Close to Jesus: From Fear to Peace and Purpose

Mar 11, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Whitewashed Tombs and Unwashed Hands

The Pharisees watched Jesus’ disciples eat with unwashed hands. They demanded explanations for this breach of tradition. Jesus quoted Isaiah: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” He exposed their polished exteriors hiding dead hearts. Rituals had become masks for rebellion. [16:53]

Jesus rejected surface-level righteousness. He cared more about the posture of the heart than the cleanliness of hands. The Pharisees feared losing control—their entire identity rested on rule-keeping. But God sees past performances to our core.

Many of us polish our reputations while neglecting secret sins. We fear others discovering our mess. What if you stopped managing appearances and let Jesus clean your inner life? Where are you scrubbing harder at the surface while ignoring rot within?

“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
(Mark 7:6-7, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal one area where you’ve prioritized appearances over authentic transformation.

Challenge: Write down three words that describe your internal spiritual state—not your external image.

Day 2: Rebuking Waves and Racing Hearts

Wind tore the disciples’ sails. Waves swamped their boat. Jesus slept on a cushion. They shook Him awake, screaming, “Don’t You care if we drown?” He stood, commanded the storm, then asked, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” Their terror shifted from the storm to the One holding the storm. [35:25]

The disciples feared drowning more than they trusted their Captain. Jesus didn’t promise calm seas—He proved His authority over chaos. Storms reveal where we place our confidence: in circumstances or the Christ who rules them.

You’ve felt waves this week—a diagnosis, a conflict, a collapsing plan. Like the disciples, you might accuse Jesus of sleeping through your crisis. What if His peace isn’t dependent on your panic? What storm are you trying to control instead of clinging to Him?

“He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
(Mark 4:39, ESV)

Prayer: Name one “storm” you’re facing and ask Jesus for faith to trust His authority over it.

Challenge: Set a timer for three minutes tonight. Sit in silence, imagining Jesus saying “Peace” to your greatest fear.

Day 3: Pigs Drowned and Invitations Denied

The Gerasenes begged Jesus to leave. He’d just healed a demon-possessed man, but 2,000 drowned pigs felt too costly. They valued livestock over liberation, comfort over Christ. Fear of disruption outweighed hunger for miracles. Jesus honored their request—He never forces His presence. [39:07]

The townspeople preferred manageable chaos over transformative power. Jesus’ work often disrupts systems we’ve learned to tolerate. When He cleans house, it’s messy—but He leaves peace in His wake.

What have you asked Jesus to avoid fixing because the process scares you? A relationship? An addiction? A grudge? Are you clinging to familiar pigs while rejecting the Healer? What brokenness have you labeled “untouchable” to protect your comfort?

“And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.”
(Mark 5:17, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one area you’ve asked Jesus to avoid because change feels too costly.

Challenge: Text a trusted friend: “Pray I embrace Jesus’ work in my life—even when it’s disruptive.”

Day 4: Five Loaves in Shaking Hands

The disciples saw 5,000 hungry people. Jesus saw a teaching moment. “You feed them,” He said. They balked—five loaves and two fish couldn’t feed a crowd. But Jesus took their insufficiency and multiplied it. The miracle required their participation, not their perfection. [46:00]

God’s purposes often exceed our resources. He doesn’t need your adequacy—He wants your availability. The disciples’ fear of failure almost made them miss the feast. Jesus specializes in stretching small obediences into abundance.

You’ve held back your “loaves”—time, talents, forgiveness—because they feel too meager. What if Jesus waits to multiply what you release to Him? Where is He saying, “You do it,” not to shame you, but to show His power through your surrender?

“How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”
(Mark 6:38, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for one seemingly small resource you possess, asking Him to use it boldly.

Challenge: Donate a meal, write an encouraging note, or give $5 to someone—today.

Day 5: “Daughter, Go in Peace”

Blood stained the woman’s clothes for twelve years. She pushed through the crowd, touched Jesus’ robe, and froze when He asked, “Who touched Me?” Trembling, she confessed. Jesus didn’t scold—He called her “daughter.” Healing came through her fingers; peace came through His words. [52:49]

Proximity to Jesus brings more than miracles—it brings identity. The woman got healing before facing Him, but only His voice brought peace. Fear melts when He speaks our true name: Beloved.

You’ve sought solutions more than the Savior. Maybe you’ve grabbed for blessings while keeping Jesus at arm’s length. What would change if you pressed close enough to hear Him call you “son” or “daughter”? When will you stop settling for healing and start craving the Healer?

“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
(Mark 5:34, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to speak His affirming name over you today—then listen.

Challenge: Write “Daughter, go in peace” or “Son, go in peace” on your mirror. Read it aloud each morning.

Sermon Summary

Announcements open with practical updates on parking, a growing biblical counseling ministry, an upcoming sabbatical, and a summer retreat at Inspiration Point. The reading of Mark becomes the main focus, framing the gospel as Peter’s fast-paced account meant to show Jesus’ words and works and to leave the question of his identity before each reader. Mark exposes a persistent human response to Jesus: fear. That fear appears in different forms among the Pharisees, townspeople, disciples, and even those healed by him. The Pharisees fear losing status and control when Jesus disrupts religious formality. Townspeople fear economic and social cost after a dramatic deliverance. The disciples fear risk and misunderstanding, often following at a distance rather than stepping into trust.

Mark’s stories move quickly from miracle to confrontation to question, and the recurring question becomes why people resist intimacy with Jesus. Intimacy with Jesus changes the heart first, not merely outward behavior; true purification comes from inward transformation rather than external compliance. Proximity to Jesus also issues purpose. Encounters that expose human need lead to invitations to participate: bring what is available, and God will multiply it for the kingdom. Finally, closeness with Jesus brings peace rooted in identity. The healed woman who touched Jesus received both physical restoration and a divine declaration, "Go in peace," showing that being known and affirmed by Christ resolves the deeper unrest that miracles alone cannot settle. The gospel of Mark presses readers to choose between keeping life at a safe distance or stepping near enough to hear Jesus call by name, receive purpose, and rest in his peace.

Key Takeaways

1. Fear is a recurring response Fear shows up as resistance to change, suspicion of authority, and reluctance to risk what feels secure. Identifying fear clarifies motives behind rejection of Jesus: fear protects status, possessions, and comfort more than it seeks truth or healing. Naming the specific fear allows for honest prayer and targeted trust. Recognizing this pattern opens the way for faith to move from avoidance to pursuit. [27:17]
2. Proximity transforms heart and life Closer contact with Jesus targets inner sin and reshapes desires rather than merely adjusting outward behavior. Transformation starts with confession and forgiveness that reorders identity, not performance. Letting Jesus "polish the heart" produces the good works that flow authentically from a renewed inner life. True change begins where the heart is formed. [18:13]
3. Purpose flows from nearness to Jesus Intimacy with Jesus converts spectators into participants by calling ordinary resources into kingdom use. When God asks, "What do you have?" the honest offering becomes the occasion for divine multiplication and apprenticeship. Purpose often arrives as an invitation to act despite perceived insufficiency, and obedience trains deeper trust. Participation reveals God’s methods and enlarges faith. [46:00]
4. Peace requires closeness with Christ Miraculous change does not guarantee lasting peace; peace issues from being known and affirmed by Jesus. The divine words "Go in peace" attach identity and rest to healing, signaling that restoration includes relational belonging. Peace sustains through ambiguity and cost when rooted in the conviction that Jesus is for the one he calls. Closeness with Christ anchors the soul amid uncertainty. [52:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:24] - Parking and Building Updates
[02:38] - Biblical Counseling Available
[03:23] - Sabbatical Announcement
[03:53] - Church Retreat Details
[05:41] - Worship and Opening Prayer
[13:05] - Song of Praise
[24:18] - Introducing the Gospel of Mark
[28:47] - Paralytic and Forgiveness
[30:15] - Calling Levi and Eating with Sinners
[32:07] - Conflict with the Pharisees
[34:37] - Calming the Storm
[36:24] - Gerasene Demoniac and Reaction
[44:38] - Feeding the Five Thousand
[48:20] - Woman Healed and "Go in Peace"
[56:17] - Closing Prayer and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Mark 5:24-34 (ESV)
24 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.”

Observation Questions

In Mark 5:33, the woman who was healed came to Jesus “in fear and trembling.” What specific reasons might explain her fear, even after experiencing physical healing?
When Jesus calms the storm in Mark 4:39-41, the disciples respond with “great fear.” What does their reaction reveal about their understanding of Jesus’ identity at that moment? [35:25]
The townspeople in Mark 5:15-17 beg Jesus to leave after he heals the demon-possessed man. What practical concerns (economic, social, etc.) might have driven their fear? [37:52]
How does Jesus redefine the woman’s identity in Mark 5:34 when he calls her “daughter” and tells her to “go in peace”?

Interpretation Questions

Why do both miracles (healing the woman and calming the storm) result in fear rather than immediate joy or confidence in those who witness them? What does this suggest about human responses to divine power?
The sermon mentions that “proximity to Jesus converts spectators into participants” (e.g., the disciples being told to feed the crowd). How does Jesus’ command to “bring what you have” in Mark 6:38 challenge our assumptions about sufficiency? [46:00]
The healed woman’s story shows that physical restoration did not automatically bring peace. Why is relational closeness with Jesus necessary for lasting peace, even after a miracle? [52:04]
The Pharisees feared losing control (Mark 2:6-7), while Peter followed Jesus “at a distance” out of fear (Mark 14:54). How do these different forms of fear reveal what people value more than intimacy with Christ?

Application Questions

The woman in Mark 5 risked everything to touch Jesus’ cloak. What fears or “practical concerns” (like the townspeople’s economic worries) might keep you from pursuing closeness with Jesus today? [38:34]
Jesus told the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40). Where in your life are you holding back from trusting God because of fear of risk, misunderstanding, or loss of control?
The sermon says, “God asks, ‘What do you have?’” How can you offer your “five loaves and two fish”—your current resources, time, or gifts—even if they feel insufficient for what God is calling you to do? [46:00]
The healed woman received peace only after Jesus spoke directly to her. What practical step could you take this week to draw near enough to Jesus to hear him affirm your identity and purpose?
Are there areas where you’re following Jesus “at a distance” (like Peter) to avoid the cost of full obedience? What would it look like to move closer? [40:48]
The sermon warns against valuing comfort, status, or security over intimacy with Christ. Which of these do you most struggle to surrender, and how might that hinder your peace or purpose?
When has God’s call to participate in His work (e.g., serving, forgiving, or loving others) felt scary? How did obedience deepen your understanding of His character?

Sermon Clips

52s

#FollowCloserToJesus

“Are you guilty of following Jesus at a distance? Are you afraid of what might happen if you get a little bit closer to Jesus? If you go all out for him. Are you following Jesus at what you consider to be a safe distance? The reason people were afraid of Jesus was because they didn't understand exactly who he was. Church, we have all of God's word describing who Jesus is. We do not have to be afraid of getting too close to Jesus. What happens when you come into close proximity to Jesus is you receive peace and purpose.”

59s

#JesusReachesOut

“I have good news today. Today, you are in close proximity to Jesus. And I'm called to remind you of this truth. And today, you don't have to reach out your hand to touch his cloak. Jesus reaches out to touch you, to give you purpose, to bring you peace. And he calls you by name and says, come. Come receive the same words that I gave to this woman many years ago. He comes to say, son, daughter, follow me. Be at peace. I am for you. I'm not against you. Let's pray.”

46s

#PeaceInProximity

“Church, there's much fear in this world, and I won't claim to know what you're fearing today, what fears you have in your life, or in your jobs, or in your families, or in our country, in our own spiritual, emotional, or physical health. I don't know what fear is in your midst, but I'm here to tell you today that if you want peace, it won't be found anywhere else but being right next to Jesus Christ. And if you want peace, true peace, then you need to make sure that you are in close proximity to Jesus so that you can be within earshot so that he can constantly remind you of who you are and speak peace into your life. Jesus loves you way too much for you to be okay with fine.”

57s

#RightWithJesus

“When you are in close proximity to Jesus, you're close enough to hear his words. You're close enough for him to call you by name, close enough to hear what he thinks of you. Daughter, go in peace. Church, there's one thing that will create peace in your life. One thing, and that is being right with the king Jesus Christ. And to know that he is for you and he's not against you. Everybody in this gospel of Mark is unsure is Jesus for me or against me. He's sitting with sinners. I don't know how to read that. Is that a good thing or bad thing?”

48s

#JesusIsForYou

“Everybody in this gospel of Mark is unsure is Jesus for me or against me. He's sitting with sinners. I don't know how to read that. Is that a good thing or bad thing? He's teaching with all this authority. He's definitely got power. We've seen him walk on water. We've seen him calm the storm by the waves. We've seen him do miraculous things. I just don't know if he's for me or not. He's powerful, but is he for me? Healing did not give this gal peace. Being right with Jesus brought her peace. Being in relationship with Jesus is what gave her peace.”

29s

#HealedNeedsPeace

“She knows that he could have possibly healed her. He got that, but now it's like, I'm in trouble, and I don't know if this guy what who he is, how he's going to treat me. You think she'd be the happiest person on the planet right now. Twelve year battle, everything she sacrificed, she's finally healthy. But with the emotions in the scriptures, she's not excited, she's not content, she's not praising, she's afraid, and she's trembling of what this man Jesus is gonna do with her. She didn't just need healing. She got that. Now she needs peace.”

40s

#PurposeInProximity

“When you come in close proximity to Jesus, he gives purpose. And that purpose can be scary, but I'll tell you what, it sure beats following him at a distance like Peter was. We get a front row seat of watching God move, and we get to watch how God works, and thus, we get to better understand who he is. When we're in close proximity to Jesus, we find purpose. We are given purpose, and we start to understand who God is. We don't need to be afraid of that. It's good. Even when it doesn't feel good, it is good.”

37s

#FearPushedJesusAway

“They get to see Jesus do a great miracle, and their response is just don't do anymore. We don't understand you enough to trust you in our life or in our community. I'm afraid of you and what else you might have to do. So Jesus, just go. Go, Jesus. We have a lot to lose here. I think we're good enough. You're not worth the risk. And fear pushed Jesus away in this circumstance. Their fear perhaps costed them what would have been the best weeks of their life.”

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Living Word Church | Marshall, MN This sermon · AI assistant

What truly defiles a person, heart or outward?

How does the gospel of Mark portray fear?

What do we gain by close proximity to Jesus?

Close to Jesus: From Fear to Peace and Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: Whitewashed Tombs and Unwashed Hands

Day 2: Rebuking Waves and Racing Hearts

Day 3: Pigs Drowned and Invitations Denied

Day 4: Five Loaves in Shaking Hands

Day 5: “Daughter, Go in Peace”

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Close to Jesus: From Fear to Peace and Purpose

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