“The Urgency of the Emergency”
Mark 5:21-42
Dr. Larry D. Johnson
Introduction: A few weeks ago, I woke up in excruciating pain. My back was giving me a fit. I could not walk; I could not stand. It hurt me to sit; I could not sleep. I mean, I was hurting. When I had gotten to a point where the pain was unbearable, not just for me but also for my wife, she suggested that I go to the doctor. I tried to wait until the next day when the doctor’s office was open, but due to the escalating pain, my wife demanded I go now. We loaded up in the car on our way to the hospital. Above the door was a sign in flashing red lights, which read 'Emergency.’ Pat went in to get someone to assist her in getting me out of the car. A nurse comes out and sees how much pain I’m in, goes back in, and returns with a wheelchair. They wheel me into the emergency room and hand me a clipboard to get me signed in. As I am filling out the paperwork, an ambulance, an emergency vehicle, pulls up with its lights flashing and siren blasting. They wheel me into a room, staff are running everywhere, doctors are running, nurses are running! I remind you I’m in pain; the brother is hurting, waiting in a room in the emergency area for what seemed like hours. I later learned that there had been a serious accident, and there were some people hurt who were in a life-or-death situation, and even though I was in pain, in the emergency room, mine could wait, because it was not life or death! Just because something is an emergency does not make it urgent, and just because something is urgent does not make it an emergency. The 911 operators are trained to ask you what the nature of your emergency is. Do you know why they do that so they can determine the urgency of your emergency! That’s true in hospitals, and it’s true in our faith walk. In Mark 5, Jairus discovered the same thing when his desperate situation collided with another person’s urgent need.
This Sermon is about Faith: That all-important commodity that all Christians have, for God has given to every man the measure of faith. We are saved by faith: We engage in spiritual warfare by faith, the bible says, Fight the good fight of faith. Faith is a lifestyle; the Bible says, 'The just shall live by faith!' We overcome the world by faith. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith! Faith is an indispensable commodity. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Jesus is the Giver of Faith; the Bible says He has given to every man the measure of faith. It describes Jesus as the Author and finisher of our faith. Not only is Jesus the giver of faith, but he is also the Grower of our Faith. In other words, he is into the development of his Disciples’ faith. You can have mustard seed size faith and move mountains. If you have the faith the size of a mustard seed, you can speak to this mountain and tell it to be removed and be cast into the sea and it should obey you. Even though this seed is small it is mighty. Let me warn you that it is not the intent of Jesus to imply that a little dab will do you, but his intent is to show that we need mustard seed kind of faith and not mustard seed size faith. In another place he will chastise his disciples by saying oh yea of little faith.
I. The Quest of Faith Faith is not a one-time decision — it’s a journey. All of us are on a faith journey, a course of faith. Paul would come to the end of his life and proclaim I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course. When Jairus came to Jesus, he didn’t begin with demands. He humbled himself at Jesus’ feet. Real faith always starts with humility. The bible says as soon as Jesus arrives on the scene, Jairus runs up to him and falls at his feet. Does not begin to bombard him with prayer requests, but he humbles himself. Might I suggest to you that one way to get your prayers answered is to humble yourself, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Whenever you are on Faith's journey, your faith will always be tested. Might I remind you "Faith that can't be tried can't be trusted " 3 things that tested his faith.
1. The Distractors – Crowd whenever Jesus is on the scene there will always be a crowd. Not everyone who is in the crowd is there for the right reason. Not everyone is here at church for the right reason. The same is true in church. Some are curious, some are critical, but only a few are truly committed.
2. The Delays – The second Challenge to our faith is Delay. The woman with the issue of blood. Jesus, on the way to Jairus’ house, is stopped by an emergency. Jesus, hurry, my daughter is at the point of death. This delay may be fatal. Don't mean to be rude, but this is urgent. Can't your emergency wait? Mine is urgent. Experience in the emergency "waiting room". Jesus is developing your faith while you are waiting. Nothing increases our faith when we need a miracle like seeing a miracle. Can’t give God a deadline. Trust his timing. He is right on time every time. 3. The Detours- Accidents are Appointments along the way. Some people are only willing to walk with Jesus as long as he keeps up with us—I have learned that in this faith quest, we need to be willing to be inconvenienced. Most of us follow Jesus to the point of inconvenience but no farther. Just as long as Jesus doesn’t detour our plans, but if you are going to experience a miracle, you must be willing to be inconvenienced. Harder to recognize closer to home because we sometimes get on autopilot. Don’t be in such a hurry to get where you are going that you miss the miracles along the way, or the miracles that may be out of your way. Jairus is headed north but has to make a detour to go back and see what is delaying the Master. Jairus taught me a valuable lesson. Please don’t wait for the Miracle to come to you; go and get it. Our complacency may often hinder many miracles from occurring. That’s the quest of faith.
II. The Questioning of Faith
When the news came that Jairus’ daughter was dead, doubt came rushing in. Jesus’ response was simple: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Faith does not ignore reality — but it refuses to let reality have the last word.
You were walking by faith, and something happened; you believed the word and were in expectation. Will it work? Is it going to happen for me? Faith releases the power of God. We must release our faith to allow God to move into our personal day-to-day affairs. Faith is more than simply believing that God has the power to do something. God’s power to act is never in question. Faith is the ability to move the hand of God into our situation. Jesus, tell Him fear not, keep on believing!
A. Can your Faith stand against CONCRETE FACTS? Facts said she was gone. Your daughter is dead! V. 35 Can your faith see beyond the grave! She’s gone, man, and not even Jesus can do anything now!
B. Can your Faith stand against COMPETING FEARS? Fear said there was no hope.
Jesus says Fear not only believe. V.36
C. Can your Faith stand to be CALLED FOOLISH? V. 39 The damsel is not dead but
sleepeth. Foolishness was what people called Jesus when He said, “She’s not dead, only
asleep.”If you are going to please the master, your faith may have to withstand ridicule. The bible says they laughed him to scorn. Can your faith stand the mockery of morons? Can you faith stand Strength of statistics, the wisecracks of the weaker, the wicked, and the wannabes?
III. The Quarantine of Faith – Jesus cleared the room before He raised the little girl. Jesus has to sequester Jairus. Notice that Jesus only takes his inner circle with him. Why? Because unbelief is contagious. Quarantine is the restriction of the movement of people or animals to prevent them from being exposed to an infectious disease and to prevent further spread. Jesus institutes a state of enforced isolation. You isolate individuals that you know are sick. Jesus isolates the unbelievers and Quarantines Jarius and his family. Sometimes you must separate yourself from voices that weaken your trust in God. You might have to isolate some people so that they don’t contaminate your faith. Faith works both ways; hearing the wrong advice can weaken your faith. Faith in the wrong object, no matter how strong, is never rewarded. Faith in the proper object, no matter how weak, is rewarded. He took only His inner circle and Jairus’ family.
Conclusion
The story ends with Jesus taking the little girl by the hand and saying, “Talitha koum” — “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”What was impossible became possible through faith in Christ.
Like Jairus, your faith may be delayed, detoured, or even doubted by others. But the same Jesus who raised that little girl is still working today. Don’t give up in the waiting room. Don’t give in to the fear. Keep believing
Invitation:
Friend, what is your emergency today? Is it a broken heart, a failing marriage, a financial burden, or a spiritual emptiness? Jesus specializes in urgent needs. The greatest emergency is not physical but spiritual — being separated from God because of sin. But the good news is urgent too: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Today, Jesus is calling you to faith. Will you come to Him?
• If you’ve never trusted Christ as Savior, this is your moment to believe.
• If you’ve been walking in doubt or distraction, this is your time to renew your faith.
• If your faith feels weak, remember — a mustard seed in the right soil moves mountains.
Come to Jesus today. Lay your burdens at His feet. He is still saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
