Mark 5:21-24 (KJV) 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.
Just this weekend we saw once more the truth of Jesus’ words:
John 6:63 (KJV) It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
The way of Christ is the way of life. Terrorists attacked Paris. French President Francois Hollande said at least 127 were killed on Friday November 13th in a series of six coordinated attacks in Paris that included shootings, explosions and a hostage situation at a concert hall. Eight attackers are dead, and seven died detonating suicide vests. At least 200 were injured including 70 in critical condition.
Oh that the world would come to Jesus. Oh that we all would hear His Word and seek His Face! That we would humble ourselves and fall at His feet.
Jesus Offers Blessing To The Humble.
Jairus was one of the Rulers of the Synagogue, a man well connected among the Pharisees. We are told in our text that
Mark 5:22 (KJV) …. there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw {Jesus}, he fell at his feet …
When you look at the parallel account in the Book of Matthew we see that this “falling down” is actually worshiping of Jesus.
Matthew 9:18 …. behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped {Jesus} ….
Jairus Came To Jesus Worshiping Him. He Was Selfless In Approaching The Master. Each and every one of us have experienced trials and tribulations in this fallen world. Sometimes trials come through the hands of evil people, such as ISIS or other misguided religious groups. Sometimes trials seem to just fall on us. Sickness comes. Disease strikes. When sickness comes we have a tendency at times to lash out in pain. Sometimes we become demanding. But if we want blessing we should do as Jairus did – throw ourselves on the mercy of God and cry out to Jesus.
Luke 14:11 (ESV) For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jairus could have come unto Jesus demanding. After all, he was a person of position. Yet he put all of himself to the side. Though a leader in the Synagogue with other Pharisees watching his every action he did not live to please them, but to please God and the Son of God. God will not bless the proud and the self righteous. God has said:
Isaiah 66:2 (KJV) For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
God honors those who understand that He is God. We are not gods, but God is God. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. It is He of Whom God the Father said:
Hebrews 1:8 (ESV) But of the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
Christ is Emanuel – God with Us. He is worthy of worship. Jairus worshiped the King of Kings.
The Humble Prayer Seeks Mercy From God
Mark 5:22-23 (KJV) … when {Jairus} saw {Jesus}, he fell at his feet, (23) And besought him greatly, saying…
Jairus had a daughter he greatly loved, and she was at the point of death. When he went to Jesus he besought Him greatly. He prayed to Jesus. He begged Jesus. He sought God’s face in prayer, and did not give up.
When bad times come and our health is threatened where do we place our faith? Is our faith in the doctor, in a procedure, in a financial institution … or is it in God?
Jesus told His disciples – that’s US – that we ought to ALWAYS pray and NOT faint, nor give up hope. Pray! He spoke a parable,
Luke 18:2-8 … Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: [3] And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. [4] And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; [5] Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. [6] And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. [7] And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? [8] I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
An unjust judge can be petitioned until he – weary with the complaints of his constituents – gives in and acts. Will not God Who is just hear our prayers? Jairus besought Jesus mightily. He grabbed hold of the Master and, pleading, would not let Him go. Christ was his hope, and he was fallen. The Bible says:
James 4:10 (KJV) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
And also …
Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV) Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Let me ask you parents and grandparents – do you plead for the salvation of your children as strong as Jairus plead for his child? Why not? Do you not know that God can take your child anytime? Jairus “besought” Jesus – begging Him for her life. Shall we do any less?
The Prayer That Is Answered Is Fully Focused on Jesus
Mark 5:23 (KJV) …. 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.
Jairus was not looking at the crowd around him. He wasn’t looking at the disapproving Pharisees and Scribes. He didn’t care what anyone thought of him. He wanted his daughter healed. Jairus said: “You lay hands on her Jesus and she SHALL LIVE”. That is faith. He believed Jesus was able, and would not entertain any doubt. Jairus’ daughter was at the point of death, but he wasn’t out pursuing doctors and other gods. He had his eyes only on Jesus.
One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, “Jump! I’ll catch you.” He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: “Jump! I will catch you.” But the boy protested, “Daddy, I can’t see you.” The father replied, “But I can see you and that’s all that matters.”
Jesus calls us to rely on Him, to take that leap of faith into His arms. Don’t stare at the trial – hear His voice and have faith in Christ!
There’s nothing wrong with Doctors and Hospitals – I thank God for them! But I think we need to be very careful as to where we put our faith. Doctors and hospitals can makes us better – but they can also make us worst. The only One Who can guarantee our healing and blessing is the Lord God.
Faith Does Not Have To Be Loud To Be Rewarded,
But Saving Faith Reaches Out To The Savior.
The faith that Jairus exhibited was very public – but in the middle of Jairus’ story we find a quiet center. There is a woman who, we are told,
Mark 5:25-26 (KJV) … had an issue of blood twelve years….
Focus on that twelve years. We were told that Jairus’ daughter was twelve years old (Mark 5:42), and this woman’s affliction is twelve years old. I don’t believe this is a coincidence. This woman has suffered as long as this child has lived. She has suffered postpartum bleeding or menstruation, a disease that would have made her ceremonially unclean (see Leviticus 15:1-30). This poor woman had an issue of blood for twelve years, and because of that was separated from her husband, her children, and her household. If married, her husband probably would have divorced her because she couldn’t be with him or the children. She was unable to go to the Temple and attend the worship services. With the blood loss, the woman was in a miserable and weakened state. Without home, without friends, she had gone from doctor to doctor trying to find a solution.
Mark 5:26 (KJV) … And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse ….
The doctors of that day could do nothing for her. This woman was in a hopeless and helpless situation. Where shall she turn? She turned to Jesus. Jesus said:
Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
God does not despise the lowly, but embraces them. He lifts up the weak, and those who will come to Christ and Christ alone. The Bible tells us:
Mark 5:27-28 (KJV) 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.
She reaches out and, the Scripture says, touches the hem of His garment (Matthew 9:20; Luke 8:44). What happens? We are told:
Mark 5:29 (KJV) And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
Immediately the woman was healed! Jesus asked “Who touched Me?” The disciples said “But Lord, there’s people all around You touching You. How can we tell who touched You?” But Jesus can tell. He looks around and sees that certain woman. Look what the Bible says:
Mark 5:33 (KJV) But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
Notice please that Saving Faith is not hidden
There are many in our world today that think they are saved, but are ashamed to stand up for Jesus. This woman made her faith known. There was a crowd around Jesus that day, and the woman worshiped Jesus in clear view of that crowd. Our Lord has said:
Matthew 10:32-33 (KJV) Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. (33) But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Light cannot hide itself among the darkness. If you are born again, the Light of God, then you must shine for Christ.
Upon standing up for her faith by kneeling down unashamed to Jesus the Lord told her …
Mark 5:34 (KJV) And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Notice first of all Jesus calls this woman “daughter”. Who is a “daughter”? That’s a female born into your household, just as “son” denotes a male born into your household. When Jesus called her “Daughter” He was acknowledging that she is of the household of God, a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:19; Galatians 3:26).
Second, Jesus notes that her faith in Him made her whole. Faith in the Savior – not Fear. Dr. E. Stanley Jones wrote:
“I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath–these are not my native air. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely–these are my native air. A John Hopkins University doctor says, “We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than the non-worriers, but that is a fact.” But I, who am simple of mind, think I know; We are inwardly constructed in nerve and tissue, brain cell and soul, for faith and not for fear. God made us that way. To live by worry is to live against reality.”
Faith in Christ is never wasted. Fear is a waste of energy, and doubting drags us down. But put faith in Him and He will lift you up.
When Trials Come, Be Not Afraid. Only Believe.
As this certain woman was being healed, I can imagine Jairus standing off to the side watching and waiting. The faith that he has in Jesus is being tested. If I were the father of a dying child I can imagine how he felt. Maybe I would want to say, “Jesus, please hurry – let’s finish with this lady and move on”. But Jesus is in no hurry.
Mark 5:35-37 (KJV) 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.
“Be not afraid – only believe”. Believe that Jesus is able. Believe that He will do exceedingly abundantly above all that you might ask or think.
Jesus allowed only Peter, James and John to follow Him. Why? These men would be the foundation of the Church He was building – leaders and pillars of the community. God will not use you in a great thing until you believe Him in everything. These men had to see that Jesus was the real deal. As Jesus journeyed to Jairus’ house He sends away everyone but those who can only believe. Peter would later be the Chief Apostle. James would be the Pastor of the Church in Jerusalem, and the Church’s first martyr. John would go on to write most of the New Testament. These were men of faith, men who loved and believed in Jesus. Only those who believed in Him would see the miracle, the resurrection of this child.
Mark 5:39-40 (KJV) 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 entereth in where the damsel was lying.
Unbelievers will not see life. They will not see the child resurrected. They will not themselves be born again. Those whom Christ saves believe in Him. Those who triumph in this life do not fear, but only believe in Christ.
John 14:27 (KJV) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16:33 (KJV) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Mark 5:41-42 (KJV) 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.
Jesus took the child’s dead hand in His. He made Himself ceremonially unclean by touching the dead. But with His hand in her hand He cried out “Talitha cumi” which means “Child, arise!”. This young lady immediately sat up, restored to health and life. Jesus Christ is the Source of life. He tells you and I, “Be not afraid – only believe”. Have faith in God. Have faith in Him. Billy Graham said:
“Faith literally means to give up, surrender, or commit. Faith is complete confidence. Fear can banish faith, but faith can banish fear.
Do you know Christ? Do you have faith in Him? Will you approach Him with your needs, and believe He is able to abundantly provide to those who trust in Him. There is nothing our Lord cannot do. Trust Him. Believe Him. Bring your lives to Him, and believe.
May God touch your hearts with His Word.
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