Bible Text: Luke 8:40-53 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: 40 days of Abiding
The Word to us is simple: there is available to us His power; expansion of ministry; growth in our personal and corporate life. We are going to look at the fact that anyone of us who has a personal need can come to Jesus and He will meet with you. The Lord wants us to see Him in the everyday, practical things of life.
Two huge lessons of personal interactive faith:
Jairus: only believe, and she will be made well
The woman: your faith has made you well
These two events show us practical functional faith. It cannot be put into a formula; it works out of a heart that has enough faith – mustard seed faith…
An act of desperation:
Luke 8:40-42 So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him. And behold, there came a man named Jairus, (means: he will awaken) and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he only had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
(1) Jairus was a desperate man, and his desperation drove him to ask for help.
(2) He was a ruler of the synagogue the kind of man that would be opposing Jesus’ ministry and claim as Messiah.
(3) Jairaus comes as father, dad, who is frightened and desperate realizing that his child is dying and there is nothing he can do; the situation seems hopeless and so he comes to Jesus.
A second act of desperation:
Luke 8:42-43 But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,
It was virtually impossible for Jesus to get through the crowd, but one woman fought her way desperately through the crowd in order to touch Jesus. Remember that Jesus is on His way to meet the need of a desperate situation and He stopped by another…
This woman suffered from some type of painful hemorrhage (perhaps a menstrual or uterine disorder). The bleeding caused the woman to be in a constant condition of ceremonial uncleanness (Leviticus 15:25-33) and therefore she could not worship in the synagogue (and note that it is quite possible that Jairus had been the one to exclude her form worship); she could not have normal social relationships, because under Jewish law, anyone who touched her also would become unclean. Thus, the woman had been treated almost as severely as a leper. Jairus might have been thinking, don’t let this woman interfere or touch the Rabbi, because if she does, he will be unclean and unable to help!
This woman had tried everything. She represents many of us in that we can get to the place where we feel drained by events, situations and circumstances. There is a slow, yet constant hemorrhaging taking place in us.
In the Bible life and blood are synonymous; blood is often used as a descriptor of lie whereas the loss of blood is death.
Faith (expectation of a miracle) releases God’s healing power and it requires that we reach out and touch Him:
Luke 8:44-48 (she) came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, Who touched Me?
Jesus said, somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me. Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. God in peace
Jesus says: Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.
Why did it matter? Jesus could have let this woman go on her way. He wanted her to step forward and identify herself. Jesus wanted to teach her that her faith in Him had healed her by the power of the Lord.
By Jewish law, a man who touched a menstruating woman became ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 15:19-28).
By contrast, Jesus proclaimed to hundreds of people that this “unclean” woman had touched Him – and then He healed her.
Go in peace: literally “go into peace”. With this healing, Jesus gave this woman her life back. Her cure was permanent, her peace of both body soul – renewed health for her body and eternal salvation for her soul.
Jairus thoughts:
Luke 8:49-50 While He was still speaking, someone can from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher. But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.
(1) Jairus came on his knees before Jesus pleading with Him about his daughter, Jesus says yes… then they stopped along the way.
(2) Jesus looks at Jairus and says don’t be afraid only believe. He had believed that Jesus could heal his daughter;
(3)Jesus wanted him to continue to believe. The fact that she had died made no difference to Jesus, who had the power over death.
Fear is a powerful emotion and it affects us in powerful ways. There are some of us here today that may feel it is going to be too late. The truth is – It is never too late to come to Jesus
Trusting in Jesus; Expect a miracle
Luke 8:51-53 When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. 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
The house was full of people, relatives, neighbors and professional mourners. Jarius, the leader of the synagogue, was an important person in the town. Thus, at the death of his only daughter, the townspeople demonstrated their great love and respect for Jairus and his father by their intense grief.
Their weeping turned to mocking laughter at Jesus’ words that the girl was not dead, only asleep. Jesus used the image of sleep to indicate that the girl’s condition was temporary and that she would be restored. For Jesus, death is nothing more than sleep, for He has the power and authority over death.
Luke 8:54-56 But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying little girl, arise, then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. And her parents were astonished, but He charged then to tell no one what had happened.
Discussion Questions
Read Luke 8:40-53
Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue and yet fell at Jesus feet in desperation. How difficult would it have been for him to lay aside his pride, the people he leads, his teachings, to humble himself and believe Jesus would heal his daughter? Describe his possible repercussions.
In what ways do you relate to Jairus. Have you ever considered what it was going to cost you to come to Jesus in your situation or circumstance?
Fear is a powerful emotion and it affects us in powerful ways. What is the great need or fear in your life, in what ways have you sought help?
Luke 8:42-43 The woman with the issue of blood. She spent her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed. She tried everything. What are some ways do you relate to the woman? Describe a time when you tried everything and nothing seemed to work for you, how desperate did you become?
The bleeding caused the woman to be in constant condition of ceremonial uncleanness (Leviticus 15:25-33) she could not worship in the synagogue; she could not have normal social relationships because anyone who touched her would become unclean. She was an outcast, treated almost as a leper. In your opinion what were the risks, potential consequences that she would face by going out into the crowd, what would she have happened if she would have stayed home?
Has fear or the cost of potential consequences kept you from stepping out in faith to receive a touch from God or to share with someone else His touch?
What are some things that drain our lives and feels like a slow, yet constant hemorrhaging taking place in you?
Luke 8:48-50 Jairus on his way home with Jesus to heal his little girl. And suddenly Jesus stops and asks who touched me. As Jesus stops to heal the woman, the message is received that Jairus’ daughter is now dead. Jesus said don’t be afraid only believe, and she will be well. Describe the feelings Jairus may have had at that moment, what are some obstacles that he had to overcome to continue with Jesus on their way home to see his daughter?
In what ways has your faith been challenged through a situation or circumstance; how were you able to press through your own emotions and be touched and/or healed by God?
Trusting in Jesus; Expect a miracle. The expectation of a miracle releases God’s healing power and requires that we reach out and touch Him. What do you need God to touch in your life today? Pray for those around you to be encouraged in faith and receive a touch from the Lord.