Jesus Will Not Be Distracted

Steve Bowyer

Messiah not just Miracle-Worker • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

Mark 5:21–43

Matthew 9:18–26

Luke 8:40–56

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We are Easily Distracted

When Jesus started out He was performing miracles to, among other things, fulfill prophecy so that Israel would know their Messiah has arrived.

But, they rejected Him. They didn’t accept Him. They didn’t buy in.

Now, He’s performing miracles w/ something else in mind.

For those who are members of the Church, Jesus is proving to us that we do not need to be afraid of any situation or circumstance we may face.

He is in complete control.

How we approach Him matters. That we not panic, matters. That we trust that He’s got us, matters.

There are times in our lives when we face such difficult circumstances that they are well beyond us.

We’re getting hurt and there is the potential for the damage to be devastating.

It seems like Jesus may be distracted, or asleep. B/C He doesn’t seem t/b giving us His full attention.

Jesus is capable of managing the entire universe, including the minutiae of our lives w/out dropping any details.

He is never distracted from protecting us and providing for us. Not b/c we’re so important. But, b/c He loves us so much.

How do we know? Miracles # 15 and 16.

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Context (Mark)

Kingdom parables

The kingdom is like a seed that starts small and grows into a huge plant.

People from all over will come and rest on its branches.

Then...

4 Miracles

Calms the storm

Casts out a Legion of demons

These 2: Heals a woman as good as dead

Raises a dead girl.

All w/out lifting a finger, just saying the word.

Easy. No stress. No effort.

Next...

Sends out the 12

Seed-casters. Take the message out 2 x 2.

The gospel. The good news about the kingdom.

While they are out they encounter storms, demons, death and disease.

Their own, not just the recipients of the message.

How will the disciples handle what they have to face?

How will the people react when they see the disciples handle everything they face?

Later...

Jesus feeds 5000 and 4000

5000 + Jews

4000 + Gentiles

Same message, same Messiah, all people.

Back to the message today.

2 miracles contribute to the same message.

Jesus is everyone’s Messiah. He cannot be distracted from the details of our lives because He is capable of managing everything and loves us enough that He won’t let it happen.

A Desperate Father ()

Mark 5:21–24 NIV

When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him.

Setting

taught the kingdom parables,

sent the disciples across the sea where they encountered the storm,

Calmed the storm

Arrived on the other side and was confronted by the man possessed w/ a Legion of demons.

Delivered the man

Now, they’re back, where He taught the Kingdom parables.

Faith of the father

Jairus: synagogue leader. Jewish.

His love for his daughter outweighed his fear of what his fellow Jews would do and say about him crying out to Jesus.

Fell at His feet. He humbly begged Jesus to come and heal is daughter.

The demon fell at Jesus’ feet out of fear and respect hoping Jesus would leave them alone.

Jairus fell at his feet out of humble faith and devotion hoping Jesus would get involved and help them.

He didn’t just demand Jesus do something, he wasn’t casual in his approach.

Jairus was intentional, respectful, faithful in how he came to Jesus.

And He was desperate b/c of his love for his daughter.

His love for his daughter

it was his only daughter.

She had been frail, sickly since her birth.

The doctors had not been able to prevent this day from coming. She was at death’s door.

Jairus was desperate and begged Jesus to come and so something.

Jesus responded by acting immediately to do what the father had requested.

He headed to Jairus’ house to see what needed t/b done.

On the way, Jesus was distracted by a woman.

Men are distracted by women all the time and we forget everything we were intending to do.

Not what happened here. Not what you may think.

A Divine Delay

Mark 5:25–34 NIV

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Mark 5:25

Her situation

There was a woman in the crowd who had been suffering from a bleeding problem for 12 years.

The problem was related to her reproductive system.

According to Levitical law she was

She had suffered a great deal. Her problem was incurable. But that didn’t stop the doctors from trying.

At the time, there were 11 different treatment options. Some were superstitious, others were tonics and astringents.

She had spent her entire life savings on treatments and they turned out to be painful and pointless.

Her situation caused her to be considered unclean according to Levitical law. She was excluded from the synagogue.

She was a social outcast. Anyone who touched her, even inadvertently, was also considered unclean.

The law kept Israel healthy and alive.

She was penniless, in chronic pain, bleeding to death, and had no one she could call a friend.

Physically, just about dead. Relationally as good as dead. Spiritually, she hadn’t been to worship in years. But, she had heard enough about Jesus to believe in Who He is and what He could do for her.

So, she humbly approached Him as her King.

Her approach

She snuck up behind Him.

Imagine the chaos had the crowd realized it was her. There could have been a riot and she could have been killed.

Both Matthew and Luke mention that she touched the hem of His cloak.

** Choir member**?

The hem would have been next to the ground.

So, in order for her to touch it she would have to be on her knees, face to the ground.

In c.1, this is how a subject would make a request of her King. W/ humility.

Remember context: Kingdom parables, Jesus is the King.

She risked her life to do this.

There would have been a pause, maybe for Jesus to talk to someone. She discreetly would have run up behind Him, fell to her knees, quickly and quietly touched his cloak.

That fast. No words. Just faith. That was enough.

She believed that Jesus didn’t need to touch her, talk to her, or face her. She didn’t need to verbalize her request. She knew God knew what was on her mind even though He was facing the other direction.

The healing was immediate and complete.

She felt it. She knew it. She was freed from all of her suffering.

Jesus knew who and what had happened, too.

His reaction

He’s God. He knows everything. And He knew a healing had occured.

He knew who, too.

But He turned to the crowd to call out the one who had touched Him.

The disciples are getting impatient now. There’s a little girl who’s dying and you want to know who in this crowd touched you?

Everyone has probably touched you. Now, let’s go!

He wanted her to come forward and admit what she’d done.

Not b/c she was in trouble, but as witness to those around.

Imagine the reaction of the people when they realized who it was and she likely had touched a few of them before she touched Jesus.

Nobody was unclean now.

She had hoped to get away unnoticed. She would have been afraid of the crowd reaction had they noticed.

Everyone has probably touched you. Now, let’s go!

More importantly than her admission, He wanted eye-contact w/ her. He wanted to establish a personal connection w/ her. A relationship.

Jesus is not just a Miracle-Worker. He is the Messiah who came to have a personal relationship w/ everyone who has faith.

Her faith healed her that day.

Everyone heard her story of how the doctors were unable to cure her. They realized Jesus had power the doctors did not.

Also, Jesus was not rendered unclean by the touch. Jesus affected her. She did not affect Him.

He called her ‘daughter.’ She is now a child of God.

The whole crowd would have been moved by His expression of love for this woman. Now, Jesus calls her daughter, sick for 12 years, now healthy and in a personal relationship w/ God.

She had been living dead, in social isolation for 12 years. Jesus assured her that the healing was complete and lasting. She would not relapse.

It was her faith that made her well, not the touch. Faith derives its value from the object in which it rests, not from the one expressing it.

The peace that Jesus offered her refers to not just a freedom from anxiety, but that wholeness or completeness of life that stems from a right relationship w/ God.

Jairus was in the crowd waiting patiently, and watching all this transpire. He would have been encouraged to see Jesus heal this woman and call her daughter.

As his internal clock ticked he would have struggled between impatience and encouragement.

W/ each

He needed for Jesus to do for his daughter what He had done for this woman. No doubt He could.

But, would they get there on time?!

Then came the devastating news.

Devastating News

Mark 5:

Mark 5:35–43 NIV

While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

News

Jairus was in the crowd and watched this whole thing transpire.

Just as Jesus is wrapping things up w/ the woman word came from Jairus’ house that his daughter had died.

They urged him to return w/out Jesus now. Let Jesus move on to other things.

The messengers faith was limited. They thought, if Jesus could deal w/ the disease, that was His limit. He could not do anything now b/c she was dead.

But, Jairus’ faith was still strong. He did not panic. He did not give up on Jesus being able to help his daughter even now.

Jesus’ reaction

Jesus heard the news but ignored it.

He immediately drew a comparison to the woman.

“Don’t be afraid, only believe.” The woman believed and she was healed. B/C of her faith she was alive.

Jesus keeps this a semi-private miracle and later instructs the family not to broadcast what happened.

W/ the large crowds it made it that much more difficult for Jesus to get up close and personal w/ the ppl He wanted to know.

Nothing deterred Him, He continued on His way to Jairus’ house.

When He arrived, it was chaotic. Once again He ignored those who didn’t believe and went straight into the girls room.

The people’s reaction

Traditionally, families would hire professional mourners in situations like this. They would have arrived as the girl’s life was ebbing away. And, their mourning cranked up as she passed away.

There was nothing genuine nor personal about their emotion. They were hired professionals.

Contrast that w/ the compassion Jesus had for the entire family.

It was loud. It was depressing. It was a hard house to enter.

Unless you’re Jesus and you know what’s about to happen.

He knew it was only a temporary state. In fact, He said she was only sleeping.

Her situation was irrevocable to men. But not Jesus.

This little girl had had many doctors and none could prevent this.

The mourners laughed at Jesus out of their lack of faith.

Just like Sarah laughed when the Lord told Abraham and her that they were going to have a son even though they were 99 and 89 years old respectively.

They all laughed because they did not believe.

If you don’t believe on this day then you don’t get to see it happen. He asked everyone else to leave.

Better than before

Jesus faced defilement, just like w/ the woman earlier, and touched the girl.

He commanded that she get up.

Immediately she got up. The healing was immediate and complete.

And, she was better than before. She had been a frail, sickly little girl. No more. B/C when Jesus brings you to life He leaves you better than you were before.

And, she was 12 year old. Just like the woman who had been dealing w/ her situation for 12 years.

These 2 miracles are connected together and have a much deeper meaning than just the health of these people.

The Deeper Meaning

Similarities

As mentioned, the girl was 12 and the woman was afflicted for 12 years.

They both had been to numerous doctors who were unable to change their respective courses. They woman was nearly where the girl was when Jesus encountered them.

The woman, and Jairus, both approached Jesus humbly by kneeling before Him and acknowledging their faith in Him as their Messiah and King.

Then there were differences. Though, maybe not what you think

Differences

Remember, Jesus has transitioned His ministry from presenting Himself to Israel as their Messiah.

Now, He is presenting Himself to everyone and their Messiah and preparing them for the extended time between this 1st coming and His 2nd coming when He will build the Church.

He recently had been doing for Gentiles what he had been doing only for the Jews.

So, now He wants everyone to know that no matter you background, family history, skin-color, or accent; He came to be your Messiah.

The woman

The woman represented Israel. For a long time, Israel as a nation, was healthy, faithful and obedient.

But they had left their faith and now were dying.

Every Jew, any Jew, now has the opportunity to turn to Jesus.

Israel had still been sacrificing lambs for their atonement. They believed their actions of animal sacrifice would save them.

As an act of belief in their own ability it was an act of disbelief in God.

Lambs didn’t atone for their sins. Jesus did.

Once He shed His blood for them, no more blood need be shed.

So, when the woman demonstrated faith in the Person of Jesus she was saved. And when she demonstrated the faith in the Power of Jesus she was healed and her bleeding stopped.

No more blood need be shed.

The girl

The girl represented Gentiles.

They had never been alive w/ God.

During the OT, Gentiles had to become Jews in order to be saved.

So, every Gentile had been dead since their birth.

But, one touch from Jesus will bring what had always been dead into a life that was much better than before.

While it was the faith of the woman that led to her healing, it was the faith of the girl’s father that led to her healing.

Dead girls have no faith.

Jesus is the Messiah for everyone. Regardless of your past, your family background, skin color, accent, regardless of what part of the Valley you come from.

Accept Jesus as your Messiah and your life will be better than it was before.

He will protect you and provide for you. There is no force in the universe that you will ever encounter that Jesus cannot subdue w/ a word.

He will never be so distracted keeping the universe alive and moving that He will not be able to manage the minutiae in your life.

He is capable and caring.

Applications

Humble approach

How we approach Jesus today is important.

Sometimes we get a little to buddy-buddy. Too casual.

He is God. He is our King.

Boldly approach, humbly kneel and make your request.

Believe in the Person of Jesus and He will save you.

Believe in the Power of Jesus and He will deliver you.

Maybe net exactly as you have in mind. But Jesus will always leave you in better shape than He found you.

Patience, peace, don’t panic

Jesus works on His own time table. He is keeping the entire universe together and moving.

Things may not happen when you want them to.

He may even make you stand and watch Him do something else that you might think is less important than what you need Him to do for you.

Jairus didn’t panic like the disciples in the boat.

He waited patiently believing that Jesus had this.

He didn’t limit God to only being able to help a sick girl.

The woman found peace after she came to Jesus in faith.

There is nothing Jesus cannot subdue w/ just a word.

He will never be so distracted that He cannot deal w/ whatever it is that is stressing you.

He may wait b/c it will bring Him greater glory, though cause you greater worry.

Don’t panic. Be patient. He’ll give you peace.

Boldly approach your King, make your request.