DO NOT BE AFRAID; JUST BELIEVE (Outline)
MARK 5:21-24; 35-43 - June 26, 2005 - PENTECOST 6
INTRO: One of mankind’s great fears is the fear of the unknown. Very often many people get them-selves overly excited about the uncertainty of the future. Many worry about the things that might happen or might not happen. There are worries about the weather, the harvest, and the economy. All of these things are often unknown and can easily become a source of concern. Did you also know that some could worry about that which is known? Someone once said: The only two things certain in this life are death and taxes. The reality is that no one really likes to face either one. "Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come? No man has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the day of his death"(ECCLESIASTES 8:7,8). Mere mortals cannot control the wind or the day of their death. In today’s text we have the very comforting words of Jesus: Do not be afraid; just believe. As be-lievers, by grace, we are able to do that very thing – not fear the unknown or the known because of faith.
DO NOT BE AFRAID; JUST BELIEVE
I. There is a certain fear concerning death
II. There is a greater certainty of eternal life through Christ.
I. THERE IS A CERTAIN FEAR CONCERNING DEATH
A. We heard last week how Jesus crossed over the lake with his disciples (Mark 4:35ff).
1. Jesus returns. Verse 21. The crowds still gathered around him. Jesus was still popular.
2. Last week Jesus stilled the storm for his disciples. Then Jesus drove out demons.
B. The crowd is anxious for Jesus to help them. Verse 22. Even a synagogue ruler comes for help.
1. Verse 23 provides us with the prayerful request of Jairus. His daughter is at the end of life.
2. There is little time left and little hope for Jairus’ daughter. Jesus goes to help in verse 24.
C. There is still a great crush of people following Jesus. Along the way another miracle is performed.
1. Then comes the news that Jairus’ feared. Verse 35. Jairus is told not to bother the teacher.
2. Jairus’ daughter is dead. Now Jesus responds in verse 36. Do not be afraid; just believe.
3. Jesus had heard the fear in Jairus’ request and seen the fear of death in his eyes.
D. At times death can be a fearful thing. You and I have our sinful nature. Our sinful nature is a selfish beast. It does not want to give up our friends or loved ones to death. There is no escape. Our society is fearful of death. Just look at all the ways to stay healthy and live longer. Anything to avoid death. We ought not fear death but respect death as a part of life. It is true that every soul that sins is the soul that will die. Indeed, there is no escape from physical death. All of us will face physical death because of the infection of sin that has contaminated every one of us. "Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death"(JAMES 1:15).
E. Adam and Eve were created by the Lord God Almighty and placed into the Garden of Eden, a perfect place. They could do whatever they wanted with one exception. Adam and Eve were not to eat from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or they will surely die. They did eat. Sin entered the world. We have inherited this corruption from our first parents. We are born sinful. Sin makes certain that we will not live forever on earth. "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned"(ROMANS 5:12).
F. As believers we know that the power of death has been destroyed. Still, death is very often a sad time in our lives. Why is that? Sin has corrupted our perfect and complete knowledge of knowing and doing God’s will. Sin clouds our minds with deception, doubt and despair. Our sinful nature can cause us to have a certain fear concerning death. "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear"(ISAIAH 59:2). On this side of heaven we truly never completely understand God’s will for our lives because of sin. Do not be afraid; just believe.
TRANS: DO NOT BE AFRAID; JUST BELIEVE. There can and might be a certain fear concerning death; BUT, II. There is a greater certainty of eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
II. THERE IS A GREATER CERTAINTY OF ETERNAL LIFE.
A. Jairus was concerned as a father who feared for his only child’s life. Jairus pleaded with Jesus.
1. Jesus goes to help. Jesus continues on even though messengers tell of the daughter’s death.
2. Jesus comforts all who would listen. Do not be afraid; just believe.
B. Verse 37. Jesus limits those who will go with him. The crowd was too large to attend. They arrive.
1. Verse 38. The paid mourners were there. It was quite a commotion.
2. Verse 39. Jesus provides comfort by describing death as a sleep. Death’s sting is removed.
C. In verse 40 the people laugh at Jesus. They are dismissed. Jesus brings the girl back to life, verse 41.
1. The disciples and the parents were utterly and totally amazed in verse 42. What a miracle!
2. We continue to see Jesus’ concern. Verse 43b. The daughter need food, she was hungry.
D. Sin and our sinful nature can easily cause a certain fear concerning death. As believers, by God’s free and abundant grace Jesus’ words ring true: Do not be afraid; just believe. It is only through death that the believer is able to enter into paradise. "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life"(JOHN 5:24). Jesus, by his death and resurrection has conquered death – nor for himself – but for us. Death no longer has any mastery over us. This is the simple and enduring truth of God’s perfect word.
E. We cannot and do not come to a saving knowledge by ourselves or on our own. This is vitally impor-tant for each and every believer. Salvation and eternity is far too important to be entrusted into the hands or plans of sinful man. Jesus comforts us at the time of death by reminding us of the perfect price he paid for our admission into the perfect place of paradise, heaven. "We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him"(1 THESSALO-NIANS 4:14). Again, the sting of death is softened with the term, asleep.
F. Do not be afraid; just believe. By God’s grace we do believe. What is our assurance that death is not to be feared? The first assurance is God’s own promise. The Lord Jesus himself promises eternal life to all those who believe. Jesus’ words of assurance are also backed up his actions of coming back to life. Our human nature and humanness is quite often saddened by death. Even Jesus cried at the death of his friend, Lazarus (John 11:35). Jesus was sad for his friends, Mary and Martha, at their loss. Even in the midst of sadness and sorrow Jesus comforts us with his promises and assurances. "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades"(REVELATION 1:17,18).
CONC.: What a comfort, what a blessing and what an encouragement to hear those words of Jesus, our Savior from eternity and for eternity: Do not be afraid; just believe. As Christians, not only do we hear those words, we also believe them. Because of sin there is a certain fear concerning death. Because of God’s love for us there is a greater certainty of eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. It is most amazing to see that we are saved out of God’s great love that offered up his only Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place. It is most amazing to know and believe we are saved for time and eternity purely out of our heavenly Father’s divine grace. "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ’Death has been swallowed up in victory’"(1 CORINTHIANS 15:54). Do not be afraid; just believe is our daily comfort for eternity! Amen.
Pastor Timm O. Meyer
– radio broadcast 9:05a.m., Sundays on KQNK 106.7FM / 1530 AM & Internet simulcast www.kqnk.com
PENTECOST 6 Readings (ILCW–A) = JEREMIAH 28:5-9; ROMANS 6:1b-11; MATT. 10:34-42
