THE HUMBLE CRY OF FAITH
TEXT: Mark 5:21-24; 35-43 W. Max Alderman
INTRODUCTION: In this second Gospel, the Gospel according to Mark, we see a wonderful picture of the way faith works. The miracles that were performed by Jesus, all had great lessons on the way that faith operates. It would be wonderful sometimes to just study the miracles of Jesus. A few of these would be the turning of water into wine; the feeding of the five thousand; the raising of Lazarus from the dead; the healing of the woman with the issue of blood; His walking on the water and the healing of the leper and the blind man.
In our study today, may we notice the humble cry of faith on the part of Jairus?
I. IT WAS A HUMBLE CRY
“he fell at his feet”
God hates pride and the only way that you can come to Jesus for a miracle is by humbling your self. Many years ago I recall a preacher preaching on the way that pride manifests itself. The preacher said, “There is the pride of face; there is the pride of race and there is the pride of place”. There is much truth in what he preached many years ago. That is the reason that the song says to come just as you are. “Just as I am without one plea”
This man Jairus was a “big man”; he was a man of wealth and prestige, but he also was needy. His little girl was dying!
II. IT WAS A HEARTFELT CRY
“And besought him greatly”
Jairus meant business. He absolutely knew the seriousness of his need. No one had to tell him the consequences of his daughter’s sickness. He knew that there was not much time left apart from a miracle. With this miracle picturing the way faith works at one’s conversion, if you are here without Christ, there may not be much time left for you to get saved.
III. IT WAS A HURTING CRY
“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.”
This part of this miracle story pictures conviction. This man was convinced that his daughter was going to die apart from a miracle. Just as needy, one who is lost must know how lost that he is. One must know the how desperately wicked that the heart is before being converted. This father was hurting…
Likewise, when one is convinced of sin, there will be some hurting going on.
IV. IT WAS A HEARD CRY
“Be not afraid only believe”
In the miracle where Jesus calmed the water, He asked the disciples why they were so fearful and told them that it was because they had no faith. If you are to be healed of your sin disease, you must believe that He is able and trust him today.
When Jesus spoke, the damsel, who had died, arose. The Lord permitted this one to die and then raised her to show you that as impossible as it may seem, the Lord can save you!
