Mar 5:21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea.
Mar 5:22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet
Mar 5:23 and implored him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live."
Jesus had just been requested to leave Gadazera, and he obliged.
He left the once-possessed man to testify of what Jesus could do in the people's life if they would turn to him.
Now imagine this Jairus. He was a ruler of the synagogue.
That was part of a committee that ran the worship and administrated the organization.
These were wealthy, influential men in the community and very respected.
You may remember, it was a young rich ruler of the synagogue that came to Jesus to ask what it took to have eternal life.
He hoped Jesus would come across the sea soon, hoping it would be in time.
His 12 year old “apple of his eye” daughter, his only child, was sick and near death.
Many people waited for Jesus to return.
Many had requests, needs, desires.
Jairus not only hoped Jesus would get back in time, but that Jesus would choose to hear his request among the 100's, possibly 1000's made.
He goes to the beach and waits.
More than likely, his hopes rose when he saw Jesus in the approaching boat.
Mark and Luke record one word for falling at Jesus's feet, Matthew uses another.
One word means to cast oneself down in complete surrender, like a slave pleading with a king.
Matthew uses a reverent word, to bow and worship.
No doubt, Jarius falls down knowing the only hope to save his daughter's life is Jesus.
“Jesus, you healed a man in my synagogue before. If you could lay your hands on my daughter like you did the man, I know she would live.”
Mar 5:24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.
Jesus went, but there would be no hurrying.
Next week, we will share with you, God willing, about how to deal with issues.
However, after interruptions, the journey continued.
Mar 5:35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?"
When the daughter died, one appointed or self-appointed messenger determined to tell the ruler and end the need for Jesus.
OK, this is free. It is often too easy for us to placate someone else's situation and say, “You just need to deal with it.”
When we dismiss someone else's problems, notice how sanctimonious we can become.
“There is really no need to bother Jesus with this.”
This can be said with little or no real concern about Jesus or His time.
Mar 5:36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."
Our battle in every situation almost always comes to this instructive insight.
“Do not fear, only believe.”
Why do we worry? Why do we get anxious?
Do we not know that God's promises are sure?
Yet we live like God's promises must be powered by our worry and anxiety.
Let me tell you, God does not need your worry. So what does your worry do?
It destroys you. That is why God said, “Do not be afraid, just trust me.”
Mar 5:37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.
When Jesus was away from the politically volatile region of Galilee and Jerusalem, He often did His miracles in private.
When He was across the sea in Gadazara, He told the ex-demoniac to tell everyone.
This was all important to God's purpose and the protection of those who had political rebellion close to their hearts.
Mar 5:38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.
Mar 5:39 And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping."
Some of us today would say that was a strange thing for Jesus to say about a dead girl.
I remind you, no one understood death more than the Creator.
Jesus created all things for life, and watch them die in sin.
He knew exactly what He was talking about, more than we understand death today.
Mar 5:40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was.
Mar 5:41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."
Mar 5:42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.
Mar 5:43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Oh, man. Can you imagine the embarrassment at judgment for those who laughed at Jesus?
Laugh is putting lightly what they did. The ridiculed and scorned Him.
“Are you out of your ever-loving mind? Look at what you are doing to this poor man and his wife by talking crazy.
“Get a grip on reality and stop trying to sound so spiritual, for crying out loud.”
Jesus calmly smiled and said, “I have a better idea. Why don't you just leave? Would you like assistance?”
I love to imagine that unseen forces, a legend of angels, began to escort the expert mourners outside, what we learn from other passages, past the guard house of the mansion.
I don't know this for sure, but Jesus was outnumbered by these people, they obviously didn't respect His authority, yet He put them out.
Then He told the parents and the three disciples with Him, “Come with me.”
They went into the bedroom where the little girl's body lay.
He took her hand, and in Aramaic, said, “Little girl, arise.”
Jesus not only raised her from the dead but her disease was gone.
She walked to her parents.
It say's, “They were overcome with amazement.”
What happened is far more powerful than these words describe.
Overcome is a good word. Amazement could read unexpressible joy.
They were overcome with unexpressable joy. And what parent would not have been?
Life hits you hard and without warning.
What do you do when life hits you in the gut and you cannot breath?
I. Go to Jesus.
Jairus was surrounded by those who did NOT like Jesus (scribes, Pharisees, Saducees, priests, etc...
Jesus represented the end of all Jairus stood for.
He could have been influenced by many factors.
But his daughter was dying, and he chose to go to Jesus.
Jesus offers the same invitation to you.
Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
II. Walk with Jesus.
When Jairus asked Jesus to go with him, they began their journey.
Jesus seemed to be in no hurry and the crowd, as we will see in another week, wasn't letting them go too fast.
But Jairus went with Jesus.
That tells me something very important.
Safe-tag, the tough way.
Many live their lives like that.
They have tagged Jesus and are safe. Now they can go their way.
The problem, Salvation is a Lordship change in a life.
Being saved is saying to God, I am going to follow you, through Jesus Christ, all the way.
Salvation isn't a ticket that keeps you out of Hell and admits you into a Disney like eternity.
Romans 6:1-4 - What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
It is important that you go to Jesus. But it is just as important that you walk with Him.
III. Believe Jesus.
They came to Jairus and Jesus as they were on the way and said, “It's too late. Your daughter already died.”
Would we have been tempted to give up?
Would we have given up if the enemy sent us a giant to fight?
Would we have given up if we had come to the Red Sea with the Egyptians coming full blast?
Would we give up if we were captured by 1000 Philistines and all we could reach was the jawbone of a donkey like Sampson?
Would we give up if we were pursuing a Midianite army that was over 30000 and you only had 300 soldiers with you, like Gideon?
Jesus told Jairus, “Only believe.”
What is your part in the battle? “Only Believe”.
How do you find victory? “Only believe.”
Some of us spend too much time looking at the odds, evidence, situations and circumstances, and deeming it IMPOSSIBLE.
Mark 0:27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."
It is too easy to miss the wonder of life and we too easily disbelieve in the impossible.
When we are faced with the impossible, God wants to restore that childlike wonder.
That is why He says to you today, “Only believe.”
