Always Keep Believing In Jesus! Series

Always Keep Believing in Jesus!

The Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56

Sermon by Rick Crandall

(Prepared November 5, 2021)

BACKGROUND:

*Today we will study two of the countless miracles Jesus performed during His 3-year ministry on earth. These two miracles are recorded in Matthew 9, Mark 5, and Luke 8. They happened just as Jesus was about to finish talking with some disciples of John the Baptist.

*John's followers were greatly troubled because their teacher had been put into prison by their evil ruler. They were also concerned about why the Lord's disciples weren't fasting like they did. Jesus told them two short parables to help them understand the difference between His ministry and John's. Basically, it was the difference between the Old Testament, and the New Testament good news of God's salvation through the cross of Christ.

*As Jesus talked with John's followers, two other people approached the Lord for help they desperately needed. One of them was a ruler of the synagogue named "Jairus." His name means "enlightened by God," and that's the kind of man Jairus was. Matthew 9:18 says, "Behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.''

*By this time Jairus' daughter was already dead. But the Gospels of Mark and Luke both begin their reports a little earlier. Both mention the multitude of people there that day. Mark 5:22-24 says, "Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet, and begged Him earnestly, saying, 'My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.' So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him." (1)

*The other desperate person who approached Jesus that day was a woman who had been constantly sick for 12 long years. As Jesus and Jairus headed to his house, this suffering woman came from behind and touched the hem of Jesus' outer garment.

*She was healed from that hour, and Jesus began to talk with this woman. Luke 8:49-50 says, "While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, 'Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.' But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, 'Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.'''

*This desperate dad and desperately ill woman both did the most important thing we can ever do in life: They went to Jesus Christ for the help they needed! They both had strong faith in the Lord, and they show us the life-changing power of believing in Jesus. Let's read their stories in Matthew 9:18-26.

MESSAGE:

*One of the most powerful words in the English language is "Believe!" This word has the power to change our lives forever. But there can be a big problem with believing, because everybody believes in something, and most people believe in the wrong thing.

*Misguided people today will try to get you to believe all kinds of lies. Some with try to lead you into an unhealthy belief in yourself. They say things like, "Oh, You can do anything, if you will just believe in yourself!"

*Of course, that's not true. I'll never be an astronaut, and I'll never pitch for the Braves no matter how much I believe in myself! And the worst danger of believing in the wrong thing is that it will lead you to hell.

*But believing in Jesus Christ leads to everlasting life. As John 3:36 says, "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

*We cannot overestimate the importance of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. FIRST, WE MUST BELIEVE THAT JESUS CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE.

*God's Word teaches this truth all through the Bible. Here in vs. 18 we see a loving dad in the worst situation a parent can face. His beloved daughter was dead. Luke 8:42 tells us that she was his only daughter, and she about 12 years old.

*Jairus was a loving dad in a most desperate situation. But he believed that Jesus could help him, so vs. 18 says, "While (Jesus) spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, 'My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.'"

*Now that is believing Jesus can do the impossible! And God wants us to believe the same way. In Luke 1, the angel Gabriel went to the virgin Mary to tell her that she would be the Lord's mother. And in vs. 34-37: