Life Interrupted

“New Beginnings”

“Life Interrupted”

Mark 5:21-43

In July of 2005 Kyle MacDonald was down and out. He was stuck in a dead end job, he was strapped for cash, and he was in desperate need of a New Beginning.

What Kyle had going for him was a red paper clip and an idea. Kyle had the idea to take that red paperclip and put it on the barter section on craigslist., and his story began.

A few days after the initial post on craigslist Kyle traded the red paperclip for a pen shaped like a fish. The pen was traded for a door knob. The door knob turned into a Coleman cook stove, that was traded for a generator.

The story continues, and over a series of 14 trades and exactly one year, Kyle had been in possession of a snowmobile, a sign, the right to a part in a Hollywood movie, and finally a house. In one year, Kyle had turned a single red paperclip into a house!

The story led to a book, a movie deal, speaking engagements, the red paperclip led to a new life for Kyle. He got his New Beginning!

How did Kyle do it?

First he recognized he needed something different.

He needed a New Beginning.

He believed it was possible.

Finally, he went after it with everything he had. He believed that he could have a New Beginning, and he worked for it.

Last week I talked about a Great Reset. I want to follow that by talking about New Beginnings.

Last week I went through a few of the resets or new beginnings in the Old Testament, but this morning I want to dig into one story specifically and look at what was required for a woman to get her desperately needed New Beginning.

Last week I started talking about this idea that there are times in our lives that we need a reset. There are times that life becomes overwhelming and we need to cry out to God and let Him change our situations, change our outlook, and change our minds towards Him in a greater way.

I believe with everything in me that every person in this room today is in need of some kind of New Beginning. The question is do you believe you can have a New Beginning? Are you willing to go after it, and pursue it, and do what it takes to have it?

I would argue this morning that there are times in life that we need New Beginnings, and New Beginnings are exciting, but they come at a cost.

Almost a year ago Kristi and I were preparing for a new beginning. We knew our time at Marshall was closing and we would be moving to Mt. View. A year ago we had no idea what that was going to mean for me. I had no idea what I would be doing to make a living. But we trusted God had a plan.

It was and has been exciting. Even today after I have been working the new job for 9 months, IT’S Still exciting and it still requires a lot of faith.

But even though we needed the New Beginning and it has been exciting, it cost us something. We left a lot of people behind. But, even though it cost us something, it has totally been worth it! It has been worth it and then some, because we know that we are where God put us for this season of our lives.

This season has required us to continuously give God control of our lives. It has required us to Alternate the way we function at times. And as life always requires, we have had to delete some things that were holding us back.

This morning I am going to read from Mark 5 if you would like to read along.

We are going to read a story this morning about a couple people that needed New Beginnings. We are going to see that a young lady is in desperate need of a New Beginning, and as Jesus is on His way to give her a New Beginning, the story is interrupted. In the end the person that interrupted the New Beginning, and the young lady that needed Jesus in the first place both got their New Beginnings.

“LIFE INTERRUPTED”

Let’s read it together.

Mark 5:21–43 (ESV)

Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus’s Daughter

21 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. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him 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.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.

25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 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. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 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. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,”which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

PRAY

I titled this message this morning “Life Interrupted”

Let me ask a question this morning. By show of hands, how many people here like to be interrupted?

I really didn’t expect to see very many hands. Not many of us like to be interrupted. I am probably at the top of the list of people that dislike interruptions. One reason is when I get interrupted, it is very hard for me to get back on task.

Unfortunately, I am one of my biggest distraction. I interrupt myself too often.

BUT, there are times when interruptions are a good thing. Like when I am in the middle of a project or trying to get some work done and Kristi comes to me to tell me she loves me and gives me a kiss. That’s a highly acceptable interruption.

Good interruption #2

Finding out about Connor in 2004

Again, that was an alright interruption!

So interruptions can be good.

In Mark 5 we see Jesus on His way to Jairus’ house. He has come to plead for Jesus to come and heal his daughter. The Scripture records Jairus saying “My little daughter is at the point of death.”

Jairus is desperate for a New Beginning. As it is, or as it appears, his daughters life is at the end. She needed what only the Healer, what only the Savior could give. She needed life and health, she needed a New Beginning.

Jairus came to Jesus with an absolutely vital key to the process of New Beginnings. He came to Jesus, THE GOD OF NEW BEGINNINGS, with faith. He believed Who Jesus was, and that Jesus could and would accomplish what Jairus’ daughter needed.

1. NEW BEGINNINGS ARE BIRTHED IN DESPERATE SITUATIONS

a. DAUGHTER IS DYING

b. 12 YEARS, SUFFERED UNDER MANY PHYSICIANS, BROKE, WORSE THAN WHEN SHE STARTED.

2. Desperate situations and New Beginnings ATTRACT A CROWD

a. Supporters

b. Critics

3. NEW BEGINNINGS MAY MEAN INTERRUPTING IMPORTANT EVENTS.

a. “MY LITTLE DAUGHTER IS AT THE POINT OF DEATH.”

b. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF A SITUATION NEAR YOU SEEMS MORE IMPORTANT, JESUS STILL CARES ABOUT YOUR NEEDS!

4. HE’S NEVER TOO BUSY FOR YOU

a. JESUS IS ALWAYS BUSY, BUT NEVER TO BUSY FOR YOU.

b. BACKGROUND, CALMING THE SEA, CASTING OUT DEMONS ETC.

c. OUTCAST VS. PILLAR OF SOCIETY.

d. DEATH VS. DISEASE

5. NEW BEGINNINGS REQUIRE GREAT FAITH

a. THE WOMAN WAS UNCLEAN

b. THE LITTLE GIRL WAS ALREADY DEAD