Sermon Tone Analysis

Mark 5:21-43

Whether in the O/T or in the N/T the Bible is very clear about the way God comes to dwell in the hearts of people; very clear about how one is given a new birth, the gift of salvation.

In the O/T, even before the Israelites began their journey to the promised land, God showed this to Moses:

Exodus 25:8-9 “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.

According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.”

In the N/T, Jesus Himself teaches of this “Way or truth:”

Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus states the following, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Yet, through the infestation of sin and the work of the enemy, many have been deceived about how to be reborn & accepted by God:

Self-reliance

I can make my own way/find my own way

Rules/Works/Religion

I can do enough good

I can follow enough rules

I can go do the “religious” things...

And God will accept me

Further, through the infestation of sin and the work of the enemy, people have been led further and further into these things (religiousness, worldly living, and apathy).

The Biblical reality, however, is this: It’s found in the question Jesus asks Peter and the disciples: Mark 8:29 “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.””

The reality is: What makes or breaks your relationship with God is what you say about Jesus Christ.

And what you say about Jesus Christ comes from the right posture of your heart.

Tonight, we look at what Mark records in the accounts of Jairus and of a bleeding woman, about what the Bible teaches are two approaches needed to experience restoration: Desperation and hopelessness.

We begin with Jesus, Jairus and his situation:

I. (v.21)

The Crowd that had Gathered around Jesus

Mark 5:21 “Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.”

This was typical throughout Jesus’ ministry—people were enamored/curious/questioning/or trying Him

II.

(v.22-24)

Mark 5:22-24 “And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name.

And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death.

Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”

So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.”

(CONTEXT) Jairus, his daughter, and his plea:

Jairus

A ruler of the synagogue

Elected into his position

Highly respected, capable, and popular

Wielded great power--he determined who would teach in the synagogue and supervised them

Daughter

His only daughter

12 years old (Luke tells us this)

Extremely sick-to the point of death-(Greek translation suggests to the last gasp)

Jairus’ approach to Jesus--Desperation; desperation grabs the attention and care of Jesus; but note 4 things about desperation:

Selfless attitude: rulers like Jairus were actively and violently opposed to Jesus, they publicly expressed their opposition:

By coming to Jesus, Jairus:

Ran the risk of that hostility being turned on him

Ran the risk of being censored and shut out from his peers

Ran the risk of losing his position and profession

By coming to Jesus, it also reveals that Jairus was no longer concerned

If he was censored by his peers

About losing his position and profession

if hostility was turned his way

Further, by coming to Jesus, it reveals Jairus believed

Life was too important-especially the life of his only daughter

None of what he knew was helping;

None of his religious rule keeping and law-keeping were helping;

All of what he thought and believed was failing to save his daughter’s life.

Note this also: Jairus himself went to approach Jesus (“Seeing Jesus,” he went); Jairus was so desperate for help:

He left his daughter to seek after Jesus—he didn’t send anyone else.

It’s your sin, it’s your struggle, it’s circumstance and your heart—people can pray for you, talk with you, encourage you—but you are responsible for seeking Jesus for your healing—it’s not the responsibility of anyone else

Humble attitude: Note that Jairus, “fell at His feet.”

(See what happened)

Jairus pushed and shoved his way through the crowd as fast as he could

Jairus’ pace quickened when he saw Jesus

Jairus, when he finally reached Jesus, “…fell at His feet…”.

Humility at its highest; b/c despite his position and authority, he gave it and himself up, and fell at Jesus’ feet.

Pleading attitude

“Pleading”; means to call to one’s side for help, to entreat, to plead, to beg

Expectant attitude

Note the words of Jairus, “Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed.”

Jairus

Had an expectation/certainty/confidence Jesus could save his daughter.

(CONNECTION-YOU and ME)

Our approach (your approach to Jesus) must involve the same heart posture of Jairus—that of desperation

Selfless You and I;

Must come to the point where we admit

“There is no answer within yourself.

Your own goodness, your own discipline, your own devotion WILL NOT save you (from your sin), There’s only One – and He’s the One that took your place!” (Judah Smith); (A selfless approach to Jesus requires us to say, “It is NOT ABOUT ME, IT IS ABOUT JESUS!

Must come to the point where go ourselves:

It’s your sin, it’s your struggle, it’s your circumstance and your heart—people can pray for you, talk with you, encourage you—but you are responsible for seeking Jesus for your forgiveness and healing

Must set aside everything to get to Jesus:

What sin needs to be set aside?

What lie of the enemy have you been believing that needs to set aside?

What stronghold and temptation need to be laid aside?

What is the fear you are holding onto, that you need to let go to get to Jesus?

Set aside everything (friends, family, reputation, all of it) to get to Jesus.

Humility: You and I:

Must approach Jesus with a heart of humility; A laying down of

Pride and self

Selfish control

Prejudices

Must approach Jesus with a heart of:

Admittance of your status as a sinner and the position of Jesus as the Savior

Pleading

Must understand, at least two things:

It’s not enough to merely know of your need—you have to verbalize your need—b/c in verbalizing your need—it draws out your faith

John 5:1-15 (Man at the pool of Bethesda)

John 5:6 “When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?””