The Power of Faith part 2
The Book of Mark
Mark 5:35-6:6
I.Introduction
A. Faith is a very real part of our every day lives.
1. Many of the things we do we do by faith.
a) When you take shower in the morning you don’t go down and check the water heater to make sure it is going to provide the hot water you need.
b) When you sit on a chair you don’t examine it before hand to see if it will support you – unless it is old and not very sturdy looking.
c) When you came to church this morning you probably didn’t give a thought as to whether or not your car would start – unless you had had a previous problem with it.
d) We do lots of things by faith.
2. It is faith based upon experience over a period of time.
a) Knowledge plus experience result in increased faith.
b) Knowing something will work or someone will do what he or she promised is an important part the whole issue of faith.
c) But unless we act upon that information and belief we aren’t really exercising faith.
B. The woman with the issue of blood whom we talked about already acted upon the knowledge she had.
1. She had heard that Jesus was healing people.
2. She believed that if she could just touch His garment she would be healed.
3. If she had stopped there she would have continued in her condition until it finally consumed her but she didn’t she took that initial step of faith and was wonderfully rewarded.
C. Jairus’ situation was a little more complicated.
1. Jairus also had heard about what Jesus was doing and believed that He could help his dying daughter.
2. His faith was put to the test when Jesus was delayed by the woman.
3. His daughter died and his sense of urgency turned to intense disappointment and despair and he would have continued down that path except for a word from Jesus, “stop fearing, be believing”.
II.The wisdom of the world -and the power of faith vs.37-43
A. The discouragement which started in the street continues at Jairus’ house vs. 39-40.
1. They ridiculed Him – laugh to scorn
2. These people were professional mourners.
a) Matt. 9 tells us there was a crowd of these mourners complete with instruments.
b) They would surely know if someone was dead or not.
B. Imagine how Jairus felt now.
C. Jesus only allows those in the immediate family and three of His disciples to go into the room with Him.
1. The word “put” is a strong verb meaning to expel.
2. He took time to remove these people from the house.
3. Those who had been mocking Him had disqualified themselves from seeing the miracle.
4. This is the first time He has separated Peter, James and John from the other disciples.
D. Faith rewarded – vs.41.
1. Once again the recovery was instantaneous – she got up and walked around.
2. He told her parents to feed her – another sign of complete recovery.
3. Why vs.43??
III. God’s power is limited by unbelief 6:1-6
A. This is the second time He has come to His home town the last time the reaction was even more violent.
1. They reacted with astonishment vs.42.
a) The word conveys the idea of someone being so amazed that they were beside themselves, one commentator says they were flabbergasted.
2. Where did this Man get these teachings?
a) How did he come to wield this power?
b) We saw Him grow up
B. The effect of unbelief on faith.
1. Unbelief causes one to look at external credentials rather than internal power.
a) Jesus had spent the better part of His life among these people.
(1) Working.
(2) Playing
(3) Growing up.
b) He was judged according to His “station” in life not for who He was.
(1) They simply could not accept this simple carpenter’s claims.
(2) They were really saying “we want some one more impressive than this carpenter.
c) The same is true today –
(1) People reject Christ because of what they know about or see or hear about some Christian and that forms their basis of choice.
(2) Or Jesus claims don’t fit their personal theology.
2. They were offended by Him – Wuest – “they saw in Him that of which they disapproved and which kept them from acknowledging Him.”
C. The result.vs.4-5.
1. Familiarity breeds contempt vs.4.
a) A person can receive honor in all other parts of the world and yet be rejected by his own.
b) Jesus was honored in every place except here.
c) This became a national rejection ultimately Jn.1:9-11.
2. Unbelief limits the manifestation of God’s power.
a) This by no means indicates that unbelief is more powerful than God.
(1) God can do anything He wants anytime He wants.
(2) Vs.5b.
b) This is better understood as God choosing to limit the revelation of His power to those who come to Him by faith (5:40-41).
(1) Possibly because of His mercy in that the more works He did would bring the greater condemnation because of their unresoponsiveness.
(2) More than likely because of their unbelief few people came to Him for healing.
c) Often the last place people is to God or the church for help when they encounter difficult times.
d) This stems from a lack of faith in the power of God on their part.
3. He marveled because of their unbelief.
a) What a sad commentary on His home town and the people there.
b) What a tragedy when God stands there with open arms ready to respond to meet the deep needs of people and they chose to seek help else where.
c) Heb. 3 is a sad commentary on people like this.
IV.Conclusion
A. Principles.
1. Faith is acting on what we know and understand about God.
2. God doesn’t play favorites with regard to faith.
a) God responds to us individually regardless of our position.
b) It’s not who you are but whom you know.
3. God not only supplies us with the faith we need to believe Him but He gives us encouragement in exercising our faith.
4. God chooses to limit His power in the face of unbelief so that those who don’t believe will not see His power.
B. What is your response going to be?
1. God has revealed Himself to us through His word and we have enough information to act on that revelation by faith.
2. It doesn’t matter what your position is in life you must simply trust in Him and He will do the rest.
3. The other side of the coin is that if you fail to exercise the faith you have been given you will fail to see the power of God in your life.
