Desperate For Jesus!

Introduction

As I prepared for this week’s message, my first title (the title in the bulletin) was “Life’s Interruptions,” but as I actually put the sermon together, I decided to change the title to “Desperate For Jesus.” So as we begin this morning I want to ask you a question: How desperate are you for Jesus?

Last week we looked at the first part of Mark chapter 5. Toward the end of our passage last week, we came to verse 17:

Mark 5:17 NIV84

Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

So Jesus gets back into the boat and begins the voyage back across the Sea of Galilee. When we come to verse 21, we are back on the other side—most likely outside the city of Capernaum. And that is were we will pick up the story this morning.

So if you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to Mark chapter 5, and we’ll begin reading with verse 21.

Mark 5:21 NIV84

When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake.

Outside Capernaum

Verse 21 tells us that once again a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. In reading Mark’s account, one almost gets the picture that the crowd continued to grow while Jesus was gone.

Out of this “large crowd” we are going to meet two people. Here’s the first one! Look at verse 22.

Mark 5:22–23 NIV84

Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”

The Synagogue Ruler

Here we are introduced to Jairus. He is described as one of the rulers of the synagogue. As such, he should have been opposed to Jesus—like so many of the other religious leaders were.

Here’s the thing, Jairus had a problem—a crisis. For him it was a crisis of belief. He was struggling with the fact that his 12 year old daughter was sick and dying! The Jewish traditions could do nothing to prevent his little girl’s death! So he was desperate. What he has believed his entire life was now unable to save his little girl! So in desperation, he turned to this new, controversial teacher named Jesus. Maybe this Jesus could help.

QUESTION: Do you believe Jesus can help you today? How about when you face a crisis of belief? Do you believe Jesus can help you then?

In verse 24 we see Jesus’ response!

Mark 5:24 NIV84

So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him.

Jesus agrees to go with Jairus. And the large crowd goes with them, to see what will happen! They had heard all that Jairus said, and they truly wanted to see what would happen next!

The Bleeding Woman

Now we come to the second character in our story. Look at verse 25.

Mark 5:25–26 NIV84

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.

This woman also had a problem! She had been bleeding for 12 years. That meant for 12 years she could not go to the temple to worship. For 12 years no one could touch her. For 12 years she suffered.

We also learn that she had tried EVERYTHING! She went to every doctor she could find. She spent every dime she had to find a cure. But nothing worked. In fact, instead of getting better she grew worse!

The Interruption!

I want you to picture this! We have a predominant Jewish religious leader—Jairus. We have his daughter dying!

Jesus has agreed to go to Jairus’ house to help his daughter. And right now they are on their way—surrounded by a large crowd. This crowd is now trying to squeeze through the narrow streets of Capernaum. And everyone is bumping into everyone else.

It is at this point that we are told of the woman’s motives. Look at verse 28!

Mark 5:27–28 NIV84

When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

She believes if she can only touch the edge of Jesus’ robe she would be healed. So she begins to press he way through the crowd, trying to get close enough to Jesus to touch the very edge of his robe—closer, and closer. Almost there! And finally, she touches Jesus! And all of the sudden she is healed and she knew it! Look at verse 29.

Mark 5:29 NIV84

Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

Amazing! After 12 years of suffering, she is healed. After 12 years of suffering she is no longer bleeding! Can you imagine how she must have felt in that moment? I can’t help but think about how excited she must have been—that is until we come to verse 30!

Mark 5:30 NIV84

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

Jesus’ Response to the Woman

Picture this—here is the woman, relieved, thankful, and excited all at once because she has been healed.

At the same moment, Jesus stops and looks around at the crowd and begins to ask, “Who touched me?”

When He says this, the disciples are shocked by the question. Look at their response!

Mark 5:31 NIV84

“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

They think a better question would have been, “Who hasn’t touched me?” It is so crowded that anyone could have touched Jesus. How could He possible ask such a strange question?

Still the procession to Jairus’ house has been interrupted! Jesus has stopped! Look at the next verse.

Mark 5:32 NIV84

But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.

Jesus still wants to know who touched Him with intent! I love the next couple of verses. Verse 33, is the woman’s honesty, and verse 34 is Jesus’ loving response!

Mark 5:33 NIV84

Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.

Mark 5:34 NIV84

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

QUESTION: Are you desperate for Jesus?

Back to Jairus’ Daughter!

Now during this delay, and all of the commotion, Jairus the synagogue ruler receives some bad news!

Mark 5:35 NIV84

While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?”

Stop for a minute and feel the emotion! If that woman hadn’t stopped Jesus, my daughter would be alive! Why did Jesus have to stop? Couldn’t He have just kept going? We’re only a little way away—but now it’s too late! My daughter is dead!

Feel the emotion that Jairus must have felt. Feel the despair, the anguish, and the pain! His little girl is gone! She’s dead!

But Jesus! Jesus has a challenge for Jairus.

Mark 5:36 NIV84

Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Jesus sees the fear Jairus is experiencing, and He challenges Jairus to continue believing!

QUESTION: Can you believe in Jesus even when it doesn’t make sense? Even when it goes against what you can see, or understand?

No One Beyond this Point!

Mark 5:37 NIV84

He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.

It is at this point in the story that Jesus stops the crowd from following Him. He leaves everyone behind, except Jairus, Peter, James, and John. Everyone else has to stay behind.

Jesus and this small group continue on to the house where Jairus lived. As they approach, they hear and see a great commotion. Look at the next verse.

Mark 5:38 NIV84

When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.

This kind of display would have been normal for a family member of someone revered in the community—someone such as Jairus’ daughter. These may have been family and friends, or they could have been paid mourners.

Jesus’ Response to the Mourners

Look at verse 39!

Mark 5:39 NIV84

He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.”

Remember, messengers had been sent to Jairus to give him the bad news. Certainly, the Rabbi that was with him had heard the news. So how is it Jesus is saying she is only asleep? And their response? “But they laughed at him.” That’s right, the people begin to laugh at Jesus. Think about it, these people knew what dead looked like! And there was no question about it! The little girl was DEAD!

QUESTION: Do you ever laugh at Jesus rather than believing Him?

The Miracle!

Jesus is not deterred! Look at the next verses!

Mark 5:40–42 NIV84

But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.

First Jesus makes the mourners leave! “put them out.”

Next, the small group six go into the room where the little girl is laying.

Jesus takes her by the hand and says to her, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

As soon as he says these words, the 12 year old little girl stood up, and began to walk around the room!

And the verse says, “At this they were completely astonished.” The literal translation of this is: Immediately they were utterly amazed with great amazement.The way it is written shows a complete overwhelming of amazement.

Now there is another question that we need to ask, and that is: Who is the “they”?

I’m pretty sure it includes the little girl’s parents!

But I’m also pretty sure it includes Peter, James, and John. If it does, they continue to be overwhelmed by the miracles that Jesus is doing. Quieting the wind and waves! Casting out a legion of demons! Healing a bleeding woman! And now, raising a little girl from the dead! These three have seen everything—and they are still utterly amazed with great amazement!

QUESTION: Today, does Jesus still still utterly amaze you with great amazement?

Two Commands!

So here we are—their daughter has been brought back from the dead! They are totally astonished. And now Jesus is going to give them two commands! Look at verse 43.

Mark 5:43 NIV84

He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Don’t tell anyone about this! The synagogue leader and his wife were not supposed to tell anyone about the greatest thing that happened to them! Notice that it says, Jesus gave strict orders. You see, Jesus did not want people to follow Him for the wrong reasons.

Just like today, Jesus wants people to follow Him for the “right” reasons.

Jesus told them to give their daughter something to eat. This command shows two things: first it shows the compassion of Jesus! Secondly, it demonstrated that the little girl was completely healed!

SO WHAT?

We serve the same Jesus today. We serve the Jesus who heals! We serve the Jesus who raises the dead. We serve the Jesus who works miracles!

This morning, Jesus wants to call you to Himself.

Have you faced a “crisis” of belief? How badly do you need Jesus? Jairus needed help, and he believed Jesus could help him!

Today, do you believe Jesus can help you?

Are you desperate for Jesus? The woman who was bleeding had suffered for 12 years. She was desperate—all she wanted to do was touch Jesus’ robe! What about you, are you desperate for Jesus?

Jairus believed Jesus even when it was counterintutitive. Can you believe Jesus—have faith in Him, even when it goes against all reason?

Jairus and his wife, along with Peter, James, and John were utterly amazed! Here’s the question—are you utterly amazed by Jesus?

The truth is, I want to be amazed by Jesus every day! I I hope you will be amazed by Him too!