The Hope Of Healing Is A Healing Hope

The Hope of Healing is a Healing Hope, Mark 5:25-34

Eric A. Snyder, Minister

Farwell Church of Christ

Sept 30, 2001

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it

was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though they were a very large mammal their throat was very small.

The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.

The teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was

impossible.

The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah"

The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"

The little girl replied, "Then you ask him."

Faith is a big part of the human experience

There were countless examples of people who had faith one woman in particular

Then and now

The reality is that Jesus was a healer

And though Faith healing seems to only be the business of millionaire minister’s, and has been given a poor name It still happens today.

Now please don’t misunderstand me.

I don’t believe it happens in a show, I don’t believe that Televangelists heal people.

They have become the laughingstock of the Christian movement and to some degree given us all a black eye.

They have made us skeptical through their scandalous behavior.

But I also know of people who have prayed and they have been found clean of cancer.

That’s what’s going on here in this verse

People are coming to see the great healer

But on woman wants to be quietly healed

Read Mark 5:24-34

So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" 31 "You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, ’Who touched me?’" 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

Pray

1.Faith in Jesus brings Hope (what we believe)

3 stages of personal faith

1. Belief

People refuse to believe that which they don’t want to believe, in spite of evidence. When explorers first went to Australia they found a mammal which laid eggs; spent some time in water, some on land; had a broad, flat tail, webbed feet, and a bill similar to a duck. Upon their return to England, they told the populace of this, and all felt it was a hoax. They returned to Australia and found a pelt from this animal and took it back to England, but the people still felt it was a hoax. In spite of the evidence, they disbelieved because they didn’t want to believe. cf. J. McDowell, Answers to tough questions, under "miracles"

We know the facts

We know of people who know the facts about Jesus

But it is not enough to just believe

That’s not the question Jesus asks

Jesus got his disciples together and asked them

Who do you say I am

2. Acceptance

Many people believe in Jesus Crucifixion But people, That is not the question.

What He wants to Know is do you accept this as a source of truth and power for your life?

and it is my conviction that there are many who Believe in the historical fact. But it makes no difference at all in their lives

My degree is in Christian education

I have a passion for teaching

The problem is that we sometimes think that education is an answer to everything

Go to the city and tell a kid that drugs are bad

What would they say, “I didn’t know that”

The truth is that people usually know what is self destructive

They only continue in self destructive behavior because they are seeking an escape. Anything to dull the painful reality that they live in.

Well the message today is the same as it was in Jesus’ day

Faith brings Hope.

Hope of something certain, something better