A Simple Solution

Introduction

Complex problems with no simple solution

Luke 8:40–56 NIV

40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” 49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Intertwined stories

Sandwich

12 years of suffering + 12 year old dying

Different by Circumstance

Jairus

Prosperous

Ruler of the synagogue

A lay leader

Respected by the community

At the center of community life

Family man

Bold in his approach

Makes his way through the crowd

Falls at Jesus feet

Pleas with Jesus

Additional examples

Moses

Joshua

Paul

Nehemiah

The Woman

Poor

Mark 5:26 NIV

26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.

Isolated

Cautious and ashamed

Luke 8:47 NIV

47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.

Additional examples

David

Mary

Rahab

Jacob

Though Jairus and this woman are coming from the opposite extremes of society they are united by two characteristics

United in Hopelessness

Jairus

Leaves his daughter when she is at death’s door in a last ditch attempt to save her

Humbles himself before Jesus (fell at his feet)

Interrupted

It seems that he has been successful, but Jesus gets held up by the woman

The Woman

Has exhausted all medical options

Enters the crowd

She is a contaminant in the crowd

She has shame

Even after healing her desire is to remain hidden

Application

Do you recognize just how hopeless you are?

Never are men’s hearts in such a hopeless condition as when they are not sensible of their own sins.

J. C. Ryle

Hopelessness is the starting point of deliverance

United by the Savior

Through Faith

Luke 8:48 NIV

48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

The difference between bumping into Jesus and being healed is the faith with which she approaches

Luke 8:50 NIV

50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

Is there anything more fearsome than the news that your daughter has died

Yet Jesus call is to belief

Faith is demonstrated by coming to him

By Jesus

The woman has faith, the man is called to believe, but Jesus is the one who saves.

Faith is dependence on Christ rather than on ourselves, but our works driven hearts can turn even faith into a work

Religious OCD

We can obsess on the quality of our faith and forget the object of our faith

The passover story of Salmon and Hezron (from D.A. Carson, “The Ground of Our Assurance”)

God knows we have nothing of ourselves, therefore in the covenant of grace he requires no more than he gives, but gives what he requires, and accepts what he gives. (Sibbes)

Come to Jesus