A MESSAGE OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE
Mark 5:24-34
We often receive messages that are considered to be extremely important. When the president addresses the nation, whether it be an address from the Rose Garden, the Oval Office of the State of the Union, it is covered on numerous channels. In our state, when a child is abducted and in grave danger, we will receive an “Amber Alert” warning on our phone. When a mass shooting, a terrorist attack or any other significant news event occurs, the news channels will interrupt regular scheduled programming to inform us of the situation. When severe weather is in our area the EMA will sound the warning sirens, our weather radios will come on and the local meteorologist will come on the air and encourage us to go to our “safe place”.
All of these messages are very important and it is necessary that we are informed of the events that are taking place. But the most important message that anyone can receive is the message concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the message that I would like to share with you today. I would like to preach “A Message Of Supreme Importance”.
This message is certainly not of supreme importance because of the one who is delivering it. It is of supreme importance because it is a message concerning eternity. It is important because it is a time sensitive message. It has been said that “good news is only good when it gets there in time”. Our selected text tells of a woman who was in a desperate situation. Time was running out and she needed a miracle. I am excited to share with you that she received the miracle that she was looking for. As we examine her story we will see several important truths. We will see:
I. THE IMPORTANCE OF HEARING ABOUT JESUS
II. THE IMPORTANCE OF BELIEVING IN JESUS
III. THE IMPORTANCE OF RECEIVING JESUS
IV. THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFESSING JESUS
Every year in Bible School we teach the children about the “ABC’s of salvation. The transformation of the woman with the issue of blood illustrates this process very well. Let’s look at her story and see:
I. THE IMPORTANCE OF HEARING ABOUT JESUS
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest news that we could ever receive. Jesus had recently delivered a man who was possessed with a legion of demons. He sent those many demons into a nearby heard of swine. Those swine “ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.” (v13) When the people saw what had happened, the begged Jesus to leave the area. And Jesus did what they asked Him to do. While one crowd rejoiced at His departure, another crowd rejoiced at His arrival. Jesus and the Disciples returned to Galilee. When He returned, there were two people who were desperate to see Him. A woman came to Him for a personal healing, and a ruler of the synagogue came to Him on behalf of his daughter who was at the point of death.
The first to reach Jesus was a man named Jarius. Verse 22 tells us that Jairus fell at Jesus feet “And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.” Jesus desired to help him and they immediately headed for Jarius’ house. (v24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.)
As they journeyed great crowds surrounded Jesus. In that crowd was a woman who had heard of the many miracles that He had performed. She was in a desperate situation herself. (v25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years) This woman had an “issue of blood”. This speaks to the fact that she was hemorrhaging. She suffered from a chronic internal bleeding. We are not told what the specific cause of this hemorrhaging was. But it was a sickness that was severe for many reasons. Not only did this condition involve physical problems, as a result of the bleeding she was ceremonially unclean.
Leviticus 15:25 And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean. 26 Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.
Anything and anyone that this woman touched was considered to be unclean. Due to her condition, she was required to inform anyone in her presence that she was unclean. Because of this, we can be certain that she endured social isolation as well. It is likely that she was shunned by her family, her friends and society as a whole. Also, she would have been banned from the Temple and any of the synagogues.
Mark tells us just how bad her disease was. (v26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse) In an effort to find a cure, this woman had seen numerous doctors. Those doctors likely performed many experimental and possibly painful medical procedures. After visiting all these doctors, enduring various treatments and spending all of her money, she still had found no cure. In fact, rather than getting better, her condition worsened. But somehow, someway she had heard about a Man who had been performing many great miracles throughout the region.
The scriptures make it clear that every time Jesus healed someone, His fame would spread. In the process, someone had told this woman about the blind that had received their sight, the deaf who were made to hear, the sick who were cured, the lame who were made to walk, the demons that we cast out and the lepers that had been cleansed. Hearing of these mighty works set certain events in motion that would lead to her own miracle.
Just as Jesus healed this woman physically, He is able to heal us spiritually today. Jesus is our only hope of salvation. He has done everything that is necessary to secure our salvation. Because of His finished work we have the opportunity to go “from death unto life”. Many of you have received this spiritual healing that I speak of. The only way that you could have received this healing is because someone told you about the miracle working power of Jesus Christ. It has been said that “the Gospel came to you one its way to someone else.”
Just think about where you would be if someone had not told you about our Lord and Savior! We would be in a situation far more desperate than a 12 year long physical malady. But you were introduced to Jesus by someone who cared enough to share the Gospel with you. If you are saved, you should rejoice that you have received the good news. And we should also be motivated to share this good news with our friends, our loved ones and even with strangers! We possess a message of supreme importance and those who have heard it and accepted it, must go and share it!
- Not only do we see The Importance Of Hearing About Jesus, this woman’s story shows us:
II. THE IMPORTANCE OF BELIEVING IN JESUS
Though there were many who believed in Jesus in those days, there were also many who were skeptical. Furthermore, there were many who outright rejected Him. They heard but they did not believe. Thankfully for this woman, she heard and believed. So much so that she went to where He was and sought a miracle. (v27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.)
This woman had herd of Jesus and she hoped that He could help her. More than hope, she had faith that He could heal her. In fact, her faith was so great that she thought if she could simply touch His clothes she would be healed. Notice - v28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. This is a great demonstration of faith. Many of the people had witnessed the great miracles of Jesus with their own eyes. They had seen the healing of the sick, the deliverance of the demon possessed and the cleaning of the lepers. Like this woman, many of them believed in Jesus’ miracle working power.
Matthew 14:34 says that they “came into the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; 36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
Many believed and were healed. But many others still rejected the idea that Jesus was who He said He was. Some went so far as to claim that He was operating under the power of Satan. (Mark 3:22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.)
Thankfully, this woman was not like the enemies of Christ. She had faith and her faith led to a miracle. The healing that she had long sought would soon become a reality. If she had not heard and believed in Jesus, she would have not been healed. She had suffered for a long time and her disease would eventually lead to death. Not only would she have died physically, she would have died spiritually and eternally if she had not met Jesus.
Many people have an incorrect view of eternity. They think that if they live a good life, and do more “good works” than bad, then when they die God will welcome them into Heaven. Nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus explained to Nicodemus that unless a man is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. We are not born again by good works; we are born again by “believing in the Lord Jesus”.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
These verses prove that no one will make it to Heaven based on the fact that they do “good things”. Nor will they enter in because they avoid “bad things”. If this was possible, then Jesus would not have had to die.
We have before us a message of supreme importance! It is vitally important that you hear the good news of Jesus Christ, and it is important that you believe in Jesus Christ. As we move into verse 29 we will see:
III. THE IMPORTANCE OF RECEIVING JESUS
Belief in Jesus is necessary for salvation. But this “belief” is more than mere knowledge. It is more than believing that Jesus is who the Bible says He is. James tells us that even the “demons believe and tremble”. Satan Himself knows without any doubt that Jesus is the Christ. Receiving Jesus requires a belief that trusts. That word “believe” in John 3:16 is a word that means to “entrust fully”. We “believe” in Him when we come to the realization that He is the Christ. In response to this knowledge, we turn to Him and trust in Him as Lord and Savior. This woman realized that Jesus was her only hope and by faith the trusted in Him to do what no one else could do. And as a result of her faith, she was healed.
Notice - v29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
By touching Jesus, this woman technically rendered Him unclean. That would have been the case if she had touched any mortal man. But in this case, the opposite happened. Instead of touching Jesus and Him becoming unclean, she touched Him and because of His power she became clean. She found what she had been looking for! Her money couldn’t buy a healing. The doctors couldn’t prescribe a healing. The treatments could not provide a healing. Twelve years and an untold amount of money later this woman was worse than she was at the beginning of her disease. But upon touching the robe of the Master, she was instantly and completely healed.
Understand that there was no power in the robe that Jesus was wearing. It was just a common garment. Jesus possessed the power within Himself; And this woman had access to this power by faith in Him. Notice how Jesus responded to her act of faith:
v30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
This miracle was not stolen from Jesus, it was granted by Him. There was a multitude of people all around Jesus. There is no way to know how many people bumped into Him on this occasion. But this woman reached out and touched Him with purpose. She touched Him in faith. Jesus knew exactly what had happened. He granted her this healing by His sovereign will. However, He asked the question “Who touched my clothes?”
Listen to how His Disciples responded to His question. (v31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?) They said “Jesus, what are you talking about? The crowd is surrounding you and many people have touched you!” Jesus is all knowing, and He knew exactly who had touched Him and why she did it. But He asked this question so that the woman would speak up and testify of what God had done for her. Jesus then began to scan the crowd, looking for this woman. (v32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.) She was fearful, she was trembling and she was overwhelmed with joy all at the same time. Jesus wanted her to identify herself and testify of what had happened. Jesus was going to use her transformation to teach those who were gathered together. He can and will use our transformation to teach others as well.
- We have seen The Importance Of Hearing About Jesus, The Importance Of Believing In Jesus, and The Importance Of Receiving Jesus. Finally I would like to examine:
IV. THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFESSING JESUS
v33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
The woman stepped out of the crowd, fell down and Jesus feet and confessed that she was the one. There is no way that she could have known how Jesus would respond. But I suspect that she did not expect what happened next. Jesus was not angered by her actions, quite the contrary; He was impressed by her faith. (v34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.)
He says that her faith had “made her whole”. This was a reference to the fact that she had received a complete healing. The cure that she had sought for so many years was now a reality. And I am sure she was overwhelmed with joy. But Jesus’ declaration that her faith had made her whole involved more than mere physical healing. The phrase “made you whole” is often translated in the New Testament as “to save”. This is the normal New Testament word that is used in connection with saving one from sin. This implies that not only was she healed physically, she was healed spiritually. Jesus was more than her healer, He was her Savior!
In verse 34 Jesus referred to her as “daughter”. I can assure you, anyone else in that crowd who realized that they had been touched by someone who was unclean would not have called her daughter. The things that they would have called her are inappropriate to be uttered in a sermon. But the One that she had touched was not angry with her, nor did He rebuke her. She had touched the Master and as a result her life was completely transformed. This woman who had been an outcast in society, was now welcomed into the family of God. Her disease was apparently incurable and it was slowly destroying her. But now she was completely healed!
Her story is a great illustration of sin in the life of an unbeliever! Sin is a disease that controls every area of our lives. It affects us mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. It is a disease that cannot be helped by mortal man. Like a cancer, sin slowly eats away at our lives and eventually leads to death. (Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death)
Our only hope is to fall at the feet of the Master and trust in Him to do what only He can. And the great news is that He is ready, willing and able to do just that! (Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.) When we are transformed by Jesus, the next step is to confess to others about the miracle that He has worked in our lives. (Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.)
Why did Jesus want this woman to speak out publically about what had happened in her life? He wanted her to testify of her healing in order to glorify God. As a result of her public witness of the amazing power of Jesus, other people knew of His power. She knew of Jesus because someone had told her of His mighty works. And now she was doing the same for others.
We have no way of knowing how many people came to Jesus as a result of her confessing Christ. Jesus also used her to encourage others who already believed in Him. Ol Jairus was there, probably annoyed that this woman had interrupted Jesus while He was on the way to heal his daughter. It is likely that this further increase his faith that Jesus had the power to answer his prayer.
When we are transformed by the touch of the Master’s hand, we should confess to others concerning who Jesus is and what He has done in our lives. There are multitudes of people who need to experience the salvation that we have in Jesus Christ. How will they know unless we tell them? (Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?) It is our duty and our responsibility to confess Christ to others. When we do, we may have the privilege of seeing the come to Christ for salvation. When we confess Christ we can have an impact on the Kingdom. When we confess Christ we will bring glory to God.
During your life you will receive many important messages. But none is more important that the gospel of Jesus Christ! (Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; he was buried, and he rose again the third day.)
- I pray that you grasp:
i. The Importance of Hearing About Jesus
ii. The Importance Of Believing In Jesus
iii. The Importance Of Receiving Jesus
iv. The Importance Of Confessing Jesus
For this is “A Message Of Supreme Importance”
