BELIEVE

Tonight we are going to be in

How many of you in here have your own cell phone? How many of you WANT one?

I got my first cell phone when I was 18. It was prepaid and you could only talk for as many minutes as you paid for. The few friends that I had who also had cell phones usually had to turn their phones off until 7pm each day. Anyone know why? Because nights and weekends were free. They didn’t count against your plan. If you went over your plan you had to pay extra.

Now, keep in mind, these phones had very limited capability. You could call, text, and some had mobile email...but not many.

Now, keep in mind, these phones had very limited capability. You could call, text, and some had mobile email...but not many.

[PICTURES OF OLD CELL PHONES RAMPING UP TO CURRENT IPHONES]

Cell phones have come a long way…for many they have replaced computers!

My problem is that I really don’t like my phone anymore. It’s an iPhone 6s and apple has released 5 new lines of phone since mine came out. My phone is old and familiar. It doesn’t have any of the newest bells or whistles. Now if you handed me the first cell phone I ever had and made me use that for a month I would gladly take my iPhone back! But as it is, I’m just sort of bored with what my iPhone can do.

Tonight we are continuing our study of Mark.

Mark starts - “The beginning of the Gospel”

Jesus first words- “The time has come, repent and believe”

Jesus first words- “The time has come, repent and believe”

Jesus calls - “follow me and become like me, I’ll make you fishers of people in a world of calamity”

My context from last week!

Jesus shows - “power demonstrated of the inbreaking kingdom. Demons, Mothers, and Lepors”

Jesus explains - that our real problem is sin “Man of a mat with a desperate faith. The most fundamental problem is the one of sin”

Jesus calls - “follow me and become like me, I’ll make you fishers of people in a world of calamity”

Jesus loves - people who don’t deserve it...just like you and me. Our response should be to love people who me may feel like they don’t deserve it.

The book of Mark was written in a time when Christians were facing high levels of stress. Through two parallel stories, Mark gives the remedy for dealing with the stressful times in our lives.

Last week we talked about JESUS ENCOURAGES us to turn to him when we have difficult, stressful times in our lives The book of Mark was written in a time when Christians were facing high levels of stress. Through two parallel stories, Mark gives the remedy for dealing with the stressful times in our lives.

Jesus shows - “power demonstrated of the inbreaking kingdom. Demons, Mothers, and Lepors”

My context from last week!

The book of Mark was written in a time when Christians were facing high levels of stress. Through two parallel stories, Mark gives the remedy for dealing with the stressful times in our lives.

Jesus explains - that our real problem is sin “Man of a mat with a desperate faith. The most fundamental problem is the one of sin”

Jesus loves - people who don’t deserve it...just like you and me. Our response should be to love people who me may feel like they don’t deserve it.

Last week we talked about...

Tonight we are looking at 3 episodes from . We are going to see how your view of Jesus and how you interact with Him can determine how active He is in your life.

We are going to see 3 responses to Jesus and who gets healed and who doesn’t.

Mark 5:21–6:6 NIV

21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 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. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. 1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.

I. Jarius is important, he is no regular dude...

A. he was among the same group that wanted Jesus dead a few weeks ago. Not saying he wanted Jesus dead, the text doesn’t tell us that. But he was associated with those who wanted Jesus dead...

B. Now I’m not saying he wanted Jesus dead, the text doesn’t tell us that. But he was associated with those who wanted Jesus dead...To fall at the feet of Jesus and beg was humiliating to say the least. Would he have done that if he didn’t really believe that Jesus was capable of doing something. He took a risk by going to Jesus.

B. To fall at the feet of Jesus and beg was humiliating to say the least.

C. Would he have done that if he didn’t really believe that Jesus was capable of doing something. He took a risk by going to Jesus.

II. The women with bleeding...

A. was an outcast. She was unclean, not allowed to worship in the synagogue, any person she touched became unclean immediately, if she was ever married she was more than likely divorced by this point.

A. was an outcast. She was unclean, not allowed to worship in the synagogue, any person she touched became unclean immediately, if she was ever married she was more than likely divorced by this point.

B. I’d say she was hopeless at this point.

C. She obviously had heard about Jesus and she had one last hope, that He could do what no one else had been able to do...heal her.

III. Their stories intersect… A man who everyone would have respected, noticed and maybe even wanted to be him and a women who nobody would want to be, most people would say she has little to no value to society. But they both seek Jesus. Further evidence that Jesus is for everyone!

A. Jarius got their first, he was more important, male, religious elite but Jesus waits.

B. The women was unclean, unwelcome, unwanted, and thought she could go unnoticed. She reaches out in faith and touches Jesus’ robe.

C. He noticed. And He stopped, makes the important guy wait, and asks who touched Him in a large crowd of people. His disciples are like, duh, everyone touched you Jesus...can we get on to the rich guy, people will see us in action and we’ll get more attention that way. But He waits.

D. Why do you think she was afraid (vs 33)? Because she knows that she just made this Rabbi unclean. You can’t be touched by a bleeding woman and still be clean.

a) Jesus wants to emphasize to her that it wasn’t just His power that healed her. It was His power through faith that healed her. She said it herself, if I could just touch His robe, I could be healed. (vs 34)

b) He is a personal God and wants her to see His face and experience the kindness of another person, because she probably hadn’t since she was a girl.

E. Jesus waits too long and the little girl dies. (vs 35)

a) Why? It’s like when older people are cured of cancer but a 5 year old dies...why?

b) For Jarius. Notice what Jesus says to him… (vs 36) it’s like He is saying don’t lose hope Jarius, hold on a little longer. I wonder if He is testing Jarius, does he really believe that Jesus can save his daughter?

c) Jesus says to stop mourning they laugh at Him. He takes the girl by hand and tells her to get up...and she does. (vs 39-41)

d) Again making Himself ceremonially unclean. I think it’s obvious at this point that Jesus doesn’t really care about ceremony or outward appearances, He is much more concerned with people.

IV. In His own backyard… (vs 1-6)

A. The crowds in Nazareth are amazed by His teaching, but they just think He is crazy, He is too far out there, He is just wants to make Himself look important.

a) As a result, very few people actually believe in Him and He doesn’t force Himself on them, He makes Himself available but they reject Him...

b) He heals a few people and walks away shanking His head at the people. It almost seems that only the desperately sick actually sought Jesus.

c) I have to pause here: passages like this are sometimes distorted to preach a ‘prosperity gospel’, Jesus is on His agenda and schedule not yours or mine. We can’t force Him to do anything. We can respond when He moves. Sometimes the healing doesn’t come no matter how hard you believe, but when He doesn’t heal us physically He gives us the strength to endure. His grace is sufficient in our weakness…and remember the His ultimate purpose is to beat death, so if you’re in Christ, you’ve already been healed of your greatest sickness…sin.

B. The comfortable and secure had no need for Him. It puts the whole passage in perspective. Why does God allow suffering and pain? Maybe it’s to get our attention. Maybe it’s because otherwise we’d be ok on our own...and He loves us too much to let us go without a fight.

a) Why does God allow suffering and pain? Maybe it’s to get our attention. Maybe it’s because otherwise we’d be ok on our own...and He loves us too much to let us go without a fight.

C. Why doesn’t He just force us to believe in Him? Unforced hugs are better. (story about my kids)

SUMMARY: 3 RESPONSES TO JESUS: I NEED YOU, SOMEONE I LOVE NEEDS YOU, I DON’T NEED YOU.

I NEED YOU

The women with the bleeding had a desperate need. She was unclean and an outcast. She hoped that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus’ robe that she could be healed. She needed Jesus and she sought Him out and when she found Him, He received her and would not let her get away with getting what she wanted and walking away unnoticed

SOMEONE I LOVE NEEDS YOU

Jarius’ daughter is very sick, he is desperate and realizes that hope is running out and maybe if he can get this Jesus character in his daughters life, she will be healed (friends, parents, relationship, etc.)

I DON’T NEED YOU

Jesus goes to His hometown, and they are familiar with Him. They know Him really well. They even liked Him. But they were so familiar with Him they felt like they didn’t need Him. He was just part of life where they were. They grew up around Jesu, heard His Name all the time, maybe even had a causal relationship with Him...but they never put their faith in Him.

Jesus goes to His hometown, and they are familiar with Him. They know Him really well. They even liked Him. But they were so familiar with Him they felt like they didn’t need Him. He was just part of life where they were. They grew up around Jesus, heard His Name all the time, maybe even had a causal relationship with Him...but they never put their faith in Him.

Conclusion/re-image:

I’m afraid for many of us, especially in America, we are really comfortable with Jesus. We grew up around Jesus, we hear His Name all the time, and we maybe even have a casual relationship with Him (Jesus is my homeboy)...but never take the step of actually placing our faith in Him. What a tragedy. To be so familiar with Jesus that we never have faith in Him.

And maybe you do have a relationship with Jesus but it’s grown stale. Much like my phone, I have seen what it can do and I’m bored with it now. I want the newer version, I want to add something to it, it’s not as cool as it used to be.

That is exactly what happens when we see Jesus as a commodity and not the Christ, savior of the world. When we see Jesus as someone who can get me lots of stuff or make me feel better, we get sick of Him and want something new or more fun. That is because we aren’t experiencing the real Jesus. When we dive in and really let Him change us from the inside out He becomes someone we can’t live without.

We need Jesus. Agree or disagree? Why?

We sometimes act like we don’t need Jesus. Agree or disagree? Why?

How can we help our friends/family know Jesus or know Him better?