Just Believe.

When we were touching down in Iowa on Monday morning, the fields everywhere were (still are) covered with snow. From his window view, Benjamin could see the snow everywhere, and even though it sparkled white, his first comment was "Look at all that sand, Mommy!".

He could not wait to play in the sand!!

Due to the ice storm that came through, he did not get to experience the "sand" until the next night. Steve and I showed him the icicles and let him touch them and then made him a snowball and he threw it. He was amazed at the "sand" and how cold and wet it was. His big, black eyes were so expressive as he stomped the "sand" and threw the snowball and touched the icicles.
He was a little afraid, a little excited, and just could not believe that it was not sand, after all.

He has now figured out that it is snow...but he is still a little afraid of it. He's not sure what it is or what it is supposed to do. He just knows it is not sand. A crisis of belief for our almost 3 year old boy.

How much like Benjamin are each of us when it comes to Jesus?

Luke 8:50 "Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, 'Don't be afraid, just believe..."

In this passage, Jesus is telling Jairus to not be afraid...to just believe that his daughter had been healed. Jesus had healed her before ever reaching or seeing her. He told Jairus to believe in his heart that his daughter had been healed without Jesus physically being there to heal her.

I don't think more powerful words had yet been spoken by Jesus. Just believe? Can you imagine Jairus? The thoughts in his head. He had just been told by his servants that his daughter was dead. Now this Nazarene man who seemed kind and might just be the Messiah was telling him to "not be afraid...just believe...". Impossible?

Not with Jesus. Jairus did as he said. And as a result, his daughter was healed. A crisis of belief had just occurred...and Jairus had chosen to believe Jesus.

Jesus came simply...humbly...completely human and completely a King. And in His own words, He reminds us over and over to "not be afraid, just believe". What does that mean for each of us?

Depending on our circumstances, it could mean anything.

Just believe that He will provide during the most difficult financial times.
Just believe that He will stand beside you as you are wheeled away to surgery.
Just believe that He gives you strength as you face an unexpected turn in your journey of life.

Or...depending on our lives...it could mean this:

Just believe that Jesus came to earth.
Just believe that Jesus came simply...humbly...to save us from this world.
Just believe that Jesus is the King...the only King.

Just believe. The angels told us to do that before Jesus did, didn't they?

Luke 2:8-12 "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'"

Do not be afraid. Jesus is here. Just believe. He is Who He says He is. He is Who the angels from Heaven proclaimed Him to be. The baby in the manger is the great King of all creation. The sweet, innocent child is the most powerful Lord of the earth. The sleeping child we find in Bethlehem created Bethlehem and sits on the throne right now, watching over all the earth and preparing a home in Heaven...if we heed the warning of the angels and of Jesus Himself:

"Do not be afraid...just believe..."