One of the inevitable consequences of a determined resolved to cling to Christ Jesus Only is this constant barrage of interruptions, roadblocks and periods which have been inserted by the hands of human or demonic editors. Some person or power has determined that the script, as written by God, is flawed, and so, they have taken it upon themselves to revise, update or edit the predetermined course of human events. They keep inserting interruptions, roadblocks and even periods that indicate its the end of the story, the sentence is complete, the chapter is finished.
But genuine and authentic faith in Christ Jesus will not rerouted, blocked or edited from its rendezvous with the Author and Finisher of its Faith. Faith ultimately will get in the face of Jesus, fall down at His feet, worship Him and present its request.
In our Target Text, commencing at Verses 21-24, we find the firmness of faith being challenged by the temporary Road Block of a Curious Crowd - Explore.
Then in verses 25-34, the Resolve of Faith is challenged by the Anxiety of Interruptions.
Now in our Text, we find Exclusive Faith being challenged to back-off and back-down by the Period of Finality. For those who try to edit the unalterable script of God, tell faith in verse 35, “Your daughter is dead (Period, Its all over, there’s nothing no one can do, so) Why are you still bothering the Master? (Let it alone, there’s nothing He can do, let Him alone!).”
I contend that on a regular and consistent basis the Huggers of Hope and Followers of Faith have to deal with this Period of Finality. Someone or something is always writing periods at certain intervals or critical junctures in our lives. They tell us that its too late, it’s all over; the person, purpose, plan or passion is dead; therefore, give it up, let it alone, walk away from it, stop bothering other people with It! And faith probably would give up if it were not for the words of the ever-present Jesus, who in the face of periods, keeps writing Commas. Says Jesus: “Be not afraid, only believe.”
And perhaps I might be addressing someone here, who in the past, has heeded the advise of the editors and has allowed a period to be written when the sentence is till incomplete, because God has not finished His statement!
Perhaps you have allowed the words of editors and the circumstances of the moment to close a chapter on an unsettled hope, dream, plan, person, deliverance or healing, even the raising of a promise from the dead. For oft-times, we allow the Fear of Finality to Foreclose on the Miracles and Blessings of God.
That’s why its always advisable and necessary to get a Second Opinion on everything that comes from the mouth of men. No man, woman or child; no human institution, organization, business or government has the last word or final say-so on anything that pertains to the life and welfare of God’s Elect. In those situations, I would strongly advise you to go to God and get a Second Opinion. I am not suggesting that God is to be consulted after the fact, for we are to acknowledge Him in all things and to seek first His kingdom and righteousness; but in those instances when people offer their opinions and judgments as the final and governing authority, you must go to the Lord and get a Second Opinion! And in so doing, you are allowing God to edit out the periods of people and to keep His Divine Commas intact.
Too often we have allowed the Fear of Finality to Foreclose on our Seeking a Word from the Lord. Someone has written a period and told us our disease or sickness is terminal, and so we have given up to death. Someone has told us that we weren’t qualified for a certain job, loan or promotion, so we settled for the death of a dream. Someone wrote a period on a relationship that went sour, and so you walked away but you are still looking back. Someone told you that the godly life was not within your reach, so you have settled for the mediocre and mundane. We have all allowed human editors to write periods at certain junctures of our lives when God has written commas! Someone has suggested that its not over until the fat lady sings. Well, its not over until God Says So!
And so, I thought it would be helpful if we would look at this passage with a view toward Contrasting the Different Perspectives of The Bearers of Bad News and the Carrier of Good News. For our Text seems to suggests that the Bearers of Bad News Always COME, but The Carrier of Good News COMMANDS.
And so I submit to us that if we are going to face the Fear of Finality with Faith, then First Of All, we are going to have to recognize that:
I. THE BEARERS OF BAD NEWS WILL COME.
Let’s reread Verse 35 again with the intent of discovering this principle (read).
I think we do well if we adjust our attitude to the fact that We Can’t Stop the Bearers of Bad News From Coming To Us!!! They are going to keep on coming as long as we live. And so since we cannot prevent their approach, then we need a way to deal with them.
First, Recognize Where They Are Coming From - “there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain…” Sometimes Bad News Will Come From YOUR OWN HOUSE!
Second, Recognize that, for the most part, the Source of Bad News Is Anonymous, Un-Named - “certain…” It confronts us in this form, “I heard; Somebody said; They said; Some folk told me.” Watch out for Unnamed Sources!!! If the person can’t reveal his/her name or his/her source, then you know its not from God. God will let you know that it is He who is telling you something. For over and over it is written “Thus saith the Lord.” Jesus keeps saying “It is I.” “Thus saith He…”
Third, you must recognize Why You Left Home in the First Place - verses 22-23.
If you are going to deal with the Coming of the Bearers of Bad News, then I would suggest that
II. SECONDLY, YOU FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE TIMING OF THEIR COMING.
Verse 35 says that they came, “While He (Jesus) yet spake…” The Bearers of Bad News Came WHILE JESUS WAS SPEAKING GOOD NEWS! Verse 34. So many times bad news is programmed to run simultaneously with good news. While hearing a word from the Lord, bad news interrupts. Listening to the testimony of others, bad news interrupts. Worshipping and bad news interrupts. Praying and bad news cuts in. Healing is taking place and bad news breaks in.
Often I have been watching a certain program on the TV when all of a sudden, the network breaks in with a news bulletin; or the local station will interrupt with a weather warning! That’s the way it is in our lives. While receiving a broadcast from heaven, earth breaks in with bad news! Earth constantly interrupts Heaven’s Signal. Bad News constantly Breaks In on Good News! As if to say that what it has to report or announce is more Important than what Almighty God is saying!!! The Forces of Darkness are constantly Breaking In on our Signal from Heaven! If earthly powers can disrupt the heavenly period, then they might edit the script. If bad news can alter our focus from the presence and power of Jesus, then they might be able to alter the script.
But thanks be unto God that Jesus has control of the Remote Control! He has the Power to Push the Recall Button! He Can Change the Station Back!
When earth interrupts Jesus, He has the Power to terminate earth’s transmission. When they interrupted Jesus with “Your daughter is dead: why are you troubling the Master any further?” He just pushed the recall button and said, “Be not afraid, only believe.”
III. YOU SEE, THE POINT OF THIS MESSAGE IS THIS: THE BEARERS OF BAD NEWS COME, BUT THE CARRIER OF GOOD NEWS COMMANDS!
Look at Verse 36 again.
JESUS HEARS AND IGNORES WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING!
HE ADDRESSES OUR SOULS!!! “BE NOT AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE.”
JESUS HAS THE LAST WORD. HE IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH.
“No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.
God will take care of you,
Thru every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.”
