Meeting A Need On The Way To Meeting A Need Series

GOOD NEWS PRESENTED BY MARK

Study of the Gospel According to Mark

As you read Mark, be aware that you are reading the very first written account of the ministry of Jesus – a fact well documented by credible Bible scholars. Quite naturally, we want to know who Mark was, and we find that he is mentioned frequently in the New Testament.

What we know about him is that he was the son of a very well-to-do woman in Jerusalem; her name was Mary, and her home became the center of early church get-togethers. So, you can imagine that Mark was there when Jesus’ closest followers came to his mother’s house for a “church council” meeting. Peter the chief elder referred to Mark affectionately as “my son.”

Mark was also the nephew of Barnabas who talked Paul into letting the youngster go with them on one of their missionary journeys - which, you may recall, resulted in Mark’s falling out of favor with Paul by leaving and going back home. However, it’s interesting to note that, years later, when Paul was in prison, facing execution, he asked Timothy to bring Mark with him, “for he is a most useful servant to me.”

I suppose Paul saw in this young man a Christian who had the ability to write; and, apparently having redeemed himself, he could now be counted on to carry out Paul’s wishes. This explanation is plausible because Mark had served as Peter’s scribe and, as such, had written much of what Peter related to him about his eye witness account of the ministry of Jesus.

MARK SERMON IV– MARK 5:21-43 . . .

MEETING A NEED ON THE WAY TO MEETING A NEED

“We have to be there for them in their hour of need.” Thus spoke the President of the United States following the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti that killed tens of thousands of Haitians. If we Americans do not come to the aid of untold numbers of victims, who will?

Regardless of political, cultural or religious persuasion, people who really care respond to the best of their ability in the “hour” of their fellowman’s need.

Not all victims of tragedy, and not all of those who respond to calls for help, are Christians; however, most Christians would certainly agree that to come to the aid of suffering human beings is indeed “what Jesus would do?" Motives for helping may differ from person to person, but our ultimate goal is to work together to help folks in need.

Jesus came into the world primarily to meet the need everybody has for salvation. Yet, He spent much of His ministry meeting spiritual, mental, physical and material needs – often taking time to meet a need while on His way to meeting a need.

One such instance occurred right after He came back from the place He had retreated to for what was supposed to have been a time of rest; but, as was the case with the ministry of Jesus, we have learned that, when it comes to meeting the needs of suffering people, there is no rest for the weary - Mark 5:21-24 . . .

As a general rule, when someone feels desperately in need of help, their request comes as a plea. “Please help me” may not be the exact words that come from their lips, but it is their intent. With regard to recognizing a plea for help, I have failed a number of times and have asked to be forgiven.

Jesus never failed to recognize a plea for help, nor did He fail to respond, regardless of who or where the plea came from, where He was, whether or not taking time to help would make Him late for an appointment. In this particular situation, He even made a detour; but, while en route, He became aware of yet another need, and took the time to respond to it.

Jairus - “a ruler of the Synagogue” – in charge of administrative affairs – was a man upset about his 12-year-old daughter’s illness, so he was willing to forget: his prejudice . . . the dignity of his position . . . his selfish pride - rather than send a messenger, the ruler himself came to Jesus! Why?

Could it be that no family member or friend would “go out on a limb” on his behalf? Perhaps they believed it would do no good or they were afraid of being branded fools. Someone has said that “sometimes a person is wisest when his family and friends think he is acting a fool.”

Remember the Apostle Paul saying “I am a fool for Christ’s sake?” No doubt a ruler of the synagogue would be looked upon as a fool for going to ask a despised carpenter from Nazareth for help.