Mark 5:21-34 The healing power of faith in Jesus Christ

Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Church

From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”

House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text

Prayer

Mark 5:21-34 (Follow in your Bibles)

Introduction and Review:

The beginning of Jesus Ministry

The Gospel message

His healing and teaching ministries

Building the kingdom of God - soils, the Lord’s crop, The parable of the mustard seed

Faithbuilding exercises

The storm at Galilee - Jesus controlled the weather

Casting out demons

Today:

The beginning of two miracles, done for two daughters, that are intertwined

The daughter of Jairus (ruler of the synagogue) starts

Then Jesus encounters the woman with a bleeding condition - this will be our focus today - next week we will see how he cares for the daughter of Jairus

Today - the miraculous healing of a sick woman

Our Lord has great experience with disease and illnesses

He cares greatly for those who are sick and suffering

Heathen Gods

terrible/mighty in battle

love bloodshed

help the strong and the warriors

The Christian saviour is gentle, easily approached, helps and heals the broken hearted, protects the weak and helpless, comforts those in trouble, comforts the sick

perfect for our weak and fallen human nature

world is full of pain and trouble

Many more weak in the earth, than strong (in fact all of us have weaknesses…)

Mark 5:25-26

Mark 5:25–26 NASB95

A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse—

#1 Sin brought misery into the world

Woman suffered 12 years

suffered from medical help, spent her money on worthless treatment - Drs had given up when the money ran out

Nothing helped - 12 years is a long time

Prov 13:12

Proverbs 13:12 NASB95

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Amazing that we do not hate sin more than we do!

causes all pain/disease in the world

God did not create us to suffer

Sin is responsible for the suffering

sicknesses

pains and suffering

We need to hate sin

Mark 5:27–28 NASB95

after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.”

#2 People have different feelings when they face Christ

Many people followed the Lord and thronged Him

Only one pushed through, touched Him with faith, and was healed

Many followed from curiosity - got no blessing

Only one sensed her own need, Jesus power, reached out, and got blessed

Isn’t this the case with so many Christians today?

Go to church/places of worship

Participate in the Lord’s table - take the bread and wine

So many go, but So few get anything from Christ

Why are they there? Fashion, tradition, habit, love of excitement, hear the gossip - true motives

Few reach out to Christ - go home in peace

hard sayings

Mark 5:27-29

Mark 5:27–29 NASB95

after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

#3 She was cured immediately!

Touched the Lord’s clothes and healed

What she had been seeking 12 years - done!

What doctors could not do, the Lord did in an instant

“she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.”

Symbol of the relief the Gospel - the healing power of Christ - gives us (some teach that physical healing always follows faith - not so)

Christians have experienced this relief in our consciences

Many have searched for peace with God - no effect

Earthly remedies don’t work

Trying different religions, different churches, doesn’t work

Trying to work our way to heaven - futile - do as much good to earn our way

Earthly remedy attempts only make things worse

As Christians we finally find rest - the same place this woman did - Jesus

Mark 5:30-33

Mark 5:30–33 NASB95

Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.

#4 Christians do well to tell how they have been blessed by Christ

Jesus did not let the woman leave, after she had been cured, without her cure being noticed

Turned around and asked “who touched my garments?”

Already knew her story - didn't need her to tell Him

Needed to teach her, and others, that when blessed, they should publicly tell others - people need to know God’s love and goodness

Others need to know the good news

Lesson for all Christians: we should not be ashamed of what Christ has done for us

If He has blessed us, given us peace through His blood, been renewed by His Spirit, we must not be afraid to say so, when we can - people are doomed to misery and a devil’s hell without Christ

No need to “blow a trumpet in the streets” - force our experience on others

We do need to be willing to publicly praise Christ, and not worry about ridicule or persecution

If we are ashamed of Jesus before men, one day He will be ashamed of us before the Father and angels

Mark 5:34

Mark 5:34 NASB95

And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”

#5 Faith is a real grace, and blessing

Of all the graces and blessings, faith is the most mentioned in the NT and commended

Faith brings more glory to Christ than any other grace

Hope - good things to come

Love - warm heart

Faith - an empty hand, but receives everything, gives nothing in return - no grace so important to a Christian’s soul

By faith

we begin, we live, we stand

we walk, not by sight

overcome

have peace

enter into rest

Ask ourselves: do we believe? is my faith true?, the gift of God?

Bringing it home.

Should not rest until we can give a good answer to these questions

Christ is the same now, as when He healed this woman

He is still gracious and mighty to save

Only one thing we need to be saved - the hand of faith

Let a man or woman only “touch” Jesus, and they will be made complete

Questions

Prayers