Mark 5:21-24; 35-43

Pastor Kurt continued his sermon serics on The Gospel of Mark Sunday.

Mark 5:21-24; 35-43 21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him.
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.

After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

We’ve heard Bible stories like this one so many times in our lives that we don’t really “get” it anymore. We say how awesome God is, that we are amazed at His power, but we don’t live like we think that way. When we read stories like this one, we should get down on our knees and worship the One who can bring us back from death!

Jairus was a synagogue official. He was successful, wealthy and a big deal in Capernaum. But this didn’t keep him from having a terrible problem. For him to come to Jesus, the problem had to be bad. He had to be desperate. The Jewish leaders hated Jesus; Jairus risked his position in going to Christ. But he loved his little girl and he had no where else to go.

In Luke 7 there is a story about a centurion who had a valued servant that was sick and about to die. He sent some Jewish elders to Jesus, who came and healed the servant. Jairus may very well have been one of the elders. He would at least have heard about that healing. So he knew Jesus could heal his daughter, if He would.

The interesting thing is, seeing the healing of the servant didn’t bring him to Christ. It wasn’t until he had a need of his own that he threw himself at Christ’s feet. He had to be desperate.

When he asked Jesus to come heal his daughter, Jesus turned toward the house. But he was delayed to help someone else (we’ll look at that story next time). During the delay, the daughter died and word was sent to Jairus that there was no need to bother Jesus anymore. It was over.

At least that’s what they thought! But Jesus went to the house and said “She’s not dead.” That they should not fear, but believe.

Fear won’t do anything for you. Believe and trust only in Christ. Then watch what happens!

Jesus was calling upon them to become believers. Fear is the failure to trust in God. They were being told the Gospel in a couple words: repent and believe! Fear not and believe!

Jesus has conquered death. Isaiah 25:8 says it has been swallowed up. Hosea 13:14 asks death “where is your sting?”

Jesus brings her back and then He tells her to get something to eat. He knows everything we need and cares about every part of us.

When He told the people not to go and tell what happened, He was telling them to not make too much of the physical miracle. This was really about the spiritual miracle. Physical is always sensational, but spiritual is way more important!