LISTEN
This sermon was preached by Tim Simmonds at the CCM Kingsway site of Christ Church Manchester on Sunday 12th May 2019.
SERIES
This message was part of the ‘SERIES NAME’ series, preached at Christ Church Manchester’s church in Burnage in EARLY/MID/LATE YEAR. The full series included the following sermons:
BIBLE VERSES
This sermon was based on Mark 5:21-43.
Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus’s Daughter
21And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24And he went with him.
And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?'” 32And he looked around to see who had done it. 33But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
KEY POINTS
Unclean
- The woman suffered from disease – suffered because of doctors – suffered social exclusion – suffered separation from God. She was nearly as dead as the little Girl. She was in a huge crowd – crammed up against people. Meaning she was at risk of making others unclean – very dangerous situation for her.
- The word “disease” – same as scourge/torture. She has been relieved of affliction – physically healed and socially healed – she was no longer excluded – she could be touched and she could touch.
- Imagine what went through her head the moment she felt the healing? I am healed. Perhaps she could marry – one of the few ways women could have economic security at the time. That wasn’t enough for Jesus though. He wanted to know her.
Jesus Wants to Know You
- Jesus warm, open, inviting – wants to know the lady and shows this little girl affection. We are not just a face in the crowd. God wants to know us – he is not a dispenser of medicine – or a slot machine for wish fulfilment – he wants to relate to us. To know and be known.
- Regardless of our approach Jesus wants relationship. The woman wanted healing but Jesus wanted to know who she was not just to heal. The little girl was unable to come to him but he sought her out and went to her.
- Jesus is not concerned about the time it takes. God’s sense of time is not a 21st Century Western sense of time. In my family if you arrive 5 mins after you said you would you’re late. God has no problem with us waiting. He’s – concerned with our character development above getting what we want.
Jesus Closes the Divide Between Us and God
- Uncleanliness – cleaned up by Jesus. He brings restoration to us.
- Death – he undoes the power of death.
- Identity – we go from “unclean” and “dead” to “Daughter or Son”.
MORE SERMONS
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