Finding Hope and Healing in Christ's Compassion

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus’ Compassion and Power in Our Desperation

When life delivers its hardest blows—chronic illness, grief, or the loss of a loved one—Jesus steps into our pain with breathtaking compassion and life-giving power. In Mark 5, we see Him respond to both a woman suffering for twelve years and a father desperate for his dying daughter, meeting each with personal attention and miraculous healing. These stories remind us that Jesus is not distant from our suffering; He is present, attentive, and able to bring hope even when all earthly hope is gone. When we are overwhelmed by fear or despair, we are invited to turn to Jesus, trusting that His timing, power, and love are greater than our circumstances. [23:33]

Mark 5:21-24, 25-34, 35-43 (ESV)
And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him. 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. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. 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. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel desperate or hopeless right now, and how can you bring that need honestly to Jesus, trusting in His compassion and power today?

Day 2: God’s Goodness in the Midst of Suffering

When grief and suffering threaten to overwhelm us, faith invites us to anchor our hearts in the unchanging goodness of Jesus. Even when we cannot see or feel the good in our circumstances, we are called to remember the sweetness of His character, His past faithfulness, and His ultimate victory over sin and death. Like Jairus, who was asked to believe in Jesus’ goodness even when all hope seemed lost, we are invited to “taste and see that the Lord is good,” letting the memory and conviction of His love become our lifeline in the darkest moments. [37:39]

Psalm 34:8 (ESV)
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Reflection: Recall a specific time when you experienced the goodness of Jesus in your life—how can remembering that “taste” help you trust Him in your current struggles?

Day 3: God’s Sovereignty in Delays and Disappointments

God’s sovereignty means that even the delays, interruptions, and disappointments we experience are not wasted, but are woven into His ultimate good purpose for us. Romans 8:28 assures us that for those who love God, all things—even the painful and confusing—work together for good. The delay that led to Jairus’ daughter’s death became the stage for a greater miracle, revealing more of Jesus’ power and deepening faith. We may not always understand God’s timing, but we can trust that He is at work for our good and His glory, even in the hardest moments. [40:22]

Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Reflection: What is one disappointment or delay you are facing right now, and how might God be inviting you to trust His greater purpose in it?

Day 4: Jesus, Our Suffering Savior, Walks With Us in Grief

Jesus is not only our Savior but also our suffering Savior, intimately acquainted with our grief and pain. He knows what it is to lose, to weep, to feel sorrow, and He promises never to leave us nor forsake us. Our journey through grief is not a series of stages to complete, but a personal walk with Jesus, who understands our sorrows and offers us His presence and comfort. Because of His sacrificial love and resurrection, we can find hope and assurance that our suffering is not the end, and that He is with us every step of the way. [47:41]

Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Reflection: In what area of your grief or pain do you need to invite Jesus to walk with you today, trusting that He truly understands and cares?

Day 5: Comforting Others With the Comfort We Have Received

As followers of Jesus, we are called not only to receive His comfort but also to share it with others who are hurting. When life knocks us down or grief comes home, we are tempted to withdraw, but Jesus empowers us to walk together, encouraging and comforting one another with the hope and truth of the gospel. By prayerfully speaking gospel truths and showing compassion, we help each other see the good in Jesus, even when we cannot see the good in our circumstances. This supernatural love and support is a vital part of our journey as a church family. [48:53]

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Reflection: Who in your life is hurting or grieving right now, and how can you intentionally reach out to offer them comfort and encouragement in Christ this week?

Sermon Summary

This morning, we gathered as a family of faith, reminded that God has made us alive with Christ and called us together in the fellowship and mission of the gospel. We confessed the sobering reality that every sin is an offense against God’s holiness and that his righteous judgment is certain. Yet, we also celebrated the hope and mercy found in Christ, who saves us by grace and calls us to walk in newness of life. Our journey as disciples is not one we walk alone, but together, across generations, encouraging one another to grow in faith and maturity.

Turning to Mark 5, we entered into the stories of two daughters—one suffering for twelve years, the other dying suddenly—and witnessed Jesus’ breathtaking compassion and power. In the face of chronic illness, despair, and even death, Jesus steps in, not hurried by our sense of urgency, but moving according to his divine wisdom. He meets the suffering woman with healing and affirmation, calling her “daughter” and restoring her to wholeness. For Jairus, whose daughter dies while Jesus is delayed, Jesus calls for faith beyond fear, demonstrating that his authority extends even over death itself.

These intertwined stories speak to the deep pain and grief that touch every life. They remind us that it is normal to hurt in a broken world, and that Jesus is not distant from our suffering. He is the Savior who absorbs our weakness, who is acquainted with grief, and who walks with us through every valley. Even when God’s timing confounds us, and when hope seems lost, we are invited to trust in the goodness and sovereignty of Christ. The delays and interruptions that seem to worsen our pain may, in God’s hands, become the very means by which his glory and our faith are deepened.

We are called to grieve, but not as those without hope. The death and resurrection of Jesus assure us that sin and death do not have the final word. In our suffering, we look to the character and actions of Christ, finding comfort and strength to persevere. As a church, we are empowered to comfort one another, to speak gospel truth into each other’s pain, and to walk together in hope. At the Lord’s Table, we remember and proclaim the salvation Christ has won for us, committing ourselves anew to follow him as one body, even as we await the day when all sorrow will be turned to joy.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus Meets Us in Our Desperation and Suffering The stories of Jairus and the bleeding woman reveal that Jesus is not indifferent to our pain. He steps into our most desperate moments, listens to our fears, and responds with compassion and power. Even when all earthly hope is gone, he invites us to trust him, showing that his presence is our greatest comfort in suffering. [23:33]
2. God’s Timing and Purposes Surpass Our Understanding Jesus’ delay in reaching Jairus’ daughter seemed like a cruel twist, yet it became the occasion for a greater miracle. Our sense of urgency does not dictate God’s agenda; his delays are not denials but opportunities for deeper faith and greater revelation of his glory. Trusting God means believing that even in apparent setbacks, he is working for our good and his purposes. [40:22]
3. Faith Anchors Us in the Goodness of Christ, Not in Circumstances When life is bitter and hope seems lost, faith is not a denial of pain but a turning toward the unchanging character of Jesus. We are called to “taste and see” his goodness, to remember his faithfulness in the past, and to let that memory sustain us in the present. True hope is rooted not in what we see, but in who Christ is and what he has done. [39:14]
4. The Gospel Transforms Our Grief and Gives Us Hope The death and resurrection of Jesus do not erase the reality of suffering, but they transform it. Sin is serious and brings death, but Christ’s sacrifice removes our guilt and fear, offering forgiveness and eternal life. Grief becomes a journey we walk with our Savior, who is intimately acquainted with sorrow and who promises never to leave us. [44:33]
5. We Are Called to Walk Together, Comforting One Another in Christ Suffering and grief often tempt us to withdraw, but the way of Jesus is to walk together, bearing one another’s burdens. We are empowered to comfort others with the comfort we have received, to speak gospel truth into each other’s pain, and to help one another see the goodness of Jesus even when we cannot see the good in our circumstances. This is how we embody Christ’s love and hope in a hurting world. [48:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Announcements and Affirmation of New Student Director
[03:00] - Confession of Faith and Reflection on Sin
[05:30] - Prayer for Mercy and Grace
[08:07] - The Gift of Salvation and Preparing for Worship
[09:30] - Summer Family Discipleship Program
[12:00] - Introduction to Mark 5 and Mother’s Day Reflections
[18:30] - Personal Story of Grief and Suffering
[23:33] - Jesus Meets Desperation: Jairus and the Bleeding Woman
[27:26] - Jesus’ Compassion and Divine Authority
[35:25] - Lessons from Suffering and Grief
[39:14] - Anchoring Faith in the Goodness of Christ
[42:31] - The Gospel’s Comfort in Grief
[44:33] - The Death and Resurrection of Jesus: Our Hope
[47:41] - Walking Together in Grief and Hope
[51:32] - The Lord’s Supper and Church Covenant
[54:11] - Closing Hymn and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In Mark 5:21–43, what are the circumstances that bring both Jairus and the bleeding woman to Jesus? How are their situations similar and how are they different?
When the woman touches Jesus’ garment, what is Jesus’ response to her, and what does he call her? Why is this significant? ([28:10])
How does Jesus respond when Jairus receives the news that his daughter has died? What does he say to Jairus in that moment? ([29:55])
What is the reaction of the people in Jairus’s house when Jesus says the child is not dead but sleeping? How does Jesus handle their response? ([25:57])

Interpretation Questions

What does it reveal about Jesus’ character that he stops to speak with the bleeding woman, even though Jairus’s daughter is dying? ([28:10])
Why do you think Jesus tells Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe,” even after it seems too late? What kind of faith is Jesus calling for? ([29:55])
The sermon mentioned that Jesus is not hurried by our sense of urgency but moves according to his divine wisdom. How does this challenge our expectations of how God should respond to our prayers? ([40:22])
The message said that Jesus’ authority extends even over death. How does this truth affect the way we view suffering and loss as followers of Christ? ([44:33])

Application Questions

The sermon said, “It’s normal to hurt and grieve in a broken world.” When have you felt like Jairus or the bleeding woman—desperate, hurting, or hopeless? How did you respond, and what did you learn about Jesus in that season? ([35:25])
Jesus met both Jairus and the woman in their suffering. Is there an area of pain or struggle in your life where you need to invite Jesus in, trusting his compassion and power? What would it look like to do that this week? ([23:33])
The sermon talked about God’s timing and how delays or interruptions can deepen our faith. Can you think of a time when God seemed slow to answer your prayers? Looking back, how did that experience shape your faith or understanding of God? ([40:22])
“Faith anchors us in the goodness of Christ, not in circumstances.” When life is bitter or hope seems lost, what helps you remember the goodness of Jesus? Are there specific practices or reminders that help you “taste and see” his goodness? ([39:14])
The message said, “We are called to grieve, but not as those without hope.” How can you walk with someone else in their grief or suffering this week? Is there someone you need to reach out to, encourage, or simply be present with? ([47:41])
Suffering and grief often tempt us to withdraw from others. When you are hurting, do you tend to isolate yourself or seek support? What steps can you take to let others walk with you, or to walk with someone else, in hard times? ([48:53])
At the Lord’s Table, we remember Christ’s sacrifice and commit to follow him together. How does sharing communion with your church family encourage you in your faith, especially during seasons of pain or loss? ([51:32])

Sermon Clips

Jesus is our compassionate savior, who lovingly consoles us in our grief. We can find comfort in our hurt. Jesus is a healing savior, who compassionately speaks eternal truth into our earthly wounds. We can grieve with hope. [00:48:18] (21 seconds) Edit Clip

Jairus had come to Jesus hoping for healing from a terminal illness, a desperate plea for a fever cure. He received a resurrection from the dead. And notice the critical detail: remember Jairus is a synagogue ruler, he's the guy that would read the Old Testament to the people every sabbath day. Jairus knows the Old Testament, he knows about the only other two people to raise the dead, Elijah and Elisha, and he knows how Elijah and Elisha they prayed to God to raise the dead. Jesus doesn't pray. Jesus just speaks a word, his own authority, and the implication is staggering. [00:33:58] (43 seconds) Edit Clip

But Jesus operates according to his own purposes, not ours, and our human sense of emergency isn't always his divine priority. He often uses these very moments of perceived delay, these interruptions that we call them, to deepen our faith, to show us more of who he is. Jesus will not be hurried. Jesus never runs anywhere. He's not rushed by our agenda. [00:30:43] (34 seconds) Edit Clip

We can grieve, but we can grieve with hope, a hope that is anchored in the goodness of God, as Peter says, the sovereignty, the sovereign purposes of God, as Paul says. When we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, and when we trust that he works all things together for good, then even when life knocks us down, when grief comes to our home, we can still find our footing on the unshakable reality of who Jesus is and what he's done for us and for our salvation. [00:43:07] (40 seconds) Edit Clip

He's acquainted with his grief, but he's also acquainted with your grief. And he said to you, I will never leave you nor forsake you. And this promise isn't grounded in mere sentiment, thoughts and prayers, hopeful words. No, Christ Jesus has decisively, irrefutably proven his commitment to you, to us through his ultimate self-sacrificing, self-giving love, his voluntary sacrificial death on the cross. [00:46:58] (28 seconds) Edit Clip

But the good news is Mark 5 isn't just what Jesus could do then, back then for them. It's about who he is and what he means for us now. It means it's possible to find comfort even in our greatest hurt. It's possible to grieve with a profound and resilient hope. [00:36:30] (22 seconds) Edit Clip

So what seemed like a devastating setback was used by God to show something even more profound, bringing Jairus to faith and maturity in that faith. And so faith in Christ empowers us. It empowers us to find comfort, not because our circumstances are always comfortable, but because we know the one who is with us in the circumstances. [00:42:17] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

Jesus is an empowering savior, who mightily enables us to comfort one another with the comfort that we've received from God. That it's supernatural to love in the midst of loss. And in our journey, we will grieve together. We will hope together. And when we can't see the good in our hurt and pain, let us see the good in Jesus and walk with him. [00:48:39] (28 seconds) Edit Clip

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the significance of Jesus raising the dead?

How does faith influence healing and hope during suffering?

In what ways does God's sovereignty shape our grief?