“Overhearing them, but Ignoring them...”

What a profound lesson Jesus teaches us about disregarding negative reports, as exemplified in the following scriptures.

I am struck by how Jesus never wavered in proclaiming the truth, for He is the Truth. No one intimidated Him, regardless of their societal rank or the number of demons they might have been possessed by.

In Mark 5:21-24, 35-43, we encounter the story of Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue, who approaches Jesus, pleading for Him to heal his daughter. What is remarkable about this account is that Jairus, a member of the Jewish leadership who had previously condemned Jesus as a heretic (John 8:35-44), sought Jesus out in desperation to heal his dying child.

Jesus agrees to accompany Jairus to his home, but upon arrival, they are met with the devastating news that the girl has died (Mark 5:35), and they are told, "Why bother the Teacher any longer?"

I believe this message was delivered by the enemy, for Satan knew that Jesus was about to perform a miracle for a member of the very council that would later conspire to have Jesus killed. As always, he sought to thwart faith and prevent a miracle.

However, the most significant moment in this story is not merely the raising of the girl from the dead—though this, of course, is a tremendous miracle. The Amplified Bible Classic Edition (Mark 5:36) states, "Overhearing them, but ignoring them..." Jesus reassured Jairus, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe."

In Matthew 9:4, when Jesus is about to heal a paralytic, He perceives the negative thoughts of those around Him. He immediately confronts them, saying, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?"

Similarly, when Jesus dines with tax collectors at Matthew’s house, the Pharisees criticise Him for associating with sinners. Jesus overhears their grumbling and responds accordingly.

In another well-known and often misunderstood account, John 8:1-11 recounts the moment when a woman caught in adultery is brought before Jesus by the Pharisees, hoping to trap Him. What is striking about this episode is not only the injustice of the woman being accused alone—where, one might wonder, was the man involved in the act?—but also Jesus' response. He ignores their accusations and stoops down to write on the ground.

While the text does not tell us what He wrote, His action itself is a profound act of defiance against the accusers. By stooping down, He symbolically dismisses the accusations as irrelevant, showing that the truth is not determined by Satan’s lies or by human condemnation. He then delivers a powerful rebuke: "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."

None of the accusers could pick up a stone, for they all recognised that they, too, were guilty of sin. This episode powerfully illustrates that sin is sin, and the self-righteousness of the accusers was no defence. The fact that they all walked away silently reveals that, despite their outward claims of righteousness, they too were guilty.

In this, we see the astounding nature of our Lord. Though He is fully aware of both Satan’s accusations and our sin, He does not allow them to hinder His love for us. To Jesus, these accusations are of no consequence.

“Overhearing them, but Ignoring them...”

Satan’s negative reports hold no weight with Jesus. Imagine, in the face of distress—whether it be a doctor's diagnosis, a financial setback, or the insults of your enemies—Jesus gently placing His hand on your shoulder or holding your hand, looking into your eyes, and saying, "Do not be afraid, only believe."

Let us take Jesus’ example to heart. When faced with the negative reports of the world, let us overhear them but ignore them, holding fast to Jesus and moving forward in faith. He will prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies.