0959 Mk.5.21-43 The Awesome Power of Jesus Pt.3
Mark • Sermon • Submitted
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· 2 viewsThis passage of Scripture gives us insight into the kind of faith that Jesus is looking for. Faith in the historical person of Jesus is not a faith that is good enough - It must be a faith that totally relies & trusts in Him, knowing that He can accomplish all that He says & more. Such faith is one which obeys this Jesus & who trusts Him & acts out that trust in daily life.
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In 2017 Michael Talley took his kids to Canyon Lake in Texas to enjoy his daughter’s 12th birthday
His daughter Daja will never forget her 12th birthday as it is the day her father gave his life to save her
She was riding on a jet ski with her dad when a sudden turn caused them to fall off
"My dad had made a sharp turn and we both fell into the water," Daja said
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Daja was wearing a life jacket, but he still went under water. After she resurfaced, she started crying out for her dad
She said her dad took off his life jacket and gave it to her
"He thought I was going to drown," she said.
Her dad struggled to stay above water until someone arrived with another jet ski to help
But her dad was so worn out by this time, he slipped off the Jet Ski into the water & never resurfaced
It was an absolute tragedy
Daja said that “he was an amazing and heroic dad, and we will love him, and pray for him every day and talk to him in heaven"
https://abc13.com/family-remembers-father-who-gave-his-life-for-daughter/2284708/
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There’s nothing a Dad wouldn’t do to save his little girl
Daja was 12 yrs old - the same age as the Synagogue ruler’s little girl - & Luke tells us that she was his only daughter
42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. But as He went, the crowds were pressing against Him.
Jairus’ daughter was at the point of death &, no doubt, as a father, this man was beside himself
1. Jesus Helps the Great Mk.5:21-24
1. Jesus Helps the Great Mk.5:21-24
No matter what he thought of Jesus, Jairus knew that there was something special about Him
This man who was a Synagogue ruler - someone of great notoriety - fell at His feet & begged Jesus
No doubt, this man knows full well the attitude of his fellow leaders in the Synagogue & those of the Scribes who are from Jerusalem
That they consider Jesus a fraudulent person who is using the devil’s power to drive out demons - by Beelzebul
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In going to Jesus for help, this man is doing something very brave, but very damaging to his career & reputation, at least, amongst the so-called “respectable” upper echelon of the religious community
But he is desperate & he is a father who loves his child
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A father who loves his child will swallow his pride; will go against the ruling narrative; will jump through hoops; indeed do anything to protect his child
It’s ironic, I think, that people so succumb to false narratives in life, until push comes to shove & something very precious to them, threatens to be lost
It’s then, that these people push back; cut across the grain; stand tall & do what needs to be done
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Regardless of the way this man lived; regardless of what he thought about Jesus in his heart, Jesus was willing to go with him & to heal his daughter
When people think about whether they should believe in Jesus or not, if life is going well, they are happy to leave Him alone & to not pursue faith in Him any further
However, it is in those moments, when life is fragile; when something precious is about to be lost, that a person finally puts aside all that pride, that ego & that nonsense of negativity towards Jesus and they ask Him for help
Q. Why not before? Why does Jesus have to be the last & final port of call?
Q. Why do Christians get scolded for believing; why are they looked down upon when these very people when in desperation reveal that they believe more than they let on
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Is it pride; is it arrogance; is it fear?
Fear that they may lose something
Is it respect among other people; is it embarrassment by having to admit that you believe
Surely, this should raise questions about what really is holding people back
What is so evil; so wrong, about believing in Jesus
Here’s one such person who broke the mold of the unbelieving Jewish community in order to save his daughter
2. Jesus Helps the Small Mk5.25-34
2. Jesus Helps the Small Mk5.25-34
The singer, Laura Story, has a sad story to tell
That as a young wife, within the first 2 yrs of marriage, her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumour
He survived an operation, but is now somewhat disabled
She has a great song called, “Friend of Sinners” & it emphasises how Jesus is the servant of us all - to both great & small - I’ll play that later as we lead into communion
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We see a no greater example in what happens here in this passage where Jesus is on the way to Jairus’ house to help his daughter
If the majority of the religious leaders would be outraged by Jairus’ conduct in begging Jesus for help, what would they think of this next situation?
Here we have a woman who had suffered menstrual issues with constant bleeding for 12 yrs
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She has suffered greatly, it says, at the hands of doctors & has spent all her money on trying to get healed - she was not helped at all, but rather made worse
Who knows what the doctors have done but they certainly seem to have botched up her treatment
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I was out at Brad & Amy’s the other night & we were watching this show, that was set in the early 1960’s, called “The Call of the Midwife” & in this episode a baby had been born with deformed arms & legs
The mother had been on a treatment called Tha/lid/omide
The BBC did an article in 2011 on Tha/lid/omide where they say “Fifty years ago (now 60), the sedative Tha/lid/omide was withdrawn after thousands of mothers gave birth to disabled babies” (https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-15536544)
What a terrible tragic mistake by the medical community!
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History also tells us of the practise of bloodletting where a doctor would make a cut to bleed blood out of the patient
The intention was to help but as we know now, you mostly weaken a patient if they lose blood when they are trying to fight disease
The idea at the time was that the humors - as they were called - were out of balance
The thought was that the human body contains 4 humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile
Draining some blood was thought to help bring back the balance
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Now modern medicine has been a wonderful blessing to the world & we would not be without the great care that we get
We get so much help for our health ailments that words just cannot express & we are so thankful & grateful for the treatment & medicines & painkillers we receive
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But its not all upside since people are human (they’re weak), sinful (they can act corruptly) & fallible (they make mistakes)
I believe there will be some sober reflection once Covid is behind us into the interplay between politics, media & the conflicts of interests that are now being revealed in tie ups with Pharmaceutical companies
Let’s be honest, their first priority is not to be benevolent, but to make profits - they are a business so there are bound to be temptations put in front of people
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Again, we have benefited immensely from the work of the medical community & I would not want to take anything away from that
But a point is being made in this passage by way of contrast that show that people are still human & fallible & yes, sinful
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This woman was not helped by the many doctors but, in fact, had spent all her money & was made worse
It says that she endured or suffered much, not from her ailment, but at the hands of the human physicians
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This gives us an idea into the condition of this poor woman
Not only the physical condition, but her mental & psychological condition
She not only had to put up with her medical issue, but she suffered as well - for 12 yrs - under those she thought & trusted would have helped her, rather than make her condition worse
So the impression we’re to get here is that she is in a very desperate state & this here sets us up to understand how inept humans are in the face of what Jesus Christ can do
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Now if you thought that was bad enough, we’re not finished
Since she has a menstrual bleed, it meant that she was permanently unclean
She could not go to worship; she could not have contact with people - there was really little difference to being that of a leper
She had no status & no dignity - she is at the bottom of the honour scale
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Jesus halts His progress to Jairus’ house to speak with this woman
Now Jesus had people crowding around Him all the time - He got very little rest
Remember when He came home to Capernaum, there were so many people there in the house & its surrounds that He couldn’t even eat a meal
It got so bad that the only practical way to address the people was from a boat just out off the shore on the Sea of Galilee
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Out on Brad’s farm, there are a number of electric fences
Ordinarily, you can grab hold of the fence & you’re fine, but if you grab hold of the wrong part of the fence, you’re going to know all about it
This was an experience Ros “enjoyed” recently - as most of Brad’s kids have in the past
Touching the fence becomes second-nature until one such touch has you feel a power surge that you never expected
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Jesus felt a power surge from one such person amidst the touches of many people
They all were neutral & made no impact, but this woman causes a surge of power to leave Jesus
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With so many people crowding around Him, how come this woman was singled out amongst all those people
30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?”
The power that proceeded from Jesus gave immediate & complete healing to this woman
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Q. What has happened here?
Usually, when healing takes place, it is Jesus who touches the person
But this woman touches Him from behind amongst all the others who were crowding around Him & touching, even, grabbing Him
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Q. How it is that she received the cure?
28 For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.”
There is something in the heart & mind of this woman that made the difference - did you pick up what it was?
34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”
Your faith has made you well
Q. How can we tell the difference between the faith or otherwise of all these people crowding around?
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Well, consider what the title of this sermon is
The awesome power/authority of Jesus
We have seen how Jesus stilled the storm with a word & how the disciples were saying: “who who who then is this, that even the wind & waves obey Him”
We have looked at the instance of the legion of demons driven out of the man by the command of Jesus & them entering & drowning the 2000 herd of pigs
Now here, a woman who has been cured after 12 yrs of constant bleeding & botched attempts of human physicians who only made her worse - cured by a touch to the back of His garment
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Q. Are you getting the picture?
Q. How big is your Jesus? How powerful do you think He is?
Q. On a scale of 1-10 how able is He to save & heal?
You see the problem for many of these Israelites & Gentiles was that they rated Him about a 5 or 6, when really what we are seeing here is an 11
The woman’s faith here is vastly different from most
She rated Him an 11 where she knew for certain that if she could only get to touch His garment, she would be healed
In her mind, He was that powerful
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Remember the centurion that received so much praise from Jesus
2 And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. 3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.
6 Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; 7 for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Just say the word & he will be healed - simple as that
The Roman Centurion understood authority & he could see that Jesus possessed ultimate authority (on the scale of 1-10 - He’s 11). He didn’t need Him to come - He just had to give the word
What incredible faith this Gentile exhibited!
Jesus said the He had not found such great faith in all Israel
The result for the Centurion was what he expected
10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
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When Jesus asked the question, “who touched My garments”, His disciples were puzzled because everyman & “his dog” was touching Him
But not everyman had the faith of this woman which is why Jesus knew that someone had a faith that was granted His healing power
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The woman comes clean but is full of fear & trembling
People who were healed by Jesus showed rather mixed reactions
Some were grateful, some didn’t even come back to thank Him
Some wanted to follow Him & some didn’t see Him again
Some did as He asked & some disobeyed Him
They spread news about their healing when He had told them not to
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Q. But what was this woman worried about?
Q. What was it, that she did so wrong that she admitted to Jesus in fear & trembling?
Well remember, the woman was unclean
For her to touch someone rendered them unclean & Jesus was regarded as a holy man, so to touch Him was to commit a heinous sin against that holy man
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However, Jesus never scolded her, nor even suggested that what she did was wrong
In fact, Jesus voluntarily touched unclean Lepers
When He did these things, the He never became unclean - the opposite happened - the unclean became the clean
This is exactly what happens here to the woman
Before she touched Jesus, she was unclean, but after she touched Him, she became clean & now can be restored to a normal position in society
We are getting a picture of a Lord & Saviour who, on scale of 1-10 is an 11
3. Believing in His Power Mk.5:35-43
3. Believing in His Power Mk.5:35-43
The message of the woman’s healing was about the kind of faith she put in Jesus
The message about Jairus’ daughter is the same
Q. Who is this Jesus? How powerful is He?
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For most people of the world, death speaks of finality - whether you believe in an afterlife or not
It is final; it is the end; there is no more - particularly if you are an atheist
Many religions speak, however, of there being more
Some teach a future of disembodied souls; others speak about being reincarnated into another life form, either animal or human
The Judeo-Christian religion teaches a resurrection of the body
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No matter what faith or non-faith a person has, there is no resuscitation back from the dead
The news reaches the Synagogue official while they were on their way with Jesus to his house and daughter - that she had already died & to not bother Jesus anymore
At this point, imagine how the Synagogue leader would be feeling - wouldn’t he be utterly devastated/heart-broken
They - the multiple of people - came from his house saying it’s too late, she’s dead - no one comes back from the dead & even Jesus can’t help here… or can He?
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Q. What is this about? What are we seeing here?
Q. Is this Jesus just another man; a miracle worker with limitations?
Q. Are there limitations with Jesus? That’s a question!
Well, there is to the extent that, in Jesus, God became man
He suffered in the flesh; He got tired & slept in a boat while a storm was raging about Him; He got hungry, not able eat because He was in such demand & the people crowded Him out
His Father in heaven is the only One who knew of the time when Jesus would come again to fully establish His kingdom on a renewed earth
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Q. But apart from these designed limitations, was Jesus able to exercise His Sprit’s unlimited power?
The answer, clearly, is yes!
34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
The very next verse after this verse in John, that is up on the screen, needs this verse here on the screen to define for us what it means to believe
36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Believing, in this context, is defined by obeying Jesus & understanding & accepting that He is without limit
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Jesus comforts Jairus from all the negativity that the death of his daughter has brought
He tells him to not be afraid - only believe
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Q. Afraid of what? Afraid that it is too late - too late - for Jesus to help
What a joke, in reality
Here is the Son of God, Creator of the universe - is there any need to be afraid that He might not be able to save his daughter
His disciples faced the same charge of Jesus when they had woken Him in a panic fearing for their lives & that He might not be able to help - & He tells them to not be afraid
40 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”
Q. Can He not save? Does He not have the power to be able to save to the absolute uttermost?
Q. Why will people not believe in what He can do?
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear.
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After arriving at the Synagogue officials house, they find all the mourners have arrived - a lot of these were hired mourners - professional mourners - that was quite common in Israel
Jesus was astounded by all the commotion
What was on display was such a vacancy of faith
Q. Did no one believe He could save the girl?
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He asked them why make a commotion & weep. The child is not dead - finality is not for her - but that she is merely asleep
That vacancy of faith becomes plain now with the people derisively laughing or snickering at Him
She is really dead, but to Jesus, she’s just asleep
For us, the line between life & death is sharp & defined; but for Jesus, there is no line
Jesus expected faith in Him & His power, even in the face of death
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Q. So what does He do with this unbelieving lot?
He doesn’t let them witness the miracle
He takes only her parents & Peter, James & John to witness the miracle
This was for their eyes only
Probably, a 2 fold thing going on here
His identity being known on a broader scale could have provoked the authorities to bring Him to His passion (His suffering) before the appropriate time
Inside knowledge is given to His inner circle, but not to those outside
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All Jesus did was take her by the hand & spoke to her
41 Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).
Talitha Kum - colloquial meaning “Get up kid”!
Immediately, she got up & began to walk as evidence of her healing
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She is not resurrected - which is a new order of existence - she is resuscitated back to life
But her resuscitation becomes for the church, a foreshadowing of the greater resurrection that is coming for all God’s people
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Upon the resuscitation of Jairus’ daughter, they were all completely astounded or overcome with amazement
This word means the “displacement of the mind” - out of their right mind - they were so dumbfounded by what they witnessed
It’s one thing to drive out demons & to even control the weather, but to also bring back the dead - what!
It’s that same use of the word which was expressed by Jesus’ own family who said that He was out of His mind
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This passage of Scripture today gives us insight into the kind of faith that Jesus is looking for
Faith in the historical person of Jesus is not a faith that is good enough
It must be a faith that totally relies & trusts in Him knowing that He can accomplish all that He says & more
Such faith is one which obeys this Jesus & who trusts Him & acts out that trust in daily life