Faith Triumphs Over Fear: Miracles in Luke 8

 

Summary

In today's exploration of Luke 8:40-56, we delve into the profound theme of "Faith Not Fear." This passage uniquely presents two intertwined miracles, highlighting the power of faith over fear. As Jesus returns to Galilee, he is met by Jairus, a synagogue ruler, who pleads for the healing of his dying daughter. On the way to Jairus's house, a woman suffering from a twelve-year hemorrhage touches Jesus' garment in faith and is healed. Despite the interruption, Jesus reassures Jairus with the words, "Do not fear, only believe," and proceeds to raise Jairus's daughter from the dead.

The narrative invites us to reflect on our own lives, where fear often overshadows faith. We are reminded that Jesus enters our troubles, saves the outcasts, and even has power over death. Jairus, despite his social standing, is brought to his knees by his daughter's illness, illustrating that no one is immune to life's challenges. Yet, it is in these moments of desperation that faith can flourish. Similarly, the woman with the issue of blood, ostracized and desperate, finds healing through her faith in Jesus. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of faith, which not only heals but also restores dignity and peace.

The sermon challenges us to examine the areas in our lives where fear has taken root. Whether it's fear of the unknown, fear of societal rejection, or fear of death, Jesus calls us to replace these fears with faith. We are encouraged to trust in Jesus, who is not troubled by our troubles and who meets us in our moments of deepest need. The resurrection of Jairus's daughter serves as a powerful reminder that Jesus has authority over life and death, offering us hope beyond the grave.

Key Takeaways:

- Jesus Enters Our Trouble: Jairus's story reminds us that Jesus is not troubled by our troubles. He enters into our pain and meets us at our point of need, offering hope and healing. In moments of desperation, we are invited to fall at Jesus' feet, trusting that He is with us in our trials. [10:38]

- Jesus Saves the Outcast: The healing of the woman with the issue of blood illustrates that Jesus reaches out to those society deems untouchable. Her faith, though trembling, is met with compassion and healing, showing that Jesus' power is available to all who reach out in faith. [15:10]

- Jesus Raises the Dead: The resurrection of Jairus's daughter demonstrates Jesus' authority over death. This miracle foreshadows the ultimate victory over death through Jesus' own resurrection, offering believers hope and assurance of eternal life. [33:06]

- Faith Over Fear: The recurring exhortation to "not fear, only believe" challenges us to confront our fears with faith. Whether facing illness, societal rejection, or death, we are called to trust in Jesus' power and presence. [36:16]

- The Transformative Power of Faith: Both Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood experience life-changing encounters with Jesus through their faith. These stories encourage us to bring our fears and needs to Jesus, trusting in His ability to transform our lives. [40:03]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Luke 8:40-56
- [02:15] - Jesus Returns to Galilee
- [03:45] - Jairus's Plea for His Daughter
- [05:20] - The Woman with the Issue of Blood
- [07:10] - Faith Not Fear: A Central Theme
- [10:38] - Jesus Enters Our Trouble
- [15:10] - Jesus Saves the Outcast
- [18:55] - The Power of Faith and Healing
- [24:27] - Jesus' Compassion and Authority
- [33:06] - Jesus Raises the Dead
- [36:16] - Faith Over Fear
- [40:03] - The Transformative Power of Faith
- [42:44] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Faith Not Fear

Bible Reading:
- Luke 8:40-56

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the two miracles that occur in Luke 8:40-56, and how are they connected? [03:45]

2. How does Jesus respond to Jairus when he hears about his daughter's death? [10:38]

3. What is the significance of the woman's action of touching Jesus' garment, and what was her condition before this? [15:10]

4. How does Jesus address the woman after she is healed, and what does this reveal about His character? [24:27]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why might Jesus have chosen to perform these two miracles in such a public and intertwined manner? What does this say about His ministry? [03:45]

2. How does the phrase "Do not fear, only believe" serve as a central theme in this passage, and what does it imply about the nature of faith? [36:16]

3. In what ways does the story of Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood challenge societal norms and expectations of that time? [15:10]

4. How does the resurrection of Jairus's daughter foreshadow the ultimate victory over death through Jesus' own resurrection? [33:06]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when fear overshadowed your faith. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now in light of Jesus' words, "Do not fear, only believe"? [36:16]

2. Jairus, despite his social standing, fell at Jesus' feet in desperation. Are there areas in your life where pride might be preventing you from seeking help or falling at Jesus' feet? [10:38]

3. The woman with the issue of blood was considered an outcast. Is there someone in your life who might feel like an outcast? How can you reach out to them with compassion and faith? [15:10]

4. Jesus' power is available to all who reach out in faith. What is one area of your life where you need to reach out to Jesus in faith for healing or transformation? [24:27]

5. The resurrection of Jairus's daughter offers hope beyond the grave. How does this hope influence your perspective on life and death? [33:06]

6. Consider the fears that dominate your thoughts, whether they are about the future, societal rejection, or something else. What steps can you take this week to confront these fears with faith? [40:03]

7. How can you cultivate a community or environment that encourages faith over fear, both in your personal life and within your church or small group? [42:44]

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Meets Us in Our Desperation
In the story of Jairus, we see a man of high social standing brought to his knees by the illness of his daughter. Despite his position, Jairus is not immune to life's challenges, and in his desperation, he turns to Jesus. This narrative reminds us that Jesus is not troubled by our troubles. He enters into our pain and meets us at our point of need, offering hope and healing. In moments of desperation, we are invited to fall at Jesus' feet, trusting that He is with us in our trials. [10:38]

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel desperate or overwhelmed? How can you invite Jesus into that situation today, trusting Him to meet you in your need?


Day 2: Faith Reaches Beyond Social Barriers
The healing of the woman with the issue of blood illustrates that Jesus reaches out to those society deems untouchable. Her faith, though trembling, is met with compassion and healing, showing that Jesus' power is available to all who reach out in faith. This story is a testament to the transformative power of faith, which not only heals but also restores dignity and peace. [15:10]

"And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse." (Mark 5:24-26, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a social barrier or stigma that you feel holds you back from reaching out in faith? How can you take a step today to overcome that barrier and seek Jesus' healing and compassion?


Day 3: Jesus' Authority Over Life and Death
The resurrection of Jairus's daughter demonstrates Jesus' authority over death. This miracle foreshadows the ultimate victory over death through Jesus' own resurrection, offering believers hope and assurance of eternal life. It serves as a powerful reminder that Jesus has authority over life and death, offering us hope beyond the grave. [33:06]

"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22, ESV)

Reflection: How does the assurance of Jesus' authority over life and death impact your perspective on your own mortality? What steps can you take to live with a greater sense of hope and purpose today?


Day 4: Confronting Fear with Faith
The recurring exhortation to "not fear, only believe" challenges us to confront our fears with faith. Whether facing illness, societal rejection, or death, we are called to trust in Jesus' power and presence. This call to faith over fear is a central theme in the intertwined miracles of Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood. [36:16]

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" (Psalm 56:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific fear that you are currently facing. How can you actively choose to confront this fear with faith today, trusting in Jesus' power and presence?


Day 5: The Transformative Power of Faith
Both Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood experience life-changing encounters with Jesus through their faith. These stories encourage us to bring our fears and needs to Jesus, trusting in His ability to transform our lives. Faith is not just a passive belief but an active trust that leads to transformation and renewal. [40:03]

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when your faith led to a transformative experience in your life. How can you continue to cultivate an active and transformative faith in your daily walk with Jesus?

Quotes



"On the left and the right, would to God somebody raise up somebody say, let's not be afraid. And sometimes even religion can exploit our fear rather than elevate our faith." [00:06:56] (14 seconds)


"Moms and dads, how often are you operating on your parental principles based on fear, not faith? I'm a parent. I feel it often." [00:07:08] (12 seconds)


"Afraid of what they're exposed to. Afraid of what they're going to. Afraid, afraid, afraid. And faith disappears and fear causes us to retreat and to hide. Well, Jesus says to these individuals, but he still speaks to us today, do not be afraid, only believe." [00:07:20] (19 seconds)


"And there's three things that we want to believe about Jesus because we don't have faith in faith, we have faith in Jesus. Amen? The reason we don't have to be afraid is because we have a living Savior who still operates the way he does in our Bible. He still operates this way today. So put them on the screen. These are the three things we'll discover from Luke chapter 8 about faith over fear. First, do not fear, believe that Jesus, first he enters our trouble." [00:07:38] (28 seconds)


"We'll look at the life of Jairus and the trouble that he was experiencing and now Jesus enters into our trouble that we are not a trouble to him. He enters into our trouble. Secondly, do not fear, believe Jesus saves the outcasts. We're going to look at this woman who has a discharge of blood and she's not only sick, she's also ostracized from society, but she's not ostracized from Jesus. Jesus saves the outcasts. And thirdly and finally, do not fear, believe Jesus raises the dead. We'll look at this miraculous resurrection of this child that we didn't read, but we'll see on display and talk about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and how it removes the fear of death in our lives. So let's look at first, do not fear, believe Jesus enters our trouble." [00:08:07] (47 seconds)


"We already saw the beginning where Jairus falls down at his feet imploring Jesus. I don't want to read the entirety, but look at verses 49 and 50 again, because Jesus is interrupted by the crowds and by this secondary healing, which we'll look at in a moment, and he has slowed down. And while he was still speaking, verse 49, someone from the ruler's house came to him and said, your daughter is dead." [00:08:54] (26 seconds)


"Listen to this, do not trouble the teacher anymore. Verse 50, but." [00:09:20] (9 seconds)


"But Jesus, on hearing this, answered him, do not fear, only believe, and she will be well. The first thing we have to believe about Jesus is that he enters into our trouble. I love the but there right after he says, do not trouble the teacher. It's like, this is a bother to Jesus. Don't bother Jesus anymore with your troubles. It's too late for Jesus to help you. And then Jesus intercepts and says, hey, this is no trouble at all. I've come to enter into your suffering and into your trouble and to meet you at the very point of pain. Now we're introduced to Jairus a little bit earlier in the text, verses 40 to 42, and then we're suspended while we watch the secondary miracle." [00:09:21] (46 seconds)


"But Jairus is described to us as a very important person. He's the ruler of the synagogue." [00:10:22] (7 seconds)


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Transcript
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