Raising Something New

Opening Prayer

Greetings and blessings to you all. May God enter this place to open our hearts to hear His message and apply whatever insights may come, to help you, and surround you with great love and peace for your life now and for eternity. We believe Christ provides us with gifts each day and I pray that you will be open to receiving and sharing the gift of Jesus in raising something new to whomever is in need. Amen.

Background

Last year at this time I was taking my first few course in Seminary at Regent University School of Divinity. One course was entitled “Biblical Hermeneutics.” I had no idea what that word meant let alone speak the word without getting tongue-tied. In short, Biblical Hermeneutics establishes the process for interpreting the Bible. Another word new to my lexicon was Biblical Exegesis which is the process to use to bring out the meaning of a verse or chapter in the Bible. Exegesis requires reading the verse or passage before and after the verse or passage you have chosen to provide context and even insight to how a 1st reader might react.

Before taking Biblical Hermeneutics, I would read the Bible, but not fully appreciate or even understand the context of what I was reading. Reading the Bible is not like reading a novel, it is a reading that is best done slowly, prayerfully, and with intentionality. It is important to remember that the Bible was written over 2000 years ago in the 1st Century, a different time and place. Even so, the Bible still has relevance for our 21st Century life, but interpretations in modern times will vary depending on application and context.

Current Study

For the past several weeks, the Pastors have been preaching a series called the “5 Traits of Jesus from Mark.So far, they have covered the first 3 traits of Jesus as one who Forgives, Teaches, and Heals. Today, I will present the forth trait: Jesus as one who Raises. The Bible verses are Mark 5: 21-43. Before I begin that reading, take amount as you sit in your seats to image that this entire sanctuary is time-machine and the outside world is 24 AD rather that 2024 AD, I will read that Mark 5:21-43 and then stop to provide more context.

Mark 5:21–43 (ESV)

And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. [Jesus was traveling in the Sea of Galilee. He had just left the northern shore where He performed a healing of a broken, demonic-possessed person. He traveled south and landed on the shore where a crowd had gathered] Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet [No additional information is provided by Mark. But what is provided is essential: a ruler of the synagogue. This was considered a very powerful position. The ruler of the synagogue was one of the most respected men in the community. Under normal circumstances there would have been no reason for Jairus to having anything to do with Jesus who was considered and outsider and a dangerous heretic. The orthodox Jewish community at that time would not have invited Jesus, also a Jew, to enter their synagogue. So why did Jairus fall to Jesus’s feet? Jairus was changed by something, perhaps a vision from God that Jesus was the only one who could help him. Jairus, a powerful person who no doubt had prejudices, dignity, pride, and lots of friends gave up all of that. Anyone that is change because of a new awareness has been raised to something new, in essence a new view on life. Some may think of this as being reborn. In any event, for Jairus to fall to Jesus’s feet would be a transformational moment to simply trust. Isn’t that all of us have done? Fallen to the feet of Jesus as one of the first steps to becoming a new follower of Jesus, the Savior in our lives.] so after Jairus fell, he implored Jesus earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him.

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. [I need to create a picture in your minds of what being in this crowd might have felt like. This week, on Feb 7th, will be the 60th anniversary of the Beatles coming to the United States. Two days later many of you will remember the Beatles performance on the Ed Sullivan show with all the screaming girls. When the Beatles arrived at Kennedy airport in NYC on Pan Am flight 101, there is film footage showing a throng of people surrounding the Fab 4. There were also police protecting them. On the day Jesus came ashore meeting Jairus, He had his “disciple security guard” with him: Peter, James and John the brother of James. So Jesus, Jairus, and disciples continue their walk to save Jairus’s daughter.Lets continue...] And there was a woman in the crowd who had had a discharge of blood (menstruation) for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. [Because devout Jews wore an outer robe with 4 tassels on it, it is believed the women reached to touch one of the tassels] (demonstrate tallit or pray shawl with Tzitzit tassels)

(see Numbers 15:37-41) 37 The LORD said to Moses, 38 “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. 39 And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD...”

For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” [My first question would be, how would she know that? In Luke 4:40 there were sick people who were brought to Jesus where He laid hands on them and they were cured. Clearly this women knew about the miracles Jesus has performed. To be inconspicuous and not make a big scene, this woman made a faith decision without any proof of past healing performances by just touching Jesus’s clothes. My research reveals no other occurence in the Bible where there was a healing by just touching Jesus’s clothes.

When a women was menstruating in 1st Century Jewish culture, she would have been considered impure. It was understood and even written in Jewish law that life was a cycle of impurity and purity. This cycle, even today, is a natural occurence tied to biological processes. It is normal, necessary, and even acceptable by God according to Jewish customs. An impure person becomes pure by washing in water. (Baptism and the washing of the body of a deceased Jew before burial).

As this women was menstruating for 12 yrs, she would have been shunned by society. Anyone who would come in contact with a menstruating women would also be considered impure. Because Jesus was the Lamb of God, gentle, pure, and innocent, nothing could make Him impure.

And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, [This power loss is the cost of healing. When Jesus heals , energy comes out of him. In our own lives, nothing great is ever accomplished unless we expend our energy on our endeavors. We must put something in to get something out. Jesus’s very life was expended to pay the price for the sins of the world. We are saved from spiritual death because of Jesus.] immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” [This statement by Jesus directly demonstrates how Jesus not only heals but raises something new. What is this newness? It is a new life, a confident life with greater freedom and greater faith to live in society and not be ashamed. More importantly, the fact that Jesus called this outcast women “daughter”, who is the only person called daughter in the New Testament, shows the unimaginable love and care that Jesus has in transforming everybody into a child of God. ]

Let me review where we are in the story: Jesus and his disciples land their boat on the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee. They are met by a massive crowd out of which a man named Jairus requests Jesus to save his 12 year old daughter and a women who has been ailing for 12 years and called daughter touches Jesus’s clothes and is healed. The literary connections Mark makes in this story is very interesting. Now the story continues:

While he was still speaking [To the women with Jairus by Jesus’s side who witnessed this miracle of faith], there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”[The people from Jairus’s house were now in Jewish mourning mode which meant all work must stop…even saving a child] But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”[Could I have everybody say together: DO NOT FEAR, ONLY BELIEVE? This phrase is repeated 365 times in the Bible. This year is Leap Year so we just covered that day. You can still repeat the phrase DO NOT FEAR, ONLY BELIEVE for another 365 days] And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly [Typical of 1st Century Jewish mourning for the dead.They would also tear their clothes]. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.[The whole family]and he strictly charged them that no one should know this [to keep his powers secret], and told them to give her something to eat [to prove she was alive and not a spirit].

When I received the assignment to speak on Mark 5:21-43, my understanding of the first reading was about Jesus performing miracles. While this is true, up reflection of the traits of Jesus and the topic of today of Jesus Raising us it became clear that Jesus, as a person living among us, had a personality trait of caring for those without fear and great faith. As Christians we are lucky to claim Jesus as our role model, the one person who we can follow without the worry of being led down the wrong path. With a friend like Jesus, we can feel blessed that we will be helped in times of need, failure, and frustration. Life is hard for everyone, everywhere. But a life and faith in Jesus is a life that can be lived without fear of what is coming next. Jesus can raise you up to be something new every day. In Psalm 56, David writes when he was Philistines captured him in Gath:

Psalm 56 (ESV)

3 When I am afraid,

I put my trust in you.

4 In God, whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

What can flesh do to me?

Go in peace and may you be raised up without fear and be changed with enduring trust and faith that God will be with you and for you each day and for ever more. Amen.