Gospel Faith
Sermon Notes
Today we’re continuing our teaching series called Gospel Revolution, which is about understanding the life changing power of the gospel. The gospel is the primary message of Jesus, it’s a message that has life changing implications for our lives, and one of the things it changes is how we pray. The gospel changes how we pray, and prayer’s something I’ve noticed a lot of skeptics actually tend to appreciate. They appreciate their Christian friends praying for them, especially in tough times when everything else they’ve trusted in has failed them. I remember playing in a football league one year where I was the new guy, I was the rookie. I just became a Christian and was all fired up about Jesus. So one of my buddies on the team warned me to not talk Jesus with our linebacker, because he was a hostile atheist who flipped out on anyone who talked Jesus with him. But one night after a game we went to Gator’s for some wings, and the guy straight up asks me how I went from being an atheist to a Christian. So I shared my testimony, I even shared the gospel with him, and when I was done I was hoping he’d receive the gospel but all he said was “That’s cool...That’s cool...”
Now I’m thinking “That’s it? That’s the big crescendo? Come on Lord! I’m over here sharing my heart, sharing the gospel, and all I get is ‘That’s cool...That’s cool.’” I walked away that night viewing it as a failure, but God was using it as an opportunity. It was an opportunity to soften that guy’s heart, because a few weeks later something tragic happened in his life, and he pulled me aside after a game in tears saying “I’m struggling right now. I don’t know who to turn to or what to do, so I’m coming to you. Will you pray for me?”...This atheist linebacker, hostile toward Christians, was now asking for prayer from a Christian. When everything else he trusted in had failed him, he knew he could still turn to his Christian friend for prayer. The same thing will happen to us one day. There will be a time when everything you’ve trusted in will fail you, but you can still turn to your Christian friends for prayer. There’s always hope, in the prayers of a Christian. Today we’re talking about how the gospel affects our prayers. Let’s turn to Mark 5:21-43 and get into it. If you open your bible’s to the middle, keep turning right, you’ll find Mark. We’ll be in Mark 5:21-43. The title of today’s message is Gospel Faith, and here’s the big idea. Let your prayers reflect the compassion of the cross, and the power of the resurrection...Let your prayers reflect the compassion of the cross, and the power of the resurrection.
Context:
Here’s your context. In Mark ch 4-5 Jesus teaches his disciples the importance of having faith, and he does several miracles to help build their faith. He calms a storm, he heals a demon possessed man, he shows he has authority over the natural and the supernatural. In today’s text he’ll do 2 more miracles showing his compassion and power for us, and I’ve broken it down into three sections. It’s the Compassion of Jesus (vs 21-24), the Power of Jesus (vs 25-34), and the Delay of Jesus (vs 35-43). It’s the compassion, power, and delay of Jesus. Let’s check it out.
The Word:
Mark 5:21-43 states this, “When Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the sea. 22 One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and begged him earnestly, ‘My little daughter is dying. Come and lay your hands on her so that she can get well, and live.’” You can hear the desperation in his voice. Jairus was a lay leader in the synagogue, and to hold this position you had to be well respected and highly devoted to God, which is what makes this so interesting. It’s that a guy in his stature would’ve seen a doctor or high priest for healing, but apparently they couldn’t heal his daughter so he’s reaching out to Jesus in desperation. You can hear the desperation in his voice. He says “My little girl, my little daughter IS dying.” He doesn’t say she might be dying, he says she IS dying!” This same story’s recorded in Luke’s Gospel. Luke was a medical doctor during this time and he said this little girl was dying at 12 yrs old. So this father’s desperate. His 12 yr old daughter’s gonna die, unless Jesus does something about it.
Vs. 24, “So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against him.” We’re getting a glimpse of the compassion of Jesus here. There’s a large crowd mixed with disciples and nominals that’s been following Jesus. But Jesus not only takes the time to listen to Jairus’ concern, the text says he also goes with him. Jesus has compassion and agrees to go with him. Imagine the hope that must’ve filled Jairus’ lungs. His daughter’s about to die, all hope was lost, but all his hope gets restored when Jesus has compassion and agrees to go.
Vs. 25, “Now a woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years 26 had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse.” Okay so now things have shifted to dealing with a woman who’s been suffering from a blood disorder for 12 yrs. Dr. Luke records that it was an incurable blood disorder. Mark says she spent everything she had on many doctors, on many different medical treatments, but none of them worked. She’s been suffering from this for 12 yrs, which means her suffering goes even deeper than physical suffering, it’s emotional suffering too. Society back then would’ve viewed her as unclean, nobody would’ve touched her, meaning she hasn’t been touched, kissed, hugged, felt somebody lay hands on her to pray in 12 yrs. She’s both physically and emotionally hurting...
But I want you to notice the contrast between Jairus and this woman. Jairus was viewed as a leader in the synagogue; this woman was viewed as unclean and wasn’t allowed in the synagogue. Jairus was respected; this woman was rejected. Jairus was a name that everyone knew; this woman’s name wasn’t known. Jairus’ daughter was suffering at 12 yrs old and was dying; this woman’s suffering last 12 yrs but she wasn’t dying. The implication’s that everybody needs Jesus. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, respected or rejected, holy or unclean, everybody needs Jesus. Like I said before, a time will come when everything you’ve trusted in will fail you like it did Jairus and this woman. But in those moments you can still have Jesus, you can still cry out to Jesus. What we’re learning is Jesus has compassion for anyone, who seeks him in desperation...Jesus has compassion for you, when you seek him in desperation...
Vs. 27, “Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothing. 28 For she said, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I’ll be made well.’ 29 Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 Immediately Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’” There’s the power of Jesus. First we see the compassion of Jesus, now we see the power of Jesus. It says Jesus felt power coming out of him. He felt power coming out of him and healing this woman, so he stops the entire entourage to find out who touched him. He insists she goes public with her faith because he doesn’t want a drive thru relationship, he wants a dine in relationship. When you drive thru somewhere you’re saying “I need to get in and out,” but when you dine in you’re saying “I’m willing to sit a while.” Jesus doesn’t want a drive thru relationship, he wants a dine in eternal relationship with us. He’s saying “Don’t come to have your needs met, then run off without me in other areas of your life. I want you to experience not part of my compassion and power, but all my compassion and power.” She wants to change her health, Jesus wants to change her life. She wants to touch his clothes, he wants to touch her soul.
Vs. 31, “His disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing against you, and yet you say, Who touched me?’ 32 But he was looking around to see who had done this. 33 The woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 ‘Daughter,’ he said to her, ‘your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed from your affliction.’” The term ‘daughter’ is a term of endearment, and she’s the only one in the bible Jesus says this to. This woman who had no name, was given a name, a term of endearment by Jesus. This woman nobody accepted, Jesus accepted. This woman nobody wanted, Jesus wanted. This woman who had no name, was given a name. Jesus calls her daughter. Jesus healed her wounded soul, adopted into his eternal family, and calls her daughter.
But what happened to Jairus?...What’s he think about all this?...If I’m him I’m thinking “That’s nice. You’re calling her daughter, but what about my daughter? This woman’s been suffering for 12 yrs, but my little girl’s about to die right now!” I’d be full of anxiety and try to get Jesus to triage things. I mean if this an ER the 12 yr old girl that’s dying gets treated first. But Jesus extends his compassion and power to this woman first, and here’s what happens as a result.
Vs. 35, “While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?’” This is the delay part of the text. Jairus’ daughter dies in the delay...He goes from being filled with hope to being filled with grief, because his daughter dies in the delay...So it appear as if Jesus answered this woman’s prayer, but not Jairus’. Jesus says to the woman “Daughter your healed,” but the people say to Jairus “Your daughter’s dead.” Isn’t this how life goes sometimes?...You pray for something, but it seems like somebody else gets the blessing?...Somebody else gets married. Somebody else gets to have kids. Somebody else gets the better job with better pay. Somebody else gets the faster growing ministry. Somebody else gets the healing. Somebody else gets their prayers answered, but you don’t...Sometimes we pray for things, but it seems like somebody else gets the blessing...
I’ve had this happen a lot to me over the past few years. I’ve prayed for certain things, but it seems like somebody else gets the blessing. Somebody else gets the exact thing I’ve been praying for, and it’s disappointing. It affects your prayer life. It can even cause you to pray less. Some of you aren’t praying like you used to not because you don’t believe in prayer, but because you’re grieving things you’ve prayed for that God hasn’t given you. Some of you need to have a grief therapy session with God, so you can get back to enjoying your prayer life with God. You grieve the loss of people, you grieve the loss of sentimental things, but have you grieved the loss of things you’ve prayed for?...Some of you might need to have a grief therapy session with God this week, then after your session is over, remember the words Jesus told Jairus in vs. 36.
Vs. 36, “When Jesus overheard what was said, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” In the grief and shattered hope of the delay, Jesus says “Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid...Only believe.” Believe what? It’s to believe that Jesus will fulfill his promises. Jesus isn’t telling him to do what many of us do which is to think “If I follow Jesus he’ll give me everything I prayed for, he’ll give me everything I want.” In this case Jairus gets what he wants, but it’s because it aligns with what Jesus wants and had already promised. Jesus is saying “I already agreed to go. I already agreed to heal your daughter. So trust that promise even as you’re living in the delay of that promise.” Trusting his promises, can give you hope in your losses.
Vs. 37, “He did not let anyone accompany him except Peter, James, and John, James’s brother. 38 They came to the leader’s house, and he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, ‘Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.’ 40 They laughed at him, but he put them all outside. He took the child’s father, mother, and those who were with him, and entered the place where the child was.” Jesus says she’s ‘asleep’ to illustrate how powerless death is compared to him. He has so much power that when he flex’s, it makes death look like a nap. It’s like the movie End Games. Thanos snaps his fingers and people die. But in real life Jesus simply whispers and people live. Listen to vs 41.
Vs. 41, “Then he took the child by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum’ which is translated, ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up’. 42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. She was twelve years old. At this they were utterly astounded.” Jesus takes her hand, whispers 2 words, and she lives. He whispers talitha which means little girl. But scholars say it’s even more tender than that and can be translated as sweetheart or honey. The other word cumi means to get up. So Jesus has so much power, that he’s able to face humanities greatest enemy, he’s able to face death with a whisper saying “Sweetheart. Honey. It’s time to get up.” Death is temporary, it’s like a short nap, for those who put their faith in Jesus and his promises.
Vs. 43, “Then he gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and told them to give her something to eat.” The reason Jesus says not to tell anybody is because there were religious leaders who wanted him dead, and if word spread about this miracle it would’ve upped that timeline. But he still had work to do so he tells them not to say anything. He also didn’t want people following him just for the miracles, because that would be a drive thru relationship, not a genuine relationship...But there’s 3 things I think we can learn from all this.
#1 = Let your prayers reflect the compassion of the cross, and the power of the resurrection:
When you believe the gospel, when you believe Jesus died and rose again for your sins, your prayers should reflect the compassion of the cross and the power of the resurrection. For example you don’t have to ever wonder if Jesus cares enough to listen to your prayers, because you know he had compassion on Jairus, the bleeding woman, and on you when he died for your sins on the cross. If he’s compassionate enough to go to the cross for you, it means he’s compassionate enough to listen to the prayers coming from you...If Jesus was compassionate enough to go to the cross for you, it means he’s compassionate enough to listen to the prayers coming from you...It also means if Jesus was powerful enough to resurrect the dead, he’s powerful enough to answer your prayers. My friend J.D. Greear says, “Jesus as I pray, I want to measure your compassion by the cross, and your power by the resurrection.” In other words we should pray with great faith, knowing Jesus is compassionate towards us and those we’re praying for. We should also pray with great faith, knowing Jesus is powerful enough to answer those prayers. “Jesus as I pray, I want to measure your compassion by the cross, and your power by the resurrection.”
#2 = When Jesus delays it isn’t divine malpractice, it’s divine foresight = When Jesus delays it isn’t divine malpractice, it’s divine foresight. When Jesus delays or doesn’t answer our prayers the way we want, we’re quick to accuse him of divine malpractice. But what we see all throughout the bible, and sometimes in our own lives, is it isn’t divine malpractice it’s divine foresight. I mean if we’re Jairus we’re thinking “Why is he caring for this woman who’s had an illness for 12 yrs, when my little girl’s dying?” If we’re Jairus we’re thinking it’s negligent, it’s divine malpractice. But it’s really divine foresight, because Jesus knows what he doesn’t know. Jesus knows that raising his daughter from the dead is as easy as whispering a few words, and the foresight isn’t to save the little girl’s life, it’s to save the bleeding woman’s soul. Jesus knows once he saves this woman’s soul, he’ll whisper into the little girls ears and raise her back to life.
Even the delay of the bleeding woman has divine foresight, because he could’ve healed her 12 yrs earlier? But this was the day her suffering would finally break her, and cause her to reach for Jesus in desperation. This was the day her suffering would lead to her salvation. My point is, just because you can’t think of a good reason why Jesus would delay or say no to your prayers, doesn’t mean there isn’t one. So if you’re experiencing a delay, if you’ve been praying for something and you’re living in a delay. Let the cross and resurrection remind you that the delay isn’t because Jesus isn’t compassionate or powerful enough to answer your prayer. Instead there must be a good reason for the delay or the no, like there was for Jairus and the bleeding woman.
#3 = Trust his promises, even while living in the delay of his promises = We need to trust his promises, even while living in the delay of his promises. Jairus trusted Jesus to heal his little girl, and he did. The bleeding woman trusted Jesus to save her, and he did. Jesus always keeps his promises. That doesn’t mean you’ll get exactly what you want like Jairus, sometimes what you’ll get is better than you want like the bleeding woman. Jesus doesn’t promise to give you everything, but he’ll give you everything he promises...Jesus doesn’t promise to give you everything, but he’ll give you everything he promises. You can trust him and his promises, even in the delay.
The Big Idea:
So here’s the big idea. It’s to let your prayers reflect the compassion of the cross, and the power of the resurrection. What you and I need, what we all need more than anything...is to pray to Jesus, to ask him to lead us by hand, and to trust he knows what he’s doing even in the delays. What we all need more than anything, is his compassion on the cross and the power of his resurrection. His compassion on the cross, guarantees he’s working in every situation for our good. And the power of his resurrection, guarantees every situation in the end will turn out good. It guarantees that when the tombstone closes, Jesus will be there ready to whisper...Talathi Cumi