Reach for Jesus (2)

Title: “Reach for Jesus: The Peace You’ve Been Looking For”

Text: Mark 5:25–34 (CSB)

Mark 5:25–34 CSB

25 Now a woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years 26 had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse. 27 Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothing. 28 For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I’ll be made well.” 29 Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 Immediately Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 His disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing against you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But he was looking around to see who had done this. 33 The woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed from your affliction.”

INTRO (2–3 minutes)

Let me ask you something:

Have you ever just felt overwhelmed?

Like you’ve got…

School

Practice

Tests

Family drama

Expectations

And stuff going on in your own head you can’t even explain?

Have someone come up and hold weight for a long period of time, that explains us

And sometimes we wonder, Where’s Jesus in all of this? Does He care that I’m stressed? That I’m anxious? That I’m falling apart inside even if I look okay outside?

Let me tell you a story from the Bible of someone who felt a lot like that—and found peace in the middle of her storm.

READ: MARK 5:25–34 (CSB)

(Read it out loud or assign a student volunteer to read.)

BIG IDEA:

When life gets heavy, Jesus isn’t far away—He’s closer than you think. And when you reach out to Him, He gives peace that nobody else can.

POINT 1: SHE WAS TIRED, BROKEN, AND OUT OF OPTIONS (5–6 minutes)

Let’s talk about this woman for a second.

What were some of the things this woman tried to do to be healed?

What are some things we tend to go to for healing in our world today?

She had been sick for 12 years. Not 12 days. 12 years of pain, embarrassment, isolation, and disappointment.

She had tried everything. Doctors. Remedies. Spent all her money.

Nothing worked.

Some of y’all feel like that spiritually or emotionally.

You’ve tried things to feel better—

You’ve faked a smile.

You’ve stayed busy.

You’ve tried fitting in, scrolling on social media, pushing stuff down…

But the stress is still there. The pain is still there. The pressure? Still crushing you.

This woman in the Bible gets it. She had nothing left. And maybe you feel that way too.

Here’s the good news: Her lowest point was the moment Jesus showed up.

POINT 2: SHE REACHED FOR JESUS—EVEN WHEN IT WAS HARD (5–6 minutes)

Here’s what’s wild…

What are some ways you think we can reach for Jesus in our modern world?

She doesn’t even try to talk to Jesus face-to-face. She just thinks, “If I can just touch His clothes… that’s enough.”

There’s a huge crowd. Everyone’s pressing in on Him. But she doesn’t care how awkward it is. She doesn’t care what people think.

She just reaches.

Let me say this to you tonight: You don’t have to be perfect to reach for Jesus. You don’t have to have all the right words. You don’t have to fix your problems first.

You just have to want Him more than anything else.

When she touched Him, Scripture says she was immediately healed. That’s how powerful just one moment with Jesus can be.

POINT 3: JESUS NOTICES YOU—EVEN IN THE CROWD (5–6 minutes)

So imagine this moment.

Jesus feels power leave Him and stops everything. He says, “Who touched me?”

The disciples are like, “Jesus… everyone’s touching You. We’re in a mosh pit.”

But Jesus isn’t looking for just anybody. He’s looking for her.

And when He finds her, she’s scared. She thinks maybe she’s in trouble. But Jesus looks at her and says:

“Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Let that sink in. Jesus didn’t just want to heal her body. He wanted to heal her heart.

He calls her daughter. He gives her peace. He sees her when nobody else did.

And I want you to know this:

Jesus sees you. In your stress. In your sadness. In your overthinking. In your trying and failing and crying and hiding…

He sees you. And He stops for you.

APPLICATION: HOW DO YOU REACH FOR JESUS? (5–6 minutes)

So what does reaching for Jesus look like for you?

It doesn’t mean being perfect. It means being real.

Here’s how you can reach for Him this week:

1. Pray—Even if it’s messy. Say, “Jesus, I need You.” That’s it. That’s a powerful prayer.

2. Read one verse a day. Start small. Try a Psalm. Or read about Jesus in the book of Mark. One story at a time.

3. Talk to someone who knows Jesus. A leader, a friend. Don’t go through life alone. Reach out.

4. Worship through the chaos. Put on worship music in your room. Not to “feel better” but to remember who’s in control.

CLOSING: JESUS IS WORTH REACHING FOR (2–3 minutes)

Here’s what I need you to remember tonight:

Life is going to get heavy sometimes. School’s going to be hard. People will let you down. Anxiety will try to take over.

But Jesus?

He’s constant. He’s near. And He has peace you can’t find anywhere else.

So the next time your heart is racing, and your mind won’t slow down—don’t try to fix it all yourself.

Reach for Him.

He’s not far. He’s not busy. He’s not mad at you. He’s ready.