TITLE: DO YOU TRUST ME ENOUGH TO WALK WITH ME
SCRIPTURE: ST. MARK 5:21-43
This is a challenging and exciting text to preach. There are actually two separate INCIDENCES in these versus that can actually stand alone. However; more often than not, the two ENCOUNTERS are ordinarily combined in a teaching and or preaching effort. My focus will be upon the initial contact with Jesus and briefly touch upon the INTERRUPTION encountered along the way. I am feeling we need to give some attention to the importance of an Interruption in our spiritual walk.
In our text we are quickly introduced to a man by the name of JAIRUS. He was a religious leader who had many religious responsibilities among his people. Jairus - a ruler of the synagogue, a holy man, ONE THAT BELIEVED IN GOD.
• This was a man acquainted with problems such as his own
• There were many from his synagogue over the years that he had tried to comfort when they had lost loved ones
• Many in the synagogue over the years called upon Pastor Jairus to visit them at the hospital after some sickness – accident – tragedy
• He had made many home visits over the years to welcome new members as well as share in their grief process
We find this WELL RESPECTED Religious Leader now faced with what may become a REAL TRAGEDY that has taken up Residence in his own home. The Bible calls to our attention that HIS DAUGHTER lay sick in bed.
• He had the best HMO
• Primary Care Physician had already made their diagnosis
• They had tried everything they knew to do
• The doctors had finally said, “It’s no use she’s dying”
• There is nothing else we can do
• Any parent that has ever had a child sick knows what the Emotional toll it plays
• He may have questioned God, or even blamed God for his misfortune
• A feeling of anger mixed with self-pity
I can feel the ANGUISH of this Father. I can only imagine the many Mixed Emotions he must have been WRESTLING with.
• Wanting to scream and holler but not knowing who to scream and holler at
• A feeling of helplessness and yet a great desire to do something but not knowing what to do
• Even begin to think – God I have been serving you best I know how and now this….
In the anguish of this Religious Leader, he now remembers this young Rabbi he has heard so much about. The Rabbi has been turning the Pharisees and Scribes viewpoint on Religion upside down. He remembers hearing about this young Rabbi that has been teaching in the local Synagogues and drawing Huge Crowds. Matter of fact, the whole city had just attended one of his teaching sessions. He remembers having heard of this man that had the POWER TO HEAL.
• He had healed a man with a withered hand
• And of course there was a tale about an insane man that lived among the tombs, they said this Rabbi Jesus healed him
• He heard the story about a wedding where this Rabbi turned Water into Wine
• Whether he is a true prophet or whether he is a charlatan Jairus didn’t know
• All he knew was that his daughter was sick and he needed help
I am not sure how Jairus knew how to find Jesus on this particular day in the midst of his Tremendous Need. Jesus just DISEMBARKS from a ship having crossed over the sea. Great crowds were already there – text says – MUCH PEOPLE GATHERED UNTO HIM – it is obvious that Jesus is at the HEIGHT OF HIS POPULARITY. Jesus was still on the banks of the sea. Word had begun to spread quickly that Jesus had returned. Perhaps many had been there waiting by the banks of the sea, waiting for the return of the Son of God.
• Text makes it appear as though Jairus came upon Jesus Suddenly
• Stumbled across Jesus
• He had no time to think about what he was going to ask or how to put it into words
• He fell at the feet of Jesus and began to plead
• My little girl is sick and close to death
• Come with me to my home
• Lay your hands on her and I know she will be healed
• Not maybe or Perhaps
• Not let’s se what happens – I Know
I am sure, this father had probably rehearsed in his mind what he was going to say, to be poised and very politely ask if Jesus would come. But all of our DIGNITY goes out the window when we come face to face with Jesus. There is no way to be dignified with tears streaming down our face and we are on our knees begging for help.
• I understand on Sunday morning when there is some shouting going on
• I understand when you begin to Praise God
• When I see those trying to Praise God in a Dignified manner – I don’t criticize they just have not met Jesus face to face yet in the midst of their storm – Baby keep on living
• When you begin to Beg Jesus for Help and He delivers you – can’t help but get Ugly for the Lord
• Bill Got Paid
• Child was Delivered
• Sickness Healed
• Realize God’s Grace is Sufficient to handle your condition
• You will be just like Jairus
• Fall Down and Worship
It is this man’s FAITH that compelled Jesus to follow. Notice that as soon as Jairus spoke his faith, Jesus was attracted by that faith and went with him to heal her. Isn’t it interesting that the Text does not record that Jesus even spoke a word to this Father in Need? Look at the text again with me – VS. 24 “AND JESUS WENT WITH HIM…” Most of us did not even catch the significance of these initial words that begin this verse. Initially our faith when we are first saved is mirrored in this verse. We start our Christian Journey simply wanting Jesus to come with us. We almost view him like an OMNIPOTENT BODY GUARD.
• Body Guard follows you around
• Body Guard makes sure no danger comes your way
• Body Guard will move funny acting folk out of your way
• Body Guard will protect you and take care of business for you
• Text says – And Jesus Went With Him
Jairus must have been feeling good at this point - In the midst of this dramatic text Jesus was INTERRUPTED - As He and Jairus and the disciples were making their way through the multitude, a woman came up behind Jesus and secretly touched the hem of His garment. This was a TOUCH OF FAITH. Jesus turns and asks, “WHO TOUCHED ME?” His disciples said to Him, “Lord, You see this huge crowd of people that is pressing against You on all sides, so how can You ask who touched You? Everyone is touching You!” But Jesus said, “This touch is different, because I felt virtue go out of Me.”
• Someone paraphrased it by saying, “Someone has made a demand upon My ability”
Now put yourself in this fathers place. He has desperately made his way through the crowds to Jesus to beg Him to come and heal His DAUGHTER WHO IS ON DEATH’S DOOR. Obviously, he wants Jesus to HURRY UP and come as quickly as possible because there is not a moment to lose. She could die at any given moment. Then on the way, some woman sneaks up behind Jesus and by an act of faith makes a demand upon His ability. As JESUS STOPS TO MINISTER TO HER - Jairus is left standing there to watch the scene and think within himself:
• This isn’t fair
• This woman has been sick for twelve years, but my daughter is dying right now
• I came to Jesus first
• He should come with me and heal my daughter, and then He can attend to this woman
• Besides, since she is unclean, she doesn’t even have a right to be here
• At the time the Levitical law stated that because this woman had an issue of blood, she was ceremonially unclean
• By law, she could have been stoned to death just for going out in public
I don’t know about you but I had to learn how to APPRECIATE and THANK GOD for the INTERRUPTIONS that He sends in my life. Just when things seem to be going so well – here comes an Interruption. Just when Sis. Lawson and I seem to really be getting along well – here comes an Interruption. Just when you are preparing for that Promotion – here comes an Interruption. Just when your health seems to be improving – here comes an Interruption. The Interruptions that I encounter in my life help me to refocus my attention on God and take my sights off myself and focus on God’s SUFFICIENCY.
• Interruptions are not sent to harm us but to help us
• I’m trying to welcome interruptions as potential gifts of God
• After all, God has a much better plan for my day than I do!
This interruption in the life of Jairus would be used to elevate his Faith to another level. This woman that interrupted the previous schedule had been suffering for 12-long years, spent all her money on Physicians and Bible said she grew worse. Here Jesus was taking up precious time with this SOCIAL OUTCAST when it seemed that He should have been dealing with the DAUGHTER OF THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE.
• This narrative is evidence that Jesus is no respecter of persons
• He will minister to the highest-ranking official
• He will minister to the lowest outcasts of society
• He had started going along with Jairus in response to his faith, and on the way He stopped and ministered to this poor woman in response to her faith
• This demonstrates the fact that the Lord is not looking for those who have WEALTH – POSITION – POWER
• All He is looking for is someone with enough faith
This woman was healed because of her Faith. Can you only imagine how JAIRUS’ SPIRITS MUST HAVE BEEN LIFTED - as he witnessed this Healing Miracle for himself - now felt maybe now my daughter will be healed. But Satan will not allow us to enjoy good news for long; a message is on the way that will burst Jairus’ bubble, that will literally Rock his World.
As Jesus is talking with the woman, messengers come from Jairus’ house to tell him that his DAUGHTER HAD DIED - so there is no reason to “trouble” the Master any further. Jesus hears what the messengers relayed and - Immediately He turns to this now Shocked Father and says to him, “Be not afraid; only believe.” In other words, what Jesus was saying is: “Don’t panic!” He was telling this man to act just as he had been acting before he received this bad report. Now wait a minute, help me understand here. Bad report is given and the Bible says as SOON AS JESUS HEARD IT, HE ADDRESSED JAIRUS. - BE NOT AFRAID ONLY BELIEVE.
Can I HANG MY HAT HERE FOR JUST A FEW SHORT MINUTES? This is where all too often you and I fail as Believers. The WORD went right to Jairus as soon as the Bad News Arrived. When we receive bad news we spend too much time doing everything else before going to the Word of God.
• We fall out
• We Cry
• We Complain
• We Get on the Telephone saying Why Me
• Then when we are at our breaking Point – we Go to Jesus
• Jesus immediately addressed and comforted Jairus
As far as Jesus was concerned, death was no greater a challenge than sickness. He knew that if He had the power to RESTORE HEALTH, He had the power to RESTORE LIFE. That is why He told Jairus not to panic. So I stopped by to ask you this morning – Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me?
• Come on, what was Jairus to do?
• What do we do when our Situation Goes from Bad to Worse?
• What do we do when our Marriage Goes from Bad to Worse?
• What do we do when our Job Goes from Bad to Worse?
• What do we do when our Children Go from Bad to Worse?
• What do we do when our Finances Go from Bad to Worse?
• What do we do when the Charges Go from Bad to Worse?
I can hear Jesus asking us this morning –– Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me? Do we allow the Word of God to immediately PENETRATE our Heart when things Go from Bad to Worse? I can hear Jesus saying this morning – Jairus, I heard the same report as you but– Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me?
• Obviously Jairus’ mental and emotional attitude had a great deal to do with what was going to happen next
• The same is true with us
• When the Lord tells us not to be afraid, not to panic
• He is not saying that the negative situations we are facing are not real
• They are real, just as the situation of Jairus’ daughter was real
• His daughter was dead
• That is about as real as it gets
• Jesus did not deny the reality of the situation
• But He did indicate by His words and actions that it was not the ultimate or final reality
The first thing that Jairus had to understand was the Fact that JESUS DOES NOT DO FUNERALS. Jesus was ready to continue walking to the home of this Religious Leader and now I am sure Grieving Father. Jesus does not do Funerals:
• He was travelling in the City of Nain where he ran into a Funeral Processional
• A Mother, she was a Widow, already lost her husband now burying her Son
• Stopped the Funeral Processional and touch the boy on the hand and told him to Rise
• You remember Lazarus don’t you
• Been in the grave Four Days
• Not sure why Jesus hung around outskirts of town while family Mourned
• Approached the Tomb and said Lazarus, Come Forth
• Jesus does not do Funerals
He went right on towards Jairus’ house just as He had been doing before the bad report came. He had started out with Jairus in response to his faith and He didn’t intend to stop now just because the PHYSICAL CIRCUMSTANCES HAD CHANGED.
• Jesus did not tell this man, “Too bad, Jairus. If this woman hadn’t stopped me, we might have made it in time
• It must not have been the will of God that your daughter be healed
• If it had been His will, she would have lasted until we arrived on the scene
• I’m real sorry, but it is just too late for Me to do anything about it now, so I may as well be on My way
• That is not what Jesus said, and it is not what He did
• He went right on toward Jairus’ house just as if nothing had happened
Jesus is saying– Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me? Look at VS. 24 again “AND JESUS WENT WITH HIM.” Things don’t look good for this Father. News just arrived that Rocked his World. VS. 37 – after news had come – “JESUS SUFFERED NO MAN TO FOLLOW HIM…”
• Did you catch it?
• Jairus was initially in charge, follow me to my home
• Jairus was in charge
• Now everyone was required to Follow Jesus
• No one now following but the Inner Circle and Jairus
• Our faith does not escalate until we begin to Follow Jesus
• Jesus went withhim – now they must follow Jesus
• Jairus was in charge initially – Now Jesus in Charge
• JESUS SAID “TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME”
– Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me? Do you trust me enough to keep on walking with me. I heard the news, I heard the report – but, – Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me?
• I am going to keep on walking to your house
• Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me? I am going to your home in spite of the report
• Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me? Jesus said everybody else go home except for Peter, James, and John
• But Jairus – Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me?
Here we see the end of this Fast Paced Narrative - Jesus walked into his house, took the dead little girl by the hand and said, “Little girl, I say unto you, arise.” And she did! I want you to know that if you just Walk with Jesus in the times of adversity and in the times of storms, and if you refuse to let go of your faith, Jesus can and will make a way out of no way.
--– Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me? – I can resurrect your marriage even though it appears to be dead
--– Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me? – I can resurrect your finances even though you can’t get credit for a package of bubble gum
--– Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me? – Your situation may look dead and hopeless, but if you walk with me
--– Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me? – Whatever your eyes see it is not your ultimate Reality
--– Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me? – Jesus has another Plan for you and your family
--– Do you Trust Me Enough to Walk With Me? – Don’t Panic, Don’t Give Up, Don’t Throw in the Towel
--Don’t lose your Faith
--Don’t Trust your eyes – Walk by Faith
--Don’t listen to Opinion of Others
