Matthew 27:51). This veil separated two rooms in the temple: the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place. The Holy of Holies held the Ark of the Covenant, where God dwelled. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement when he made sacrifices to atone for the people’s sin. Knowing this, what does it mean for Jesus to be our high priest? According to this passage, what kind of high priest is he?
2. Because Jesus is our high priest, how does the author Hebrews say that we can approach God’s throne? What will we find there?
3. Take an inventory of yourself. How are you feeling? What thoughts are going through your mind? What has happened today that has impacted you? Considering this, how would you approach God’s throne right now—just as you are?
4. What do you need to bring before the Lord today? Do you feel confident bringing this before him, or uncertain, or worried, or something else? Explain your response.

Prayer

End your time in prayer. Come before the Lord just as you are. Tell him what you need. Be assured that your great high priest has paved the way for you to come before God’s throne with confidence so that you can receive his grace and mercy.