When Jesus Is Interrupted (2)

When Jesus is Interrupted Mark 5:21-43

Sunday, August 14, 2016

7:02 PM

Mark 5:35-43 (KJV)

35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

Also found in Matthew ___ Luke 8 Mark 5

I remember some years ago, when Corey was still fairly young 2 or 3 years old, that he was eating I believe it was a chicken nugget or some such, and he fell and hurt his head. While the details are a little sketchy It seems as though when he fell, he hurt his head causing him to start crying, which in turn caused him to choke on his food. It was stuck pretty good and it is a terrible feeling to be holding your child and feel them go limp as he passed out. I turned him over and struck him on the back and he came too and coughed up the food. Meanwhile during all of the panic either my wife or I had called 911. We were feeling desperate. Our child was in danger and we felt that our abilities were limited to help.

No doubt this is how this poor father felt about his daughter as Luke reports his only daughter. Jairus uses an endearing term for this precious daughter - literally "My little daughter or little girl" verse 23

His anxiety and nervousness and desperation brought him to Jesus. And he "besought him greatly" fervently, earnestly, would not take "no" for an answer - This leader of the synagogue was not going to be denied. His precious little daughter was at the point of death.

It was during this time that Jesus begins to move in the general direction of Jairus' house when this lady who had an issue of blood for 12 years came up behind him and touched the hem of his garment and Jesus stops in his tracks and turns around asking who had touched him.

Rebecca Manley Pippert captured this so well in her book, "Out of the Saltshaker and Into the World" when she wrote: "Once Jesus was on his way to heal Jairus’s daughter, who was at the point of death. A woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years and had “endured much under many physicians” (Mk 5:26) suddenly touched his garment and was healed. Jesus had so much concern for her that he stopped long enough to find out who he had healed and to learn of her story. Can you imagine Jairus’s anxiety as the long story unfolded? But Jesus listened patiently and lovingly."[1]

When we are interrupted it causes chaos and confusion - but what happens when God is interrupted?

It is amazing how many times Jesus was interrupted in his earthly ministry.

in his speaking to a crowd (Mark 2:1 ff.), The paralytic let down through the roofconversing with his disciples (Mark 8:31 ff.; 14:27 ff.; Luke 12:12 ff.), "Not so Lord." and "Is it I"traveling (Mark 10:46 ff.), Bartemius calls to him from the side of the roadsleeping (Mark 4:38, 39), In the ship and the storm comespraying (Mark 1:35 ff.). Simon and the people found him and asked him to preach

"The fact that none of these intrusions floor him, so that for the moment he would be at a loss what to do or what to say, shows that we are dealing here with the Son of man who is also the Son of God! What we would call an "interruption" is for him a springboard or take-off point for the utterance of a great saying or, as here, for the performance of a marvelous deed, revealing his power, wisdom, and love. What for us would have been a painful exigency is to him a golden opportunity." [2]

When Jesus was interrupted it was not and inconvenience - but rather an opportunityAn opportunity to show mercy - "Jesus did not neglect the needs of a lowly woman to impress an influential religious official. Both incidents show that when human means have failed, God through Jesus can succeed."[3]An opportunity to show powerMark 4:35-41 Shows his power over natureMark 5:1-20 Shows his power over demonsMark 5:21-43 Shows his power over sickness and death When Jesus was interrupted - it became a work-site. Have you ever gone into a store or place of business and seen a sign that read something like, "Pardon the mess we are under construction." or "Pardon the interruptions this is a work-site" Joel Hemphill wrote several years ago that classic gospel song that said:

There really ought to be a sign upon my heart Don't judge me yet, there's an unfinished part But I'll be perfect just according to his plan Fashioned by the masters loving hand

He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be It took him just a week to make the moon and stars The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars How loving and patient he must be He's still working on me.

In the mirror of His word

Reflections that I see

Makes me wonder why He never gave up on me

But He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray

Remember He's the potter, I'm the clay[4]

I'm glad when Jesus was interrupted he did not quit or stop - he kept going. He kept working It is a comfort to me to remember this.When Jesus is interrupted - it just seems like a delayI think of Lazarus - four days lateI think of this poor man waiting and then hearing the news - never mind your daughter is dead - but that didn't stop JesusAn interruption of bad news - does not stop GodAn interruption of death - does not tie God's handsAnytime God keeps you waiting - Remember this - THE WAIT IS WORTH IT!!!!Jesus just kept on walking and when he got to the little girls room - the wait was worth it to that poor young father - when he reached out his arms and gathered that little girl in his arms who was no longer burning up with fever, no longer delirious, no longer cold from the power of death - but was now living, breathing, interacting, smiling laughing praising the Lord. I guess when it comes down to it - God isn't really interrupted - it's our plans, our wants, our thoughts, our time, our ideas that get smashed and God breaks through in and has his way. I always want God to feel welcome to interrupt me!!!

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[M] Pippert, Rebecca Manley (2015-08-27). Out of the Saltshaker & into the World: Evangelism as a Way of Life (Kindle Locations 491-494). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition. [M] William Hendriksen, Baker New Testament Commentary – Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1975), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 204.[M] James A. Brooks, New American Commentary – Volume 23: Mark, (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1991), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 92.[M] From <https://play.google.com/music/preview/Trr6zh33tfxntn2rf26ihgtgjgu?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics&u=0#>