Let's turn now in our Bibles to the
New Testament, Mark's Gospel, chapter 5, and we'll
begin reading with verse 21.
I'll read the 21st verse and the outnumbered
verses.
Pastor Brian will lead the congregation as you
read the even-numbered verses, and let's stand
as we read the Word of God.
And when Jesus was passed over again by
ship to the other side, many people gathered
unto him, and he was near unto the
sea.
And behold, there cometh one of the rulers
of the synagogue, Jairus by name.
And when he saw him, he fell at
his feet.
And he 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
that she shall live.
And Jesus went with him, and much people
followed him and thronged him.
And a certain woman, which had an issue
of blood twelve years, and had suffered many
things of many physicians, and had spent all
that she had, and was nothing bettered, but
rather grew worse.
When she had heard of Jesus, she came
in the press behind him, and touched his
garment.
For she said, If I may touch but
his clothes, I shall be whole.
And immediately the fountain of her blood was
dried up, and she felt in her body
that she was healed of that plague.
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?
And the disciples said unto him, You see
the multitude thronging you, and you say, Who
touched me?
And he looked round about to see her
that had done this thing.
But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what
was done in her, came and fell down
before him, and told him all the truth.
And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith
hath made thee whole.
Go in peace, and be whole of thy
plague.
And while he yet spake, there came from
the ruler of the synagogue's house, certain which
said, Thy daughter is dead.
Why trouble you the master any further?
As soon as Jesus heard the word that
was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of
the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
And he suffered no man to follow him,
except Peter, James, and John, the brother of
James.
And he cometh to the house of the
ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult,
and them that wept and wailed greatly.
And when he was come in, he saith
unto them, Why make ye this ado and
weep?
The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
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 entereth in where the damsel was lying.
And he took the damsel by the hand,
and said unto her, Talitha Kumi, which is
being interpreted, damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
And straightway the damsel arose and walked, for
she was of the age of twelve years,
and they were astonished with a great astonishment.
And he charged them straightly, that no man
should know it.
And he commanded that something should be given
her to eat.
Let's pray.
Father, as we read these marvelous miracles, we
are impressed, Lord, with the power that you
have over human ailments.
And we pray, Father, that today those who
may be suffering, might realize the power that
is available to us, who will put our
faith and trust in you.
We realize, Lord, that people are drawn to
you by different motivations.
But Lord, whatever it takes, we pray that
you'll draw us, Lord, unto yourself.
That you might do your work in our
lives, that we might experience, Lord, your touch
in our lives this day.
In Jesus' name, amen.
You may be seated.
Tonight we will be continuing our journey through
the Bible, Mark chapters five and six.
So we encourage you to read them over.
Join with us at seven o'clock this
evening, as we gather to continue our journey
through the Word of God.
This morning, we'd like you to just take
note of verse 36, here of chapter five,
where Jesus said to Jairus, the ruler of
the synagogue, be not afraid, only believe.
In chapter three of the book of Mark,
we see how that Jesus had incurred the
wrath of the Pharisees there in the synagogue
on the Sabbath day, when he healed a
man who had a withered hand.
No doubt Jairus was there on that day,
and perhaps he was one of those that
were criticizing Jesus for doing such a thing
on the Sabbath day.
Being the ruler of the synagogue, it was
his duty to see that the law was
kept, order was kept in the synagogue.
And it was definitely in their minds a
violation of the law for Jesus to heal
on the Sabbath day.
It was because of this incident that the
Pharisees who were there had taken counsel on
how they could destroy Jesus.
But now the ruler of the synagogue has
a little 12-year-old daughter who is
dying.
Think about how he must have felt.
Here is his beautiful little girl.
Luke tells us it was his only daughter,
and how fathers do dote on their little
daughters, but her life is slowly ebbing away.
She's dying, and he can see as life
is passing out of her body.
He knows the power of Jesus to heal.
He saw that demonstrated there in the synagogue.
It must have been difficult for him because
of the stance that they had taken against
Jesus to come to Jesus for help for
his little daughter.
But when you are desperate, you will do
strange things.
This man is desperate because of the condition
of his little girl.
And so he lays aside all of the
difficulties that would hinder him from coming to
Jesus.
And Mark tells us that he is kneeling
here at the feet of Jesus, begging Jesus
to come and just lay his hands on
his little 12-year-old girl who was
dying.
At this point, I don't think he cared
what the Pharisees might say or think.
The paramount issue in his mind is, I
want my little girl to live.
It's interesting how that God uses different methods
to bring people to Jesus Christ.
Some people are moved because of the love
of Jesus Christ.
John said, we love him because he first
loved us.
And there are people who feel that need
of love, of closeness.
And they are drawn to Jesus Christ because
of his love.
Jude wrote, and some have compassion.
Paul said, the love of Christ constrains me.
Through the prophet Jeremiah, God said, I have
loved thee with an everlasting love.
Therefore, with loving kindness have I drawn thee.
And many of you were drawn to Jesus
Christ because of his love.
There are others that are drawn because of
fear.
The fear of the judgment that will come
upon their sin.
And it is that fear of judgment that
sort of drives them to Jesus Christ.
Again, Jude said, making a difference.
Some are brought by compassion, but making a
difference.
Others are saved with fear as pulling them
out of the fire.
But then there are others who come to
Jesus out of sheer desperation.
Their life is a mess.
Their lives have been marred by sin.
They can see just how empty is their
life.
And they are facing now some of the
consequences of their folly.
And they are driven by desperation to come
to Jesus for help.
They know they need help.
And they know that Jesus is the only
one who can really help them.
That's the case with Jairus, the ruler of
the synagogue.
He needs help.
His little 12-year-old daughter is dying.
She had been, no doubt, the light of
his life for 12 years.
Her bright cheeriness just lit up the home.
But the light is going out and he's
desperate.
It could put him at odds with others
in the synagogue.
But when your little daughter's life is hanging
in the balance, nothing else really matters.
Now, God desires that you will come.
So much so that whatever means it takes
to bring you to him, he will use
it.
Maybe it is love and you're attracted by
his love.
Maybe it is the fear of the judgment
and that concerns you.
Or maybe it is just out of sheer
desperation because of your life situations that you
are drawn to come to Jesus Christ for
help.
So we read that Jesus went with him
and many people followed and were thronging Jesus.
I'm sure that he was probably a little
upset.
It's hard for Jesus to make his way
to his house.
So many people are pressing upon Jesus from
every side.
Those that are in front of him, those
that are around him, those that are behind
him.
There's pushing, there's shoving, there's that endeavor of
people getting close to Jesus.
So it's difficult for him to make his
way through the thronging people.
And suddenly Jesus stopped and Jesus said, who
touched me?
The disciples said, Lord, are you kidding?
We've been pushed, we've been shoved, people are
crowding all around and you ask who touched
you?
It's interesting.
There were crowds thronging around Jesus, pushing, shoving,
grabbing, but one in the crowd touched him.
I want to be the one in the
crowd who touches him because Jesus felt that
this virtue had gone out of him.
The woman tried to do it in a
very unobtrusive way, but suddenly she discovered that
Jesus knew.
She came and she knelt before Jesus and
she confessed.
For 12 years she had been hemorrhaging.
That was a condition that would have made
her, according to their law, unclean.
No one was to touch her.
Nor was she to touch anybody.
She could not go to the temple to
worship, nor should, could she even go into
the synagogue.
This condition ostracized her.
And she is telling Jesus that she just
felt that if she could just touch him,
she would be healed.
And she said, the moment I touched, I
felt healed.
I've stopped hemorrhaging.
And Jesus said, oh woman, great is thy
faith.
Be thou whole.
It's an interesting thing with her.
She had set a point of contact to
the releasing of her faith to receive her
help.
I think that it is interesting that if
we should ask you, do you believe that
God can help you in the situation you
are in?
That to a person we'd all say, well
of course, God can do it.
God can do anything.
And there is that sort of a passive
faith that we all have, believing that God
can do anything.
But I think there's a difference between a
passive faith and believing that God can do
anything, and believing that God will do it
now.
Now she had set a point in her
mind where she said, if I can just
but touch him, I know I'll be healed.
A point where she would release her faith
to believe that he's going to touch her
the moment she touches him.
And so as she reached out, it was
reaching out in faith to touch the garment.
The moment she did, the faith was released
and she was healed.
I believe that that is why Jesus commanded
that we should lay hands on the sick.
It gives a point of contact.
James said, if there's any sick among you,
let them call for the elders of the
church.
Let them anoint them with oil in the
name of the Lord.
The prayer of faith will raise the sick,
or save the sick, and the Lord shall
raise them up.
It gives the person a point of contact.
I know that when the elders anoint me
with oil and lay hands on me, that
the Lord will touch and help me.
The faith is released.
It becomes activated and we receive then that
help of the Lord.
I'm certain that Jairus was probably a little
perturbed.
He is feeling the urgency of the moment
that Jesus would stop and deal with this
woman when his little daughter is dying.
But I wonder, as she tells of the
condition, 12 years earlier she had begun to
die.
For 12 years life was ebbing out.
She had gone to doctors and she was
no better.
She had spent all of her money and
she was really in a worse condition.
12 years.
For 12 years he had been enjoying the
life in his little daughter.
The life that she brought into the home.
But that light and life is now going
out.
12 years.
As they started again, there were those that
came from his house.
They said, don't trouble him any further.
Your little daughter died.
And as he was going through the emotions,
thinking Jesus could have healed her.
Why didn't he hurry?
Now it's too late.
She's dead.
Jesus turned to him and said, don't be
afraid.
Just believe.
Have faith.
They continued on to his house.
Jesus at this time dismissed the crowd.
Took with him just selected disciples.
And when they came to the house of
Jairus, they found that the mourners had already
gathered.
The wailing they could hear from up the
street.
The neighborhood knew that there was death because
of the wailing.
And as Jesus came into the house and
these people were carrying on and wailing and
going through all of the signs of consternation.
Jesus said, why all of this fuss?
She's not dead.
She's just asleep.
And they began to mock him and scornfully
laugh at him.
And Jesus said, get them out of here.
And then he took the mother and the
daughter.
And he went into the room where she
was lying.
He took her by the hand.
And he said to her, little damsel or
maiden, rise.
And he lifted her to her feet.
And she walked.
And he said, give her something to eat.
A beautiful picture of the power of Jesus
Christ, even over death.
Some of you might be saying, well, I
know that God can do anything.
And that he can help me.
But I don't know if he wants to
help me.
Well, back in chapter one, do you remember?
Here in Mark's gospel, there was that man
who had leprosy, who came to Jesus and
said, Lord, if you willed, you could cleanse
me.
And Jesus said, I am willing.
Be cleansed.
Have you ever known of a case where
a person came to Jesus out of a
sense of need, in desperation, seeking the help
of Jesus?
You know of any case where he turned
them away?
Jesus said, whoever comes to me, I will
in no wise cast out.
To me, it's comforting to know that he
is willing.
The only thing that keeps me from receiving
his help would be unbelief that would keep
me from coming to him.
I don't know what your situation is today.
I don't know what you may be facing.
I don't know if you're needing love.
I don't know if you are very guilty
over things that you have done and you
are aware that the wrath of God is
going to come against all ungodliness and unrighteousness.
And there is that fear of the judgment
of God.
Or I don't know, maybe you are facing
a desperate situation today.
Maybe things have really gone wrong.
Maybe you are under tremendous pressure today.
And that pressure has brought you to church
in hopes of maybe finding some answers.
But this I know.
He is able to raise the dead.
He is able to undertake even after the
period in which we think, Lord, it's too
late.
I'm sure when they said to Jairus, don't
trouble him any further.
Your daughter is dead.
He had that feeling.
It's too late.
But never too late to come to Jesus.
Never too late for him to work.
In fact, by his raising her from the
dead, there was even greater glory unto God
for the work that was done than just
healing her.
God wants to work in your life.
God will work in your life.
All you have to do is what Jairus
did.
Set aside anything that might hold you back.
Maybe you're thinking, well, if I would go
forward, my friends would think, oh, oh, there
she goes now, or there he goes now,
you know.
And they would sort of make fun of
my seeking his help.
Well, I'll tell you what, if you're desperate
enough, you don't care what people think.
You know you need help, and I can
guarantee you Jesus can help you today.
And even as he ministered to the daughter
of Jairus and raised her from the dead,
he can meet whatever situation you might be
facing today that has you fearful and has
you in that state of real desperation.
Not only though is Jesus willing to help,
he's able to help.
Now unto him who is able to do
exceeding, abundantly, above all that we could ask
or think, he can help you today.
All you have to do is come.
Father, we thank you for this story that
illustrates the love and compassion of Jesus for
a father who has lost his little girl.
For a woman who, for 12 years, has
had a condition that has ostracized her from
society, and yet by just a touch was
healed.
Lord, we realize all it takes is just
a touch.
And may we this day, Lord, reach out
and touch you in faith, believing and trusting
you, Lord, to work.
May we release that faith today, Lord, and
receive in turn your touch.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
Shall we stand?
Some of you in the closing prayer were
reaching out and touching Jesus.
I could feel it.
Others of you are needing to touch him.
You're needing his touch.
The pastors are down here at the front.
They're here to pray for you.
And you can set a point of contact
for the releasing of your faith, believing that
as you come and as they pray for
you, that God will take care of whatever
condition you might be facing today.
The Lord is here to help.
The only thing that will keep you from
his help is you're not coming.
So I would encourage you, come.
Come before the situation gets so desperate that
you'll come in spite of anything else.
You know you need his help, and you
need it now.
So as soon as we're dismissed, come on
forward.
And these men are here to minister to
you today that you might receive the touch
of Jesus upon your life.
May the Lord be with you.
Watch over and keep you, cause you to
grow in your knowledge and understanding of his
goodness.
And may you experience this week his touch,
his touch of love upon your life.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee
and give thee peace.