A Study of the Book of Luke
Sermon # 22
Help for the Hopeless!
Luke 8: 40-56
The Lord and his disciples had returned to the boats following the casting out of the evil spirits from the demon possessed man. As they began to row away from the beach towards the northeastern shores of Capernaum perhaps they could see a crowd of frightened and superstitious Gentiles, standing at the water’s edge, breathing a sigh of relief that they had really left as they had asked. At the same time they could see the former demon possessed man once known as Legion standing alone on the beach, fully clothed and in his right mind, waving good-bye to his new LORD and Savior. His heart was now filled with the joy of being possessed by the Holy Spirit, and he had been given a commission to tell all of the surrounding cities what had happened to him.
The Garasenes could not wait for Jesus to leave, the Galileans could hardly wait for Him to arrive. For in verse forty the reader is informed that as Jesus and his disciple returned to the beaches of Capernaum they were warmly welcomed. ”So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.”
What we have before us this morning is two interwoven stories that teach us some fascinating principles on Faith.
1. Faith Was Born Out Of Need (vv. 41- 43)
And as many had heard of the healing he had done, there were gathered to meet him those who had some sickness that they wished to be healed from. On this occasion they were met by a distressed man who had a daughter who was dying. Verse forty-one “And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, (42) for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him.” Jairus even though he was head of the local synagogue came a made a request of Jesus. In the hour of his extreme need he came to Jesus. The text says that he reverently made his request for “he fell at his feet.” And he passionately made his case “he begged him to come to his house.” Casting aside all of his pride, this religious leader fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, desperate for one last lifeline for his little girl. Without a word Jesus sets out for this man’s house.
And on the way to help this man Jesus met another, a woman who we are told had (v. 43) “….a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, “
We are told that this woman had “flow of blood” an abnormal bleeding from the womb. In the Mark’s account it is twice called “a plague” (Mark 5:29, 34) the word translated plague is a word that carries the connotation of “whip.” Notice the things that this whip drove from her life. First, it drove from her life strength and health. For twelve years she had steadily grown weaker and weaker. Secondly, it drove her from her husband and family. There is no mention of a husband, but if she had one, in a day when getting out of a marriage could be for as silly a reason as burning his breakfast toast and was as easy as handing a wife a hand-written notice of intent and saying publicly, “I divorce you, I divorce you, I divorce you.” he probably dumped her years ago. The fact is that she could not touch or be touched by anyone. Thirdly, it drove her from her friends - she was ostracized from Society. Three things in Jewish daily life could make a person ceremonially unclean; touching the dead, menstrual bleeding and leprosy. Finally, it drove her from her place of worship she had been excluded from Worship (for over twelve years).
In verse forty- three Doctor Luke says that she was “humanly incurable.” “Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,” In spite of all her previous effort she remained unhealed. She still suffered pain, all the different treatments she had tried had only succeed in making her poor, this verse says that “spent all of her livelihood on physicians.” She has gone to many doctors, and all the doctors had cured her of was her bank account. Individual after individual had raised her hopes only to dash them to the ground when they failed to help her. Mark tells us (5:26) that she had “suffered many things from many physicians, searching for an accurate diagnosis. Twelve long years without remedy for her problem, and presumably she has by now decided, “There is no hope for my problem.” In fact she was worse instead of better. This poor woman was broke, cut off from family, society and even the church and in declining health. She probably could not have felt any lower. I suspect that she had to deal regularly with bitterness, with anger - anger against her circumstances, perhaps even against God who had allowed these circumstances to continue: loneliness, self-hatred, fear of the future, alienation from God.
Faith Was Born Out Of Need and
2. Faith Demands A Response (v. 44)
Mark in his account tells (5:27-28) that “when” she heard about Jesus. In the Greek the definite article is before the name Jesus. Jesus was a common name in Palestine in those days. She had heard about “the” Jesus and when she heard she made a decision. It is at this low point in her life that this woman hears about Jesus and decides that he is different from all of those who have succeed only in robbing her of her money and more importantly of her hope. The Bible says that Faith cometh by hearing, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17). True faith demands a response. It’s not enough to hear the word, we must also believe it and do it. She not only heard about Jesus, she believed what she heard. She had decided in her mind that if she could but touch Jesus she would be healed. Matthew (9:21) says “For she said to herself, ‘If only I may touched the hem of His garment, I shall be well,’ literally she “said and kept on saying” and she acted upon it.
In order for to act her faith had to overcome some obstacles. She could have allowed those hindrances to become excuses. The first obstacle that she had to overcome was her physical weakness. It must have been difficult for her to get up out of bed, let alone fight her way through a crowd. The second obstacle that she had to face was her own hopelessness and despair. The third obstacle that she had to overcome was the press of the crowd around Jesus. She had to force her way through a crushing mob but in such a way that it did not draw attention to herself. She after all was a woman, she was a woman with a problem that rendered her unclean. She was a woman with a “female” problem that she did not care to proclaim before a large crowd. The final obstacle that she had to overcome was the social and religious stigma that said she dare not touch Jesus for is so doing she would make him unclean.
But she did overcome these obstacles for finally she got with in reach of Jesus. By the way what is blocking you from the touch of Jesus this morning? Maybe instead of a crowd of people – it is finances, or pride or shame. What is it that is keeping you from reaching out to Jesus?
We are told in verse forty-four, she “…came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.” The woman came to Jesus secretly from behind because she felt unworthy to approach Him directly. Upon touching Jesus the woman was instantly healed. No doubt she intended to remain as inconspicuous as possible, allow the crowd to pass on, leaving her alone, unnoticed to return to her home and a normal life. With a touch of faith she draws power from Jesus, whereas the rest of the crowd, pressing around him on every side, touching him many times in the course of the journey, were not receiving anything from him.
We should fear only one thing this morning - that we will let him pass without responding in faith and reaching out to receive what he is offering.
Faith Demands A Response and
3. Faith Cannot Remain Anonymous (vv. 45-47)
In verse forty-five Jesus asks, “Who has touched me?” Is it really possible that Jesus did not know who had touched him? Of course not! He knew what had happened and who had touched Him. He asked the question to bring the woman out of hiding.
Initially, no one admitted they had touched Jesus. But Jesus would not let the matter drop, in verse forty-six Jesus says, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me." Mark’s account (5:29-30) tells us that “she felt:” that she was healed. The word ginosko used there literally means “knows” (v. 29) - she knew and he knew.
The Disciple reply to Jesus question was something like, “You have got to kidding, just look at this mob, how could we possibly know?” In my imagination I can almost see Peter roll his eyes as he says, “Lord it would be easier to answer who didn’t touch you!” It seems an impossible question but perhaps more importantly it seemed to be a pointless question. What difference does it make?
Poor Jairus must have been exasperated beyond words at this interruption. Precious time was being lost as the life of his little daughter slipped away. He must have been thinking, “Come on Jesus, My daughter is dying, who cares that someone touched you!” As Jesus dealt with a problem that in Jairus’ eyes was not an emergency he must have question Jesus’ timing. In the same way that you and I often struggle to understand God’s timing. Ultimately we learn that faith means trusting in God’s care means accepting God’s timing!
In Mark 5:32 we are told that Jesus “ looked round about to see her who had done this thing” literally it says that “he looked penetratingly into the crowd.” He stops, turns around, and begins to scan the crowd, looking for her because she needs him and he knows it!! The woman had not expected to be detected, but when Jesus turned and asked the question, she knew that he knew. If this lady had taken a great leap of faith before, now the desire must have been to make a great leap of escape. Remember the penalty for deliberately making someone unclean is death!!!! It was a bad moment for the woman. Perhaps she thought she had done wrong in touching Jesus.
In verse forty-seven, “…when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.” She came forward trembling and fell at his feet and confessed that she was the one who had touched the hem of his garment. She had received much more than she expected, but much less than Jesus desired to give her.
Why did he insist on her public confession? It was not the miracle that Jesus wanted to make public, but rather the woman’s faith. He demanded for the benefit of others (as a testimony). Faith is not intended to be a “private” matter as some seem to think. How often have you heard someone decline to discuss their spiritual condition, justifying themselves with the statement, “Well, my faith is a very personal thing…” Faith in Christ is not intended to be just personal. This was so important that Jesus refused to allow her to go without a confession of faith. Jesus still requires a confession. Elsewhere Jesus said in Matthew 10:32, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” Paul says that, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10)
Faith Cannot Remain Anonymous and
4. Faith Revealed Is Faith Rewarded (v. 48)
The result was that in verse forty-eight, she is told "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace." Jesus was incredibly gentle with this woman. This is the only woman in the entire Bible that Jesus ever called “daughter.” Jesus rewarded her confession by telling her, “go in peace” the literal meaning of this phrase is “go into peace”. Paul says in his letter to the Romans (5:1) “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
I know that you have not asked for my opinion, but I am going to give it. I believe that she was healed (physically) in verse 29 and healed spiritually (saved) upon confession v. 33. She had been healed physically but this is only temporary help, because the body that is healed now will break down again some day.
In faith she touched the hem of his gown and was healed. Healed physically by this touch of faith she was saved (spiritually) when stepped forward in confession.
Faith Revealed Is Faith Rewarded and
5. Faith Holds On When Reason Says Give Up (vv. 49-56)
You will also remember that the healing of this woman occurred as Jesus made his way to the home of Jairus, who’s daughter was deathly ill. Our final principle of faith is seen in the life of Jairus. Previously we read in verse forty-one of Jairus’ request for his gravely ill daughter and how Jesus began his journey with Jairus to his home. As we pick up with the story in verse forty-nine we see that things have taken a decided turn for the worse. While Jesus is still speaking to the woman concerning her healing, a servant comes from Jairus’ house with the bad news, “While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher."
The delay necessary for the healing of the woman brought disastrous results, Jairus’ daughter had died. The conclusion was that she was now beyond help. So long as she was only at “the point of death” there was hope, but not now. But it is one thing to believe in a healing and quite another to believe in a resurrection. It now appeared that the healing of this woman has cost the life of Jairus’ daughter. What pain and disappointment and even anger must have flooded Jairus’ soul.
Jesus quickly reassures Jairus in verse fifty, “But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well." He tells him, “Don’t Be Afraid…Only Believe” (this present imperative active) and literally means “start believing and do not stop believing” Fear is to be met by Faith. Faith is not the belief that we will get what we want but the belief that God knows what is best!
In verse fifty-one we are told that Jesus asked only the mother and father and three of his disciple, (Peter, James and John) to go with him into the room. Was he showing favoritism? NO I don’t think so. I believe he asked those who he knew would be open and affirming. The probing question for us today is, “Would Jesus have asked me to go?”
He rebuked the mourners in verse fifty- two telling them "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping," these mourners are most likely paid professionals not family. The response from the crowd was “they ridiculed Him.” (v. 53). They stopped crying and started laughing, Jesus then cleared the room of all the skeptics (v. 54), “he put them all outside.”
Now Jesus turns his attention to the girl in the second part of verse fifty-four,,“… took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise." (55) Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.”
What he did he do? He raised her to life. In Mark’s account we are told that Jesus said, “Talitha Cumi” (ta-li’-tha koom-i) this was unforgettable moment for Peter so much so that he remembers the very words of Jesus, Mark does not even put it in Greek, but leaves it in Aramaic the very words of Jesus, “little lamb, get up” - the same phrase a mother might use to get her daughter up in the morning. He had raised her from the dead. The critics would say that the girl was not really dead but had lapsed into a coma and about the time Jesus arrived she was coming out of it. But we must remember that the family who saw death all the time, knew she had stopped breathing and they had declared her dead, the mourners ridiculed Jesus statement that she was not dead, for as professional mourners they knew death when they saw it (v. 53); and the Lord knew she was physically dead because after he raised her spirit returned (v. 55).
Why did he do this? Was it for the little girl’s sake? NO. Was it for the parent’s sake? YES. Did he do it so that we would expect the same thing today? NO.
In verse fifty-six Jesus tells the astonished parents “…to tell no one what had happened.” Can you imagine the surprise on the faces of the mourners when the girl emerged from the room, alive and hungry for lunch? Think of the frustration of those onlookers when they asked. “Tell us what happened,” only to told, “I’m sorry but Jesus told us VERY EMPHATICALLY us not to tell you!”
Conclusion
It may be that you say, “All this talk about faith is fine. It is wonderful how he healed the woman and raised the little girl back to life. But he didn’t do that for me. I’m still sick and He has not healed me. Or my loved one died, and they are gone, even though I wanted them back, too. Why doesn’t he respond that way today?” The answer is that He healed this woman, and he raised this child, in order that we might have a new view of sickness and death
Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, that great preacher of 19th century spoke from his own experience when he said, “I can hardly speak of this matter without becoming personal and reminiscent, remembering a time forty years ago when my own first daughter lay a the point of death, dying. I called for Him then, and He came, and surely said to our troubled hearts, “Fear not, believe only.” He did not say, “She shall be made whole.” She was not made whole, at least on this earthly plane; she passed away into the life beyond. But he did say to her, “Talitha cumi,” i.e., “Little lamb, arise.” But in her case that did not mean, “Stay on the earth level,” it meant that He needed her, and He took her to be with Himself. She has been with Him for all these years, as we measure time here, and I have missed her every day. But His words, “Believe only,” has been the strength of all the passing years.”
The Christian can stand at the bedside of a loved one who is ill and pray that God will heal them. Then, believing that God can heal them, if the loved ones dies, still believe that our God did heal them totally by bringing them into the eternal presence of the Lord. THIS LIFE IS NOT ALL THERE IS!!!
Jesus is still looking for hurting people, brokenhearted people, damaged, frustrated, hopeless people. People who cover up all their hurts, people who have been hurt so many times that they no longer trust anyone. He is looking for people like that, he is still reaching out to people like that.
