Seeking Jesus, Finding Rest

Mark 5:25-34

Mark 5:25–34 (ESV)

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.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mk 5:24–34.

Mark 5:25-34 Context

DISCUSS HERE ABOUT WHERE ELSE THIS STORY APPEARS. MOSTI NFORMATION IN MARK ETC..

This woman, Mark says, had an issue of blood. He gives no specific diagnosis, but most likely, scholars believe that she suffered from an unending menstrual flow.

We’re told in verse 25 that this women had been suffering for twelve years with this issue (V25).

In verse 26 we’re told that she had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and had spent all she had to pay them, yet she hadn’t gotten better, but only got worse (V26).

And in verse 27, we’re told that it was at this point of desperation that she had heard about Jesus, and in faith, reached out to touch him. (V27).

Now to go back to the issue itself, for a women to bleed continually, is a difficult situation. However, in those days, this difficulty of this issue would have been exemplified. Because of this continual bleed, this woman would have had: social issues, spiritual issues, marital issues, emotional issues and physical issues. Really, she had the full house on the bingo card. Her struggle led to a very difficult life.

Social and Spiritual Issues

- Due to this woman’s bleed, she would have been a social outcast, both despised and rejected by many. Due to her uncleanliness (see Leviticus 15:25-33), she would have been ostracised from society, because according to Old Testament law, if someone touched her, they would also be seen as unclean for a period of time. This bleed therefore, meant she was unable to even worship in the temple, which as well as being the place to offer worship to God, was also the hub for social interaction for the Jewish people.

Personal and Emotional Issues

- Not only do we read that this lady had lost all her money and possessions trying to fix this issue, but because of it, it was also unlikely she was married, and it was very likely she was childless. This would have brought great shame and despair to her as the culture at the time highly valued both marriage and children.

Physical Issues

- Being male, I can’t really imagine this myself, but the thought of bleeding continually for twelve years speaks to me of suffering. There would have been great pain and discomfort attached, and she wouldn’t have receive any rest bite

Beautifully, this bingo card of issues did not stop this lady from reaching out to touch Jesus in faith and receive her healing, and through this story there are many things we can learn that are applicable for us today.

REST FOR THE SOUL IS FOUND IN JESUS ALONE

‌In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says:

Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.

This is exactly what the woman with the issue of blood did; she came to Jesus weary, carrying such a heavy burden, and she in-turn received Jesus’ promise of rest.

For every person in this room, hear me. No matter the pain, despair or burdens you find yourself carrying, if you reach out to Jesus in faith today, you will find rest for your soul. For you, it may not mean your situations change immediately, but it does mean you’ll find a peace amidst the storm, a peace that can go beyond all understanding.

Psalm 127:2 reads:

It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

What this Psalm is saying is that so many people will wake up early, and go to bed late, working hard, but having nothing to show for their efforts. This was this woman’s own personal story. She’d woken up early for appointments with the doctors and stayed up late taking every known medicine under the sun. Twelve continuous years… But alas, her efforts were in vain – she was unable to find the rest she so desperately required.

This women had battled for twelve long years with an issue of blood. This was a dire situation, and despite her efforts, she was never able to find a remedy for her issue. She suffered physically, personally, and socially.

If only we would heed Jesus words from Matthew 11:28, instead, so often we work in our own strength in the hope of finding rest for our troubles souls.

Many run to alcohol, some others to drugs. Some take up workaholic tendencies, others run headlong into sexual desires. Whether it’s a round table of worldviews and religions, the chase for more money or another empty idol, soul rest is never found because we were born to find rest in God alone.

St Augustine famously said -

‘our souls are restless until they find rest in You.’

‌For many of this world, and maybe even some of us today, we fall into the trap of this woman in Mark chapter five; it’s only when every other option is exhausted in the search for peace, that we eventually decide to seek out Jesus.

The great theologian Matthew Henry said:

It is common with people not to apply Christ till they have tried in vain all other helpers, and find them, as certainly they will, physicians of no value. Some run to diversions and happy company; others plunge into business, or even into intemperance; others go about to establish their own righteousness, or torment themselves by vain superstitions. Many perish in these ways; but none will ever find rest to the soul by such devices; while those whom Christ heals of the disease of sin, find in themselves an entire change for the better.

Listen. It is only when we come to Jesus who is the great physician that we can receive rest from every issue that troubles you. This women sought after rest from her troubles, and it was only when she reached out to Jesus that she found it.

‌GOSSIPING THE GOOD NEWS BRINGS HOPE

When this woman was likely at her lowest, we’re told she heard reports about Jesus, and this, despite every false start and disappointing outcome, led her to reach out and not lose hope.

You’ll have to give me some poetic licence here, but I imagine this woman was in her bedroom, demoralised, depressed and all about given up when she heard a bang, bang, bang on the door. It was her friend Sally, and Sally begins to tell her…

- Hey I know you’ve pretty much given up all hope, you’ve spent all the money you have and you feel like nothing will fix this issue you have, but I met a man - His name is Jesus!

- A few weeks back, I was in the synagogue listening to this man teach with such authority! He wasn’t like anyone or anything else I’ve seen before. Right there on that day, he cast a demon out of someone who was in much pain!

- I decided to follow Him, and the more time I spent watching Him, the more amazing things I saw!

- Leaving the synagogue that day, He healed a woman with a high fever by rebuking it! Then by the evening, more and more people started bringing sick family members to Him. It was crazy! It didn’t matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed them all!

- I heard Jesus a few times tell the crowds not to tell anyone what He was doing, but I couldn’t help it! I thought of you, and I couldn’t help but share this good news! You need to go and find Him! Just one moment with Him will change everything!

Are we gossiping the good news? For many of us, we’ve read of God’s wonderful works, and we’ve seen Him do incredible things, both in our lives and the lives of others. There should be no excuse for us not to share this incredible news with those who desperately need to hear it!

No doubt after this woman with the issue of blood heard the reports of Jesus healing people, fresh hope would have pumped through her veins. In this world we’re living in today, people need HOPE! Hope that there is a God who loves them, who can forgive their sin, relieve the guilt and bring peace to their soul and healing to their flesh.

Revelation 19:10 tells us that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. In other words, the testimony of what Jesus did in the life of one person can release faith in the life of another to believe, “hey if Jesus did that for you, then Jesus can do it for me too!”

As a Church, let’s always look for opportunities to Gospel the Good News of Jesus Christ!

SIDE NOTE

I speak for Tamar and I when I say we have not been a part of a church before that is so caring and loving from the top down. And I believe that as we continue to remain faithful to love God, love each other and ‘gossip the good news’, people will continue to be drawn to Living Hope and we will see real growth. And listen, that’s exciting, but we’re not wanting to grow for growth’s sake, so that people say “wow, look at that church!’ but we want to grow so ultimately we see more people come to Jesus and have their lives changed. In 2024 God is going to do above and beyond what we could have ever hoped, thought or imagined.

PROXIMITY TO CHRIST DOES NOT IMPLY APPROPRIATION TO CHRIST

Mark 5:30–31

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?’ ”

Jesus called out that somebody had touched him and the disciples took Him for a fool. “Of course, people are touching you! They are hugging you, kissing you, throwing themselves are your feet!”

I don’t know about you, but I find this is a scary thought. These people were all around Him. They were literally in his proximity, yet despite this there was only one woman who actually connected with Him.

Let that thought sink in. You can be around Jesus your whole life, yet despite this, never truly connect with Him or experience the fruit of the salvation He provides.

· You can be crowding Him…

· You can be talking about Him…

· You can be admiring Him…

· You can be inspired by Him…

· You can even sing songs about Him and go to the church...

You can do all this, even with the best intentions and never actually touch Him. I don’t know about you, but in this Mark 5 story, I don’t want to be like the crowd, I want to be like the woman.

Today in our Churches, there are many who confess Christ and are vaguely familiar with Him, but their lives are not reflective of someone who has reached out in faith and touched Him. It would be ridiculous to believe that going to McDonald’s makes you a burger. In the same way, we shouldn’t believe the lie that simply going to Church makes us a Christian.

You may say, well I believe in a God, and I believe in Jesus. Surely that makes me a Christian? Well, James 2:19 says: you believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder!

So what makes someone a Christian? Well, a Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ, someone who believes in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and also puts that faith into action by desiring to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

The question I have for you this morning, is like the woman in Mark 5, do you desire to truly connect with Jesus? Are you turning up on a Sunday because it’s just what we do as Christians, or is there a hunger on the inside of you to meet with and touch the heart of the living God?

THE HOLY SPIRIT

OT – THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME ON PEOPLE

NT – THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN PEOPLE (HE WILL MAKE HIS HOME WITHIN YOU)

BUT… THERE ARE STILL MOMENTS WHERE HE COMES UPON PEOPLE…

EVERY SUNDAY LET’S CULTIVATE A DESIRE AND HUNGER AFTER GOD, TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH HIM.

JESUS IS WORTH THE RISK

Mark wrote this book primarily to Christian’s who at the time were facing martyrdom. In my last sermon here, I talked about persecution, and explained that persecution began for the early church in Acts 4, grew progressively worse, and hit fever pitch approximately AD67 with Caesar Nero.

Theologians believe that Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark in approximately AD70, shortly after the Romans had destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and Caesar Nero had begun to specifically torture Christians - from burning them alive as living torches, or feeding them to wild dogs to be eaten alive.

In this story, the woman with the issue of blood, according to Levitical law was unclean, and her touch on someone else could make them unclean also. Can you imagine the fear she must have had, going against every cultural norm to reach out and touch the one she believed to be a prophet sent by God?

Mark is showing through this story, that despite the fear the woman had in reaching out and touching Jesus, she stepped past her fear and did it anyway. As Christian’s today, we will always be tempted to not act in faith due to the fear or the cost of what may happen if we do, but I can tell you, Jesus is always worth the risk.

Matthew 5:11–12 - 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

We live in a world where you may be misunderstood… people may think you’re silly… they think you’re a bit mad… who cares? If stepping out glorifies Jesus, makes Him known and ultimately changes lives, then so bet it!

I want to again encourage us as a Church not to be ashamed of the Gospel. Not to be embarrassed about living for Jesus. Not to water down our message in the hope of winning friends but losing souls.

CONCLUSION

To close, I want to draw your attention to a word that Jesus says and is written by Mark. In verse thirty four, when Jesus says ‘you have been healed of your disease’, the word Mark writes here is ‘sesoken’ which means ‘saved’.

The purpose of Mark using ‘sesoken’ is because he wants the reader of this story to apply the broader word ‘saved’ to themselves so that, as faith in Jesus had healed the sick then, it would be understood that faith in Jesus will bring about the most important healing, the salvation of men. Mark is keen to draw our attention to both physical and theological salvation.

This women, as we’ve already touched upon had physical, personal and social needs. Despite this, Jesus doesn’t just desire to meet our physical, personal, and social needs, but also are spiritual needs too.

He desires to save us and our loved one’s so we can spend an eternity with Him in heaven. This is why we must;

Recognise that true rest for the soul is found in Jesus Christ alone

Gossip the Good News as often as we can

Draw close to Jesus by faith

And finally, recognise that standing out for Jesus is worth the risk.

Let us pray.