Reflections on the Resurrection-2

The Resurrection Power of Jesus Not Only Raises the Dead — It Heals!

Jesus is the Lord of Resurrection power:

Romans 1:4 (NASB95) [tells us Jesus… ] … was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, …

Oh that we would know the truth of Ephesians 1:19–23 (NASB95) [that speaks of … the working of the strength of [God’s] might 20 which [the Father] brought about in Christ, when He raised [Jesus] from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And [God the Father has] put all things in subjection under [Jesus, Messiah’s] feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

So remember…

As Romans 8:11–14 (NLT) [says. If… ] The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. 12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

THAT is the difference resurrection power makes in our lives!

The RESURRECTION power we saw last week in Ezekiel 37 that can:

Put scattered pieces back to together again.

That can breathe new life into things you may have thought long-dead — hopes, dreams — the purposes of God.

It is the resurrection power that opens our graves and enables us to walk out — alive in the resurrection power of God.

That gives us a place — a place in the Presence and glory of Jesus.

That tells us, and all the world, that we serve a powerful, death-defeating Lord.

The resurrection power that we see THIS week is a HEALING power.

Let’s read our text this morning…

Mark 5:21–42 (NASB95) When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. 22 One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet 23 and implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.” 24 And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. 25 A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26 and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— 27 after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28 For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” 29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” 31 And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” 32 And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came 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 affliction.” 35 While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?” 36 But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” 37 And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. 39 And entering in, He said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.” 40 They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. 41 Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded.

Jairus's Desperately Bold Approach

Mark 5:21–24

As we look at this passage we see Jesus arriving by boat.

He has just cast a legion of demons out of a man on the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

And as He steps out of the boat we see Him immediately confronted by a desperate man — a desperate father.

We know this man, Jairus, is desperate because he is a man of position — he is a leader in the local synagogue.

No doubt a man of wealth.

Such a man was risking his reputation running to Jesus.

Thank God for men and women who are willing to throw their reputation on the garbage heap to receive a miracle from Jesus.

This man falls at Jesus’ feet and says: “ [Please Jesus!] … My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.”

This man, Jairius, BELIEVES Jesus has the power to make a difference in his sick daughter’s life.

And Jesus or His disciples don’t shoo him away —Jesus is accessible to Jairus.

Jesus is accessible to us.

No matter what our need.

No matter what our position in society.

Jesus is not only accessible — He is willing and ready to meet Jairus’ need.

And ours!

This man hasn’t seen it yet, but he will…

He will see that Jesus has resurrection power that can not only heal the sick, but raise the dead back to life.

A Woman's Courageous Touch

Mark 5:25-34

Even as Jesus begins to go with Jairus to his house, a crowd surrounds and throngs Jesus.

And in this crowd is a demonstration of Jesus’ resurrection power.

Not just a demonstration — a flesh and blood woman in need.

She has suffered for years.

She has suffered with this illness for the same number of years that Jairus’ daughter has been alive — 12 years.

I’m sure there are others out there who understand what this woman was dealing with.

Like her, you have suffered a long time.

Like her you’ve seen the cycle — LIVED the cycle that Joni Earickson Tada described in her book, Joni:

Tada cycle

So, likewise this woman was struggling.

12 years is a long time to be sick and pray for a miracle.

But as Jesus passed by faith had again arisen — faith to believe for healing — faith that would BREAK the cycle of discouragement.

Woman healed

Faith to press through the crowds even though they would hate her for being unclean and contaminating them.

Faith that overcame the fears she surely felt as she pressed in for what doctors were incapable of delivering.

Faith that if she but touched the hem of His garment she would be healed by the resurrection power resident in Him.

Resurrection power that not only raises the dead, as we see in the last part of our passage, but resurrection power that heals the sick.

I pray this morning that reading the account of resurrection power to bring healing encourages US to break the cycle of doubt and discouragement.

No matter what you are struggling with, Jesus fulfills the promise of

Malachi 4:2 (NASB95) “But for you who fear My name, the sun[SON!] of righteousness will rise with healing in[His] wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.

So may we, like this woman of old, take a RISK of faith and believe God to heal our bodies, our finances, our relationships, our brokenness.

Jesus' Immediate Response

Mark 5:30–34

After touching Jesus’ garment, resurrection power to heal flows into this woman’s body.

And Jesus KNOWS what has happened!

Vs. 30 says: “Immediately Jesus, perceived in Himself that … power proceeding from Him had gone forth”

Rather than being angry, Jesus certainly puts His seal of approval on what this woman did.

Here and many other places we see Jesus revealed as a PERSONAL God who values PERSONAL interactions.

This account and others tells us that Jesus notices sincere acts of faith —ACTS of faith.

Once He had revealed her, Jesus calls this woman “daughter” and pronounces a blessing on her — “go in peace and in healing.”

Doubt Dispelled — Death Defeated

Mark 5:35-42

Finished with the woman that had delayed Him for a few minutes, Jesus hears a devastating message delivered to Jairus in vs. 35…

“Don’t bother Jesus any more. Your daughter is dead.”

But Jesus immediately speaks in to Jairus’ doubt telling him in vs. 36: “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.”

Gathering His closest disciples, Peter, James and John, Jesus goes on to Jairus’ house.

Jesus is not ignorant of what the people are feeling and expressing.

Vs.38 He saw a commotion…

As Jesus confronts the response to the girl’s death, isn’t it interesting how fast their wailing turns to laughter and jeering.

Jesus’ response was to remove those determined to doubt God’s power.

He then goes to where the girl is and says… (Vs.41)

Vs. 42 tells us…

By raising Jairus’ daughter, Jesus exhibits His ultimate authority over life and death, reflecting the promise of eternal life through Him.

Through this miracle, we are challenged to trust in Christ's power to bring life to dead areas of our existence, renewing our hope and faith.

Last weekend Nathan, Paul and I went to the GA Men’s conference where the worship team led us to sing a song called, I Know A Name

Some of the lyrics in that song speak to what I am saying this morning. Lyrics that declare:

Something comes out of the grave Every time I call Your name

And

Dead things come alive in the name of Jesus

So let’s invite His restoring, resurrection power into OUR lives, embodying the belief that no situation is beyond His miraculous intervention.

The implication in this passage is profound:

We are encouraged to maintain our faith even in the direst circumstances.

We are challenged to trust Jesus in our deepest fears, believing in His resurrection power that transforms our lives.

What About Your Life?

Are you ready to be like the woman in our passage?

Press in a receive your miracle today.

Are you willing to lay aside fear and doubt ?

The world says, “It’s hopeless! Stop bothering Jesus!”

If the Holy Spirit has stirred faith for a miracle in your situation, raise your hands and receive it this morning.

The Lord’s Supper

Could someone call the children who wish to partake of the Lord’s Supper?

Recently, Sister Madeline Rivera encouraged us to have audacious faith.

The scripture this morning also encourages us to have an audacious faith.

The Lord’s Supper, which we will share together in a few minutes, is an opportunity to express corporate audacious faith.

Jesus!

We believe you are the Lord of Resurrection, Healing Power — because You went to the Cross and died for us.

You not only died — You rose again — defeating death, hell and the grave.

Preparation

Before we partake of the Supper together, we need to prepare our hearts.

1 Corinthians 11:27–31 (NLT) So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way.

Faith says that through prayers of repentance and confession I can be made worthy to partake of the Lord’s Supper.

That as says 1 John 1:9 “9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Prayer

Distribute Elements

Becky Gill is coming to serve us the Bread.

As the worship team comes and receives the elements…

You don’t have to be a member to partake.

Receive the symbols of the Lord’s Supper and hold them until we all partake at the same time.

Could we stand together across the front of the sanctuary?

As you come a receive the elements of the Lord’s Supper, let’s sing the little girl’s testimony — He touched me.

Let’s sing about the woman touching Jesus and in turn being touched by His resurrection power.

Song: He Touched Me

Bread

Audacious faith says that the stripes laid of the Body of Jesus — portrayed through this bread we use for the Lord’s Supper this morning — audacious faith says those stripes paid for the miraculous healing of our bodies.

1 Peter 2:24b (NASB95) … for by His wounds you were healed.

Therefore we partake of this bread …

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 (NLT) For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Prayer over Bread (Joe King or Barry Wagner)

End prayer with prayer from Seder:

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Cup

Audacious faith says that the shed Blood of Jesus is sufficient for our salvation.

WE BELIEVE Hebrews 9:11–14 (NLT) … Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. 12 With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. 13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. 14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

1 Corinthians 11:25 (NLT) In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”

Prayer over cup (Sister Michelle)

End prayer with prayer from Seder:

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

He’s Coming Again

Audacious faith says that Jesus is coming again.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (NLT) For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

James 5:7–8 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, [have audacious faith that believes that] … the coming of the Lord is near.

Chorus: The King is Coming