Lesson 80 - Senior

Memory Verse

"But without faith it is impossible to please him:  for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).

Cross References

I The Return of Jesus

1. The people have a desire to meet Him, [MAK:5:21]; [LUK:8:40]; [JHN:12:32]; [JER:29:13].

2. Jairus humbles himself before Christ, [MAK:5:22]; [LUK:8:41]; [MAT:9:18]; [PS:33:8].

3. Great confidence in Jesus is manifested, [MAK:5:23]; [MAT:8:2], [MAT:8:8-10]; [MAT:16:22-27].

4. Jesus responds to the earnest plea, [MAK:5:24]; [MAT:9:19]; [MAT:8:5-7].

II Human Failure " Supernatural Success

1. The woman has suffered at great length, [MAK:5:25]; [MAT:9:20]; [LUK:8:43].

2. Many physicians have proved unable to effect the cure, [MAK:5:26].

3. The trusting soul finds deliverance, [MAK:5:27-29]; [MAT:9:21-22]; [LUK:8:44].

4. Jesus perceives that the woman has come in faith, [MAK:5:30-32]; [MAT:9:22]; [LUK:8:45-46].

5. She reaps a reward for her faith, [MAK:5:33-34]; [LUK:8:47-48]; [HEB:11:1-40].

III Life Through Faith

1. Great discouragement is encountered, [MAK:5:35]; [LUK:8:49].

2. Jesus encourages the grieving parent, [MAK:5:36]; [LUK:8:50]; [MAK:9:23].

3. Despite the scorns of the people Jesus performed another mighty miracle, [MAK:5:37-43]; [MAT:9:23-25]; [LUK:8:51-55].

Notes

The Reception of Christ at the West Side of the Sea

How different the welcome Jesus received on "the other side" was from the farewell He was given at Gadara! He had healed the most feared Gadarene, a man who had terrorised the people for a long time, but had been rejected and asked to depart because they preferred their worldly possessions to the spiritual blessings that He had to give. Their desire was for earthly treasure instead of treasures in Heaven.

But when Jesus arrived at "the other side" many people met Him. He was, as always, available to those who came earnestly seeking Him. His heart went out to those who were suffering, especially to those who looked to Him for help. Everyone who came in faith felt the healing touch of His divine hand. Those who came confessing their sins felt the pardoning grace that only He could give.

Among those who met Him soon after His arrival was Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, who asked Jesus to come and heal his daughter. Jairus recognised the authority of the Son of God and rendered proper respect in presenting his petition. His position as a ruler of the synagogue made him a man of considerable importance socially, but he adopted an attitude of humility that admitted his knowledge of the pre-eminence of Christ over all earthly things. He fell at Jesus' feet to voice his earnest plea, assuming an attitude of worship in doing so. Jesus did not censure Jairus for this worship, but accepted it, for it was necessary that he realise that Jesus was the Son of God, the Christ that was to come. Unbelievers, or those who deny Christ's power, do not receive blessings from God!

Jairus and His Faith in Christ

Jairus came in faith, and because of that faith his daughter was healed. He was compelled to demonstrate his faith when he made his initial request of Jesus, but later when the news came that the daughter had already died he had to "stand still" in that faith. The first act of faith was an outward act, a plea for the compassion and healing power of the Anointed One. The second was entirely inward, for before he had time to say a word the reassurance came, "Be not afraid, only believe." How the wellsprings of living faith in his soul must have surged at that encouraging command! Even if the outlook was dark, even if from an earthly point of view all hope was gone, even if the breath of life itself was taken away, the command was the same, "Be not afraid, only believe."

Faith had its rewards. The girl responded to the word of the Master of life and death. Life came back to the cold body, and she walked. She was normal, a child that would again brighten the home, with the flower of youth upon her and the hopes of life before her. What a reward for a simple act of faith in the One who has never given man a reason to doubt His love, compassion, and power!

The Woman Who Touched Christ's Garment

However, everyone there that day did not have the same opportunity to fall at Jesus' feet with an individual plea for help, or to speak to Him face to face as Jairus had. The Scripture tells us that much people followed Jesus as He left the shore and went to Jairus' house, and there was in that crowd a woman who also needed help that He alone could give. But she was not discouraged because the same privilege was not hers that the ruler of the synagogue had enjoyed.

This woman, too, had faith. And if we were in a position to judge the amount or quality of an individual's faith we might be tempted to say that she had more and better faith than any others there that day. She was forced, because of her circumstances, the pressure of the crowd around her, and the apparent preoccupation of the Son of God, to take hold of whatever opportunity came to her. This she did.

She had suffered for many years at the hands of the physicians. They had taken all her money; she was now poverty-stricken and physically worse. She perhaps had gone to every place and person she could go to, to secure healing, but now she had only the memories of their uncertain experimentation and painful treatments -" and her disease! The things that had happened would seemingly tend to shatter her faith in everything and everybody. She might easily have lost hope and given herself up to sheer despair. But she, like Jairus, held to her faith to God when she came into possession of that vital, life-giving treasure.

She was humble in heart and mind, and felt unworthy of even troubling the Master. She was just a poor woman, with no social recommendations or prestige. She had nothing to bring but her disease and sins. But she found that day that Jesus was not interested in worldly prestige or glory, but that He was eager to help all who came to Him, for He helped her. Her attitude was one of true worship and faith, for she knew that if she could just touch the hem of His garment, enough virtue could come out of that divine Form to heal her. She did not feel it was necessary that He should be bothered; it was not necessary for Him to lay His hand on her head. "If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole" was apparently the impelling motive that gave her courage to edge her way through the crowds to the inner circle where the Master walked.

It is in the "inner circle" that God's blessings are received. It is not at the outskirts of the throng that the nearness of His presence is felt. No one who holds on to the world with one hand can enjoy the virtue that emanates from the One who created the world by the word of His mouth. If a person is to receive blessings from God that person must press in to a close relationship with Jesus, in faith and assurance of heart and mind.

Hers was the touch of faith, for she said, "If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole" (Mark 5:28). It was not the touch of the idly curious. She was not like those who jostled Him as He walked. Hers was just a simple touch. One can almost see her as she walked, bowed over with her infirmity, pushing herself among people who rudely crowded each other vying for a curious glimpse of the One who reputedly was able to do great miracles. There was a purpose other than that in her act as she edged closer with each step. She perhaps at first extended her hand; then a finger or two touched His clothes; and then she probably grasped the edge of His garment with reverence and mute petition for help " and then relaxed and let go.

Her form straightened! New life came into her body! The old trouble vanished. She felt the surge of health in her body once more. She did not need more than that touch of faith to complete the work. It was done. She walked as she probably had not walked in many years past.

But a new cloud came upon her horizon, for the Lord spoke quickly, "Who touched my clothes?" The question was obviously a hard one. The disciples were almost impatient, because many people were walking with Jesus on the narrow roadway and it was impossible that somebody would not touch Him. But Jesus looked at the woman and she knew instantly that His all-seeing eye and all-knowing heart perceived her act. She fell down before Him, fearing and trembling, for she knew now all the more surely that He was more than an ordinary man. She told Him all!

The answer Jesus gave was reassuring and comforting to her and instructive to us. But there was more than physical healing included in what He gave her there. "Go in peace" could mean nothing but that the Author of peace Himself had pardoned her sins and that she was now able to go forth to walk in newness of life, healed and transformed by the word of the Christ of Galilee. All of this was brought by her faith in that Christ and in His power.

Faith, the Necessary Virtue

In Hebrews 11:1, we read that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." It is more than feeling, more than seeing, more than any response of our physical senses. It is an absolute, sure, and positive substance that brings the reality our natures seem to require. Faith is also the thing that connects us with eternal realities! It is necessary, for we are told that without faith it is impossible to please God ([HEB:11:6]). The person who comes to God must, like Jairus and the afflicted woman, believe that God is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Faith pleases God!

Faith comes to our hearts by believing and obeying the Word of God. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews gives us a list of God's heroes who were able to accomplish great things for God because they had faith. It was strength and support to them in the time of their great need, sore trial, bereavement, or persecution. It was the guiding star that brought them to their spiritual land of promise, and caused them to see the heavenly City above and beyond all the things of this earth. Faith is the scarcest thing in the world but it is free to everyone who will receive it. And those who do receive it will be able to walk with God, to enjoy His blessings, and to look for His appearing like those heroes of God now gone to their reward.

Questions

1. Upon Jesus' return from healing the demoniac what was the attitude of the people toward Him?

2. What was the social standing of Jairus in his community?

3. What was his attitude before Jesus? Was this necessary?

4. What was the response of Jesus upon hearing the plea of Jairus?

5. Who put forth a special effort to touch Jesus as He journeyed?

6. Did the woman receive that for which she has sought? Through what channel was this possible?

7. What advice did Jesus give the ruler of the synagogue upon receipt of the news of the child's death?

8. What was the attitude of the people at the ruler's house toward Jesus, and what was the reason for this attitude?

9. How was the faith of the girl's father justified?

10. Need we fear to trust the Lord today? Can He not do the same things for us?