Junk mail, commercials, announcements inside stores, and honking cars in parking lots. These are just a few of the things we choose to ignore.

I was surprised to notice that Jesus also chose to ignore certain people or at least their comments. One day, Jesus was again surrounded by a crowd. A synagogue ruler, named Jairus, knelt at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to heal his daughter who was at home dying. As Jesus headed toward Jairus’ home, He was interrupted by a woman who needed healing from a bleeding issue. (We find this story in Mark 5:21-43.)

The first people Jesus ignores are His disciples. When the woman with an issue of blood touched Jesus’ cloak, He knew immediately that power had been released and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” (Mk. 5:30b). The disciples, in ignorance, try to point out to Jesus that He was surrounded by an encroaching crowd. “But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it” (Mk. 5:32).

The next people or statements Jesus ignores are when He is informed that Jairus’ daughter is dead. “Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe’” (Mk. 5:36). Upon arriving at Jairus’ home, Jesus also ignores the mourners and those who laugh at Him when He claims the child is not (permanently) dead.

Jesus’ words and actions remind us that some people will not understand our faith and the ways of God. Sometimes we do not need to stop and reason with them. There will always be those who refuse to believe or choose to mock us. We need to remain focused on the mission at hand. So apparently, there is a time to ignore. May we do so with godly wisdom.