Miracles Abound (Mark 5:21-43
Listen.June 28th, 2009
Rev. Dr. Craig A. Wagner
Introduction
It could be that I watch the wrong programs on television because many of the commercials are directly related to medications that I might need. Headaches, allergies, muscle aches and pains are all advertised and are all treatable with these wonderful medications. Some of them I need to ask my doctor about, but many are over the counter wonder drugs.
It’s really soothing to know that if I strain a muscle, hurt my back, get a splitting headache or have watery eyes, there is a pill designed to take care of it. Of course, there may be side-effects to the drugs – everything from stroke to death, following which I better not take them and let my doctor know.
I laugh at most of the commercials and yet I think to myself that when I’m in pain, when I’m hurting I want to find something that will help to alleviate that suffering.
In fact, when I have a problem with my health, I want a doctor who will know what is going on and prescribe the right medication so as to stop the pain and bring me back to health. When doctors do this they become almost like superman; flying in at the right time, making the correct diagnosis and bringing healing and relief to the sufferer.
In our passage from Mark, we find Jesus’ reputation is growing. He is becoming known for healing people and caring for them. He is seen as a powerful man and one who can provide instant relief for major physical problems. He is viewed as a superman.
The healer arrives
Our text opens with Jesus’ arrival on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, opposite the country of the Garasenes. He had healed a man possessed by demons and his fame was spreading; here was a man who could cast out demons. He had power to heal and bring wholeness into people’s lives.
As soon as he stepped out of the boat, a great crowd gathered around him. Out of that crowd came a man named Jairus. Jairus had a daughter who was ill; gravely ill and in immanent danger of dying. Jairus believed that Jesus had the power to heal her and so he sought out this healer, this superman and presented his request. What is even more astounding is that Jairus is presented as a leader of the synagogue. This man was influential. He was an upright citizen and a religious leader. Yet, here was a man who could not help his daughter. He was at the end of his rope and was ready to humble himself before Jesus in order to save his daughter. He trusted that Jesus would respond to his request and heal his loved one. And so Jesus started to go to Jairus’ house.
But Jesus was interrupted in his mission. This heightens the tension of the story. Jairus’ daughter is gravely ill and yet Jesus is interrupted. What will happen the first hears would want to know. The interruption was caused by a woman who had suffered from bleeding for 12 years. She had gone to many doctors but none could help her. She probably had been quite wealthy or at least well-off when this started, but was destitute by the time of our story. She would have used her money to pay physicians who did not help; quack doctors. Now here she was; not only destitute, but getting worse and was an outcast in society.
She would have been considered unclean; perpetually unclean because of the bloody discharge. She heard about Jesus and believed this power-healer could help her and so reached through the crowd and touched his garment and he felt power flow from him. Now she would be in trouble as Jesus would confront her. She stood and in fear and trembling admitted to what she had done. Her actions would have defiled Jesus under the law for coming in contact with an unclean person. Yet, Jesus responded by stating that this woman’s faith had made her well. She trusted that Jesus could heal her and would heal her.
Back to Jairus’ story and his plight and pleading for his daughter. It’s too late, some people arrive and relay the news that she has died. Jesus overhears this message and tells Jairus not to fear but to believe.
Jesus takes Peter, James and John and they go to Jairus’ house. This is reminiscent of Jesus going up the mount of transfiguration when he took Peter, James and John with him while the other disciples waited for them. Something great is about to happen. He goes to her through the crowd of those weeping and lamenting her death, took her by the hand and said to her in Aramaic, “Talitha, cum.” And she got up and began to walk. He also had her eat something to show that this was a real and powerful resurrection.
The number 12 is repeated as we find out she was 12 years old. She is old enough to walk and to be believed. Miracles abound in this text and beyond in Jesus’ ministry. People flocked to him and the more he told them not to tell others, the more they told and his fame spread.
The real miracle
As we view these healing stories, we see Jesus’ power and authority. He has power over illness, evil and death. These are certainly miracles. However, perhaps the greatest miracle we see in these stories is not in what Jesus does, but in what he says.
In both situations Jesus remarks on the faith of the people: In Jairus’ situation, Jesus tells his not to fear, but to trust. He does. In the woman’s situation he remarks that she “go her faith has made her well”. Perhaps the greatest miracle we see is the faith these two placed in Jesus. They trusted that Jesus would help them in their dire situations. In Jairus’ case it went beyond simple healing to resurrection and new life. It went beyond all expectation.
This is where the passage touches our lives. Are we people who trust the Lord in all situations and in all avenues of our life? We say we believe in Jesus yet the question remains as to whether or not we trust him. Faith is trust. In placing our trust, do we get beyond bargaining with the Lord? Many people pray and think they trust God but in reality are attempting to bargain with him. We trust that there will be a miracle or a healing or some other type of miraculous intervention and when that does not happen disbelief and mistrust begin to form.
And the bargaining goes on: “I’ll believe if….” That’s not trusting God. To have faith and to trust means to continue to believe even in the face of silence or in response to the answer NO.
Someone suggested that TRUST IS THE OPPOSITE OF FEAR; EVEN THE ANTIDOTE TO FEAR. What are the fears that touch your heart? Are they financial, occupational, or relational? Trust in the Lord to move you beyond the fears and to stand with you.
Trust means to give 10% of your income to the Lord’s work and trust that God will provide for your needs. Trust means that if you suffer a job loss or a personal failure that God is standing with you and will work for good through the difficult times. Trust means that if someone does something to you that forgiveness will happen and that loving continues, just as the Lord forgave and loved those around him. Are we trusting; if so miracles will abound; if not Satan wins.
The miracle of God’s presence
When God in Christ is present in the life of his people miracles abound. We pray for eyes of faith to see the wonder and the blessing that God has for us in Jesus Christ. We see the life of the woman hemorrhaging for 12 years. She trusted that Jesus would and could heal her – in his presence she was healed and made whole and brought into newness of life. Jairus trusted in Jesus even when things seemed hopeless. He trusted.
Jesus presence brings new life – it upsets the old way of living in darkness and death – and saves people from despair and hopelessness. So many people today are living hopeless lives – struggling from one empty promise to another never realizing the abundant and full life that Jesus offers. Others acknowledge that new life is found in Christ but are afraid to let the old go for fear that the new will not be good enough – However, with Jesus the promises are more than abundant and glorious. If only we would let go and let God direct and love us.
Jesus fills our emptiness and despair through his loving presence. We need to trust that promise and live in his presence. That makes all the difference in life – it makes the difference between a life of selfish orientation and despair when things go wrong, and a life of joy and love that fulfills us each and every day. Trusting in God and living in the presence of our Lord we can be generous in life, confident in the midst of problems and loving and forgiving with others – unity in Christ Jesus. Miracles abound with life in Christ and in his community.
Conclusion
We have been rocked with the loss of some great and popular figures in the last week: Michael Jackson, in particular. Yet, as I viewed the news reports, it occurred to me that no matter what one has in life, or how popular, it is nothing compared to the abundant life we have in Jesus; in Christ we are rich beyond compare. Whatever our possessions, they will be left behind.
Last week I visited the Mellow Johnny’s bicycle store in Austin, TX. Lance Armstrong is co-owner. There are some yellow jerseys hanging in the store from his wins in the Tour de France. The thought crossed my mind; what price glory and honor in this world, if we do not have Christ?
I pray for each and every one of us that this week we live our lives showing others the trust we have in Jesus. This is what truly counts. This is what brings abundant life out of emptiness and despair. Be filled to overflowing with the love of Jesus; what a miracle. Amen