Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text for this morning is the Gospel Lesson just read, from Mark 5. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- In our three Lessons for today we see the remarkable and incredible love that God has for us. There are few sections of Scripture that are as comforting and reassuring as the Old Testament Lesson from Lamentations! And in the Gospel Lesson, our text, we see Jesus literally demonstrate what is asserted in the passages in Lamentations!
- Likewise, in the Epistle Lesson, Paul reflects upon the astonishing grace and love of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who “though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.” He is speaking of Christ’s death on the cross for our sins, which takes away our sin and guilt, and makes us children of God and heirs of eternal life.
- There is a consequence to knowing, believing, and personally experiencing this incredible love of God in Christ Jesus. Paul describes this inner dynamic that occurred in the “churches of Macedonia,” that “they gave according to their means . . . and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints . . . giving themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.”
- So in our text we read that Jesus mysteriously heals a woman who merely touched His garments, and then He also raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead. And when this incredible and beautiful act of love and compassion is done, He reminds the grateful parents to “GIVE HER SOMETHING TO EAT.”
- From these texts we may also learn to reflect upon God’s incredible love for us, and be moved also then to love others. But first we note that:
I. Suffering And Privation Often Afflict God’s Beloved People
OT “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; let him put his mouth in the dust – there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the once who strikes, and let him be filled with insults.”
Epistle: “the relief of the saints ..” [who were suffering great famine]
Text: The woman’s flow of blood. Jairus’ daughter’s illness and death, the weeping and mourning of the family and friends.
Statement: We often think that our troubles and afflictions are a sure sign of God’s disfavor, His punitive discipline. It is true that “whom the Lord loves He also disciplines, and He chastens every son whom He receives.” [Heb. 12:6] Nonetheless it is also true that “He does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.” Also, it is true that “the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though He cause grief, He will have compassion according to the abundance of His steadfast love.” And many of our woes and suffering are the result of sin in general being in the world, and not necessarily part of God’s direct discipline.
Application: So we must learn to take heart when we are suffering or experiencing privation, need, and want. We must remember that these things are not necessarily a sign of God’s displeasure, and that even if they are part of His discipline, “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end.” His love and mercy are new every morning, and His faithfulness to us is great! So even though we, and all of God’s people, suffer from time to time, we should “wait for Him, and seek Him.”
Transition: Jesus demonstrates and illustrates the goodness and blessedness of putting our faith and trust in Him, for:
II. It Is Obvious In Our Text That Jesus Came To Heal, And Still Does Come To Heal
A. Obviously, He Came to Heal Us With God’s Forgiveness And Gracious Salvation
John 1:29 “Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.”
Eph. 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
1 John 1:7 “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.
B. He Also Came To Bring Us Life And Health
Text: “Daughter, you faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
Text: “[at the report of the little girl’s death Jesus said:] “Do not fear, only believe. . . . He took the child’s hand and said to her, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’ And immediately the girl got up and began walking.”
Statement: This does not mean that we will always remain young, healthy, and in good vigorous health. After all, the woman healed by touching Jesus’ garment subsequently went through aging and has long ago died. Likewise, Jairus and his wife, and also their little girl. But the steadfast love of the Lord, His mercy and compassion lasts forever, and after this life there is paradise, heaven, and eternal life for those who believe in Jesus! And there is increased health and vitality that comes along with living at peace with God, and in the assurance of His great love for us.
Application: Once again, this is the goodness that comes to those who wait for the Lord and seek Him, those who wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. He does grant us deliverance, relief, and ultimately eternal life and joy in His heavenly kingdom, where all things are made new. So we are to look to Jesus for forgiveness as we confess our sins, and to Jesus as we seek spiritual health and life! And in all circumstances we look to God for relief!
Transition: And knowing that God has our back, that He is always taking care of us and tending to us, makes a huge difference – as we see in the Epistle Lesson, for:
III. God’s Goodness And Love Moves His People To Give According To Their Means And Beyond Their Means
A. For The Spiritual Healing Of The Nations – The Spread Of The Gospel
Epistle: “They gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.”
Phil. 1:3-5 “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you, all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”
Rom. 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”
John 3:36 “He that believes the Son has everlasting life.”
Rev. 2:7 “To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Rev. 22:1,2 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
B. His Goodness Also Moves His People To Give Others Something To Eat, If They Have Need
Epistle: “begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.”
Text: “Give her something to eat.”
Statement: Jesus is concerned about the salvation of mankind, the up-building of His church – that people come to know and believe God’s great love for us in Christ Jesus, God’s forgiveness and cleansing away of our sin and guilt. God wants all people to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. So we give our resources, and do what we can, to support the preaching and teaching of the Gospel – here in our own congregation, and throughout the world. He wants people to eat of the tree of life, and for all to be healed.
He also wants His people to express His compassion and care for those in need in this life. It is remarkable how attentive He is to such temporal needs, and eager to provide physical comfort and healing!
Application: So we also are able to give of our resources for “the privilege and favor of taking part in the relief of human need and suffering,” especially when this is occurring among the saints of God, the church! This is one of the effects of knowing and believing God’s great love for us – that we also love as He has loved us!
Conclusion: So let us settle in our hearts and minds the matter of suffering and privation that may come upon us, and determine that we will ever believe and assert the goodness, compassion, and steadfast love of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us determine that we will ever wait for Him, for His deliverance.
Let us also keep firmly in mind what Christ has done for us, the spiritual healing that is ours, and everything else He does to keep us in good spiritual and physical condition.
And living in the freedom of His love, let us also consider how we are now freed to give of ourselves to the benefit of others – that they might come to know Jesus through the ministry of His church, and that all who are in dire need might feel the touch of Christ’s compassion and love as we seek to address their earthly needs with generosity and kindness. So let us hear the plea of Jesus even today, that we provide others with “something to eat,” what they need spiritually and physically. We will be richly blessed as we do. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.