Against All Odds
Scripture Reference: Mark 5:21-43
Preached at Mount Zion Baptist Church on June 16, 2019
Delivered by Rev. John Daniel Johnson
To all the Father’s among us, Happy Father’s Day. This morning take your Word of God and turn with me to the 5th Chapter of the Book of Mark. Even though I’ll start this message today, because of time, I’ll only be able to bring out only a portion of the message. This message is really in two parts: one where a man receives a blessing; the other where a woman receives a blessing.
Two separate miracles of Christ sandwiched into the same encounter. Since today is the day we remember the sacrifice of our earthly dads, and more importantly, to remember the great sacrifice of our Heavenly Father who sacrificed His only Son that we could have eternal life, I’ll begin with the life-changing encounter that a ruler by the name of Jairus had when he encountered Jesus.
The first three books of the New Testament record both of these miracles that Christ worked in the life of this man and this woman. Both miracles happened only moments apart. In these miracles of Christ we see how Jesus loves us, regardless of our condition, social status, or how much we can offer. One is rich; the other is poor. One is respected and honored; the other rejected and shamed. One is leader in the synagogue; the other was not permitted to enter. One had a 12-year-old dying daughter; the other with a 12-year-old life-taking infirmity. Both of these miracles are going to lead us into understanding that Against All Odds we must seek Jesus, cling to Him, stand with Him and cherish Him more than all things.
Read Text:
This morning we are introduced to our first recipient of Christ’s miracle in this passage. His name is given to us in the first three Gospels as Jairus. He is also described as a ruler of a synagogue in Capernaum. He was not a preacher, teacher or a rabbi, but was primarily in charge of the day to day activities of the synagogue. He was the manager of the building. He was a man chosen by his congregation because was deeply respected, he was a devoted and devout man, and he was a holy man of that possessed the ability to lead. No doubt he was a wealthy man. No doubt he was envied by his peers.
However, on this day, he had heard that Jesus was coming to town. Let me set the background of this miracle. The day before Christ had been in Capernaum teaching and healing. He and His disciples got into a boat and began to sail across the Sea of Galilee. During the voyage, Christ slept, but a mighty storm arose. Fearing for their lives, the disciples awoke Jesus. In return Jesus asked where their faith was. He then rebuked the wind and the winds and water obeyed. They sail to the country of the Gadarenes, opposite of Galilee. There they encounter a man who lived naked among the tombs and cut himself. Christ cast a multitude of demons out of this man. The demons entered a herd of pigs which in turn all ran off the side of a cliff and drown in the sea. Christ then boards the boat again and returns to Capernaum. There the crowd is still waiting. They had been waiting all night for the Savior to return.
When Christ returns, the crowd swarms Him. The Greek language emphasizes that they are pressed against Him. They are all over Him. In the midst of this chaos, Jairus falls at the feet of Jesus. This leads us to our first point of the message. First,
I. Against All Odds, Find Hope at the Feet of Jesus.
Jairus reached a point in his life that it didn't matter what the world could offer. It didn't matter how he appeared before man. He didn't care how the people would react. He knew that there was only One Source of healing for his family. As he approaches Jesus, his daughter is dying. Where most people would be by the deathbed, spending the last few moments with his daughter, Jairus leaves. He leaves the thought of death to run to the Giver of Life.
Throughout Scripture we discover the significance of falling at the feet of Jesus. It is a place of worship, a place of praise, it is a place of lowering ourselves down to His will, and it is a place of learning.
Illustration—over the past few years I’ve seen dozens of shirts and sayings like “Real Men Wear Pink.” Even though this saying is used to raise awareness for breast cancer, it also had to do with people overcoming their ‘phobas.’ From our earliest childhood, little boys like blue and little girls like pink. However, I want to share with you this truth. Real men will love Jesus without reservation. They will worship as an example for their children. They are not ashamed to praise Him. They are not embarrassed for people to see them seeking more of the Lord.
Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
~ Galatians 1:10
II. Against All Odds, Open Your Life for Jesus’ Touch.
Not only does Jairus worship Jesus publically, but he goes one step further. See Jairus didn’t have just a simple request. Could Christ have healed the little girl from His current location? Yes! Could Christ just told Jairus to go home and his daughter would be healed? Yes! But Jairus just want a blessing from Christ; he needed a touch from Him. Scripture states,
[Jairus] begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” So Jesus went with him."
~ Mark 5:23-24
Along the route back to Jairus' house, an interruption occurs. We'll look at this next week, but while en route to the home of Jairus, a woman who had a condition of blood for 12 years appears on the scene. Christ and the crowd are stopped. During this encounter with the woman, something terrible happened. This delay has proven deadly. While speaking with the woman, Christ overhears the word that has just made it into Jairus' ears. Word has just gotten to Jairus that his daughter had died. The people bringing the word then tell him...
While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
~ Mark 5:35-36
This leads us to our next observation from the text about Jairus. My friends we can learn today that…
III. Against All Odds, Do Not Follow the Crowd.
It would have been so easy for Jairus just to give up. Word arrived that his only girl, his baby had just died. I know what it feels like to hear of a parent dying or a loved one dying, but I never want to know what it feels like to feels like to know that my child has died. There is not one parent in this room that cannot sympathize with Jairus. Can you imagine how he’s feeling? Word comes to him that his daughter is dead. He could have listened to the report. He could have just chosen to walk away and return to bury his daughter, but instead he chose to ignore what the crowd was saying and listen to Christ. Instead of following the direction of the crowd, he followed the direction of Jesus.
Have you ever heard of the “bandwagon effect?” It is the theory that people think or act in a certain way because they believe that everybody is doing it. For instance, some think that homosexuality is okay because our culture is so widely open to it. Some think that all couples are having sex outside of marriage, so it acceptable if they do it. Some simply follow the crowd because they believe that it has to be acceptable because there is a large crowd.
I saw a cartoon strip this past week that really brought out this idea.
Some of you may know this, but I have a few hobbies that I really enjoy doing. One is I collect coins. I’ve been doing it for nearly 20 years now and I simply love finding rare, old US coins. I also collect Civil War memorabilia. I had 12 of my decendents that fought in that war and I love learning more about it. Another collecting hobby that I have is that I collect autographs. From celebrities, to athletes, to government leaders, to bands, I love saving a piece of history. When it comes to autographs, I’ve learned that there are a lot of fakes out there. It is so easy to fake an autograph and sell it as the real thing. It is even easy to make copies of the original autograph. Through collecting, I’ve learned this…That the originals are always worth more than the copies.
Jairus wasn’t trying to please anyone. He did something that is not typical of a Jewish man to do, especially a ruler of the synagogue. But on this day, he fell down at Christ’s feet. It didn’t matter about public opinion. He could have followed the crowd, did what the crowd did, listened to their words, but he chose to be different.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
~ Romans 12:2
IV. Against All Odds, Get the Negativity Away From You.
Scripture does not tell us how far Jairus’ house was from where he first encountered Jesus, but it is apparent that it was not extremely close. It is even believed by many scholars that it could have taken hours for Jesus to reach Jairus’ house. Notice what had happened. Jairus first goes to ask Jesus to heal his sick daughter. Before Christ makes it to the house, word came that the daughter has died. Now Jesus arrives on scene and there is a large crowd at the house. After someone passes, it takes a little while for the crowd to gather. Today we can call our family and tell them of a loved one’s passing. Then just hop in our vehicle and drive to the family member’s house. However, this story takes place long before telephones and automobiles. It has been hours and when Christ enters, there is a large crowd.
When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, “Make room.”
~ Matthew 9:23-24
Jewish funerals are totally different than our Western culture funerals. Usually our funerals are quiet, with soft music playing. Quietness and somberness are quite frequent at our funerals.
Jewish funerals had three elements that would be a little bit unique for us. First, you came and you expressed your grief loudly. Everyone shrieks and howls. It is also required that you tear your clothes. The torn garment was to be worn over a 30-days period and every day during that time the garment was to be torn more and more as a sign of mourning and grieving. Secondly, every funeral had ‘professional’ mourners. These people were from the community that were invited in to lead the family in mourning. Thirdly, every funeral had flute players. Jewish tradition tells us that even the poorest Israelite had to have at least two flute players and one professional mourner at each funeral.
There Christ walks into this funeral procession. Filled with music, screaming, crying and He tells them all to stop. Now watch how the crowd reacts.
Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.
~ Luke 8:52-53
Instead of believing Christ, they began to mock Him. Laugh at Him. Make fun of Him. However, if you read the text it states that Christ put them out of the house. This same language is used when Christ put the money changers out of the Temple. This wasn’t something that was done with politeness and consideration. This was done with holy anger. God is about to do something, but the crowd doesn’t want to believe it. They are content on being a part of a funeral instead of a revival. Don’t let the negativity keep you from your revival.
V. Against All Odds, Provide Strength For the Family
The crowd is outside, and Christ takes Peter, James, and John (along with the girl’s parents) into the room the child lays dead. Then Christ speaks to her, and Mark records the Aramaic words that Christ says. Jesus told the girl, “Talitha Cumi.” I like that statement, because it literally means, “Little lamb, get up.”
Scripture tells us that her spirit returned to her and she arose. Not only arose, but began walking around. This is not the idea that she just stood up and walked a little bit, but that she stood to her feet and could not stop moving. Death had held her down, but now that she’s alive again, nothing can keep her down.
Then Christ gives this last piece of advice to Jairus before departing. He told him to feed his daughter. To keep her alive, to keep her strength up, the keep her going…he needed to feed his daughter.
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’
~Matthew 4:4
Closing
Like it, Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep. Real men feed their flock.
