I like making things easy for my kids. Things are tough in this world, and part of my job as a dad is to make things a bit easier. And, what is easier than… “a tie for Christmas!”
I wear a tie three or four days a week. I am reliably informed that this places me outside the mainstream of culture at this point; but, let’s face it, I pretty much live there.
I’m not sure why I wear a tie. By any real measure, a tie has little function. I have, in the past, used it in emergencies as a napkin, but I have since learned the errors of my way. Ties just… are. They hang there and don’t do anything. Someone, somewhere thought that they “dressed up” an outfit, but I’m not sure how. And, worse yet, historically they date back to the French (my English-snobbery is showing!). Why the tie? Who knows? It is (or, increasingly, was) just part of our culture.
A lot of our cultural practices, I am sure, have meaningful historical significance; but in the present, just seem to be there “just because.” This is, of course, not simply endemic of our culture—Every society has its cultural practices which perhaps do not make much sense even to those who practice it. In Mark 5:38, we have one such cultural tradition that, at least on the surface, seems a bit odd.
Jesus is coming to the synagogue ruler Jairus’ house because his daughter is very sick. You can imagine Jairus hustling Jesus along, not wanting anything to slow Him down. Unfortunately, before they arrive, news comes of the daughter’s death. And, as they approach the house, they hear weeping and wailing. What you would expect given her death, except… those weepers and wailers are not the family members, not friends. They are professional mourners—folks paid to grieve, and to do so freely and publically. The cultural tradition of the day insisted that, upon death, the family would hire a band of people who would mourn for them in the streets. Like a tie, you gotta say, “huh?”
It is these mourners who Jesus first interacts with in verse 39—“Why are you making a commotion and weeping?” Jesus seems to either be ignoring an important cultural tradition or He is ignorant of what has happened, that the girl has died. Or… Or, Jesus knows something that the professional mourners do not. Perhaps He knows something about death, that His understanding of dying, His awareness of true need is more, much more, than those who are “skilled” at mourning.
There are, undoubtedly, many odd aspects of our culture that, upon reflection, seem a bit off. One of the great dangers of our culture is that it can mask the truths of the Gospel. This has always been the case, and it will always be the case: Satan will use anything to distract us from the truth of Jesus Christ. But we have such a Savior who will not be distracted. He will push through our misconceptions and bring the light of the Gospel into our lives.
If you are wearing a tie this week or not, we welcome you to worship, to come to our Savior together! In preparation for worship this week, read Mark 5:21-43.
