Who is this? (Mark 4:35-5:43)

Mark 4:35-5:43 on April 18, 2021

Introduction

Let’s return to Agrabah this morning and the movie Aladdin. I really should be on the marketing pay roll for this movie. It’s just that fun to try and sell. Towards the end of the movie, after the battle between good and evil, you have the Evil Jafar having the Sultan, Princess Jasmine, and Aladdin all in trouble. Jafar has stolen the lamp of the genie and has to work for Jafar now. When all hope seems lost, as Jafar boasts of him being the most powerful sorcerer in the world, Aladdin thinks of a way out. He tells Jafar that he will never be the most powerful in the world, that he will only be second best. He says that the genie has more power than him and that he can take it away. Well, Jafar bites. He tells the genie for his third wish, that he wishes to be a genie. And the wish is granted. Jafar transforms from a sorcerer into a genie. However, what Jafar didn’t realize is that although he had been given the powers of a genie, he was enslaved to a lamp and chains to serve a master. For even the genie with all power and cosmic power was held under the curse of the lamp, still having to serve another. And yet, there is one who is more powerful than a sorcerer and a genie who has come in Christ. And that is what I want us to look at this morning.

Mark Summary Recap

Back in the beginning of March we looked at Mark 1:21-45 where we focused on the authority of Jesus in his teachings, over sickness, and unclean spirits and how Jesus came to be the servant king. This morning in our text, we return to this theme of authority in an even great capacity. Not only is Jesus one with great authority, but this authority demands for a response. Will we respond to that authority rightly? I want to invite you to go ahead and open your Bible to Mark 4:35 where we will start this morning. Now, while you are turning there, we are going to cover the end of chapter 4 with chapter 5. On this note, the Bible was not originally written with chapter or verse numbers. These were added much later for quick reference guides. Many times these chapter divisions were divided just perfectly, other times, not as clear cut, such as with this one. Mark 4:35-41 fits much better with Mark 5, than it does that of the rest of Mark 4, which is why we are looking at these together this morning. With that said, let’s read Mark 4:35-5:43.

Main Point

Jesus is the King who rules over creation, demonic powers, illness, and even death. Therefore Christian, let our faith rest secure in our King who sits on the throne.

Points

Point #1: The authority of the King

Point #2: The response of the people

Point #1: The authority of the King

When we think of kings, surely we think of position, power, authority belonging to them. When we think of King Arthur, he was the boy who pulled the sword from the stone and ruled as king. When you think of kings of other lands, you see one who calls the shots and the people submit and bow too. Even in Aladdin, the people of Agrabah were intended to bow to the Sultan, not Jafar. A king with authority is not something new to history and society. A king without authority is really not a king who rules. Therefore, Jesus coming as the Messiah King is expected to have authority. What is surprising though is the reach of that authority in all that Jesus has authority over. Jesus has great authority over nature, demons, illness, and even death. The authority that Jesus has is utterly shocking. I want us to spend some time looking at each of these in detail.

Authority over nature (4:35-41)

First, turn your attention with me to Mark 4:35-41 as we look at the authority of King Jesus over nature itself. Jesus and his disciples leave the crowds to sail to the other side of the sea of Galilee. The sea of Galilee was 696 feet below sea level, and known for winds entering the bowl of the sea and creating sudden windstorms upon the sea. And as they were traveling, one of these storms blew in. The storm was so great, that it threatened to break into the boat and sink it.

Yet, in the midst of the storm, Jesus is sound asleep on the cushion. This reveals to us a few things about who Jesus is here. One, it reminds us of Jesus’s humanity and need to rest, just as we need rest. As often as the word immediately is used here in Mark, we get a glimpse of the busyness and fast paced movement for Jesus in his ministry. It is no wonder he fell asleep and was out cold when he sat down.

The other thing we see here about Jesus is that not only was he human in his tiredness, but that he was also not worried or concerned as the storm raged on. The disciples of Jesus however were panicking. And remember, several in this group were fishermen who were used to being on the sea. It’s not as if it is land lovers who are on the boat scared as the waters churn a bit. They are fishermen by trade, yet scared in the midst of this storm. They are fearful they are about to perish in this storm. For we see there in verse 38 (READ). But notice Jesus’s response in being woken there in verses 39 & 40 (READ). Jesus had no reason to be worried.

The disciples faith was at best doubtful at the moment. Jesus questioned them, wondering while they were afraid. In questioning their faith, Jesus is revealing that his disciples should know who they are with, the one who has all authority. Jesus of course had just rebuked the wind and silenced the sea. I want to draw something out here, the English Standard Version and even the King James Version use the language that Jesus called for peace. However, both the Christian Standard Bible and New International Version capture the concept better in using Silence or Quiet. For here the word σιωπα which means stop speaking, be or become quiet, even hush would be a better translation. Jesus in other words calls for the sea to silence itself before the King and it obeys. For immediately following his command of Silence, the sea calms itself.

Two things are remarkable about this. First, that the sea obeys Jesus’s command to silence. King Jesus doesn’t have authority simply over his kingdom, but over nature itself. King Arthur even lacked this kind of authority. But, the second remarkable thing about this is that not only did the sea obey Jesus, but it went from a raging storm to being completely calm. If you have ever been on the lake or ocean when a storm blows up, you know that for a time period after the storm ends, the waves are still choppy and rough. But here, the waters go still and are made calm in an instant. Nature not only obeys Jesus here, nature defies itself in order to obey the King and his authority. No wonder the disciples were filled with fear and wondered who then is this there in verse 41. This is the authority of King Jesus over nature.

Authority over demons (5:1-20)

Secondly, we see King Jesus’s authority over demons there in Mark 5:1-20. We see there in the first 3 verses of chapter 5 that as soon as they had crossed the sea and entered the Gerasenes, a man with an unclean spirit approaches him. Follow along though as I read verses 3-5 slowly again in describing this unclean spirit (READ 5:3-5).

No one and nothing was able to bind this spirit. He wrenched and tore apart the chains and shackles that they tried to bind him with. He was crying out and harming himself by cutting himself. This unclean spirit had great power and strength. He was not one to be reckoned with. Yet, notice his response to Jesus there in verses 6-7 (READ).

This powerful unclean spirit who could not be bound falls down and cries out afraid of Jesus. He was afraid that he was going to be tormented as Jesus called the spirit to come out of the man. And as Jesus questioned this unclean spirit there in verse 9, in verse 10 we see the unclean spirit begging with Jesus not to be sent out of the country. Even seeing a herd of pigs, the demon begs to be sent into them instead. Once more, seeking Jesus to allow this. And Jesus grants the request for the unclean spirit to enter the herd of 2,000 pigs. And as it does, the unclean spirit, Legion rushes the pigs down the steep bank into the sea with the herd dying.

The unclean spirit went from being powerful and not being able to be bound to cowering before King Jesus, needing his approval to even come out of the man and enter a herd of pigs. This is the authority Jesus has over that of the unclean, demonic spirits. They cannot move apart from his permission and approval.

Not only did the unclean spirit come out of the man by the authority of Jesus, the man was clothed and in his right mind as the crowds began to come and see what all the commotion was. The man went from being captive, possessed, naked, and out of his mind by the unclean spirit to in his right mind, clothed, and calm as Jesus overturned the power of the unclean spirit on him. This is the authority of King Jesus over unclean spirits and demons.

Authority over illness and death (5:21-43)

Thirdly, as we come to Mark 5:21-43 we see the authority of King Jesus over illness and even death. Now, we have already seen Jesus with authority over unclean spirits and disease. But not death. In this section of text, we have a nice Markian sandwich. Just think of a nice brioche bun with roast beef in between. Arby’s your welcome for the advertisement this morning too.

In all seriousness though, with a Markian sandwich, Mark has one story on the outside and one packed in the middle, just as he does here with the story of Jairus’s daughter being on the outside and packed in the middle of it is the story of the woman with a discharge of blood. While separate, the events also build on one another.

Top of sandwich (5:21-24a)

Let’s start with the top part of the sandwich, Jarius seeking Jesus there in verses 21-24a, that is the first half of verse 24. In having to leave the Gerasenes, they once more had to cross the sea and when they came to the other side, Jairus came running to Jesus. Verses 22 and 23 say (READ).

Jairus is to the point of desperation as he falls on his face at the feet of Jesus, he is pleading for his little girl, just as any good father would do. He knows Jesus can save his little girl. And as Jairus implores or pleads for Jesus to come with him, Jesus agrees and follows.

Meat of sandwich (5:24b-34)

Here is where the figurative meat of the sandwich interrupts though as Mark shifts gears to the story of the woman with a discharge of blood. It says there in verse 25 that she had suffered with this discharge for twelve years, that is a long time. In verse 26, we see that she had suffered or endured much under physicians and had spent all she had in trying to solve this problem, yet her condition grew worse. Therefore, she seeks Jesus in thinking if she could just touch his garment, then she would be healed. Of course, we read this in verse 29 (READ).

In touching merely the garment of Jesus, the woman was healed. And this is recognized by Jesus, even as the crowds were all around him. We read this in verses 30-32 which says (READ). Jesus knew power had gone out from him, so he began asking who touched him. Of course the disciples response which we just read is like seriously? You are going to ask this as the mobs are pressing in all around? The experience would have been something like the pressing crowds at a concert where everyone presses against you trying to get closer to the stage. People bumping into you left and right. This is the kind of setting Jesus is in and this is why the disciples are so confused.

And yet, the woman knowing came to Jesus in fear, falling before him and telling what she had done in touching his garments. And notice Jesus’s response in verse 34 (READ).

The woman’s faith has healed her. The blood that doctor’s could not cure stopped in the moment of her touching Jesus by faith. Jesus had the power and authority to heal this kind of disease and he did. The woman’s faith has saved her, it has made her well. And Jesus calls her to go in peace, not just in being physically well, but in being spiritually reconciled to God because of her faith in Jesus. He sends her out redeemed.

Bottom of the bun (5:35-43)

Immediately following this though, Mark switches back to the brioche bun of the story in coming back to Jairus and his daughter beginning here in verse 35. A report comes while Jesus is still speaking to the woman who has been healed, and Jairus’s daughter is dead. Or that’s what they thought. Notice Jesus’s response in verse 36 (READ).

He calls Jairus to not fear, only believe. So Jesus takes only a handful with him and goes onward to Jarius’s house. As they enter, people are already gathered weeping and wailing over this little girl’s death. But Jesus asks why they are weeping and says the child is not dead but sleeping. Of course the crowd thinks Jesus is nuts and begins to laugh at him. But notice what Jesus does next. Look with me at verses 40-43 (READ).

The little girl who was supposedly dead is called to arise and does so. Jesus here brings the dead back to life, causing all to witness it to be amazed and astonished by this event. For people had seen and heard of Jesus performing many miracles, casting out demons, healing the sick, causing the blind to see. But now, Jesus calls one back from the dead. Jesus shows that he too has authority over death.

Tying it all together & Application

In Mark 4:35-5:43 we see Jesus as the King with great authority, greater than any other, proving further and further that he is of God as the beloved Son. And here is why this still is crucial for us to understand and how it applies to us today. First and foremost, we need to recognize the authority that Jesus has as King. He is the king who reigns supreme over all of creation, even that of unclean spirits and creation itself. Therefore, whether you have been a Christian for 20 years or you have yet to come to faith in Jesus, we need to see this morning that it is to Jesus we are to bow as the Sovereign King. In other words, we need to ask ourselves, who is calling the shots in our lives? Us or the King? Are we more concerned with seeking our pleasures and desires? Or are we following the King in joyful obedience in seeing that he alone is worthy of following?

Secondly, in seeing that Jesus has great authority that he brings peace and hope in the midst of fear and despair. In these passages, Jesus performs several different miracles that reveal his full power as the Son of God. And yet, past the book of Acts, we do not typically see these kinds of miracles performed. We know that the sick are to call upon the elders to lay hands on and pray from James 5, even as we have done here within the last few months. We know that the Lord still works miracles and healings through prayer, which we should continue to do. Even now, we have several members we need to continuously be lifting to the Lord and praying for with some various things. But, even as the Lord still does work in those mysterious ways and in answering prayers, not every disease, illness, suffering will be alleviated in this life. And yet, there is still peace and hope in the midst of it. For we know that Jesus has come to calm the storm, he has come to calm the soul of the demon possessed man, he has come to raise the dead to life. Jesus has come and began to overturn all of these, and they will be stopped fully in his return. For we know this truth from Revelation 21:1-4:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

To quote from the Jesus Storybook Bible, “All the sad things are coming untrue.” Suffering and death’s days are limited. They are coming to an end. It is this we cling to as we await the day he comes riding on the clouds and sounds the trumpet. In the meantime, may we sing songs such as this:

On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand,

and cast a wishful eye

To Canaan’s fair and happy land,

Where my possessions lie.

All o’er those wide extended plains,

Shines one eternal day;

There God the Son forever reigns,

And scatters night away.

I am bound (I am bound)

I am bound (I am bound)

I am bound for the promised land,

I am bound (I am bound)

I am bound (I am bound)

I am bound for the promised land.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we see the authority of King Jesus, let it give us hope, let it strengthen us in knowing that he is over all, with nothing that can oppose him. And he will right the wrong, he will make all the sad of this world come undone when he returns. Let these truths strengthen us as we await that coming day, even in the midst of sorrows and pain.

Point #2: The response of the people

And this brings us to our second point this morning which will be much shorter, the response of the people. How do those who witness this authority respond and how should we?

Faith or fear? (4:35-41)

Quickly glancing back at the disciples in the midst of the storm there in chapter 4, verses 35-41 we saw that the disciples thought they were going to perish and die because of the storm. They were afraid according to how Jesus describes them. And Jesus even asks them there in verse 40, “Have you still no faith?”

The disciples didn’t yet realize who Jesus fully was. In fact, we won’t see it fully click until the climax of Mark in Mark 8 with Peter’s confession. Therefore, even going back to Mark 4:10-12 from last week, this is why the parables were used. If Jesus’s disciples weren’t even ready to receive the fullness of who he was, there was no way the crowds were ready. And yet, by speaking in the parables, Jesus slowly revealed who he was in order that some could eventually come to faith in him, that the word from the parables would soften their hearts. Likewise, there were others whose heart would be hardened for good as Jesus revealed more of himself. And these would be those who in the end will call for the death and crucifixion of Jesus.

But in the moment, again the disciples question who then is this that the wind and the sea obey him. They were more afraid of this than that of the storm taking their lives. They knew not who they stood in the presence of. The disciples feared who Jesus was instead of placing their faith in him and who he was.

What about us gathered here this morning? In seeing Jesus as one with great authority, do we rightly fear him and turn to him? Or does fear lead you away from Christ? This is the question put to the disciples, to the readers of this gospel throughout time, and to us this morning. Christ is powerful and has great authority. Recognizing this should cause us to be in awe of who Jesus is and drive us to find our refuge in him. For as he was with his disciples in the boat, so he promises to be with all who are united to him through faith. Do not let fear lead you to turn from Christ, but to him. For with Jesus being one with great authority, what have we to fear?

Acceptance or rejection? (5:1-20)

Next, do we accept or reject Christ? Back in Mark 5:1-20 where Jesus cast the unclean spirit into the herd of pigs, we have two different responses to Jesus and his authority. When the crowds came and heard the eyewitness accounts of what had happened, they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. They wanted nothing to do with him. They rejected him and pushed him away. This being after they saw the man sitting clothed and in his right mind who previously was out of his mind, naked, and crying out. Jesus restores a man to normal, yet the crowds reject him. They see a man going from out of control to a peacefulness in him, but they still reject Jesus.

The Gerasenes heard of the miracle from eyewitness accounts. It could only be of the Lord, yet they rejected Jesus. They asked him to leave. Why did they ask him to leave? They asked him to leave because they saw a man changed and transformed after an encounter with Jesus. They were fearful it seems of the change that Jesus brings.

However, the man who had been possessed, had been tortured, had been out of his mind now wants to follow Jesus there in verse 18. He begs Jesus to let him come be with him. Now, Jesus doesn’t allow this man to come and be with him, but sends him to be a witness for Jesus in the Decapolis. Jesus sent him to go and tell what the Lord had done. And in verse 20, we see that the man went and obeyed. Friends, which of these defines you this morning?

Friends, Jesus has not come to improve our life. Jesus has not come to set nations free as the Israelites thought. Jesus has not come to make us feel good about ourselves. Jesus has come to overturn a broken and fallen world. He has come to overturn us and transform us through the power of the gospel. We cannot claim to follow Jesus and be willing to be unchanged by him. For just as Jesus came and transformed the once possessed man, he has come to call us to repent from sin and take up a cross and follow him. Is this the Jesus we accept here this morning? I pray it is.

Others, you might be sitting here this morning and have never even considered a need to accept Jesus. You have heard that Jesus has come with great authority this morning. You have heard about those who were near him who were struck with fear at various times. But the reality is, this Jesus in coming with great authority also came to serve. He came as the Suffering Servant King who willingly laid down his own life in our place. We were guilty of sin, he was not. And yet, his righteousness is given to all who come and are united to him by faith. See today that there is hope in Jesus. Come this morning to Jesus, confessing your sin, your need in him, and trust that he will forgive you. Receive him just as this once demon possessed man did. For if Jesus can save a man who was naked, cutting himself, out of his mind, certainly he can and will save you, but you must come to him.

Faith or despair? (5:21-43)

Finally, we come back to the Markian sandwich of Mark 5:21-43. Here we have the stories of Jarius, his daughter, and the woman with the blood once more. In both of these events, we have people who are in despair. Jairus who is in despair on behalf of his daughter and the woman who is in despair as she finds no relief from our blood flow. Jairus is named and a position of importance is shared. It is a different case for the woman, she is neither named or any other information given outside of her suffering for 12 years. Jairus comes to Jesus face to face, the woman comes from behind. And as both of them come to Jesus, they are desperate.

And yet, in their approach there is one important distinction. Look once more with me at Mark 5:33-34, it says (READ).

The woman’s faith has made her well, it has healed her. And peace is brought between her and the LORD. But notice the different response of Jesus to Jairus in verses 35 and 36, it says (READ).

Position, social status, ethnic background, or even “religious”background do not make a difference when it comes to Jesus. The unknown woman comes and is saved by faith, whereas Jairus is told not to fear, but to have faith. And while we don’t know Jairus’s end heart, we do know that Jesus raised the little girl, as he said “Talitha cumi,” which means “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” We do see a glimpse of the resurrection hope to come in Jesus with this. However, the need of faith has to be there.

Now, do not mistake this call to faith in this situation to that of the prosperity gospel faith. Prosperity teachers will say if you just have enough faith, you will be healed. Friends, we do not have that promise this side of eternity. But, what we have promised is much better and much sweeter. And that is the promise of Jesus coming to make all things new as we looked at at the end of point 1 this morning. Will we continue to have faith in that promise, resting firmly in the promises of God? For it is on this promise we can stand firmly as we will sing in a moment as we close our time this morning.

Conclusion

King Jesus has come with great authority. In his time of public ministry he showed that he was one with great authority. There were no limits to his power as with a genie in the movie Aladdin. He wasn’t bound to a lamp and chains. And because Jesus is one with great authority, nothing will stop him from coming back and completing the great rescue of overturning all the broken and sad things of this world. He will come again and make them all untrue. Let our hearts rest in this as we leave this place this morning and go about our week.

Let’s pray...