What Are You Willing To Do To Touch Jesus?

If you have a marker, put it in Mark 5. We’re also going to Leviticus 15 and Proverbs 3.

How many of you have worked with or known people who have done things and they had no concerns about what people thought? And these are people we sometimes look at and frown upon because they’re doing things that those of us in “polite society” would not do. And we tell our children that you don’t want to grow up and be like that person.

Well, this morning we’re going to look at two people who broke “religious protocol”. And did so for only one reason: they were seeking Jesus.

So the title I’ve given the message this morning is “What are you willing to do to touch Jesus?” And this is my challenge for you today: What are you willing to do to touch Jesus?

We’re going to begin in Mark 5 with verse 21.

(21) And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.

(22) And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

(23) And besought him greatly, saying, 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.

(24) And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

(25) And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

(26) And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

(27) When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

(28) For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

(29) And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

(30) And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

(31) And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

(32) And he looked around about to see her that had done this thing.

(33) But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

(34) And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plaque.

(35) While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

(36) As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

(37) And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

(38) And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly,

(39) And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

(40) And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entered in where the damsel was lying.

(41) And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

(42) And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

(43) And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

We have this picture. The ruler of the synagogue has come to Jesus and pleads with him because his daughter is sick. He says Jesus you’ve got to come and heal her. As they are on the way to heal the daughter the woman with the issue of blood comes up behind him and touches his garment and is healed immediately.

When they get to Jairus house they see all the people who crying because the daughter has died. When Jesus tells them she’s not dead but sleeping they begin to laugh and mock him. Jesus puts them out and goes into the girl’s room with the mom and dad with with the disciples and says “Damsel arise” and she wakes up.