Dost Thou Believe

Faith in the Face of Doubt

Bible Passage: Mark 5:35–43

Summary: In this passage, Jesus encounters a dire situation with the daughter of Jairus, demonstrating His authority over death and the importance of faith amidst fear and discouragement.

Application: This sermon can help Christians confront situations that seem hopeless by reinforcing that faith in Jesus can bring healing and restoration even when circumstances appear dire. It encourages believers to hold onto their faith and trust in Jesus despite disbelief from those around them.

Teaching: The central teaching of this sermon is the transformative power of faith in Jesus. It invites the audience to consider how their belief or lack thereof affects their lives and challenges them to trust in God’s promises more deeply.

How this passage could point to Christ: This passage ultimately points to Jesus as the resurrection and the life, revealing His identity as the Messiah who overcomes death. It foreshadows His ultimate victory over sin and death through His resurrection, which brings hope to all believers.

Big Idea: Faith in Jesus brings life and hope in our darkest moments, challenging us to believe despite the noise of doubt that surrounds us.

Recommended Study: As you prepare, consider exploring the cultural context of Jairus’ situation, evaluating the significance of mourning practices within First Century Judaism highlighted in this text. You might also delve into the original Greek terms used for ‘believe’ and ‘fear’ to understand better how they influence the narrative’s message. Utilizing your Logos library, investigate commentaries that discuss the theological implications of Jesus' healing miracles which can enhance the depth of your sermon.

1. Prioritizing Faith Over Fear

Mark 5:35-37

Verse 35:

Now Jesus is continuing to help Jairus as he was doing before he was intercepted by the woman with the issue of blood.

Jairus’s news gets more desperate hearing these words, “Thy Daughter is dead”!

What do you think Jairus’s reaction would be to this news? Answer: Fear, Panic, Disbelieve, Sorrow.

These fears may have been compounded by the delay that Jesus had taken to address the woman with the issue of blood. Perhaps now Jairus is thinking somewhat like Martha in John 11:21, If you would have been here sooner my daughter would not have died.

How many of us have felt this way?

How many of us have felt such despair in difficult circumstances?

Whether it is the loss of a loved one, a sickness, loss of a limb or body function or even the loss of a job or a broken relationship. Many of us can sympathize with Jairus’s reaction.

Verse 36:

As soon as Jesus hears this he is ready to rebuke Jairus’s fear and to encourage him in his faith.

Don’t be afraid! Don’t walk in fear, don’t let your fear deceive you, don’t be overcome with fear.

Only Believe, this Greek word means simply to trust, to believe.

What are you facing in life?

Do You Believe? Do You Trust?

What Chaos is our world facing?

Are we trusting God?

What difficulties is our church facing?

Are we trusting God to see us through?

We need to walk in faith, true trust in the Lord. God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond what we can ask or even think. Ephesians 3:20.

Faith is vital, especially in the presence or with rampant opportunity to doubt and despair.

James 1:6, Hebrews 11:6.

Verse 37

Christ only allows those closest to him to go with him.

Possibly wanting only those who would believe to go with him.

Also wanting them to witness his power over even death. This was a moment that Christ was showing these three disciples specifically signs of his Deity and Messianic authority. These three Christ takes to several events specifically The Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9) and his Agony in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46).

2. Persist Despite Pessimism

Mark 5:38-40

Verse 38:

See the commotion by those in the room, they to had all but given up hope and were in deep despair over the girls death.

See here the mortal enemy of man, death. The consequence of sin and the judgement of God upon Adam. It is still being applied to humanity and Jesus has come to show himself the second Adam ready to defeat death, hell and the grave. (Genesis 2:17, 3:19, Romans 5:12,17, 1Corinthians 15:26, 45, 54-57, Revelation 1:18).

Verse 39:

Here Jesus comes in an questions why they are making such a commotion. He is trying to provoke them out of their despair to also believe. These those seem more concerned with their pain, focused on the loss they merely mourn the loss. They are content believe what they preceive as reality rather than being moved to faith.

Jesus is saying that the girl is sleeping, making here an allusion to death Daniel 12:2.

Verse 40:

See the blindness of their hearts because of grief.

Yet too they were blind because of unbelief, show themselves to have a lack of faith.

Had they stayed they would have likely been hindered in his work, much like what happened in Nazareth, Mark 6:5. Yet here he would not be hindered therefore he puts them out who do not believe.

He takes with him Father, Mother, Peter, James and John. You must keep around you those who will believe with you.

Will you be hindered by others in Faith?

Will you be hindered by circumstances to Believe?

3. Power in Jesus's Promises

Mark 5:41-43

Verse 41:

With just a touch, Jesus literally pulls this girl from death to life!

Verse 42:

They were astonished, a fact that we would all share in their situation. But should they have been astonished, knowing who Jesus was?

Verse 43:

He charged them not to tell anyone. This is what we call the “Messianic Secret”. Several times Jesus tells people not make known who he is or what he has done. This was simply to insure that he fulfilled all that the Father intended before he revealed himself openly. He knew that when he revealed himself fully that he would suffer and die for the sins of all mankind, and the Father had a specific time, down to the hour , of when this would happen. (Matthew 8:4, 12:16-17, Mark 1:43-44, 7:36, 8:30).

Do You Believe?

Do You Trust Him Today?

Will You Trust Him Today?