Mark 5

Auto-generated from the audio — may contain errors.

0:00 So we're going through the Gospel of Mark right now and one chapter at a time taking one story from a chapter each week and astute observers will notice that the children are a chapter ahead of us. So next week we'll get to Jesus' speed of 5,000. And now we're on Mark chapter 4. And one of the keys for me in understanding the scriptures is just remembering that for

0:39 us these scriptures, all of our understanding of God comes out of the story of scripture but the book didn't fall out of heaven. One of the keys for me is reminding you as much as I can that people interacting in the world with real situations, challenges, problems, hopes, dreams, wrote these accounts in the case of the Gospel of the life of Jesus, the case of the Epistle was dealing with the

1:09 Gospel and applying it for life. So these stories come from perspectives. They are influenced by situations. So we've been reminding each other as we start each week that the Gospel of Mark was written by this dude, Mark, who was probably just like a little bit behind in the age of the rest of the disciples, a little bit younger. He comes into the story of scriptures a little bit, one of the most interesting things for me in studying getting ready for this is to realize that Mark's house in Jerusalem, that

1:41 his mom was the head of the household, was probably the place where Peter's house church in Jerusalem right after Pentecost. And scholars think that because when Peter's let out of prison by the angels, that's the first place he goes to the house of John Mark's mom. He then is a missionary with Paul and Silas Perbit and most theologians think that Mark wrote this account of the life of Jesus influenced mostly by Peter while Peter was in house arrest

2:12 at Rome. And when we look at chapter five, Mark does something here that is kind of intentionally formulaic, especially in Greek literature, where they have this process they call chiastic structure. So they could do a chiastic structure in a sentence or in whole stories. And that's where there's this structure where they start one thing, they sandwich something

2:46 in the middle of it, then they finish the thing they started. And Mark's account here in chapter five is his cast structure to build this emphasis on this truth. I'm going to give it to you at the beginning. I wrote it down. Ready? Jesus can heal. Nothing is beyond him. Mark chapter five is this chiastic structure of stories just to get you this idea.

3:20 Jesus can heal and nothing is beyond him. We could have now, but let's make a case and see how Mark makes the case. Mark chapter five. Oh, well. Okay, I'm over spoke because I was focused. Not all of chapter five is past. It's just from verse 21 through the end, those two stories, sandwich together. So we'll start at chapter five, verse 21. And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered

3:56 around him and he was beside the sea and then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, gyrus by name and seeing him, he fell at his feet and employed him earnestly, saying, my little daughter is at the point of death. Common lay your hands on her so that she may be made well and he went with him. A couple of things here, they mentioned the name. I've said this before, but usually if they give us the name of someone, so it's not just

4:28 a synagogue ruler, but it's synagogue ruler named gyrus. It's because as the story goes on in the first century, people would know who gyrus was. Maybe he became someone prominent in the first century church, but they would mention the name because it's like a callback. Here's the origin story for how gyrus comes into the way of God. He comes to Jesus because his daughter, he impores him earnestly. The other thing that's interesting is that he says one of the rulers of the synagogue,

5:04 this would be a precarious position. The synagogue is a grouping of Israelites in a town. In order to have your own synagogue, like in Capernaum or somewhere in Galilee, you had to have a minimum number of families. I don't remember how many, but a certain number of families, then you could have your own synagogue once you had that certain number of families. They would sit in a prescribed order, usually according to how they gave to the synagogue to help make it work so the people had gave more sat closer to the front.

5:38 They would have their own, if they got to be a good of prominent synagogue, they would have their own scrolls. They wouldn't have all the scrolls. They might just have a couple of them. They would have the different heads of the family would come up and speak, but periodically rabbis would come through these itinerant rabbis and instead of rolling it to wherever they wanted it because it was a pain to roll it, they would just take where it was written and they would teach the synagogue on the midrash from that text.

6:09 You see Jesus doing this several times. You pay attention to the story. It talks about him walking into the synagogue and then them handing him the scroll and him standing up to teach. The reason it would be precarious is because we know by now already in the story of Jesus that he's a little bit of a lightning rod. For the synagogue ruler to go to Jesus, they point out that it's a synagogue ruler and then give us a name because it's conspicuous that a ruler of the synagogue hears why I

6:39 think he goes to him because he doesn't feel like he has any other options. If he had something else, this is not his first choice as a synagogue ruler to go to Jesus, but Jesus has this reputation right now of healing people. And so, Dyrus just asks, he can't even bring the daughter.

7:10 Remember a lot of people were bringing their sick to Jesus. It must be pretty bad because he couldn't bring the daughter to him. He asked Jesus to come to the house. If you come into my house, my daughter is sick. If you didn't have any choice. When I was thinking about asking Jesus to do something that you didn't know if he would do or not, I thought about this story. One of the most interesting stories I feel like in scriptures, it's in 2 Kings, chapter

7:42 20, if you want to look there, it's about this King King Hezekiah. King Hezekiah was like a medium king. He had a decent life and then the end of his life, he was a very good king, very devout. But he has this moment in chapter 20. Remember in Old Testament times in Israel, God communicates differently. It's pre scriptures, right? They're still writing the Jewish Bible at the time of 2 Kings.

8:15 They've got some maybe of the Torah, but not all of it. They certainly don't have all the prophets or the history. So it's before the scriptures, it's before Pentecost where the Holy Spirit comes down. So in the Old Testament, the Jewish Bible God has this very particular way of communicating his intent and thought to people. He picks individuals to speak for him. They're called prophets, right? In the 2 Kings, chapter 20, God does whatever he has to do to communicate his idea into

8:45 the mouth of Isaiah and sends Isaiah to the court of Hezekiah. In those days, Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amos, came and said to him, Thus says the Lord, set your house in order for you shall die. You shall not recover. God not only is permitting Isaiah, I mean Hezekiah to be sick, but now with whatever calisthenics the divine God has to do in order to get his thinking into something that Isaiah's

9:20 mind can understand, he goes through that. In order to dispatch Isaiah to Hezekiah's feet and say, not only am I allowing your sickness to persist, but now I am telling you, prepare yourself because I am going to allow you to die. God has made a special effort to get Isaiah to Hezekiah's feet to tell Hezekiah you will die. What has Hezekiah respond? Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, Now O Lord,

9:54 please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart and have done what is good in your sight. In Hezekiah wept, David, and before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court before he got out of Hezekiah's house, the word of the Lord came to him and said, Turn back and say to Hezekiah, Leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, The God of David your Father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears, behold I will heal you.

10:26 On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord and I will add fifteen years of your life. Whenever there is a story about someone asking God of something, I think about the story of Hezekiah where the unbounded, infinite Creator God of the universe dispatches the Prophet to announce His will and some middling, needily good King Hezekiah cries and asks God to change his mind and God does.

10:56 Why? He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says

11:26 He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He

12:00 And you don't know how the person will respond. He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says

12:30 He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He says He

13:00 And was no better but rather grew worse. This is like gotta be about the worst situation you can be in. She's got this illness for 12 years which is bad enough. And then it says that she suffered much at the hands of physicians. We can imagine what they were trying to do to get the bleeding to stop. And then she spent all of her money. So not only when you have this issue of blood you're unclean so you're kind of socially ostracized because people don't want to be around you because then they can't go into the temple and perform the rights themselves.

13:44 So you're socially ostracized then you go through abuse with the physicians then you're poor. She spent all of her money. This lady actually has no agency left at all. She is at the end of her rope completely. Okay. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.

14:14 Or she said if I touch even his garments I will be made well. She doesn't ask him anything. It's not interesting. She doesn't really have the courage to ask him. But she approaches him somehow. I wonder like does this count as a prayer the position or posture of her heart. Somehow she recognizes within herself that her hope her only hope in this challenge is the person of Jesus. So she goes up and touches his garment.

14:50 And immediately the flow of blood dried up. And she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus perceiving it himself that power had gone out from him immediately turned about in the crowd and said wait who touched my garments. This is great in verse 31. And his disciples said to him that you see this crowd passing around you don't you. And yet you say who touched me. Jesus they're in this crowd of people who have been gathered around him.

15:26 And they're all they can't believe is rule of the synagogue is inviting Jesus into his house and its girls near death. So they're all following. And they're kind of jostling around. And Jesus is turning around and going who touched me and the disciples are like you're asking to touch you. Like there's a whole crew of people whatever ridiculous thing to ask. And Jesus who touched me and his disciples said to him you see this crowd pressing around you see you touch me verse 32 and he looked around to see who had done it.

15:57 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. I imagine part of the reason she was like kind of sneaking up behind him is because nobody likes to swim in at this point. She's got a problem nobody can fix. She makes everybody around her unclean. She's got no money and she won't stop talking about this problem that no one has a solution for.

16:28 She'd rather just kind of slide in and slide out and then Jesus she gets healed but now he calls all attention to her. Now everyone stops and she comes forward and has to tell her whole story. I've had this thing for 12 years. I spent all my money nobody could help me. I heard the reports of you and thought maybe this is my answer surely he could do it. So I reached out and I think it's done right with everyone watching her.

17:03 And now how does Jesus respond to the story. And he said to her daughter your faith has made you well go in peace and be healed of your disease. Fantastic. This woman clearly had no other options. She exposed herself completely to Jesus. Jesus not only heals her but blesses her in front of everyone. Fantastic. We couldn't have a better outcome here.

17:34 Verse 35 and while he was still speaking there came from the rulers house someone who said your daughter is dead. Why trouble to teach her any further. So they come and say this to Jairus. But overhearing what they said Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue. Do not fear only believe. I feel like this is a conversation that happened almost clandestine.

18:04 Like everybody is kind of murmuring and scuffling because this woman who they all know as the problem in town for over a decade has just become the focus of attention of this itinerant preacher that's healing all these people. She gets healed and they're all trying to figure out what happened and a Jairus and servant comes and whispers and Jesus overhears him. And then Jesus says just the Jairus. Hey man be cool. Let's just go anyway. Right.

18:34 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 so now they just go. Except for Peter James John and the brother of James. They all kind of sneak away quietly while the hub office about the woman. Verse 38 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.

19:07 The child is not dead. What's sleeping. And they laughed at him. I don't know. There's something about the arrogance. Of us. That would say you fool. Of course he's not sleeping. And like the irony of being able to look back at hindsight and realize they were scoffing at the one who knew more than one.

19:44 Because he just sounded childishly silly. I wonder if there were any of those stoppers who ever got the benefit of hindsight who realized they had laughed at the Savior. You know. When you told them don't wait. She just sleep. And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside patiently and took the child's father and mother and those who were whipping and went in where the child was sleeping.

20:18 And went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand. He said to her. To leave her room. Which means little girl I say to you arise. And immediately the girl got up and began walking for she was 12 years of age. And they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this. And he told them to give her something to eat.

20:49 I love that Mark puts down Peter remembered and Mark puts down the Aramaic word. That Jesus has words that dispelled death. That he can end the disease no one can fix for the woman no one wants to deal with. He can make clean the things that are unseen. And even death he can turn back with his words. He has words that undo death. And he does it for Jairus.

21:26 How many other kids could he have done it for? You know like all those other people bumping into him when he's jostling around. The disciples are like it's ridiculous to try and pick out one person who's touched you when we're all here. Certainly not all of those people had perfect lives. I imagine several of those people who bumped into him could have used some healing.

21:58 Why just the woman? Why has Akaya? Why not all the kings who want to live longer? This is the first riddle of being human. It means you're not God. Bummer. Because if I had control of the Tiletha Coom,

22:28 if I could raise whomever I wanted, I could make my own determination every time. And the things I want would come to pass. But unfortunately I do not have the power of Tiletha Coom. I'm just a dude. And so are you. Just people man. I don't know how God decides in infinite wisdom when to arise people and when not.

23:00 When to heal people and when not. I don't know how he decided that this woman would get it. This girl would get it. I don't know. I remember a question, a response Peter has one time when everybody's leaving Jesus because his words are too confusing. And they'd rather something simpler. And Jesus asked Peter, are you going to leave me to? And Peter responds to whom shall we go?

23:33 You have the words of eternal life. I remember the parable Jesus tells us about the persistent widow who keeps going back to the judge over and over and over again until he'll give her justice. And God says, if this unjust judge will give justice, how much more will your father in heaven. He's trying to teach the virtue of going to the one who we know holds all the keys. Who else can Tiletha Coom people from the grave?

24:07 He doesn't raise everyone, but sometimes he raises, so why not keep asking? He doesn't heal everyone who bumps into him, but sometimes he does. And who else are you going to bump into? This story is trying to tell you that nothing is beyond Jesus. And every once in a while, for those who recognize, they have no other hope, no other place, no other one who can heal sickness and turn back death. And for those ones, every once in a while, he does something miraculous.

24:41 You might as well ask. You might as well ask. It's way easier to get yourself to ask when you realize that you're out of other options. Is this it? Paul has this little phrase in Romans 5.

25:11 I was looking at it. Wow, let's see here. Oh, wow. He says this crazy thing. He says, more than that, we rejoice in our sufferings. Knowing that suffering produces endurance. He says, we rejoice in things that are hard, Paul does. I love suffering, Paul says.

25:43 And about only Paul, right? Who else likes suffering? We said this before here, Paul's some kind of genius. He writes these letters that expound the teachings of Jesus, that he gets through the Spirit of God, that endure for generations that were still trying to understand. He's not an idiot, and he says they like suffering. Why is he like suffering? Because he said, suffering produces endurance. When I go through suffering, I don't quit.

26:13 I push on. Why? And endurance produces character. In my endurance, I get a deeper character. I need to rely on things broader when things are hard. Endurance. And endurance produces character, and character, he says, produces hope. And hope does not put us the same. Because God's love has been poured out into our hearts.

26:43 It's easier to recognize that God's the one we go to when we have no other choices. What I've been trying to do, what I've tried to consistently, is get myself that realization before the suffering. Because I don't like suffering. To recognize that my provision, like my having enough money for my life, is a gift from God.

27:19 My compassion, having enough heart for the people around me, gives from God. My generosity, having the capacity to give in the way that I'm called to, give from God. This is why Jesus says, blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the reign of God. The ones who get to live under the authority of God and receive its benefits are the ones who recognize that we're from respect to all things that matter. All the spiritual things, we have complete poverty.

27:53 We are at our end. Jesus is our only hope. My prayer for you for today has been that you would recognize no matter where you are, you're at your end. Whether things are going great, or things are in the midst of suffering. Whether you have plenty or scarcity, in reality all depends on God for you.

28:25 You're at your end. Like the woman and Jarius, you have no place else to go. You might as well ask the God to intervene. You might just. And nothing is beyond him. You can heal the store with new. You can give. You might as well ask. Where else will you go?

28:55 Let me pray. Hey Lord, make us into people who go to you, who recognize our need. Who reach kind of brokenness and the bottom of the barrel before the suffering mounts up over our heads. And even when it does Lord, she just endurance character and hope. In Jesus' name you pray.