Jesus, the Great Physician

“Jesus, the Great Physician”

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In this chapter we are introduced to three people, who were incurable cases: first was the man in

V:26-39, who was demon possessed, and no one could help him. Then here in the verses we read we meet a woman who’s had an incurable disease for 12 years; and a 12-year-old girl who has died. Humanly speaking there was no help or hope for these three individuals. But when Jesus Christ the great physician shows up, everything changes! Jesus demonstrates that as the great physician he is Lord over demons, disease, and even death!

Jesus is man’s Savior, woman’s Savior and children’s Savior.

The great physician who has the power to heal both body and soul! In these two stories that are intertwined we see clearly the power of Jesus, and the importance of faith.

Jesus has delivered the demon possessed man then he has gotten in the boat and sailed back across the Sea of Galilee.

We are told in V:40-“when Jesus returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him”.

He is met by a great crowd of people; but in that crown are two individuals who experience the power and salvation of Jesus, because of their faith in him.

I want to share with you three facts about Jesus, the great physician that should lead you to place your faith in him, and experience his power and salvation.

Fact #1:

1. Jesus Responds to the Cry of the Desperate.

V:40-42.

We start with the story of Jairus, interrupted by the story of the suffering woman, and ending with the story of Jairus again. The purpose of this is to make a comparison.

Jairus-was the ruler of the synagogue, a man of social acceptance, status, wealth and position in society.

The woman-was unnamed, ceremonially unclean, an outcast of society, who was destitute.

A man with everything, a woman with nothing; two very different people; yet they are joined together by their desperate need for Jesus to do something for them, they could not do for themselves!

No matter who you are, what you have; you also have a need you cannot meet yourself!

A desperate need for forgiveness and salvation that can only come through the Lord Jesus Christ!

Jesus is the great physician who has the cure for whatever is wrong with you.

These two individuals recognize their desperate need; and their desperate need brought them to Jesus. V:41-“Behold there came a man named Jairus…

Luke says behold, look who’s coming to Jesus! A man of great prominence, Jairus the ruler of the synagogue. The book of Matthew tells us it was a synagogue in Capernaum, a synagogue that Jesus attended many times. He is a well-respected man in the community, the synagogue was the social and spiritual center of life in Jewish community.

It was not easy for Jairus to come to Jesus publicly and ask for help, the religious leaders who were opposed to Jesus would certainly not approve.

The things that Jesus taught had made them angry, and these same people were friends of Jarius. So coming to Jesus would hurt his reputation, status, and relationships.

But that didn’t matter to Jarius, his only daughter was at the point of death, and he was at the point of desperation! It was desperation that caused him to come to Jesus!

He had reached rock bottom; come to the end of his resources and that led him to Jesus!

Notice how he came to Jesus, V:41-“he fell down at Jesus feet…

He is a man of distinction, respect and social standing; yet he comes and falls at Jesus feet, demonstrating humility. He doesn’t care what anybody thinks about him, he is desperate; he has a need in his life that only Jesus can meet! Desperation often brings people to their knees before Jesus Christ. Facing the death of his daughter brought him to his knees. Sickness and crisis often drives us to our knees; causing us to realize how much we need Jesus.

What is it going to take in your life to get you to the place of desperation, to drive you to your knees, before the Lord?

He came humbly, he didn’t care what anybody thought about him, he didn’t care about getting his robe dirty, he didn’t care about offending the other synagogue rulers, and he didn’t care about embarrassing his wife. He forgets all that and falls on his face at Jesus feet.

Do you know why so many people never experience salvation, are miracles in their life and family? Because they are too full of pride, and too worried about what someone is going to think.. What difference does it make what somebody thinks about you? When you know that you’re not right with God! You know your heart is dirty, your marriage is in trouble; and you continue to put up a front, that’s foolish.

Are you desperate enough to come to Jesus today?

Humble yourself and come to Jesus today!

He comes humbly.

· He comes Earnestly.

V:41-“he fell down at Jesus feet, and begged him that he would come to his house”.

This was not some halfhearted request; he is on his face begging, pleading with Jesus to come to his house and healed his dying daughter. There are tears in his eyes, earnestness in his voice, and desperation on his face.

I don’t care how big and bad, macho and tough some man is. When his little girl is sick and dying, that man is broken, desperate, hurting and pleading with God to touch his baby. Every word and action shows this father’s deep love and concern for his little girl.

She was the sunshine in that home for 12 years, his only girl, and now she’s about to die, and his heart is broken. It’s a great blessing to have children, and when they are born you immediately become concerned about their health, and well-being.

Every parent in their right mind does all they can to protect, and provide for, their children.

· Make sure they have the best education possible.

· Make them go to school even when they whine.

· Make sure they eat right.

· Make sure they go to bed at night.

We must also make sure that we pray over there spiritual condition. Teach them about their Creator, their sinful heart, and their need for salvation that comes only through Jesus Christ. We need to be just as desperate in our prayers for the spiritual condition of our children as Jarius was for the physical condition of his daughter.

Jairus knew where to turn in his crisis and desperation, he came to Jesus feet, fell before Jesus humbly and earnestly asking Jesus to come to his house and healed his daughter.

Do you see him at Jesus feet, pleading with Jesus to come to his house? What a great example for us; bring you troubles, problems and difficulty to the feet of Jesus! Jairus had a huge need and he knew it, that's why he came to Jesus. The person, who feels no need for God will not come to God!

How does Jesus respond to the cries of the desperate? V:42-“but as he went the people thronged him”.

Jesus went with him, Jesus said to him I’ll be glad to go to your house to heal your daughter!

I can see Jairus get up, wipe the tears from his eyes and begin to make the journey with Jesus to his house. What a beautiful picture of how Jesus responds to people who come to him in desperate faith. What an encouraging message in this short statement!

Jesus responds to the cry of the desperate! When you come to Jesus, and humble your heart, and ask him in faith to meet the need in your heart Jesus will be on his way into your life to do something about that need.

Jesus was willing and available, and Jesus is available to you today!

Jesus was accessible to Jairus, and Jesus is accessible, available for you this morning.

You can bring your family crises to Jesus, you can bring your daughter or son or spouse to Jesus. You don't have to make an appointment with Jesus, get on his calendar, wear him down, and convince him to see you. Jesus is accessible to you today!

Jesus cared about Jairus’s family, and he cares about your family; the great physician is concerned about what concerns you.

There is a second fact about our great physician that should lead us to place our faith in him.

Fact #2:

2. Jesus Relieves the Pain of the Hurting.

V:43-48.

Barely had they started toward Jairus’s house when this woman with the blood disorder came in the crowd and touched Jesus garment. This caused Jesus to stop, and turn his attention on her; which delayed getting to Jairus’s house. Luke paints the picture of a great crowd of people thronging Jesus, the word there is to suffocate. You’ve been in crowds where you couldn’t move, because bodies were pressed against one another. That’s what it was like in that crowd that day.

In that crowd there is an individual who is desperate, hurting, and in need of the healing and salvation of Jesus.

Were told that she had a blood disorder, a bleeding problem for 12 years; don’t miss the fact that she has had her sickness the same amount of time that Jairus’s daughter had been alive.

And like Jairus she let her desperation lead her to Jesus. This woman knew that Jesus was the only one who could help her.

V:43-“And a woman having an issue of blood 12 years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any…

· She had a physical problem.

She had been to every doctor she could find, and had spent all her money trying to find a cure. This must have been tough for Dr. Luke to write down, that she spent all of her money on doctors and they couldn’t help her. Humanly speaking she was incurable; she was sick, weak, and broke, and this had been going on for 12 long years.

· She also had a social problem.

According to the Law of Moses in Leviticus, if a woman had a blood flow problem she was considered ceremonially unclean. She would not be allowed to enter the temple, or participate in public worship. She was not even allowed to touch other people, because if she did, they too would be defiled. This woman was cut off from all social interaction. She was an outcast, alienated from her family and friends. It had been 12 long years since anyone had hugged her.

During that time she had been careful not to touch anyone, or let anyone touch her. No wonder she had spent all her money trying to find a cure.

She had tried all the remedies that were given, taken all the medicine available, and kept numerous appointments, but no doctor could help her.

Did you know that every person is born with a blood problem?

We all have the sinful blood of Adam running through our veins; this sinful blood separates us from God, and causes us to do the things that we do. We are all born sinners with a wicked, lost, sinful heart, in need of salvation and forgiveness.

But where can you find a Doctor who can do spiritual surgery on your spiritual heart?

There are all kinds of “doctors” around claiming to have a cure for a sinful heart:

· Dr. Reformation.

Dr. Reformation says what you need to do is clean up your life, turn over a new leaf, and develop some new habits, and that will change your heart and condition before God. But salvation doesn’t come by subtraction; subtracting bad habits, sins from your life.

· Dr. Education.

Dr. Education says what you need is to learn about God, Jesus and the Bible. And when you learn Bible truths that will change your heart.

· Dr. Religion.

Dr. Religion says you need to join the church, and get baptized, and this will change your heart and give you spiritual life.

But just like this lady you can go to all these doctors and they cannot change your heart, forgive your sins, save your soul and give you spiritual life!

And people spend all their life, all their energy, all their money pursuing things they think will make them right with God, forgive their sins, remove the guilt, shame and condemnation that they feel; and give them a sense of purpose and satisfaction.

But there’s only one Dr. for the soul that can do all those things; and his name is Dr. Jesus!

Don’t spend another day nor another dollar in search of what only Jesus Christ can do for you!

Jairus and this woman were different in many ways, they stood at opposite ends of the social spectrum. But they both had problems that they were unable to solve for themselves. Today we are still powerless to deal with the sin problem, to stop suffering and death.

· Her condition:

This woman was diseased, destitute, and desperate!

· Her cure:

Where do you turn when you’ve tried everything and nothing helps? Are you desperate today?

Jesus is ready and waiting to save you, and help you! As these two people discovered!

And today Jesus is ready and waiting to save anyone who will come to him in faith, who will reach out and touch Him in faith.

V:44-Read.

Can you picture how this took place?

First she had faith in her heart that Jesus could heal her, because she had heard about Jesus healing others. So she comes with a measure of faith; believing that Jesus could heal her.

Not only did she trust Jesus, she reached out and touched Jesus. Her thinking was Jesus is so powerful, that if I could just touch the hem of his garment I know I’ll be made whole! So this woman, who is not even supposed to be around people; made her way through the crowd, the rejection, the rebukes, to get close enough to touch the tassel on Jesus garment. This was a bold desperate move on this lady’s part. I see her reaching out and touching his garment; and feeling the healing power of Jesus surge through her body.

· Jesus is Touchable!

She is “instantly” healed and she knows it! She feels it! What joy she must have experienced, she is healed, well for the first time in 12 years!

Jesus had healed her body just as He heals our soul when we place our faith in Him.

Throughout history, many, many people have come in close contact with Jesus; but have remained untouched by Him.

He knows the difference between the person who approaches Him out of mere religious curiosity, fleshly excitement, or a sense of adventure, and the one who comes to Him in genuine faith.

This ladies touch was a touch of genuine faith.

Jesus knew that power had gone out of him, so He ask, V:45-“who touched me?

This seems like a dumb question to Peter; Peter who was always putting his foot in his mouth. Peter said Master, the people are packed together and everybody’s touching everybody, what do you mean somebody touch me, a bunch of people are touching you.

But Jesus knew that someone had touched him with the hand of faith and experienced his miracle power! So he said again somebody touch me, I know that power has gone out of me and a miracle has happened here.

Jesus wasn’t asking for his own information, he knew the lady had touched him; he is drawing her out, so she could testify publicly of the miracle that had happened in her life.

Jesus was asking for the sake of the crowd, that they might hear the testimony of this woman, and for the benefit of this woman, so she could testify that she had been healed.

This woman was hoping to remain anonymous and unnoticed, but Jesus called for a public confession offer faith; and he still does today.

V:47-Read.

Why does Jesus call for a public confession of our faith?

· For your own benefit.

Jesus doesn’t want you to be a secret disciple, she saw that she could not be hid. And Jesus doesn’t want what he’s done for you to be hid either. He wants you to experience the joy that comes from sharing your salvation.

· For the benefit of others.

She told all the people why she touched him, and how she was healed immediately. She testified, and told her whole story; how she was diseased, alienated, unclean, destitute, how she had spent all her money on doctors and no one could cure her.

But she had touched Jesus with the hand of faith and he instantly healed her. Her testimony helped others in that crowd to be convinced that Jesus was the Savior, and what he had done for her he could do for them!

· To bring glory to God.

We are to testify and tell others what Jesus has done for us, to bring glory to God.

-“I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me”.

Making a public profession of your faith magnifies, uplifts and glorifies God.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

After the woman had testified Jesus said:

V:48-“daughter be of good comfort: your faith has made you hold; go in peace”.

Her faith in Jesus had not only brought physical healing, but her faith in Jesus Christ brought spiritual salvation. She entered into a personal relationship with Jesus. You’re my daughter, I am adopting you into my family.

After 12 long years of being alienated from all people, she’s now being embraced, and welcomed into the family of God!

No longer alienated- but welcomed.

No longer sick- but healed.

No longer without a family- but now in the family of God.

No longer lost in her sin-but now forgiven by grace through faith.

V:48-“your faith has saved you, go in peace”.

Then Jesus sends her away with peace; a lady who had not known peace in her body or soul for 12 years, now has personal peace with God, spiritual peace, social peace, and a peace that passes all understanding. Peace in your heart is a byproduct of salvation! This woman has experienced physical and spiritual relief from the pain and the lostness of her heart.

Jesus is the great physician who relieves the pain of the hurting!

There is a third fact about our great physician that should lead us to place our faith in him.

Fact #3:

3. Jesus Raises to New Life the Dead!

V:49-56.

The spotlight is placed back on Jairus as we are told that the servant comes and tells him that his daughter is dead, don’t bother the master any more.

Can you imagine how nervous and anxious Jairus must’ve been as he stood there waiting for this drama with the lady to be finished, so they can go to his house?

Can you imagine being caught in a traffic jam with the doctor who can save your child’s life and not been able to get there.

He’s probably thinking this woman has been sick for 12 years, can she wait 30 more minutes; my daughter is at death’s door.

It seemed there was a delay at every turn; but even in the delay Jesus was working. He was working in this lady’s life, and he was working in Jairus’s life. Jairus got to witness up close the power of Jesus to heal the sick lady; his faith in Jesus grew as he watched him heal this woman.

And in this delay Jesus was preparing to do even a greater work in Jairus’s life. Jesus would not just heal this girl, he would raise her from the dead.

And when you think that nothing is happening, and you wonder why the Lord is delaying; just remember God is always at work. There’s no panic in heaven only plans; and God has not forgotten you, or your need.

When the servant said to Jairus, your daughter is dead don’t trouble the master anymore; can you imagine how his heart must’ve sunk?

Those with the saddest words he never heard!

The servant says don’t bother Jesus anymore, let’s go home, it’s over, your daughter is dead.

The wonderful truth this morning is this: you don’t ever bother, annoy Jesus by bringing your hurts, problems, concerns and needs to him!

V:50-“When Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, fear not: believe, and she shall be made whole”.

Jesus in the middle of all that noise in the crowd had his eye on Jairus, and his ears were open to his need. So your heart is broken, and you don’t think that Jesus sees? “His eye is on the sparrow and I know he’s watching me”. As soon as the word comes from the servant’s mouth, Jesus steps up and says don’t be afraid only believe she will be made whole, she will live! The take away for us is to believe in Jesus in spite of circumstances, regardless of the skeptics.

V:51-56, this one of the most dramatic scenes in the gospel.

Try to picture in your mind, Jesus and his disciples arrive at Jairus’s house. There is a crowd of people there, and professional mourners who are weeping, loudly wailing and mourning the death of this girl. Jesus says stop crying, she’s not dead but asleep. Jesus is not offering a different diagnosis. The girl was physically dead; and they knew it, so when he said that they laughed in his face.

They were professional mourners and they knew when someone was dead. The girl was dead! When Jesus said she was sleeping he was giving us God’s perspective on what it means to die as a child of God. Jesus knew that little girl would rise to live another day, just like she was asleep. The girl’s death was not permanent; and as a child of God our death is not permanent. Our bodies will sleep in death, but they will rise again.

Jesus kicked out the skeptics, who mocked the power of God, and ridiculed Jesus as the Messiah.

V:54-“Jesus put them all out…

That must’ve brightened up the place in a hurry!

There are some people who just bless you with their absence. Were told that Jesus took the mother and the father and Peter, James, and John and when into the room with the dead girl’s body.

Jesus walked in that room and confronted death; Jesus the creator of life, the son of God, had power on earth to raise the dead.

Jesus took that little girl by the hand and spoke to her saying, “my little, get up”

Honey, it’s time to get up.

Her spirit entered back into her little body and she arose, and Jesus told her parents to give her something to eat.

The book of Mark says she “arose and walked”.

She was living.

She was eating.

She was walking.

Every resurrection in the Bible, is a picture of the spiritual resurrection that takes place when a person is saved. When you are saved you are raised to new life by Jesus:

When you receive new life, you have a new appetite for spiritual things, and you begin a brand

new walk with the Lord Jesus!

Today Jesus is the powerful great physician!

Jesus responds to the cry of the desperate.

Jesus relieves the pain of the hurting.

Jesus raises to new life the spiritual dead.

The most important decision that Jairus and this woman ever made was to go to Jesus; and for the rest of their lives they were glad they did!

The greatest decision you will ever make is come to Jesus today; you’ll be glad you did!