Christ’s miracles – unparalleled power,

unparalleled pityMark 5:21-43

Message 6 in our 10-part series on The Gospel of Mark.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Speaker: Doug Virgint

Our outline• Introduction

1) The ruler’s request

2) The woman’s healing

3) The daughter’s resurrection

• Conclusion

Our outline• Introduction

1) The ruler’s request

2) The woman’s healing

3) The daughter’s resurrection

• Conclusion

Introduction

• God’s action plan to reveal Christ’s identity and power

Introduction

• The miracles were Jesus’ self-revelation - the disclosure, the manifestation, the verification of His person by His power.

Introduction

• He chose expressions of power that were connected to delivering people from all the sufferings of life.

• That power was always accompanied by pity, filled with mercy towards human pain and suffering.

Introduction

• Jesus’ use of His power was always a demonstration that:

“God so loved the world”

IntroductionThe man The woman

12 year old daughter 12 year old disease

rich poor

ruler humble

respected rejected

honoured ashamed

popular outcast

leader of synagogue excommunicated

brought low lifted high

Mark 5: 23 - 31

Unparalleled powerUnparalleled pity

Our outline• Introduction

1) The ruler’s request

2) The woman’s healing

3) The daughter’s resurrection

• Conclusion

1) The rulers request

• Jairus was a ruler in the synagogue

• probably in Capernaum

• he had witnessed many healings

• his great need drove him to Jesus

• he exercised genuine faith in Christ

• he fell at Jesus’ feet

1) The rulers request

Five words that describe our Lord:

a) accessible

b) available

c) interruptible

d) indomitable

e) imperturbable

1) The rulers request

a) Jesus is accessible

• no intermediaries

• not hidden behind guards in a palace

• not in a temple behind golden doors

• with ordinary people

• in ordinary places

1) The rulers request

b) Jesus is available

• he gave himself

• he gave his time, energy, effort

• he made himself available even if he was already busy with a crowd

1) The rulers request

b) available

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out “ Matthew 20. 20

Jairus’ heart was breaking – Jesus took time for him and met his need.

Our outline• Introduction

1) The ruler’s request

2) The woman’s healing

3) The daughter’s resurrection

• Conclusion

2) The woman’s healing

c) Jesus is interruptible

• he had already interrupted his ministry with the crowd

• now, even if he is on His way to perform a noble deed, he allows himself to be interrupted again

2) The woman’s healing

This woman :

• she had a medical problem

• 12 years of frequent bleeding had left her with anemia and weak with low energy levels

•there were no iron pills or tonics in those days

2) The woman’s healing

This woman :

• she had a psychological problem

•she would have been worn down with discouragement and helplessness

2) The woman’s healing

This woman :

• she had a social problem

• her marriage was certainly affected

•no doubt she could not bear children

• she would not have been welcomed in good society

2) The woman’s healing

This woman :• she had a spiritual problem• she was ceremonially unclean• for 12 years she had not entered the synagogue or the temple

• she had to make a special sacrifice to purify herself, every 7 days

•she was constantly reminded of her sinfulness

2) The woman’s healing

This woman :• she had a financial problem• ruined by physicians who were little better than quacks

•an ostrich egg in a linen bag - summer

•an ostrich egg in a cotton bag - winter

•drink wine with alum, crocuses, onions

2) The woman’s healing

This woman :• she was shy and embarrassed and had been rejected for years

•she exercised great faith in Jesus, wanting to grab one of the tassels on the hem of his cloak

•she was healed immediately

2) The woman’s healing

d) Jesus is indomitable

•Jesus took charge of the situation

•note the strong word “immediately”

•but this was not an impersonal force

•Jesus immediately sought her out

•He asked the question, not because he did not know the answer, but to force her to make a public confession

2) The woman’s healing

We learn important lessons about God:

•He is a personal God, not a force•He is not impassable – nor the God of the deists

•He is not detached or impersonal – He is personally engaged towards us

•this ends all magic, all superstition

•Jesus was drawing this woman to himself – pursuing her

2) The woman’s healing

Jesus rewards this woman’s faith:•He heals her•He restores her to society•He saves her•He calls her “daughter”•He sends her on her way in peace•He relieved her suffering (“mastigos” – whipped, scourged)

Our outline• Introduction

1) The ruler’s request

2) The woman’s healing

3) The daughter’s resurrection

• Conclusion

2) The daughter’s resurrection

J. B. Hardy wrote “Countdown”

He asks two questions:

• Has death been conquered?• Has death been conquered for me?

3) The daughter’s resurrection

The delay with the sick woman proved deadly for Jairus’ daughter:

“Don’t trouble the teacher”

“We have seen him perform many miracles, but even He cannot raise the dead”

3) The daughter’s resurrection

e) Jesus is imperturbable

(unflappable, unruffled, calm)

“Stop fearing – keep on believing”

“Replace your fear by your faith”

3) The daughter’s resurrection

Funerals in Jesus’ day :

A) you tear your clothes• 39 regulations on how to tear

clothes• while standing – big enough for fist• over heart if relative – else close • 30 days evident it was torn

B) you hire professional wailers

C) you arrange for playing flutes

3) The daughter’s resurrection

Notice how quickly their professional wailing turns to laughing at Jesus

Jesus redefines death:

“The child is not dead but sleeping.”

“Death is a temporary condition”

3) The daughter’s resurrection

Jesus performs the miraculous resurrection:

• privately

• away from the incredulous crowd

• in the company of his 3 most intimate disciples

Conclusion

Jesus rewards this man’s faith:

•He heals his daughterpower

•He calls her “little lamb”tenderness

•He meets her need for food care

Our outline• Introduction

1) The ruler’s request

2) The woman’s healing

3) The daughter’s resurrection

• Conclusion

Conclusion

Like Jairus and this woman, do you have a need this morning?

• perhaps like this woman you know that before almighty God you are unclean

• This morning, like Jairus and the

woman, turn to the right person

Conclusion

O Christ, in Thee my soul hath found,And found in Thee alone,The peace, the joy I sought so long,The bliss till now unknown.

I sighed for rest and happiness,I yearned for them, not Thee;But, while I passed my Saviour by,His love laid hold on me.

Conclusion

I tried the broken cisterns, Lord,But, ah, the waters failed;Even as I stooped to drink they fled,And mocked me as I wailed.

Now none but Christ can satisfy,None other Name for me!There’s love, and life, and lasting joy,Lord Jesus, found in Thee.

Conclusion

How happy that we have a God who is:

• directly accessible

• always available

• fully interruptible

• altogether indomitable

• completely imperturbable

Conclusion

How happy that we have a God who:

• demonstrates His power by exercising mercy