#23: When All Hope Is Gone Series

#23: When All Hope Is Gone

Series: Acts

Chuck Sligh

July 19, 2020

NOTE: PowerPoint or ProPresenter presentations are available for this sermon by request at chucksligh@hotmail.com. Please mention the title of the sermon and the Bible text to help me find the sermon in my archives

TEXT: Mark 5:21-34 – “And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. 22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. 24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. 25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”

INTRODUCTION

Illus. – Over the years I have known a number of people who have had chronic conditions of one sort or the other. Frequently, it’s chronic pain, sometimes a chronic disease, often a chronic injury. They have gone from doctor to doctor, and spent a fortune just to find relief, often to little avail. Sometimes their medical help has only worsened their condition. If their condition is serious enough, they would do ANYTHING to find relief. It’s a horrible way to live.

This morning we’re going to hear about a woman who had a chronic condition that lasted 12 years and which debilitated her physically, emotionally, socially and religiously. She was so tired of her illness that she acted in a desperate faith that received Jesus’ approval. We’ll also hear the beginning of another story of a man who also had a desperate need that was infuriatingly interrupted by this desperate woman.

So let’s look today Mark 5:21-34, another example of Mark sandwiching one story in the middle so another story.

I. NOTICE FIRST, THE MAN WITH A DESPERATE NEED. – Verses 21-23 – “And when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him: and he was by the sea. 22 And, behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23 And begged him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter lies at the point of death: please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be healed and live.’ 24 And Jesus went with him; and a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.”

In verse 21, Jesus returned from Gadarene back to the west side of the Sea of Galilee. Once on the other side of the lake, immediately Jesus was again besieged by large crowds.

Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, ran up to Jesus. The title of “ruler” was given to a person who was the administrative head of a synagogue. Most synagogues did not have a priest or other official teacher but was overseen by a group of lay elders. The “ruler” of a synagogue was the head elder and was responsible for the good management of the synagogue as well as the conduct of its services.

So Jairus was a big shot in his synagogue and in his community. But he doesn’t come up to Jesus with a self-important air here. He prostrates himself in the most humble fashion before Jesus and earnestly begs Jesus to come and heal his daughter who was “at the point of death.”

Jairus no doubt had heard of the controversies that surrounded Jesus and knew of the antagonism of the official religious class towards Him. Yet he had heard of Jesus’ power to heal and may even have seen Jesus heal or talked with someone who had been healed. So it’s doubtful that he was a believer or follower of Christ at this point. Yet he humbles himself and begs for Jesus’ healing for his daughter.