Jairus’ Faith Journey
20 August 2017 AM – Mark 5:21-43 – Mr17 – Scott Childs
Introduction: What is faith? When I was a child, I learned a song that said: “Faith is just believing what God said He will do.” Though simple, that is a fairly good definition of faith. Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This verse tells us that faith is both substance (the confidence that God is able to keep His promises) and evidence (the conviction that God will fulfil His unseen promises). In other words, faith in God is acting upon trusted information that He has given us in the Bible.
Transition: This morning I want us to see three stages in Jairus’ faith journey. As we have faith in God, we too will go through these stages.
1. Jairus Activated His Faith (v.21-24)
a. By faith, Jairus sought Jesus’ help
1) He sought actively – he went looking for Jesus (v.22)
2) He sought humbly – he fell at Jesus’ feet (v.22)
3) He sought sincerely – he besought or begged (v.23)
a) His faith was evidenced by these three actions.
b) He actively, humbly, and sincerely believed that Jesus was able to heal his sick daughter.
b. He expressed his faith in simple terms
1) Note his four statements in (v.23).
a) My daughter is about to die (i.e., she was about to draw her last breath of life).
b) Please come lay your hands on her for healing.
c) She will be healed (i.e., saved or delivered from death).
d) And she will live and continue to live.
2) He was acting upon trusted information. He knew Jesus had healed others. He believed that Jesus was able to heal his daughter. Thus, he begged Jesus to heal his daughter.
c. Faith always requires an action
1) The action of faith that saves a person from hell is trust without works.
a) Before a person can be saved, he must be convinced that he is heading for hell. The Bible says in (Ecclesiastes 7:20) “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Again in (Romans 3:23) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death…” Jesus said in (Luke 19:10) “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” In Luke 5:32 He said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (See Rev 21:8)
b) Once a person is convinced he is a sinner heading for hell, he must believe that Jesus paid for his sins in full when He died on the cross and rose again. (1 Peter 3:18) “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (2 Corinthians 5:21) “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
c) Only then can that person by faith place his complete trust in Christ alone to save him. (John 20:31) “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (Romans 10:9) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
d) Saving faith is trusting Jesus alone. (Ephesians 2:8-9) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
2) The action of faith that receives help from God is trust without worry.
a) To ask God for something in faith, we must KNOW what we are asking for is what God wants [a Bible promise]. (1 John 5:14-15) “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
b) We must trust God with the outcome without worrying. (Philippians 4:6-7) “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
2. Jairus’ Faith was Tested (v.25-36)
a. Travel to Jairus’ house was delayed (v.25-29)
1) A sick woman touched Jesus for healing
a) For 12 years she had an issue of blood. Pulpit Commentary states, “This disease was a chronic haemorrhage.”
b) Doctors could not solve the problem.
c) In faith, she believed that touching Jesus would cure her. She was too ashamed to confront Him openly as the bleeding made her ceremonially unclean.
d) She touched Jesus’ coat and was healed instantly. This was her act of faith.
2) Jesus gave her assurance of her healing (v.30-34).
a) He asked, “Who touched Me?” (v.30)
b) She told Jesus the whole truth (v.33).
c) He said she was healed because of her faith (34)
b. Time ran out and Jairus’ daughter died.
1) Human hope was gone (v.35). I would not be surprised if Jesus planned the delay on purpose. Evidently, Jesus wanted Jairus to not only have faith that He could heal, but also faith that He could raise the dead.
2) Jesus immediately encouraged continued faith instead of fear (v.36). Fear is often our first reaction to trials.
3) Having faith that God knows what is best when we would choose another option is sometimes the greatest test of our faith.
4) God sometimes allows our faith to be tested that it may increase.
3. Jairus’ Faith was Rewarded (v.37-43)
a. Jesus took control of the situation
1) He left the crowds on the street. He took only three disciples and the parents with him (v.37).
2) He questioned the mourners (v.38-40).
3) He put out all the mourners (v.40).
b. Jesus raised the girl from the dead (41)
1) He calmly commanded her to get up (v.41). “Talitha cumi” are Aramaic words.
2) Immediately she rose from the dead and got up (v.42). He commanded the parents to feed her (v.43).
3) Not only did Jairus get his daughter healed, but he saw her raised from the dead.
4) Jairus’ faith was rewarded.
c. We too can see the Lord do wonders for us
1) We must have faith. (Proverbs 3:5-6) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
2) When God tests our faith, we must not fear. (Psalms 23:4) “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
3) We must leave the timing with God. God’s time is not always our time. Just because the answer does not come right away it does not mean that God will not answer.
Conclusion: We have looked at three stages of Jairus’ faith journey. He activated his faith. His faith was tested. His faith was rewarded. God wants you to follow the same faith journey.
In faith, ask God to fulfil His Bible promises to you. If God’s answer is delayed, do not fear. Keep trusting Him.
When God rewards your faith, don’t forget to thank the Lord for his goodness. Remembering answers to prayer will increase our faith in God.
Have you placed your faith in Christ for salvation? If not, there is nothing more needful than that. Christ paid your debt in full. You can trust him. Place your faith in Him today!
Song: Trust and Obey 261