Jesus, Lord of Compassion Pt.2 Luke 8:40-56
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
Introduction:
Today we find ourselves in the middle of an event taking place shortly after Jesus returned to the shores of Capernaum from his encounter with the demoniac on the other side of the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Gerasenes. Upon returning to Capernaum Jesus is met by a huge crowd of people who were all pressing in on him hoping to either see or personally experience Jesus preforming a miracle.
In that crowd was a religious leader named Jairus who came to Jesus in pure desperation because his 12 year old daughter lay dying. Jairus was a wealthy religious leader in jewish society. He was a ruler in the synagogue which means he not only would have been steeped in the Old Testament and Judaism; but he was also one of those responsible for overseeing the worship activities of the synagogue like, who read from the Torah, prayed and even taught on the Sabbath.
Jairus was not a follower of Jesus, in fact, him coming and begging at Jesus feet could have cost him everything. He was like most parents, willing to risk it all if it meant his daughter could be saved.
Jesus agreed to go with Jairus but on his way was stopped by a woman with a hemorrhaging issue who was desperate and hopeless for healing. She was making one last ditch effort to find healing by touching the tassel of Jesus robe; and, when she did, she was instantly healed. This encounter brought Jesus trip to Jairus home to heal his daughter to a halt as he interacted with this woman to reassure her of her healing and to restore her from being a social pariah.
Two weeks ago we noted that both of these miracles teach us that Jesus has supernatural ability over disease and death but it also provides us insight into the personal aspects of Jesus ministry. It takes us inside of the nature of the Lord Jesus because we see not just his power to heal but also his compassion upon those who were suffering.
There are 6 aspects of the compassion of our savior that Luke unfolds for us here. In v.40-48 we viewed the first three that were present in his dealing with the woman with the issue of blood.
We saw that:
Jesus is always accessible. (v.40-42b)
Jesus is always interruptible. (v.42c-45)
Jesus is inexhaustible. (v.46-48)
Today we will deal with the three aspects of Jesus compassion that we see presented in Jesus further dealings with Jairus and his daughter.
4. ) Jesus is always faithful. (v.49-50)
4. ) Jesus is always faithful. (v.49-50)
As Jesus was still speaking to the woman who he had just healed from her hemorrhaging, one of Jairus servants come to him with the news that his daughter had died.
49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.”
Imagine the heartbreak mixed with anger and frustration that Jairus must have felt. This delay taken by Jesus had cost him his daughters life. This messenger tells Jairus not to bother Jesus any further, apparently thinking Jesus could not raise her from the dead.
This servant thought that Jesus power was limited and ineffective when it came to death. You can almost feel the utter despair well up in Jairus chest.
Here is the thing, though Jairus servant may have been faithless in this moment, Jesus was found faithful.
50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”
We must understand that Jesus wasn’t telling Jairus that if he had enough faith, then Jesus would resurrect his daughter.
He was reassuring Jairus that Jesus would complete the work he had set out to do.
Fear- terror, dread, anxiety. It is the root word from which our word “phobia” is derived.
I have an irrational phobia of birds. Every time one gets close to me I get an overwhelming sense of terror, as I dread it’s going to peck my eyes out. That dread creates an overwhelming anxiety in me until that bird flies away from me. It’s a terrible phobia.
Jesus was telling Jairus essentially not to be gripped by his fear but to instead believe, put faith in Jesus ability to make her well.
Well- is the same word translated back in v.48 that we learned before was most often translated “saved, or salvation.”
In other words, the same faith that saved the women with the issue of blood is the same faith that will save the girl.
Sickness or death, neither one stands a chance up against Jesus.
Why? Because he is always faithful to finish the task he started.
14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
You can trust Jesus because he is always faithful! That means every promise he has ever made will come to pass, every prophecy will be fulfilled, and he is always faithful to his character.
5.) Jesus is always powerful. (v.51-55)
5.) Jesus is always powerful. (v.51-55)
Jesus finally arrives at the home of Jairus just in time for the mourners to have gathered and the funeral to have started.
In jewish culture funerals took place quickly as the body had to be buried the same day as the death occured. Jewish funerals in this day were not somber and quiet like we see today, they were instead a scene of slight chaos.
The mourners would have consisted of family and friends along with professional hired female mourners who would loudly scream, wail and tear their clothes. Add this to high pitched music that would be played on flutes and you got a very loud and chaotic scene.
Jairus was a well respected religious leader too so his daughters funeral would have been bigger and more chaotic than average.
When Jesus arrived, he didn't allow anyone but Peter, James and John along with the girls parents to enter the room. The rest of the disciples and the crowd that followed told to wait outside.
When Jesus entered the home, he told all of the mourners
Luke 8:52 (ESV)
“Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.”
Notice how they responded:
53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.
Understand just why they laughed at Jesus. Jesus calling death “sleep” was a brand new perspective on death that was revolutionary. He just redefined death as temporary. From this point on, sleep would be used as a metaphor for death all throughout the New Testament.
Let me show you some examples of this:
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Death is only temporary.
This happens becuase Jesus has power over death!
Jesus then takes the parents into the little girls room, took her by the hand and cried:
54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”
Mark records Jesus actual words which were in Aramaic
41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
Jesus used the same power here that he used to create everything and that he still uses to sustain everything. Jesus commanded life to return to her and instantly his command was obeyed. In a moment, life came back into her body and she woke up hungry.
This was instant healing that took place by the power of Jesus.
This is the same powerful voice all will hear one day.
28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
When this day occurs all those who are dead in Christ will be resurrected and reunited with their souls to live forever with Christ, while the bodies of those who reject Christ will be resurrected to ever lasting judgement in Hell.
Application: If Jesus has power over life and death, why do you doubt his ability to work in your life? If he can command life back into a dead little girl, then he can breathe life back into whatever situation you’re facing.
6.) Jesus is always purposeful. (v.56)
6.) Jesus is always purposeful. (v.56)
56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
There were two emotions felt by this girl parents once life was breathed back into her body Joy and amazement.
The word used here for amazed means “to stand outside of oneself.” In another passage of scripture its translated as “he is out of his mind.”
This little girls parents were more than just flabbergasted, they were terrified. Much like the disciples were in the boat in v.25 and like the people of Gadara were in v.37 and like the woman with the issue of blood in v.47.
I don’t want us to focus on their reaction though but instead focus on the Lord Jesus reaction to them.
He told them not to tell anyone about what had happened. He didn't want people to know about the miracle the of resurrecting the girl.
Now, news like that is hard to keep quiet, after all there was already a crowd of mourners assembled outside.
In fact Matthew tells us in his report of this event
26 And the report of this went through all that district.
On top of the mourners, people would see the girl everyday.
So, why would Jesus give such an instruction?
Because Jesus didn't come to do the things that the multitudes would have wanted him to do. Jesus didn't come to be a spectacle or be made king at this time. He didn't come to be known as a miracle worker or a healer. He came to be crucified, be buried and rise again in order to atone for the sin of mankind.
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Wherever Christ is to be proclaimed, it should never be about anything other than he is the Savior, crucified and resurrected.
That’s the gospel!
Not:
Come to Christ and you’ll be healed.
Come to Christ and he’ll take away your addiction.
Come to Christ and he’ll ease your anxiety.
Come to Christ and your marriage will be fixed.
Come to Christ and you want be homosexual anymore.
None of that is the Gospel! There is no Gospel without without the cross and the resurrection and all of its meaning and purpose.
2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Christ came into this world to die for sinners, be buried for sinners, and rise again for sinners.
Because the Lord of compassion didn't come for your felt needs, he came to save your soul from eternal damnation.
Yes Christ is a compassionate and caring savior who cares about the suffering and hurting.
Yes, he’s a compassionate savior who came to bring relief for the oppressed and burdened.
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Yes, he came to bring peace to the troubled.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
But, he does that by bringing salvation to sinners through the cross and resurrection that will later come in Luke.
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Everything Christ does is for the sake of the gospel. That is his main purpose .
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Hear me today, Jesus is the Lord of compassion who is:
Always accessible.
Always interruptible.
Always inexhaustible.
Always Faithful
Always powerful
Always purposeful.
Would you come to him today to find healing from your sin and resurrection to your soul which is dead in your trespasses and sin?