Stumbling Faith - Mark 5:21-43

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Mark 5:21-43 Stumbling Faith 2019-10-13 Faltering faith is met with strong power to save In the day and age we live in, it seems that for something to catch our attention it must be quite spectacular. I think that, because of the internet, we learn of things we otherwise wouldn’t have. The flow of information is relentless, and so only those things most extreme seem to garner attention. For example, you might think you’re a pretty fast runner. Maybe you’re even a standout on your team. But come race day, when lots of others toe the line alongside of you, often you’ll find there are others faster. Even more, search the internet and you’ll start feeling really slow. You might think you’re good at mountain biking, right up until you see Red Bull Rampage or Danny Mackaskill. Maybe it’s music, or math, or any other number of things. Only those things that are at the most extreme seem to garner our attention. And so, those things not extreme are dismissed, unnoticed, or disregarded. Scripture Passage: Mark 5:21-43 I wonder if it’s the same with our faith. We might hear of extreme exercises of faith, and think that our small trial is insignificant. Or we may hear of great exploits of spectacular faith, and think that our faith is too small, fragile, or frail to be of any real worth. We learned a couple weeks ago in Mark’s gospel that faith, even small faith like a mustard seed, is real faith and productive faith. This morning we see two examples of this small seed faith. And rather than be encouraged to disregard these displays of faith, we learn to respect these displays of faith, and to likewise exercise similar faith. Faltering faith is met with strong power to save. A Seemingly Strong Faith (vv.21-24a) 1. vv.22-23 “Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly…” - We’ve seen a number of people come to Jesus so far in Mark’s gospel, but this man stands out because we’re told about his position in the community and we’re given his name. 1. Ruler of the synagogue - An elected position, one who was responsible for the worship gatherings in the local community. Also would’ve been in charge of the physical structure. A man of good standing and well-respected in the community; a man with great responsibility and a great deal of influence. 2. He fell at his feet and implored him earnestly. Not only is he imploring Jesus, but he is imploring earnestly. His daughter is near death. He wants nothing more than he wants her to be well. 3. This, so far, is a great example of faith. Jairus comes to Jesus, exercising his belief that Jesus can do what no others can. He’s humble, he’s begging, he’s pleading. 2. v.24a “And he went with him.” - Jairus was most likely a man who was accustomed to getting his way. Now his daughter is sick and it’s beyond his ability to help her, so he solicits the help of Jesus and Jesus responds positively. A Stumbling Faith (vv.24b-34) 1. vv.24b-25 “And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman…” 1. Leviticus 15:19-30 A woman with a flow of blood would have made her unclean. As such for 12 years, anywhere she laid or sat became unclean, and anyone who touched the place where she laid or sat also became unclean. 2. The physical suffering, losing blood continually over the course of 12 years. The social and psychological torment, being an outsider in her own community, treated differently. The financial strain she had endured for 12 years, paying all she had to doctors, down to every last dime and still being no better but rather growing worse. At this point there doesn’t seem to be much hope for a brighter tomorrow. 3. The solutions to this in the Talmud were carrying the ashes of an ostrich egg in a linen rag around one’s neck in summer and in a cotton rag in winter, or carrying barley corn from the dung of a white female donkey. 2. v.27 “She had heard reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.” This woman stands in stark contrast to Jairus. 1. We’re given his name, that he is one of a high position in society, that he approaches Jesus from the front and asks Jesus to come to his home. 2. She takes a very different approach to Jesus than the synagogue ruler did. We’re not given her name. She had been taught by society to stay away, to steer clear, that she was not only unclean but unwanted, unloved, untouchable, an outcast, an outsider, unwelcome. So it’s no surprise that she approaches Jesus from behind. There’s no invitation; her hope was to slip in and slip out unnoticed. 3. Why did she come to Jesus? Mark tells us she had heard reports about him. No doubt there were stories swirling around about this carpenter from Nazareth. One version of these stories was likely coming from the religious leaders who were set against Jesus (all the more remarkable that Jairus came imploring Jesus). But another version of these stories was the eyewitness accounts of those who had encounters with Jesus and were spreading his fame abroad. Those who were now expressing their faith in Jesus, so that others were encouraged to come to Jesus in faith. So much so that even this outcast woman heard and came in faith. 1. Who knows of Jesus’ power to save because of your spreading his fame? What has Jesus been doing in your life recently, and who else knows about it? Ephesians 1:15; Colossians 1:4; Philemon 5; Romans 1:8 All of these letters written to churches after Paul heard about their faith. 3. v.31 “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” - Jesus wanted more than to only heal the woman. He wasn’t going to let her go healed physically but still dying spiritually. He wanted to free her, to encourage her, to have her go in peace. He is no respecter of persons, and wasn’t going to dismiss this woman so he could address the need of the synagogue ruler. Jeremiah 9:23–24 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’” A Seemingly Strong Faith Proves to be a Struggling Faith (vv.35-43) 1. v.35 “While he was still speaking…” - Jesus is caught up in ministering to this woman, and while he is still ministering to her there is devastating news from Jairus’ home. His daughter has died. No need to trouble Jesus any further; it’s too late. 1. Do you feel the anxiety Jairus must have been experiencing as he stands beside while Jesus ministers to this woman? Jairus knows that time is short, that his daughter is near to death. But Jesus doesn’t seem to be in a hurry. And then the news comes. The child is lost. Dead. It’s too late. 2. v.36 “But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’” I don’t know if Jairus was unable to speak at this point, but I love the fact that Jesus is the first one to speak. Jesus overhears these words being spoken and is immediately present with Jairus to comfort and encourage him. I’m sure that Jesus knew the heart of Jairus and knew what he would tend to in this moment. To be stricken with grief and dominated by fear. Do not fear. Believe. Allow your faith to displace your fear rather than fear directing your faith. Fear directing your faith would mean you give up and go home and join in lamentation. Maybe it’s physical healing; maybe it’s spiritual salvation. Faith displacing your fear means you stay by Jesus’ side and let him finish the work he has started, even if it doesn’t match your plan or follow your timeline. Martin Luther’s daughter Magdalena died from the plague around 14 years of age. As her coffin was being nailed down Luther screamed out, “Hammer away! On doomsday she’ll rise again.” That is faith displacing fear. 3. v.38 “They came to the house of the ruler…” - Jesus didn’t heal from a distance, but was present with those hurting and those who were outcast. 1. People weeping and wailing loudly. It was typical for the family to hire professional mourners who would weep and wail and play instruments of lamentation. In fact, rabbis wrote that even the poorest family must hire at least two flute players and one female wailer. But Jairus wasn’t poor, so perhaps this was a much larger production. 4. v.39 “The child is not dead but sleeping.” - With this, Jesus is introducing a new way of thinking about death. 5. v.40 “And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside…” - There were those around Jesus with a struggling faith, but those laughing, scoffing and scorning had no faith and so had no part in the miracle he would work. They are put outside. 6. v.41 “And taking her by the hand he said to her…” - Jesus shows this remarkable tenderness. He speaks these words to this girl, just as if he is gently waking her from sleep. 7. v.42 “And immediately the girl got up and began walking…” - Brought back to life and restored to good health, she rises and begins walking. A struggling faith is met by a powerful Savior. Conclusion: Is your faith something less than newsworthy? Is your faith small, such that it wouldn’t go viral online or garner the attention of a great throng? It doesn’t need to. Your faith only needs to be noticed by Jesus, the object of your faith, and he meets even faltering faith with strong power to save. What trouble or burden or trial or need do you have today? Bring it to Jesus, and let your faith displace fear. y l i m Fa Table Talk October 13, 2019 GOD’S TRUTH Faltering faith is met with strong power! Family Discussion & Bible Searching 1. Faith- it’s likely a familiar word. But what does it mean? How important is it to exercise your faith? Read the following Scriptures and discuss these questions. Hebrews 11:1, 6; Romans 4:13-25 2. How is your faith seen and heard in your life? What might others know about God because of the words and the actions of your faith? Read the following Scripture to know how important this is. Romans 10:9-17 Key Verse “But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, ”Do not fear, only believe.” Mark 5:36 3. How does God’s Word encourage and compel you in your faith? What should you do? Discuss as a family how you might make your faith seen and heard to the people has in your life. Pray for one another in this! Be blessed by God’s mercy, grace and faithfulness! May the following passage be a grateful reminder of our loving God and His great power to save us! Ephesians 2:4-10 Scripture Memory: Exodus 20:7 “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” - Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (ESV)
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