Get Closer to Jesus
Mark 5:21-43
Good morning.
Have you ever looked at someone else’s walk with Christ and wondered why they seem to have a closer relationship with Jesus, than you do?
Early in my walk with Christ, I tried to improve my relationship with Him with human performance; i.e., most of my trying to please the Lord was based on my own works.
I thought my prayer life should come from a specific list I had made; as I was careful to not miss anything or anyone on the list.
I would follow certain formulas, hoping to come to know the Lord better; but nothing I tried, seemed to make closer to God.
Catch this; as Christians, we need a vibrant prayer life and we should study scripture to know the Lord; but, using formulas and rituals will not earn us a real, intimate relationship with Jesus.
Please open your Bibles to Mark 5 as we continue that study
Last week, we studied about a man who was possessed by many demons and how Jesus set him free.
After the man was healed, he wanted to go with Jesus and to leave his home; but, Jesus told the man to go tell his family and friends about the healing and the change the Lord did for him.
Today, we will learn of the miracles Jesus performed when He and the Disciples arrived back on the other side of the Sea of Galilee and we will also learn the key to being closer to Jesus.
I. Celebrity status.
Read Mark 5:21-24
After the storm they encountered, and the demons that were cast into the swine; Jesus and the Disciples return to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, as a huge crowd is waiting there.
Some folks are there to see the miracle worker, some need healing, and some are angry with Jesus for breaking the Mosaic Law; but, all of them are there pushing their way in, to see Jesus.
In this same narrative in Luke 8:42, we are told, “As He went, the multitudes thronged Him”. NKJV
According to Vine's Expository Dictionary, “throng” means to press round or throng one so as almost to suffocate him.
Just then, a ruler of the synagogue named Jairus, came and fell at Jesus’ feet; Jairus’ name means "Whom God enlightens".
Wiersbe said, “If you were one of the rulers of a synagogue it meant that you were the elder in charge of the public services and the care of the facilities. Those who occupied that position were usually men of reputation and wealth.”
Jairus was a leader of the synagogue in Capernaum, where Jesus had previously healed a man with the withered hand, in Mark 3.
In Mark 3; after Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath Day in the synagogue, the religious leaders sought to destroy Jesus.
Mark 3:5 He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
Mark 3:6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.
Here Jairus had become so desperate because his daughter was sick, he goes to Jesus. Luke tells us she was only 12 years old.
When religion or life fails us to the point that we can no longer handle it, it should compel us to be desperate and go to Jesus.
Desperation can take away some of our preconceived ideas and this religious leader had witnessed Jesus heal others.
I want you to notice the first thing this religious leader does is to put away his worthless religion and he came to worship Jesus.
In desperation, this religious ruler had no concern about what anyone else thought; he knew Jesus was the only answer; so, he makes his way to Jesus and falls down at His feet to worship.
Jesus was so touched by the religious leader’s desperation and worship; He heads towards Jairus’ house to heal his daughter, even as the crowd continued to suffocate Him.
II. A desperate idea.
Read Mark 5:25-28
We meet a second desperate person in our narrative, as suddenly a woman who had a blood flow for 12 years, touched Jesus.
For twelve years this woman saw many doctors and each one of those doctors made things worse, instead of healing her.
The Greek Lexicon explains that this women’s loss of blood was cause by menstrual bleeding.
Leviticus 15 says she should be considered unclean; so, she could not go to the temple or the synagogue. She could not even be around her children, husband, or anyone else, for that matter.
This woman was isolated from her family, society, and from worshiping the Lord publicly; for twelve full years!
The Gospel of Luke tells us she has spent all of her money and resources on doctors, trying to find a cure.
She was physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially broken, and now she is hopeless! So Jesus was her last resort.
How many people do we see today spending all of their resources trying to find, joy, peace, healing and a better life?
Mark 5:27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. NKJV
This woman found Jesus because somebody told her about Him.
When we see someone in desperate need, we should point them to Jesus. Sure, we can help with their financial needs as well as other things; but ultimately, all people need Jesus.
The word touch means to fasten one's self to, adhere to, cling to.
This woman clutched the tassels of Jesus’ garment because of her desperate need, and her belief in Jesus’ ability to heal her.
Before we move on in the narrative; let’s talk about some differences between the two people in our narrative:
• Jairus has experienced 12 years of joy from his daughter.
• 12 years earlier would have been a day of celebration at the birth of this young girl.
• This woman has experienced 12 years of suffering.
• 12 Years earlier when this blood flow problem began, it was miserable for her.
III. Her desperation worked.
Read Mark 5:29-34
Remember, there was an enormous crowd there that day and the people were thronging against Jesus.
They touched Jesus; but, they did not touch Him believing He could actually meet their need.
Desperation drove this woman to cling to Jesus and notice as soon as she touched Jesus she was healed instantly. (notice, Jesus asked, “Who touched Me?”)
Jesus knew who touched Him; but, He asked the question for the sake of others. I love how the Disciples try to correct Jesus here; but, I also love how patient Jesus was with His followers.
The Master knew this woman had touched the edge of His garment and at that moment, a mighty miracle had occurred.
This woman knew Jesus had the power to heal her; but, Jesus wanted this woman to come to know Him personally as well.
Catch this: Our Lord Jesus was not ashamed to be touched by the untouchable, and He was not embarrassed to be publicly identified with the outcasts of this world.
Why is this so important? Because with our Lord there are no "untouchable" people; in Jesus' eyes, everyone is touchable and there are no hopeless cases with Him.
The woman’s response was fear and trembling; Jesus’ response was to call her daughter and to tell her, her faith made her well.
In vs. 34, daughter is a term of endearment and it is probably the same term Jairus used of his twelve year old daughter.
Jesus was claiming this woman as His own special child!
Jesus was on the way to raise a young girl back from the dead; but on the way, He is interrupted from His journey by this unclean woman.
Can you just hear Jairus, “Hey what about my daughter”?
How many times have we wondered, why God hears everyone else’s prayer except mine? We say, “He loves everyone but me.”
Have you ever wondered; "How can everyone else seem to be so happy and full of joy while my life is so miserable?"
How is it that others are always "hearing from God" on something in their lives, yet I can’t seem to hear a thing?
But this woman’s faith made her well; not her touching Jesus.
Faith is believing what the Lord says, and she believed Jesus was able. Her faith caused her to make her way to the only One who could heal her. Real faith will move us towards Jesus!
However, her faith was not perfect, she was afraid; but, she came to an end of herself and pushed her way through the crowd to touch the only One who could restore her life.
Belief and trust go hand in hand. It is not enough to have an intellectual belief about God; our faith moves us towards Him.
Jesus told her to go in peace; and she was made whole by Jesus so she could go in peace.
You can spend all of your money, all of your time and all of your peace trying to become whole; but, if you do not make your way to Jesus, you will never know true peace.
We must really trust that Jesus is the only One who can save us!
Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." NKJV
This was a 12 year story of two desperate people; a desperate father and a desperate woman. Jesus allowed them both to get to the end of themselves; so they could make their way to Him.
No matter how weak your faith is, make your way to Jesus.
Kyle Idleman said, “Reaching the end of me is a daily journey I must make because it’s where Jesus shows up and my real life in him begins.
Jesus said in Luke 9 that whoever wants to hang on to his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will find it.
I will add; the end of ourselves is where we find, peace, joy, and the abundant life.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. NKJV
Faith in Christ is not some magical, mystical force; rather, it is believing what the Lord has said will happen; will happen.
Alistair Begg, “Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in His Word, trusting in Him, and also receiving and resting on Him alone for salvation”
The woman in our narrative touched Jesus; remember the word touch means to fasten one's self to, adhere to, or cling to.
It is not enough to intellectually know Jesus can change your life, we must grab onto Him like we really believe it and He will become all we need!
Being close enough to touch Jesus is not enough; we must actually touch Jesus in order to be whole.
Jesus was on the way to raise a young girl back from the dead; but, on the way He is interrupted by this unclean woman.
Jesus cared enough to stop and meet this women’s need; but, just then, someone comes with some news and…
IV. Another daughter gets healed.
Read Mark 5:35-43
Notice as Jairus and Jesus get the news that the little girl had died, Jesus tells the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe”.
Belief and trust go hand in hand. It is not enough to have an intellectual belief about God; our faith moves us towards Him.
Notice Jesus only allows His inner circle of three Disciples to accompany Him to Jairus’ house.
There are three different times where Jesus allows only these three Disciples to witness special events.
1. Here, at the raising of Jairus’ daughter.
2. Mount of Transfiguration.
3. While Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Many wonder what the reason was, for Peter, James, and John being the closest to Jesus.
What if the real reason was, instead of these three being His favored ones; these Disciples had a lot to learn? Maybe it is both; they were favored and they had a lot to learn.
Peter constantly messed up and James and John constantly wanted to be the greatest in the kingdom.
Mark 10:37 "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." NKJV
As we read the accounts of these men later, it is a different story.
After receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, we see Peter preach his first sermon and three thousand people were saved.
In Acts 9, Peter raises Tabitha back from the dead, just like he witnessed Jesus do for Jairus’ daughter.
Here, when Jesus arrives at the house, there is a crowd of mourners and Jesus proclaims that the girl is simply sleeping.
In the Jewish culture, professional mourners were hired to keep long vigils while the body lay in state.
Back then, even a poor family would hire at least 2 flute players and a professional mourner; but don’t forget, Jairus was a leader of the synagogue so he was not poor and could hire mourners.
Mourners would play instruments as they mourned the dead.
Sometimes a professional mourner would express the grief that the family could not bring themselves to do in public.
Notice the reaction of these mourners as Jesus informs them that the little girl will rise; they ridiculed Jesus.
(KJV) Matthew 9:24 “And they laughed him to scorn” KJV
Just imagine what these professional mourners were thinking, “We have mourned over hundreds of dead people, we know if someone is dead or not and this little girl is dead, not sleeping”
Many have asked the question, “Why did Jesus put these mockers out before He performed this miracle”.
Jesus’ fame has been growing as He cast out demons, healed different people, calmed a storm, and now He is at the home of this distraught father.
As Jesus walks to Jairus' home, a friend informs Jairus of the sad news, "Your daughter is dead." But Jesus said "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well."
So why does Jesus ask the mourners to leave? Maybe…
• Jesus didn’t want to cast His pearls before swine or to make entertainment out of His miracle in front of mockers.
• By clearing the room of an extremely noisy crowd, He brought peace, quiet, and stillness to the situation.
When a person has unbelief in their heart, it is hard for them to see miracles when they occur.
There are only 5 people who got to witness the miracle: Jairus, the mother, and the closest 3 disciples, Peter, James, and John.
Re-read Mark 5:41
"Talitha cumi," is actually a term of endearment which means "little lamb".
The Good Shepherd said to this little girl, "My little lamb, I say unto you, arise", with words of incredible love and power.
Notice, Jesus tells them that no one should know what happened; but, in this same narrative in Matthew 9, the report of this healing went into all the land.
With all the people there that day, I think it would be pretty difficult to hide the fact that this dead girl is now living again.
Also in Luke 8:56, we are told her parents were astonished,
This is the same way the fame of Jesus spreads today, people witness dead people raised to life and there is no hiding it.
Ephesians 2:1 you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, NKJV
When people see the obvious changes in our life, we won’t have to convince anyone we got saved, they will see it themselves!
V. Practical Application.
The first lesson we should learn is to tell someone about Jesus! We have no idea about the brokenness of other people; but, we definitely know the answer; and His name is Jesus.
We need to demonstrate our faith is in the One who hung the moon and the stars; prayer is our first resort not our last hope.
I started with the question, “Have you ever looked at someone else’s walk and wondered why they seem to have a closer relationship with Jesus than you do?
I want to concentrate on the differences between the crowd, and the woman who had faith to trust Jesus to heal her; as well as the faith Jairus had for his daughter that the mourners did not have.
Although Bible studies, prayer, regular church attendance, and obedience, can be tools to develop a closer relationship with God; these things can also become works of performance.
Performance based relationships are based on duty; using manipulation as a means of receiving something.
A love relationship is based on just that; love from a grateful heart. We love Jesus because He first loved us.
Jesus gives incredible gifts, including eternal salvation; based upon His great love for us, not our performance; so, we love Him as a response.
Once we are secure in Christ's love for us; we will respond in love to Him, instead of performance, trying to earn His love.
John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." NKJV
A closer relationship with the Lord begins with the knowledge of Who the Lord really is; then having a desire to have a close relationship with Him, and then worship Him in spirit and truth.
Our love and passion for the Lord should invade everything we do and should transform our minds and desires; as we worship this God in spirit; but, we must also worship Him in truth.
Our worship is led by the Holy Spirit; but, we are to worship the Lord according to what His Word reveals about Him.
Jesus, speaking to the Father said in John 17:17, Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. NKJV
We don’t get to have a “god” of our own making.
To worship God in truth, one must worship Him according to what He has outlined in His Word. When a person does things not normative in scripture, they are not worshiping God in truth.
The Bible tells us about the Lord’s attributes (His omniscience, omnipotence, His mercy, His unfailing love, and His grace).
We should desire the expression of our heart in worship to look like what is recorded in the Scriptures regarding worship.
Expressing what is in our hearts for the Lord in a way that is worthy of Him; is what worshipping in spirit means.
Worshipping “in spirit,” means to engage your whole heart, while exalting the Lord.
Psalm 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
David was speaking of the greatness of God and then describes the reaction of what coming to know the Lord that way, produces.
So growing closer to Jesus is similar to growing in human relationships; it is not based on formulas; but, there are some good habits we can use, once we are in love with Jesus.
In human relationships, we continue to grow to know each other
1. So as Christians, we are to grow in the grace and the knowledge of God by studying His Word.
2. We should also spend time with Him in conversation; first by listening to Him and then telling Him our concerns, anxieties, and praises.
3. We should seek reconciliation when we fail Him;
Even though, we are already forgiven, at the moment we receive the free gift of salvation, we are to still keep short accounts with the Lord when we sin.
4. We should also spend time with likeminded people in fellowship
5. But most of all, we need to trust Him....
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. NKJV
Faith in Christ is not some magical, mystical force; rather it is believing what the Lord has said will happen; will happen.
He loves us; He gave Himself for our salvation; and He is trust worthy; so, let’s all become like Jairus’ family and the woman with the blood flow issue and grow closer to Jesus; trusting Him.
