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Against All Odds (From Chained to Claimed)
Scripture Reference: Luke 8:43-48
Preached at Mount Zion Baptist Church on June 23, 2019
Delivered by Rev. John Daniel Johnson
Last week we began this message entitled “Against All Odds.” In the message last week we learned of Jairus and his dilemma. His 12-year-old daughter was dying. He knew that the one way to save the life of his only daughter was by seeking the help of the great Doctor. Knowing this, he left his social status, cared less what the crowd thought of him, and fell at the feet of Jesus. He had a problem and the only way to fix that problem was found in Jesus. When you’re desperate for Jesus, you don’t care who’s watching.
The first three Gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) all record this wonderful story. Scripture tells us that while Jairus was asking Christ to have pity on this young girl. Along the way back to Jairus’ house, news came that the daughter had died. After hearing this news, Jesus told Jairus to have faith and believe. Jesus then continued to the house of Jairus, and raised the young girl from the dead. While the whole crowd, both friends and family, were at the funeral, Jesus walked in and brought revival.
Sandwiched right in the middle of this wonderful story of Christ’s resurrection power, is another miracle that brought life to a woman with a condition that had plagued her for 12 years. The first three Gospels record this event. Last week we read of Mark’s account of this miracle, but today we’ll read from Doctor Luke’s account. Turn with me if you will to the 8th Chapter of the Book of Luke. This morning we’ll continue our message to discover what odds this woman had to overcome to alter the direction of her life.
Now I don’t want you to miss this. It is vitally important, even before we read the Scripture, that we understanding this critically important principle. In the miracle of the raising of Jairus’ daughter and the miracle curing this woman, our focus is often on the recipient of the miracle and not on the Source of the miracle.
We don’t worship Christ because of the miracles. We worship Him because of who He is. In both of these instances, we see that there was faith in Jesus before the miracles even occurred. It is so easy to get caught up in the story, that we forget the true object of the story. The focus, the central figure is not the daughter, or Jairus, or the woman, but our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
On the roof of many churches, including our wonderful church, we have a steeple. On top of that steeple is a cross, representing the cross of Calvary from which we are saved from our sins. The purpose of a steeple is so that it can be seen from great distances. When we pass by a building with a steeple, immediately people in the Western culture know that under that steeple is a church. It is the location where people gather to celebrate, worship and fellowship. But is that the real purpose of the steeple? Don’t think that for one moment! The steeple does not point people in the direction of the church, but points to the direction of Jesus.
If you’re looking for the answers in a church, you won’t find them. If you looking for help from Christian brothers and sisters, you won’t get it. Only when we fix our focus on Jesus will begin to understand. Fellowship is great. Worship is wonderful. However, our main goal this morning is to be reminded of Jesus. He’s the author and finisher of our faith. So, when we leave this building today, let’s not talk about the music, or the long-winded, fast-talking preacher. Let’s not let our focus be on the message or on the comfort level of the service, but on Jesus. Let’s leave talking about Jesus. He said…
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” ~ John 12:33
If we lift Him up, He’ll draw people to him. If we elevate Him, He’ll fill this house. If we elevate Him, He’ll bring the worship, the praise, and the fellowship. So this morning, let’s not lose focus on who this story is truly about. It’s not about Jairus, or the woman, but about the power of our LORD over His creation. I’ve learned over the years that when I stop being selfish and wanting my will and way, and start simply doing things to please the LORD, I receive an even greater blessing.
We live in a society that doesn’t lift Jesus very high any more. It often seems that our society is more prone to elevate sin. Turn on the television, listen to the news, pick up a newpaper or magazine, and you'll see what I'm talking about. Our nation seems to lift up the sin of abortion and tear down those who stand up against it. We are in a society that promotes homosexuality and believe that anyone who doesn't support homosexuals are bigots and haters. Even our moral lines have become blurred. Drugs, adultery, pornography, fornification, and every day sins are celebrated in our current society. It's not a new thing. Don't get me wrong. Don't get focused on how wrong the world is. Our goal is for us to stop focusing and promoting the wrong things. We've got to lift up Jesus. Not our ways, our gifts, our agendas, our possessions, but lift up Jesus.
When we do this, we'll draw people to Him. Sounds easy. In everything we do, we are to bring all glory to Jesus. That why we're here today. Not to just fellowship. Not to just sing a few songs. We're here today because I've come to praise the name of Jesus. He's my source of salvation. He's the reason for my hope. He's the reason, so let's lift Him up.
Read Scripture
If you’ll remember from last week, or just re-scan the Scriptures in front of you, you’ll see the setting of this woman’s encounter with Jesus. Scripture records that a large crowd had surrounded Jesus. Literally, the crowd had “thronged” Jesus. That word implies that they were packed around Him like sardines. It was like a Black Friday sale and Jesus was item everybody wanted. In the midst of this we find that Jairus makes his way to the Christ and begs Him to heal his dying daughter. Scripture states that Christ rose and began making His way to the young girl. But as the crowd slowly made their way towards Jairus’ house, Christ is stopped in His tracks.
Scripture states that a woman had heard of a healer. A healer had come to town and she was in desperate need of a healing. The problem this woman suffered from was an issue of blood. Scripture does not go into detail what this condition was caused by, but we know the effects of this condition. The Bible tells us…
A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse. ~ Mark 5:25-26
Nearly every female in this room can sympathize with this woman. This story happened many years before the invention of personal hygiene items, and this wasn’t just a problem that occurred every 28 days. This was a chronic problem that had been plaguing her for 12 years. She had been to lots of doctors. She had spent every last dime of her money to help, but things had only gotten worse. Not to mention, the writer of the Gospel of Luke was a doctor. He was Paul’s personal physician. Even he stated that she, “Could not be healed by anyone” (Luke 8:43). Let’s quickly look at this condition.
Remember this took place years before advances in medical knowledge. In Barclay's Commentary I read of some of these ancient treatments for this dilemma. The Talmud (Jewish Oral Teachings) states that there are at least 11 different treatments.
1. One was that the woman was to carry the ashes of an ostrich egg in a linen bag in the Summer and
transfer it to a cotton bag in the Winter.
2. A second way was to carry around a piece of barleycorn that had been plucked out of the "number two" of
a white, female donkey.
3. A third way was for the lady to be positioned at a crossroads. She was to hold a cup of wine in her right
hand and someone was to come up behind her and scare her. This was believed to cure the problem.
4. Another way was for the woman to dig seven ditches. Then place vines in the ditches that were less than 4
years old. Then the woman was to sit in each ditch for a certain amount of time. This was also believed to
cure the problem.
5. Other remedies would include eating grasshopper eggs or carrying around a fingernail of a person that had
been executed.
Can we say that we’re thankful to have current medical practices? Even for a cold the remedy was to kiss a mule on his wet nose.
This condition was detrimental to women in that day. According to the Old Testament, during a woman’s cycle she was considered unclean. However, after the cycle ended she was considered clean again. Imagine, having this condition every day for twelve years. The Old Testament law states…
“Any bed on which she lies all the days of her discharge shall be to her like her bed at menstruation; and every thing on which she sits shall be unclean, like her uncleanness at that time. 27Likewise, whoever touches them shall be unclean and shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening.” ~ Leviticus 15:26-28
What the Old Testament Law is telling us is that, "This is an unclean woman with an issue of blood. Every bed she touches is unclean. Everything she sits on is unclean. Everything she wears is unclean, and every person who touches her is unclean.”
Let’s examine the effects of her condition.
A. Spiritual Condition
— Due to her condition she was never allowed into the synagogue or around religious people.
B. Physical Condition
— Scripture says that she was growing worse because of the doctors’ treatments.
— Anemia can arise (pale skin, weakness, iron deficiency, an extreme fatigue.
— Severe pain and cramps.
— Hormonal imbalance
C. Emotional Condition
— She never could have a real friendship.
— She was ostracized from her community and treated like a leper.
D. Family Condition
— If she was married, her husband would be unclean, along with her children.
— She could have no interaction with her mother, father, brothers, etc.
— This condition would also be grounds for divorce in that culture.
— She could not be a mommy, could not receive hugs or kisses, could not have a physical relationship with
her husband, could not even prepare food for a neighbor.
However, despite all the bad news in her life, she desired to touch Jesus. Against All the Odds she knew Jesus was the answer. If she could just touch Jesus, she believed her problem would be cured. This leads us to our first point.
First, Against All the Odds...
Do Something To Touch Jesus.
Scripture tells us that she fought back the crowd to make her way to Jesus. She came up behind Jesus, fell down, and the Bible says…
And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak. ~ Matthew 9:20
The word “cloak” refers to His outer garment. The word “touched” literally means “to grasp, take hold of, to not let go.” The word “fringe” (Kraspedon) literally means “the tassels.” Show tallit to the congregation as an example of the kind of garment that Jesus touched (Numbers 15). There were 613 knots on the outer garment for the laws of God. So by grasping the tassel, she was holding onto His commands. Is that not what God really wants from us? Did not He say, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” How can we touch God? Well David strove to.
“Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.’” ~ Acts 13:21-22
When’s the last time you did something to touch the heart of Jesus? How long has it been since you’ve really sought to please the Lord; to raise Him up above all things? You may not be the best speaker or singer, or the best at creating or leading, but how long has it been? This leads to our second point.
Against All the Odds...
Use Your Failures to Bring You to Jesus
Was King David perfect? No. He messed up. But God often chooses imperfect people to serve Him the most. Look at Rahab (prostitute), Moses (difficult), Noah (drunk), Peter (forsook Jesus), Paul (persecutor of Christians).
This woman was cured after many failed attempts. She finally realized that no earthly solution could be found. Often times God uses our failures to bring us closer to Him. If she had of been healed by the physicians, she would have no need to have come to Jesus. I’ve been criticized my whole ministry for my “weird” spiritual practices. I pray differently, I get loud in the pulpit, I get overexcited sometimes and break into tears while preaching. If you only knew my failures, you’d see how much Christ really forgave me.
Against All the Odds...
Get Cleaner by Getting Closer
We don’t live under the law. Through Jesus the penalties of the Law are reversed, and the contamination of this world had no effect on Christ. The woman did not make Jesus (God’s dwelling) unclean—He made her clean! John 1 states that Jesus is the WORD. When we get into God’s WORD, we’ll get cleaner and get closer to Him.
Against All the Odds...
Be in the Crowd Following Jesus
I know what you’re probably thinking. Last week, one of the points was “Do Not Follow the Crowd.” But this week, I’m telling you to follow the crowd. Well you must notice that last part. Follow the Crowd that his Following Jesus. Don’t follow the preacher or the current trends. Follow the crowd that is wanting to see Christ glorified and truly wants to see the power of the Risen Savior. Are you a part of the crowd following Christ or just a part of the crowd?
Against All the Odds...
Don’t Be Ashamed of What He’s Done For You
As soon as the woman touched Christ’s garment, He felt that “virtue had gone out of Him,” and turned about and said, “Who touched me?” Scripture says that she came trembling and fell down before Christ. Even though she was trembling, she still testified to what great thing that God had done for her. How long has it been since you told someone or had the courage to tell someone what God has done for you?
Against All Odds...
The Woman Was Chained
The Woman Was Changed
The Woman Was Claimed
Scripture first states that she was a just a woman, but by the time Jesus was done with her, He called her His “daughter.” That is salvation. When we defy the odds, He’ll except us as His own.
Extra Information:
Who Was this Woman:
This, says Eusebius, was Veronica, a woman of wealth and repute, who dwelt in Casarea Philippi, at the northernmost extremity of the Holy Land, hard by the main source of the river Jordan, in a lonely valley at the foot of Hermon. "I, Eusebius, have seen her house in that city. And to this day [some three centuries after the miracle], before the gate of her house, on a lofty block of stone, there stands a brazen sculpture; on the one side, a woman drops on her bended knees, with hands outstretched as in supplication; and, opposite to her, stands a man, erect and tall, becomingly clad in a mantle, who extends His hand to the suppliant. At her feet there springs a certain strange plant, which rises as high as the hem of her garment; it is held to be an antidote to all forms of disease. This they say, is a statue of Jesus Christ."
