Jesus is in Control
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Opening Story/Illustration: My son has recently really gotten into super heroes. He likes to wear super hero pajamas and each night he’s a different character. He becomes that person. So one night he’s batman, another night he’s Spiderman, another night he’s Captain America. He’ll runaway saying, “I’m Captain America and I’m her to save the world.”
Opening Story/Illustration: My son has recently really gotten into super heroes. He likes to wear super hero pajamas and each night he’s a different character. He becomes that person. So one night he’s batman, another night he’s Spiderman, another night he’s Captain America. He’ll runaway saying, “I’m Captain America and I’m her to save the world.”
I watched a documentary one time about an educator by the name of Geoffrey Canada. He was raised in a pretty bad situation and he said he remembers the worst day of his life was when he realized superman wasn’t real. His mom told him that superman was made up and he began to cry. He said he was crying not simply because Superman wasn’t real, but because for the first time, he realized there was no one coming with enough power to save us.
I watched a documentary one time about an educator by the name of Geoffrey Canada. He was raised in a pretty bad situation and he said he remembers the worst day of his life was when he realized superman wasn’t real. His mom told him that superman was made up and he began to cry. He said he was crying not simply because Superman wasn’t real, but because for the first time, he realized there was no one coming with enough power to save us.
This reminds me that, if we are honest with ourselves, we often feel this way. The situations we face in our lives can leave us feeling helpless and hopeless. Like there is no one coming with enough power to save us.
This reminds me that, if we are honest with ourselves, we often feel this way. The situations we face in our lives can leave us feeling helpless and hopeless. Like there is no one coming with enough power to save us.
Life can leave us afraid and broken and wondering - Who’s going to come and save us from the mess that we are in?
Life can leave us afraid and broken and wondering - Who’s going to come and save us from the mess that we are in?
Transition to Text: In the book of Mark there is a series of stories that are bracketed with a challenge from Jesus not to be afraid. Let’s take a look at these scriptures real quick.
Transition to Text: In the book of Mark there is a series of stories that are bracketed with a challenge from Jesus not to be afraid. Let’s take a look at these scriptures real quick.
Text: Mark 4:35-41
Text: Mark 4:35-41
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Mark 5:35-36
Mark 5:35-36
35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”
State or Setup Main Idea: Why is it that Jesus could say to these people - “Do not fear?” Is Jesus credible?
State or Setup Main Idea: Why is it that Jesus could say to these people - “Do not fear?” Is Jesus credible?
Transition to Points: Mark is going to show us exactly why Jesus can say this.
Transition to Points: Mark is going to show us exactly why Jesus can say this.
Points
Points
Jesus can say “Don’t be Afraid” Because Jesus has Authority over Nature
The disciples listen to the instructions of Jesus and get in their boats and get ready to go to the other side of the sea of Galilee.
Jesus has been preaching and ministering all day and he’s exhausted.
So Jesus goes to sleep because he needs some rest.
A great storm begins to come up while they are on the boat. The disciples are getting quite worried. The lake there that they were on is one that is know to be subject to sudden storms. These storms can be quite violent and they could take out a fishing boat.
Jesus, in contrast to the disciples, is sleeping through the whole thing (Anyone ever slept through a hurricane?)
Jesus is at peace and the disciples think that he doesn’t care about them! - “Don’t you care that we are out here dying and you’re asleep?!?”
Jesus wakes up and says, “Peace! Be Still!” And it all ceases.
Notice Jesus does more here than they expected - We don’t get any indication that expected him to get up and stop the storm. They just wanted to know that he cares. He wakes up and not only cares, he takes authority over the storm.
Jesus is in complete control of the situation
He doesn’t wake up freaking out.
He doesn’t wake up wondering what he’s going to do.
He has complete authority over the situation
This miracle shocks the disciples - In fact the idea here is that their fear of the storm is now overwhelmed by their reverence and fear of Jesus.
No one but God controls the weather. Who is this man?
Jesus can say to them - Don’t be afraid because he has authority over nature!
Jesus can say “Don’t be Afraid” Because Jesus has Authority over Evil
Mark 5:1-20
1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. 14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
This man was demon possessed and the Bible tells us that No one could hold him.
He’s has an “unclean” spirit in him. He would have been considered unclean by the Jews here for several reasons:
The demons Inside Him
The fact that he was probably a Gentile (he’s living in Gentile Territory)
He lives among the tombs
Jesus has authority over the situation
Notice the use of the word “Beg”
The demons beg Jesus not to send them out of the region
The people beg Jesus to leave
The man begs to go with Jesus
Why this language? Mark is painting the picture of a Jesus who is in control!
Notice that the demon posses man falls at Jesus’ feet
I Don’t know his story or how he got to the place where he’s so messed up
But I do know that no one could control him
He was out of his mind
The Bible tells us he would constantly cry out and cut himself with stones.
He didn’t just have one demon - he had many
Everyone else just wants to manage or control his problem - but Jesus comes to fix it!
No one else could hold this man - But Jesus sets him free!
There is such a change in this man, that everyone is scared of Jesus. Notice again - As with the previous story - The miracle is so overwhelming that the fear shifts from the demon possessed man to fear and awe of Jesus!
With just the word of his mouth, Jesus deals with these demons that had been tormenting this man - for days, weeks, maybe years.
There is power in the name of Jesus!
Notice again, Jesus does something bigger than they are looking for. The people are content to simply chain or control this man - Jesus sets him free!
Jesus can say “Don’t be Afraid” Because Jesus has Authority over Evil
Jesus can say “Don’t be Afraid” Because Jesus has Authority over Sickness
Mark 5:21-34
21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
Here we have another case of someone who would have been considered “unclean.”
She’s an outcast because for the last 12yrs she’s been bleeding.
She had suffered for twelve years
I imagine that all her trips to the doctors began to get tiring
She would come home with the same story
When you come from a dr. visit, everyone wants to know how it went.
For twelve years, every time she comes back from the dr., she hangs her head in despair and says, “They can’t figure out my problem. They want to try a different approach.”
Eventually she exhausts all her means trying to get better - and she keeps getting worse.
She’s tired, she’s broken, and she is over it and she’s probably going to die soon.
But she heard about Jesus - and something in her began to hope again
She thinks to herself - If I can just get close to him.
If I can just touch the hem of his garment.
One encounter with Jesus does what twelve years, her lifetime savings, and all the best doctors could not do.
The idea here in the original language (in verse 29) is that her problem stopped - Stopped completely. It was done, finished.
What Doctors could not do in 12 years time, Jesus was done with, finished with - In an instant!
Notice her response when she realizes that Jesus knows about her healing - (vs. 33) “She came in fear and trembling and fell down before him..”
Notice in this story as well, Jesus is doing more than expected. This woman thinks that she is going to sneak in and touch Jesus, get her healing and run - But she not only gets her healing, she encounters Jesus. To make the point even clearer - This is the only place in the gospels where Jesus addresses someone as “daughter.”
Jesus can say “Don’t be Afraid” Because Jesus has Authority over Sickness
Jesus can say “Don’t be Afraid” Because Jesus has Authority over death
Mark 5:21-24
21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.
Mark 5:35-43
35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
This synagogue ruler Comes to Jesus with a request that he come heal his sick little girl.
Interesting to note - The little girl is 12, the women we just discussed bled for 12 years.
The child is at the point of death - Much like the woman.
While Jesus is on the way to heal the little girl, this incident with the woman occurs. Notice that Jesus isn’t in a hurry. He always has time to stop and deal with the needs of those around him.
Notice again - The use of the same word “Implored” in vs. 22 is the same word for “beg” used in the previous story and notice that Jarius falls at his feet.
There’s a pattern here - The disciples, the demons, the sick, those in need - They know Jesus has authority
They are aware of this and bow at his feet, beg him, ask him to work and move.
Somewhere, during his journey to reach the little girl, she passes away.
The servant of Jarius shows up and says, “Listen, don’t trouble the teacher any longer.” Translation: She’s dead, it’s over. done. No hope. People don’t resurrect.
But Jesus says to them, “Don’t fear, just believe.”
Again, Jesus is doing more than expected - He was brought in to do a healing and ends up performing a resurrection.
Jesus goes to the girl and He takes her by the hand - This would have made Jesus unclean. Notice a pattern here:
Jesus deals with the unclean demoniac man
Jesus deals with this unclean woman who’s been bleeding for 12 years.
Jesus deals with the unclean dead body of this little girl.
Jesus is willing to touch things and people that no one else will touch!
Jesus touches the little girl and she get up.
Notice again Mark’s use of the word “immediately.”
Immediately the lady’s blood flow stopped
Immediately, the little girl gets up.
Jesus is able to do things “immediately.”
Bottom line - Jesus resurrects what is dead.
Jesus has authority over your situation
No matter how impossible it may seem - I know this, Jesus is bigger and better and more powerful than whatever you are facing.
I don’t know your situation, but I know If Jesus can raise the dead, there’s nothing too difficult for him!
You may have been dealing with your situation for years, but if Jesus can heal a lady who’d been dealing with her situation for 12yrs, he can work in your situation.
You may feel like thing are out of control - But if Jesus can set a demon possessed man free, calm a storm, heal a sick woman, and raise a dead girl, He can work in your life.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Restate or Reveal Main Idea: There is no need to fear because Jesus has authority over your situation.
Restate or Reveal Main Idea: There is no need to fear because Jesus has authority over your situation.
So what?
So what?
Now What?
Now What?
Prayer - As we close this morning I want to pray over us.
Prayer - As we close this morning I want to pray over us.
As followers of Jesus, may we learn to live without fear. No matter what situation we find ourselves in, may we remember that the same Jesus who calms the storms, heals the sick, overcomes evil, and raises the dead is the same Jesus who is with us and who’s spirit lives within us. This is the Jesus who does exceedingly, abundantly, far above all we can ask or imagine! May we walk in peace knowing that Jesus has authority. May we be free of worry, doubt, and fear as we trust in Jesus. In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, AMEN!