Faith, Proximity, and the Power of Jesus
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor correcting his use of the word "story" to refer to biblical passages and "characters" to refer to people in the Bible. He then recaps the previous sermon about Jesus crossing the Sea of Galilee and healing a demon-possessed man. The pastor introduces Jairus, the leader of the synagogue in Capernaum, whose daughter is gravely ill. Jairus humbles himself before Jesus, acknowledging his need for Jesus's intervention. Jesus responds to Jairus's faith and begins walking towards Jairus's house, but his journey is interrupted by a time-sensitive matter.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of one's proximity and posture before Jesus, urging the congregation to reflect on their own proximity to Jesus and their approach towards Him. He encourages them to draw near to Jesus in times of desperation and need, and to approach Him with humility and faith, rather than self-sufficiency. The pastor concludes this portion of the sermon by praying for those who recognize their need for Jesus and encourages them to have faith rather than fear.
The pastor then introduces the topic of being an overcomer of death and a responder of faith. He shares personal anecdotes about baking cookies, using these stories as analogies to highlight the importance of not being distracted from what is time-sensitive and important in our spiritual lives. The pastor then reflects on the story of Jesus raising a young girl from the dead, emphasizing the importance of faith and the foreshadowing of the resurrection in Christ.
The pastor focuses on the story of the woman with the issue of blood and Jairus' daughter, highlighting the significance of faith in both situations. The woman, who had been suffering for twelve years, reaches out to touch Jesus' cloak, believing that it will heal her. Jesus acknowledges her faith and tells her that her faith has saved her. Meanwhile, Jairus is informed that his daughter has died. Jesus overhears the news and tells Jairus not to be afraid but to have faith. The pastor emphasizes the importance of faith and encourages believers to trust in Jesus's timing and his ability to answer prayers in unexpected ways.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of proximity and posture before Jesus. He encourages believers to draw near to Jesus in times of need and to approach Him with humility and faith. This is a reminder that our relationship with Jesus is not just about what we say, but also about our actions and attitudes. ([12:45])
- The pastor uses the story of Jairus and his daughter to highlight the importance of faith. Even when faced with the death of his daughter, Jairus is encouraged by Jesus to have faith. This serves as a reminder that faith is crucial in our relationship with Jesus, even in the face of despair and disappointment. ([24:33])
- The pastor uses the story of the woman with the issue of blood to emphasize the power of faith. Despite her suffering, the woman reaches out to touch Jesus' cloak, believing that it will heal her. This serves as a reminder that faith can lead to healing, both physically and spiritually. ([36:12])
- The pastor highlights the significance of human touch and the social and spiritual implications of the woman's condition. This serves as a reminder of the importance of compassion and understanding towards those who are suffering, and the transformative power of Jesus's healing touch. ([48:56])
- The pastor encourages believers to trust in Jesus's timing and his ability to answer prayers in unexpected ways. This serves as a reminder that even when it seems like our prayers are not being answered, it may be part of a bigger picture that we cannot yet see. ([58:23])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Mark 5:21-43
2. Leviticus 15:19-23
Observation Questions:
1. In Mark 5:21-43, what are the two main events that occur and who are the key characters involved?
2. How does the woman with the issue of blood approach Jesus and what is her belief about touching His cloak?
3. What is the reaction of the crowd when Jesus declares that Jairus' daughter is not dead but asleep?
Interpretation Questions:
1. In the context of Leviticus 15:19-23, what social and spiritual implications might the woman with the issue of blood have faced due to her condition?
2. How does Jesus' response to the woman's touch and Jairus' plea reflect on the importance of faith?
3. What does Jesus' ability to raise Jairus' daughter from the dead foreshadow about His own resurrection?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you were in desperate need. How did you approach Jesus during this time and what can you learn from Jairus and the woman's approach?
2. Can you think of a situation in your life where you felt like your prayers were not being answered? How can you apply the lesson of trusting in Jesus's timing and His ability to answer prayers in unexpected ways to this situation?
3. Consider the story of the woman with the issue of blood. How can you demonstrate compassion and understanding towards those who are suffering in your community this week?
4. Reflect on your proximity and posture before Jesus. What is one way you can draw nearer to Him in your daily life?
5. Think about a time when you were distracted from what was time-sensitive and important in your spiritual life. What is one step you can take this week to avoid such distractions?
Devotional
Day 1: Drawing Near to Jesus in Humility and Faith
In times of desperation and need, it is crucial to draw near to Jesus with humility and faith. Our proximity and posture before Jesus are not just about what we say, but also about our actions and attitudes. [12:45]
James 4:8 - "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: Reflect on your proximity and posture towards Jesus. Are there areas in your life where you need to humble yourself and draw closer to Him in faith?
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Day 2: Faith Amidst Despair
Even in the face of despair and disappointment, faith is crucial. The story of Jairus and his daughter serves as a reminder that faith can bring about miracles, even in the most dire circumstances. [24:33]
Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life that seems hopeless. How can you exercise faith in this situation and trust in God's ability to bring about a miracle?
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Day 3: The Healing Power of Faith
Faith can lead to healing, both physically and spiritually. The woman with the issue of blood reached out to touch Jesus' cloak, believing that it would heal her, and her faith was rewarded. [36:12]
Matthew 9:22 - "Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, 'Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.' And instantly the woman was made well."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you need healing? How can you exercise faith like the woman with the issue of blood and reach out to Jesus for healing?
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Day 4: Compassion and Understanding Towards the Suffering
The story of the woman with the issue of blood serves as a reminder of the importance of compassion and understanding towards those who are suffering. Jesus' healing touch transformed her life, showing the transformative power of His love. [48:56]
Luke 6:36 - "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is suffering. How can you show them compassion and understanding, just as Jesus did?
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Day 5: Trusting in Jesus's Timing
Even when it seems like our prayers are not being answered, it may be part of a bigger picture that we cannot yet see. We are encouraged to trust in Jesus's timing and his ability to answer prayers in unexpected ways. [58:23]
Ecclesiastes 3:11 - "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
Reflection: Reflect on a prayer that seems unanswered. Can you trust in Jesus's timing and believe that He is working for your good, even if you can't see it yet?
Quotes
1. "What is your proximity to Jesus if you are desperate if you are in real need what is your proximity can you get yourself closer to Jesus the answer is yes yes you can what is your posture before Jesus do you do you come feeling that you've sort of got most of it sorted or do you come in desperation and fall at Jesus's feet" [27:08]
2. "The first person we meet is gyus okay gyrus he's the the leader of the synagogue in capernium he's he's a spiritual leader in that town he's a got a respected position in in society his daughter is Gravely ill she's close to dying he comes to Jesus and he gets close to him his proximity to Jesus is important here he gets close to Jesus he pleads with Jesus he doesn't just plead with words he changes his position from being standing to lying down he throws himself at Jesus's feet his posture before Jesus changes he he humbles himself before Jesus it's a a public recognition for Jesus that that gyrus needs Jesus to intervene on his behalf so Jesus is uh Jesus respond responds to the faith of gyrus and he's walking with a big crowd to gyrus house they're walking across town Jesus as always is is right at the center of this crowd and people are are jostling around him they're they're bumping into each other because they want to get close to Jesus it's at this point that Jesus interrupts his time sensitive..." [06:15]
3. "Jesus only brings those who have faith inside to see what's going to happen next, those who had no faith Jesus tells to leave. He puts them outside of this amazing incredible moment that's going to happen." [20:18]
4. "The 12-year-old girl is given New Life, the woman suffering for 12 years is given New Life." [21:59]
5. "It also said that she'd been suffering at the hands of Physicians doctors for many years obviously before scientific medicine people were just sort of guessing how to make people better um so one one cure for for bleeding was more blood letting doesn't necessarily seem very sensible to us but the implication go all Beyond just pain discomfort medical things uh and go into spiritual areas as well." #!!08:53!!#
6. "I think this woman has become unaccustomed to human touch she would have had to withdraw from society in many ways she was unable to come to God through the temple she was unable to have people hold her hand you just think what that that might be like now some of us love hugs more than others and that's okay but human touch is still really important." #!!10:30!!#
7. "The detail that she had something to eat is important, it shows us that she's not some ghost or some apparition. She's just sort of a, you know, in one of those weird movies where maybe a family member joins the family but they're a ghost, and yet it's nothing like that. It's not like that. This girl comes back to life, she's eating, she's breathing, she's a living real person." #!!23:43!!#
8. "Jesus is not again some kind of ghost. He is really there, he has been resurrected. This has shown us that he is the Overcomer of death." #!!24:33!!#
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