Only Believe

Opening Prayer (Thanksgiving & Adoration)

Read Mark 5:35-43

Mark 5:35–43 LSB

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 had been spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid, only believe.” 37 And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 And they came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly crying and wailing. 39 And entering in, He said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and crying? The child has not died, but is asleep.” 40 And 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 And taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”). 42 And immediately the little girl stood up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. 43 And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that some food should be given to her to eat.

In this biblical account from Mark 5:35-43, we witness Jesus stepping into Jairus’s world at a moment of unimaginable grief. When Jairus is told his daughter has died, his heart must have sunk, feeling utterly helpless. But then comes the voice of Jesus, urging him to not fear but to believe. This narrative is a powerful reminder of how Jesus meets us in our pain, challenging us to hold onto faith. Just when we think it’s over, God often has a new beginning.

Key Question: Do I Allow Fear to Cast a Shadow Over the Faith in Me?

I. What Good is a Teacher in the Face of Death? (v. 35-36)

Both Jairus and the poor woman found the answers to their needs at the feet of Jesus (Mark 5:22 and 33)

Warren W. Wiersbe

The crowd sees the work of Jesus from a passive stance, as the woman convinced by the Holy Spirit, acts out of deep faith and is delivered from her pain and suffering.

Now from Jairus’ home the unwanted news arrive, the little girl has died and there is no need to bother a teacher when death has laughed last. Here Jesus is met with a deep sense of Sarcasm founded on disbelief.

Sarcasm is the weapon of a weak, spiteful nature, its literal meaning is to tear the flesh from the bone. The antipodes of sarcasm is irony—conveying your meaning by saying the opposite; irony is frequently used by the prophets.

Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)

II. What is My Point of View Regarding Death? (v. 37-39)

Here John Mark is making use of thematic device in writing, as he conveys a seclusion of the crowd and the disciples to only allow the “inner circle” into the scene of a miracle. Only Peter, John, and James are allowed to follow. They are the ones who join Jesus for the Transfiguration and in Gethsemane. They are present when a significant event takes place.

Because the family and those around them are in the weeds of suffering, the customary grieving process is started. At this time in history, professional mourners would be hired to come and lament the death of a member of the family. The bare minimum, for a poor person, would be One wailer and two flute players. Imagine the commotion for the daughter of a ruler of the Synagogue?

Jesus uses language that is used in the OT to refer to death. Here, we are given a glimpse into the crowd’s spiritual blindness, as well as the apathy of the professional mourners. BUT GOD is showing us the presence of an eternal view of death for those who place their faith in God alone.

Fear appears to be casting a shadow to great for a teacher to dispel away. Thankfully, Jairus and his family are dealing with more than a teacher.

III. Tender Grace Outmaneuvers Death. (v. 40-41)

The family present, the members of the community, and the professional mourners laugh at Jesus because they understand with their limited humanity that death is an enemy far to strong for broken humanity to face and overcome.

Jesus does something that is appalling, casting out everyone but Jairus, his wife, Peter, James, and John. Here we see the shift from a large crowd, to a large contingent of people, to a handful of people who will see the death-defeating power of God. Do we shrug in fear before the world, or do we stand firmly by faith, given as a bold gift by God?

Notice the way Jesus calls for the little girl. The translation would sound like this, “Little Lamb, Arise.” Hear the tender call of a LORD whose very words can give life to dead bones. Hear the words of a God who tenderly and soflty calls over the din of the world in its broken hurry and detachment from uncomfortable events.

Hear the Word of a Timeless Hymn:

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me; see, on the portals he's waiting and watching, watching for you and for me.

IV. God Works for His Glory and Our Good. (v. 42-43)

We must remember that Jesus is acting out of his divine rule. He is not bound by anything other than the will of the Godhead to act in the world. This miracle, as any of the others are first and foremost for the Glory of the Father and the Holy Spirit.

When God is at work death is stopped dead on its tracks. We see the power of someone who is greater still than a moral leader, a good teacher, or a sanctified religious leader. Here, in the unfolding of circumstances, we see Jesus challenging Jairus to have faith for far more—for life itself.

But now Christ challenged Jairus not to believe him for a healing, but for a resurrection! This is a radical call and a radical development of Jairus’ faith.

R. Kent Hughes

Key Question: Do I Allow Fear to Cast a Shadow Over the Faith in Me?

Invitation: Do I Live in Fear or do I Live by Faith?

Repent: Confess your sinful heart before God Almighty and Plead with Him to give you new life. Bend the knee and confess Jesus Christ as the LORD, King, and Savior of your life.

Surrender: If you have wandered away from God’s Word, His Mercy, Steadfast Love, and Grace simply make your plea to God for forgiveness and surrender anew to Him.

Are you walking as an orphan: Join yourself to a family of faith where the Men lead, the Gospel is proclaimed, and the whole church finds means to serve one another and the community.

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Petition.