Only Believe
Mark 5:36
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Pastor Brian Matherlee
Mark 5:21-43
Talking points to the story
• Mark has grouped together 4 miracles from 4:35-5:43
• He is giving us a glimpse of the reason behind the frenzy of people pressed around Jesus. It wasn’t a calm scene. No, the people were pressed in around him.
• As soon as Jesus steps foot on shore, people are there. One is a man named Jairus…a synagogue ruler. He falls at Jesus’ feet and pleads for the life of his little girl. There’s not a parent here who doesn’t understand a bit of the desperation of this man.
• As they are on the way a woman reaches out for healing.
• Jesus realizes what has taken place and affirms her faith and her healing.
• Word then comes that the little girl Jesus was going to heal had died. Jairus is encouraged to “let it go”. Have you ever been told that?
• Jesus ignored them and said, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
• Only Peter, James and John were allowed to come along with Jesus and Jairus.
• Everyone in this scene is wailing. They were hired mourners. Since Jairus held a position of prominence there were a lot of them.
• From wailing in “sorrow” the scene turns to a mockery of the situation and of Jesus when He proclaims that she is not dead but only sleeping. They laugh. I’m sure the mother didn’t laugh. She would have either had hoped put back in her heart or would have been furious. It seems from the next scene that she had hope.
• Jesus sends everyone away except the 3 disciples and the parents.
• He then takes her by the hand and tells her to get up. Her lifeless body responds immediately and she walks around to everyone’s surprise (everyone except Jesus). He tells them not to speak of the event and to give her something to eat.
What an event!
Jesus told Jairus not to be afraid. What could Jairus be afraid of? What could we be afraid of?
1. Miracles happen to others but not us
a. Jesus healed the woman. Then news comes of the girl’s death.
b. Do we sometimes feel that God is too late? Do we think God has paid too much attention to others and ignored our situation? (Come on Jesus, this woman is bleeding but my daughter is dying!)
2. We can be afraid that the crowd is right
a. The situation is not worth bothering God about
b. That Jesus couldn’t possibly do anything about it. (This is the motivation behind them telling Jairus not to bother Jesus anymore…the inability to stay focused on what God can do instead of looking at the circumstances)
c. The possibility of the miraculous is laughable
d. People will say, “Learn to live with it”, “just deal with it”, “get over it”, and “accept it”. Worse yet is when they may say we deserve it or God is punishing us.
e. Satan comes to us and whispers, God doesn’t care. He will try to persuade you to doubt.
What are the keys to faith?
1. Point of view
a. Jairus didn’t listen to the crowd. He listened to the one He came to ask for help in the first place.
b. Quit listening to the naysayers. Look to Jesus.
c. Psalm 121:1-2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
d. We are very quick to blame God when things don’t go our way. And when things don’t go our way perhaps it’s because of:
i. Sin-ours or someone else’s
ii. Poor choices
iii. Improper timing (it might be “not yet” instead of “no”)
e. While we are quick to blame God, we are slow to give glory and honor (notice I didn’t say credit—we should give God praise...not just an acknowledgment).
f. Alex Haley, the author of "Roots," had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When asked, "Why is that there?" Alex Haley answered, "Every time I write something significant, every time I read my words & think that they are wonderful, & begin to feel proud of myself, I look at the turtle on top of the fence post & remember that he didn’t get there on his own. He had help."
g. That is the basis of thankfulness - to remember that we got here with the help of God, & that He is the provider of every blessing we have.
2. Priorities
a. We must set our affections upon God and the fulfillment of His will.
b. Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”
c. This is not an unlimited debit card account. It is a principle founded in obedience and relationship with Almighty God. As I walk with Him I know that He will give everything I need and what I may ask I can understand that any “No” will be for the best interest of my soul. We get everything out of order.
d. C.S. Lewis said, “Put first things first and we get second things thrown in; put second things first and we lose both first and second things.”
In 1994, Heidi and Rolland Baker arrived in Mozambique amidst the hard times following the Mozambique Civil War. Even the Red Cross trucks were not safe and were bombed. During the hard times, sometimes even threatened by death, Heidi and Rolland experienced amazing miracles of healing for the blind, crippled and those affected by AIDS.
(Video clip, “Your God is God”, 2:27 in length, Wingclips.com)
Show video
What a miracle! Did you catch one of the keys to their faith? She never said it directly. She lived it.
3. Patience & Perseverance
a. These two go together. You will never persevere without patience.
b. 8 years they had failure, sickness, opposition, threats, etc. But after 8 years God brought something better.
c. Joel 1:4, “What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten.”
d. Oh, the barren times we can go through. It may seem like more than we can bear. It may seem that God does not care. But hold on. Be patient, persevere. God is doing something while the answer waits. He doesn’t forget us in the lean times. He is with us! And He will remember.
e. Joel 2:25-27, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed.”
f. Hold on today.
Conclusion
Maybe you need to quit seeking after things, or the easy way, or a quick fix. It will take effort but you will have God’s help. Perhaps you need to surrender your insistence on your will for an answer to prayer and trust God’s perfect will. Maybe you need to ask, or keep asking.
Just remember, Jesus’ words were few and direct. “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” Don’t be afraid today.
Look to Jesus, live for Jesus, and wait for Jesus.
