Approaching Jesus

Mark 5:21-43

In this passage we have two stories in one. Actually one comes in the middle of the other. Two people who need Jesus, in a special way.

In this passage we have two stories in one. Actually one comes in the middle of the other. Two people who need Jesus, in a special way.

Jairus approached Jesus as a man on a mission. He had a storm in his life. His little girl was about to die and he was not ready to let her go. His approach was a desperate one.

Notice several attitudes about his approach:

1. He had a selfless attitude:

Had this been his own personal need he may have never given Jesus a second thought…

Jairus threw his pride, his self-reliance and his position out the window.

You see Jairus was one the most prominent men in his community, being one of the leaders of the local Synagogue and this was not a good time to approach Jesus because the Jewish rulers were violently opposed to Jesus and to be seen in His presence was bad enough.

To be seen asking for Him to come his house, for any reason could be disastrous for Jairus…

Sometimes we have to come with the same desperation that Jairus had, forgetting what the crowd might think and begin moving toward the only one who can bring hope to our hopeless world.

2. He had as humble attitude:

I can imagine Jairus pushing his way through the crowd and as he catches a glimpse of Jesus his steps become quickened until finally he is standing face to face with the only who can help. There he fell at the feet of Jesus, declaring the superiority of Jesus in his life…Sometimes we can’t let go of our position in life or the church in order to receive the help we so desperately need.

“Why what would the others think if they saw me asking for prayer? They might think that I am weak in my faith or worse…”

3. He had a pleading attitude:

Verse 23 says that this dignified man “begged” Jesus to come with him. Any, dignified, Jewish man would be caught in public begging for help…Sometimes we need to throw the dignity out the window when the need is great enough…

4. He had an expectant attitude:

He refused to take no for an answer…

Right in the middle of the Jairus story we get interrupted. Little did Jairus know, as he pushed his way through the crowd, there was a woman in the crowd who needed Jesus just as much as he did and she was pushing through the crowd too.

I wonder if she may have heard Jairus telling Jesus about his daughter and thought she better reach out while she had the chance. Maybe Jesus only did one miracle a day and Jairus was about to get it.

Jairus stood as he walked toward Jesus. I see this woman bent or even crawling, hoping that no one would notice. Maybe she could slip in and get her miracle and get out before she got caught.

See Jewish law said that she was to avoid contact with people until she could prove she was no longer sick.

**something very interesting that I wonder how many have noticed. How long had the woman been suffering? 12 years of suffering. How old was Jairus’ daughter? 12 years old. The woman had been suffering for as long as the daughter had been living. Some problems seem to drag on while others come suddenly.

Something I noticed is the woman’s approach. It was a hopeless approach.

1. Jesus was her last resort. He was her final hope.

The woman had been hemorrhaging for 12 years and had spent pretty much everything on doctors and cures but not one had helped. By Jewish law she was considered unclean and untouchable. Could this be the reason she slipped up from behind? Most likely. She was to be completely cut off from society from the Temple of God and God’s people.

Can you imagine having someone tell you that you are so hopeless that you can’t come to church? To be told that you’re so hopeless that God wants nothing to do with you?

Don’t wait till you’ve reached the point of hopelessness…that point of no return…that place where you begin to convince yourself that God is ashamed of you and has turned His back on you.

Come to Jesus because one thing I know about Jesus is that He will touch, even, the untouchables in life. I know because He touched me.

Maybe you feel like your situation is hopeless and everyone has told you that you’ll never make it…Come to Jesus and find peace and healing.

2. Her attitude was one of unworthiness:

She came up behind Jesus because her illness was a personal matter and she wanted to touch Jesus without being noticed. Maybe she believes that she is so unworthy that she doesn’t deserve the help.

Could be she’s afraid of what the crowd might say, worse, what they might do.

Sometimes we just need to pray and stop digging for the details. Sometimes when I ask you to pray I just want you to pray NOT PRY.

How I wish people could come and ask for prayer without worrying about people spreading their business. Sometimes when we ask for unspoken prayer there will always be some in the room who will feel they need to know the details and if they don’t get them they’ll just make some up.

Let’s make a covenant, right here and now, that we will change that and understand the difference in praying and prying.

3. She too had an expectant attitude.

She didn’t even need to touch Jesus. All she needed was the very tip of His cloak.

Can I share something with you? When you touch Jesus…I mean really touch Him you’ll know it. Not only will you know it but He will notice your touch.

[Illustrate the scene and the disciples in verse 30, 31]

Did Jesus not know who touched Him? Look at verse 32. He turned around and locked eyes with the woman who touched Him…

4. Her attitude was one of confession:

Jesus had allowed the woman to be healed without embarrassment. The healing had been in secret but the secret needed to be made public. She needed to come to the place where she was able to confess her faith in Jesus.

When Jesus delivers you…you need to tell somebody!!

In verse 34 Jesus told her to go in peace. No longer did she need to live in fear of tomorrow, she found the answer to all of her tomorrows. His Name is Jesus. Not only was she given peace but she was made whole, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Could you use some of that, today?

But then story turns back to Jairus. The woman is gone and Jesus heads out with Jairus. Long story short Jesus heals the little girl but this time there’s something a little different. Jesus say “don’t tell anyone.”

Why in the world would He do this? Look at verses 39 & 40. Could it be that when Jesus put the “Professional mourners” out that they went around telling everyone the girl wasn’t dead after all? Jewish law says that there must be two or three witnesses for a miracle to be verified. There was at least five in the room. Jesus, Peter, James and John, who would have been enough but the parents made it 5.

Maybe Jesus was trying to save them the embarrassment of the gawkers. Those are the people who show up just to see what’s happening. They aren’t really interested in the person just the miracle.

There were many in the crowd that day and some just wanted to see and be seen. There were many who bumped into Jesus but only one who actually touched Him.

Many came gawking but two came searching. Searching for an experience like they have never known before.

Why did you come today? Do you come to gawk or did you come searching for that experience. Did you come looking for something that only Jesus can give?

"Tomorrow morning I'll open up your heart" the surgeon said to the 8 year-old-boy.

"You'll find Jesus there," the boy said.

The surgeon continued, "I'll open your heart and check the damage."

"You'll find Jesus there," the boy said.

"When I see the damage, I will suture you back up and then think about the next step," said the surgeon.

"You will find Jesus in my heart because my Sunday school teacher told me so. She said it says so in the Bible. Besides that, our Sunday school songs say He lives there," said the boy.

The surgery took place the next day and after the surgery the surgeon began to make notes of what he found. In his mind there was no hope and no cure. The little boy would die within a matter of months.

The thought began to get to the doctor and all of a sudden the doctor shouted to God, "Why did you do this to the boy? Why can't he live a normal life?"

God spoke to the surgeon's heart and said, "The boy is a part of my flock and will always be a part of my flock. When he is with me there will be no more suffering and pain. He will have comfort and peace. One day his parents as well as you will join him and my flock will continue to grow."

The next day the surgeon went to the boy's room and sat down with the parents beside the bed.

In a moment or two, the boy opened his eyes and asked very quietly, "What did you find in my heart?"

With tears flowing down his cheeks, the surgeon said, "I found Jesus there."

If I looked in your heart, today, would I find Jesus there?