Do You Trust Me No Matter What? Series

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There was a man who got lost in the desert. After wandering around for a long time his throat became very dry, about that time he saw a little shack in the distance.

He made his way over to the shack and found a water pump with a small jug of water and a note.

The note read: "pour all the water into the top of the pump to prime it, if you do this you will get all the water you need". Now the man had a choice to make, if he trusted the note and poured the water in and it worked he would have all the water he needed. If it didn’t work he would still be thirsty and he might die. Or he could choose to drink the water in the jug and get immediate satisfaction, but it might not be enough and he still might die. After thinking about it the man decided to risk it. He poured the entire jug into the pump and began to work the handle, at first nothing happened and he got a little scared but he kept going and water started coming out. So much water came out he drank all he wanted, took a shower, and filled all the containers he could find. Because he was willing to give up momentary satisfaction, he got all the water he needed. Now the note also said: after you have finished, please refill the jug for the next traveler.” The man refilled the jug and added to the note: “ Please prime the pump, believe me it works”! (source: SermonCentral.com)

Today we talk about trust. Jesus calls on two people to trust Him in different ways – but both are offered the chance to “prime the pump” of faith by forcing reliance on Jesus Christ. First we have a public figure who must choose trusting Jesus over the jeers and doubts of his loved ones. Then we have an anonymous figure who has faith in Jesus but hasn’t taken a public stand, acknowledging Him before the crowds.

Jesus has just left the scene of the man possessed by a legion of demons.

21 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. 22 Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and 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." 24 So Jesus went with him.

Jairus was probably there the day in Mark 3 when Jesus did the healing on the Sabbath at the synagogue in Capernaum. He may have even been one of those who argued with Jesus about whether it was legal to heal on the Sabbath. Now, through desperation he comes to Jesus. It’s amazing how true need breaks through prejudice. People will mock Jesus and you for belonging to Him, but when a true crisis happens in their lives they know that Jesus is the only real source of help.

As a synagogue ruler – Jairus was more like an administrator – not a theologian. But he was a public figure – a well known and respected name in the community. Coming to Jesus like this carried with it huge risks. I find it interesting that when it comes to theories we can find all kinds of arguments against believing in Jesus. But imagine – Luke tells us that the girl was 12 years old – and was Jairus’ only daughter.

Put yourself in his shoes – I know what its like to have a little girl – they are the sparkle in your eye and you protect them with ferocity. At the end of his rope – about to lose this precious gift – theories and arguments fall by the way side. Position becomes secondary.

Jairus asks Jesus to come and lay hands on the daughter – and He goes – but on the way something else amazing happens:

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 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. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

According to Jewish law this woman’s husband could not touch her and everything she touched became unclean. What a terrible life that was to lead. She had sought the best of what the medical care of the day had to offer and spent every dime she had – but to know avail. For every year that Jairus’ little girl lived – this woman was in torment.