We've heard of multitasking. Thanks to pop culture we have now heard of the multiverse. Maybe it's time to start considering the concept of multiserving.
How good are you at multitasking? I guess I do ok with it. Sometimes I think when I'm really stretched trying to multitask, though I may increase the quantity of my work within a period of time, the quality of my work often suffers as a result. When I look at the life and ministry of my Savior, Jesus Christ, I'm in awe at His ability to multitask without compromising the quality of the work He was performing. What kind of work was Jesus engaged in constantly? He said Himself in Matthew 20:28, "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many." Jesus came to serve, and He did it continuously and He did it amazingly well.
Jesus knew how to multiserve. For instance in Mark 5:21-43 we find the story of Jesus traveling to heal Jairus' daughter who was sick to the point of death. On the way, the crowd was pressing all around Jesus, making traveling extra difficult. Jesus didn't complain, but found another opportunity to serve in the midst of the chaos. He already had a task to complete, but stopped to multi-task. A woman touched His garment who herself needed healing from an ongoing issue of blood she had been experiencing. Jesus could have ignored her and kept going, but Jesus took a moment to stop, find her in the crowd, and affirm her faith. Jesus loved to multi-serve!
Scholars call this a "Markan Sandwich." A few times in the Gospel of Mark, there is a story that gets interrupted by a second story before finally concluding with the first story. It's a literary method Mark used to reinforce the point of the original story. In this case, the woman's faith in Jesus liberated her from her bondage of her ailment, helping reinforce the importance of faith to Jairus and all who would one day read this in Mark's Gospel! As soon as Jesus heals this woman with the issue of blood, friends come with the news that Jairus' daughter had already died. Jesus asks them to not be afraid, but only believe. He continues the journey and resurrects the little girl back to life!
I want to multi-serve like Jesus. I'm feeling impressed more and more I shouldn't be afraid to try. Can we be liberated from the bondage of our ailments - the sin that causes us to give up far too quickly trying to live more and more like Jesus? Can our faith increase all the more in Jesus' ability to work in our lives so we can always be on the lookout - ready to serve, ready to help, ready to give more of our lives to help win hearts for His kingdom?
Everyone in this story from Mark 5:21-43 came away amazed with Jesus' willingness and ability to serve them. Though we may feel far too pressed and frustrated with the chaos and crowds around us, could we look to Jesus to help us multiserve more like Him? I have a feeling if we have faith in Him, we too will be amazed in what He is willing to do through us - both in quantity and quality.
Pastor Michael Brackett