January 22, 2008

  • MARKS GOSPEL [#19]

    Faith That Overcomes
    Mark 5:21-24, 35-43
    Pastor Dennis Rost (    01/13/2008)

    Intro:
    • hymn "Faith is the Victory"... Faith really is the critical element that connects us to God
    • Jairus was the leader of the synagogue, and his bosses were the men who were opposing Jesus and even plotting to kill Him. Jairus had already seen the power of Jesus (Mark 1:21-28), and now he had a big-time need that Jesus alone could meet. He determines that his faith in Jesus is stronger than his fear of the Pharisees.
    • Faith is critical...

    1. Tested by DELAY
      • vs. 25-34
      • notice how desperate Jairus is (vs 22-23), how great his need was (vs 23)...
      • the press of the CROWD
      • the plight of the WOMEN

    2. Tested by DEATH
      • v. 35
      • “Your daughter has died”…. Surely the most gut-wrenching words he had ever heard. Hope is crushed…
      • we tend to think death is the end, faith transcends what seems hopeless

    3. Tested by DERISION
      • vs. 36-40
      • the funeral had begun...
      • "sleeping" = she was actually dead but Jesus wanted to highlight the temporary nature of her condition... He is about to do something...
      • The people laugh at the very idea that the girl would ever walk and talk and breathe again.
      • As in the case of Jairus, our faith is sometimes assaulted so fiercely that it seems impossible that Jesus can or will do anything to help. Yet it was Jesus who said “All things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). Furthermore, Jesus is working in times like these…

    4. Reinforced by the PROMISE of Jesus
      • v. 36
      • words of COMFORT and COUNSEL
      • words of ASSURANCE   (cp. Luke 8:50)

    5. Reinforced by the PRESENCE of Jesus
      • vs. 37-39
      • He personally went with them. He didn't merely send a disciple or a helper. When it was announced that the girl had died, Jesus didn't awkwardly excuse Himself and go home.
      • Jesus is a PERSONAL God

    6. Reinforced by the POWER of Jesus
      • vs 40-43
      • v 40   He PUT OUT the mockers.
      • v 40   He GATHERED family and friends to Himself... He is in control.
      • v 40   They ENTERED the child's room
      • vs 41-42   He HEALED her and RAISED her from the dead.

    Points to Ponder:
    1.  Delay does not equal DENIAL
    2.  Sometimes Jesus purposefully delays in meeting our needs because He wants to do a GREATER miracle rather than a LESSER one.
    3.  When your faith is assaulted, don't assume that Jesus is UNINVOLVED or absent.
    4.  Faith means a lot; but faith in Jesus means EVERYTHING.