I'm a math guy.   For some reason, my entire life, I've always been fascinated with numbers.   Averages, highs, lows, make numbers work for me, and how numbers interact with each other throughout different applications.   So, when reading scriptures, numbers seem to jump out at me.   Today, I was reading Mark 5 and stumbled upon something I don't remember finding a correlation between.   In this chapter, we see the use of numbers in a variety of ways.   First, Jesus casts out a legion of demon spirits out of a man possessed.  Next comes the story of Jarius, whose 12-year-old daughter is near death.   Finally, we read of the healing of a woman inflicted by a blood disorder for 12 years.   For this particular blog, I want to focus on the number 12 as it relates to this particular chapter and while it's no coincidence that a girl who was 12 was raised from the dead, and that a woman suffering a disorder for 12 years got healed.   

Being a Christian for almost 43 years now, I've heard countless messages preached on Mark 5 and for good reason.  The chapter begins with Jesus exercising His spiritual authority in the ability to cast out evil spirits.   This kind of authority was also given to the disciples in Luke 9:1, and it's an authority that any Christian carries with them in the ability to cast out evil spirits by the thousands!   But as I mentioned above, I wanted to concentrate on the number 12 and the two stories that followed.  

All numbers in scripture have meaning and the for the number 12, that meaning is God's Government.    We see that illustrated with the 12 Tribes of Israel and the 12 disciples.  12 is a perfect number and it symbolizes God's power and authority.   In Revelation 12, we read that Christ's bride, the church wears a crown of 12 stars on their heads.  And lastly, the first recorded words of Jesus were documented at the age of 12 years old.   There are many more uses of the number 12 in scripture too, but these are some of the highlights.  

So, what's so significant about a 12-year-old deceased girl and a woman suffering an incurable disease for 12 years?   Well, that's what I love about scripture.   The applications of each verse or a particular story or parable has everlasting meaning.   Many people can find strength in knowing that even if they suffer for 12 years, they can still be healed.   Other people can find comfort that even if things look dead and impossible, the Lord can still work a miraculous outcome.   But as I read this morning, I think that since the Lord's number of 12 is correlated to perfect Government, I wanted to shift my focus on that aspect only.  What can we learn about Government from these particular stories?

Jarius was a leader in the synagogue in Capernaum.   He would have been a very well-known person to have such a position in leadership.   We know that Jarius had heard of Jesus and His miracles, so he came to beg for her healing.  Jesus seeing the need, went with him but found the way to be interrupted by large crowds.   As Jesus was in the midst of healing the woman, we will discuss next, a messenger came to Jarius to inform him that his daughter had died and there was nothing more that could be done.   But Jesus said to simply believe, and they would continue to Jarius's house.   The rest of the story goes much like you'd expect it to go.   Jesus goes in and says the girl is simply sleeping and raises her from the dead.   In fact, Jesus even shooed away the mourners from the premises.    

Next was the woman with bleeding disorder.   She basically had a period every day of her life for 12 straight years.   Imagine how anemic she was at that point and the fact she was alive still was a miracle in itself!   Back then there were no iron injections or blood transfusions to keep a person going.   But all she did was simply touch The Lords' robe and she was also healed.   Again, like so many other Biblical stories, there's a lot you can preach or write or mediate on here.   But let's focus on Government.  

Today's governing is a train wreck.   It really doesn't matter which side of the aisle you place your votes too; any government has its faults, and most are simply in it for themselves and not the people they should represent.   Sadly, in today's world, the masses tend to believe that the President or King or Queen can make all the difference in the world.   But honestly, we soon find out that they are just as corrupt and their parties agenda's trump what is best for the country as a whole.   

In Mark 5 we see 2 different types of Government represented in these two stories.   First a young government that is dying.   There appears to be no hope for it.  All the people are just standing around moaning and crying on social media about the problems at hand, with no Earthly idea of how to fix it, but they want their voices heard in a public display.  We also see a government that is sick and has been for quite some time.   Numerous people have tried to help this government with suggestions, theories, propaganda, but to no avail.   No matter what anyone says or does, the government is still sick.  

What struck me was the simple faith of one person in these two stories.   Jarius and the woman both inadequate in their own flesh, knew their only hope was in Jesus.   They didn't know how He was going to rectify the situation; they just knew that He would.   Regardless of what it looked like, how many people were complaining, how many naysayers there were, they simply came to Jesus as they were and petitioned His assistance.  Simply incredible when you consider that Jesus will rectify any type of situation when only one person begins to believe that He can.  

Perhaps in today's society of civil unrest and agendas and current and future candidates wailing in public of how they, and they alone, can fix the problems of this world.   Perhaps, they are not the answer to whom we seek.   Perhaps that will only make things worse.   I believe our answer is Jesus Christ of Nazareth!   I believe that He, and He alone is the only answer to fix our Country and World.   We see that much more clearly know in Mark 5.   We see what He can do when one person believes.   Wonder what He could do if 2 or 3 or 12 or 100 or 10000 people actually believed that He could fix what ails our world today.  

2 chronicles 7:14 illustrates well what I'm talking about.   It says if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land!   Oh Lord, may we find such individuals who desire a healing world above anything else!