Shalom - Go in Peace

Scripture: Mark 5:21–34, especially verse 34 - And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

Introduction:

I want to teach you a Hebrew word this morning: shalom. If you wanted to greet someone in Hebrew, you would say, “Shalom.” When you leave someone you don’t say, “Later, Dude,” or all of the stuff we’ve come up with. You simply say, “Shalom” —”Peace!” This is the word Jesus used in Mark 5. The word peace occurs 429 times in the Bible.

I. The Desire for Peace

a.) Peace In 8% of History - only eight percent of the time since the beginning of recorded history has the world been entirely at peace. In over 3,100 years, only 286 have been warless and 8,000 treaties have been broken in this time.

b.) H. G. Wells, once said, “Here I am at sixty-five, still seeking for peace.”[1]

c.) Modern Crucifixion-For-Peace - on January 30, 1973, Patrice Tamao of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, allowed himself to be nailed to a cross “as a sacrifice for world peace and understanding among men.” As thousands watched on television, six-inch stainless- steel nails were driven through his hands and feet. Tamao had planned to remain on the cross for 48 hours, but after only 20 hours he had to cut short his voluntary crucifixion because of an infection in his right foot. The newspaper article had as its heading, “Crucifixion-for-peace falls short.

II. The Woman – 12 Years Without Peace

a.) Think about this woman in the context of first-century Judaism. Religious law (see Leviticus 15) had very serious regulations concerning hemorrhaging. The laws of bleeding not only made the woman herself unclean, but whatever and whoever she touched also became unclean. The result was embarrassment, isolation, and religious stigma.

b.) The Talmud suggested eleven specific cures for bleeding, such as sitting at a crossroads with a cup of wine, waiting for someone to come from behind to frighten you. This woman had tried every cure and spent all she had on doctors who, at that time in history, were scorned and, in this case, ineffective.

III. Jesus – The Prince of Peace

a.) Isaiah 9:6 says: “And His name will be called...”

• Wonderful Counselor. This woman had sought the advice of rabbis and doctors, to no avail, but Jesus had just the words and power she needed. Perhaps you’ve been spending a lot of money for help and advice instead of listening to the Lord and His Word.

• Mighty God. Only God could have done for her what Jesus did.

• Everlasting Father. Jesus said to her, “Daughter....” He is for us a compassionate “Dad.”

• Prince of Peace. Where can we find this Shalom? Only in Christ, the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace will we find this. Come to Him today and listen to Him say to you, “Son, daughter—go in Shalom.”

b.) A person whose cancer has been arrested may say, “I am so thankful to God.” That is praise. But a person who is dying of cancer and in pain may calmly say, “Everything is all right. The Lord doesn’t make mistakes. I have peace in my heart.” That is “the peace that passes all understanding.”[2]

c.) Corrie ten Boom used to say, “When Jesus takes your hand, He keeps you tight. When Jesus keeps you tight, He leads you through your whole life. When Jesus leads you through your life, He brings you safely home.”[3]

d.) Picture a massive hurricane raging over the ocean. On the surface of the sea the violent winds whip the water into giant waves and create a scene of havoc and chaos. Yet, a mere twenty-five feet below the surface, the waters are clear and calm. The fish there go on living their lives totally unaware of the thunderous tumult just above them. When there is “depth,” there is peace. So it is in the Christian life.

Conclusion:

Psalms 23:5 - Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies…” refers to a high place – a plateau called the tablelands where grass is abundant but the enemies are everywhere. The shepherd guards and fights for the sheep. There is peace even in the presence of our enemies if we follow the Great Shepherd! The beauty and peace of Psalms 23 doesn’t lie with the picturesque poetry of David. It lays with the Truth about Christ as our Shepherd who says to us – Shalom! Go in Peace!

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[1]Morgan, R. J. (2002). Nelson's annual preacher's sourcebook : 2003 edition (electronic ed.) (336). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

[2]Green, M. P. (1989). Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 sermon illustrations arranged by topic and indexed exhaustively (Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file.). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

[3]Morgan, R. J. (2002). Nelson's annual preacher's sourcebook : 2003 edition (electronic ed.) (337). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.