DESPERATE FAITH (2)

MARK 5:21-43

(READ) MARK 5:21-43)

On September 21, 2009 I found myself in desperate need

In January of 2016, I again found myself desperate and hopeless, this time in need of Jesus

Broken and stuck in addiction

Empty and with no strength to fight

Desperate and hopeless, having nothing to lose…I cried out to Jesus

(ASK) Have you ever been desperate before? Are you desperate tonight?

Are you desperate for real change in your life?

Are you desperate to see the chains of your addictions broken

Are you desperate to see your marriage restored?

Are you desperate to know and experience what real and true love is?

Are you desperate to find an identity, worth, and a value, b/c everything else you’ve turned to has let you down?

Has living for the passing pleasures of this world, left you hopeless and helpless?

Have you tried anything and everything to find peace, hope, and healing…only to find yourself more desperate and broken?

————

I. DESPERATE FAITH STEPS OUT OF THE CROWD

Mark 5:21 “And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea.”

Who made up the crowd? (“The multitude” The Bible refers to these people as the common people)

The “curious”—those who were drawn to Jesus’ teachings, healings, and miracles

The “skeptics”—those who were curious about Jesus, but kept their distance from Him b/c they just weren’t sure

The “fans”—those who were enamored by His miracles/healing/and teachings, who would never go beyond just being “fans”

The “opposers”—those who stood opposed to Him and who ridiculed Him

The disciples—those Jesus had commissioned to follow Him

The Bible is going to teach us that there were two people who stepped out of the crowd on this day

Jairus

Ruler of the synagogue—he had wealth, status, and a reputation; he was educated, respected, and religious

Had an only daughter (a “little girl”) who was 12 years old; she was sick “to the point of death”—it wasn’t a matter of “if” she would die, but “when”

Was desperate—his little girl was about to die and there was nothing he could do about it

A man who, “had it all and had everything to lose,” would come and in desperate faith, fall at the feet of Jesus, expecting that Jesus would heal his daughter

The woman (v27)

Bleeding for 12 years; some suggest was a hemorrhage disorder

Had spent all she had, was getting taken advantage of which wasn’t getting any better, but was growing worse (HIT ON THIS)Spending all she had—but nothing worked; being taken advantage taken advantage of

Knew nothing but rejection, humiliation, and abandonment

A woman who “had lost everything and had nothing to lose,” would come, and in desperate faith—touch the hem of Jesus’ robe, believing in some way she would be healed

***Warren Weirbe:

(APPLICATION—YOU AND ME)

Are you just part of the crowd?

Are you curious when you should be committed?

Are you “skeptic” when you need to be surrendered?

Are you a fan, when you should be a follower?

Fans sit back and just watch

Fans take the blessings, but neglect the surrender

Fans sit on the front row, but won’t go to the altar

Fans show up on Sundays but disappear on Mondays

Fans are content to be part of the crowd, but won’t step out from the crowd

Are you desperate enough to step out from the crowd

To count the cost of having it all together as rubbish to step out from the crowd and lay your life at the foot of the cross?

Philippians 3:7–8 “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”

Luke 9:23–24 “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

II. DESPERATE FAITH RECOGNIZES AND RESPONDS TO THE GOSPEL (or steps out to Jesus)

(JAIRUS) Mark 5:22(b)–23 “…and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.””

Jairus “saw” Jesus—this is defined as perception and awareness, but it implies knowledge/understanding beyond physical sight

Jairus recognized Jesus—and in desperate faith, counted the cost and went to Jesus; (remember rulers like Jairus were actively and violently opposed to Jesus, they publicly expressed their opposition

By coming to Jesus, Jairus risked of

Hostility being turned on him

Being censored and shut out from his peers

Losing his position and profession

By coming to Jesus, we see that Jairus was no longer concerned with any of that and believed

Life was too important-especially the life of his only daughter

None of what he knew was helping;

None of his religious rule keeping and law-keeping were helping;

All of what he thought and believed was failing to save his daughter’s life.

Note that Jairus himself went

But Jairus counted it all as “rubbish” compared to the life of his little girl

It’s your sin, it’s your struggle, it’s circumstance and your heart—people can pray for you, talk with you, encourage you—but you are responsible for seeking Jesus for your healing—it’s not the responsibility of anyone else

Jairus went to Jesus

In humility: (note again v.22) Jairus—despite his own position and authority, willingly

Acknowledged Jesus’ authority

Acknowledged his dependency on Jesus

Pleading, which means to call to one’s side for help, to entreat, to plead, to beg

Expectantly

Note the words of Jairus, “Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed.” Jairus

Had an expectation/certainty/confidence Jesus could save his daughter.

Jairus went to Jesus despite

His status, wealth, works, and religion, b/c none of it was able to save his daughter’s life

(The woman) Mark 5:27–28 “She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.””

This woman came to Jesus

III. DESPERATE FAITH CHOOSES FAITH OVER FEAR

Mark 5:32–33 “And he looked around to see who had done it. 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.”

Mark 5:35–36 “While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.””

IV. DESPERATE FAITH WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE

Mark 5:34 “And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.””

Mark 5:41 “Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.””

Tonight’s message is the story of two people—both in desperate need. One is desperate to see the life of his little girl saved and spared from a fatal illness. The other is a woman in desperate need of healing herself; in desperate need of being freed from being cast out and taken advantage of.

Tonight’s message is the story of two people—who both chose to faith in the middle of their fears

Tonight’s message is the story of two people—who heard, went, and trusted in the truth of Jesus Christ

Tonight’s message is a message for every person here; that we would allow the Bible to be a mirror; to examine ourselves; to see our desperate need of Jesus; to see our desperate need—in the middle of our fears, to surrender—some for salvation and some for restoration