Don

To many of us, Redeemer Lutheran Church is our life. It is an awe-consuming passion, a fire that you have not let go out. You have fought a good fight in keeping the flame burning through trials and tribulations. The church still has a fire burning in it, thank to you. A new chapter has been started, and we will fan the flames and plant the seeds of faith into the community. We will let the Holy Spirit work in the hearts of the people and let the power of God’s Word be preached in truth and purity. This is a new chapter, a continuation – not an end, nor a beginning, but a new chapter. All the members have spent many long hours and spent much money to keep this Church going. Well done. Now… what if the picture was different. You know what all you have done to maintain this church. What would go through your mind if you came by the church 5 years from now and you see an empty, desolate, church… vacated… the doors missing… and you see a neighborhood dog wandering into the church through the empty doors. You pull over and walk into the sanctuary and the cross is on the ground and the altar has been chopped up and used for firewood. All the communion ware is gone. The pulpit is missing. You look up and part of the roof is missing. And you look around and your heart is being ripped out of your chest. Tears are coming from your eyes, and you want to say “Why?” If you love this church, it would rip your heart out. Well, this is the scene from our Old Testament reading in Lamentations. The people of Israel have been taken into slavery and marched to Babylon. The Temple has been destroyed. The Temple which had been the counterpoint of God’s people, now destroyed. The prophet speaking in Lamentations, probably Jeremiah, is weeping.

Our Sermon text is not from the Old Testament, but the message is the same. Our Gospel lesson is from the Book of Mark. In the Gospel lesson involving a synagogue ruler named Jairus who had a daughter near death. The Scripture reads:

21 When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet and implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.”

The name Jairus means “Jehovah enlightens.” Jesus had healed the centurion’s servant and the nobleman’s son in this vicinity, so word was spreading that Jesus could heal people. Jairus had good reason to hope that Jesus could help.

Jairus comes to Jesus and kneels at Jesus feet. This very act could have cost Jairus’s job at the synagogue. He is scared. He is about to loose his daughter, and he knows it. His little daughter is at the point of death. She is twelve years old. Some of you may have lost a child and may fully understand what is going on through Jairus daughter. Like Jairus, we need to come to Jesus in fearful times. No matter what is going on in your life, if your are fearful and afraid, come to Jesus. So often we flee from Jesus in times of need. At the same time, we often forget about Jesus when times are good. Jairus was afraid… he came to Jesus.

To Christians, death is suppose to be a victory and it is! But death also brings to light that we are sinners. Sin causes death. Death wrecks havoc to those loved ones left behind. To many, death is not a blessing, but a cold, harsh, reality. Our whole life is spent trying to avoid death, but it comes. We cannot escape the grasp that death has on us. Sooner or later, you will die… unless Jesus returns before hand. Death cuts like a knife, especially when a child is involved. You see… we have hopes and dreams for our children… we want the best for them. Here is Jairus and he knows that his little twelve year old daughter is about to die. As long as she is still alive, Jairus still has hope. Jairus kneels at Jesus’ feet. Jesus is in the area and the crowds are saying that He has healed people. Jesus is a God of compassion and Scripture says :

24 And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him.^”

Jesus responds to Jairus’ request. One can only imagine what was going on in Jairus’s mind. Jairus wanted Jesus to come quickly. Today’s reading skips over a very important passage. Today’s reading leave out the fact that a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came to Jesus and touched the hem of his garmet and was healed. Jesus stops and said “Who touched my clothes?” Jesus had “felt” power leave his body. The scriptures tell us that she had heard of Jesus, so she had knowledge and knew that He could heal her. This is the same knowledge that Jairus had. Both had their hope in Jesus. This was a blessing for the woman, but this must have been a trial on patience for Jairus who would surely see this as a delay. We often get sidetracked by delays—especially when we are in a hurry. Nothing is more frustrating than when you are behind schedule and you have to stop for a train, or a wreck, … or whatever the delay is. When you are in a hurry, delays are frustrating. Jairus was afraid that his daughter would die.

It was at this delay… that Jairus is notified of his daughter’s death. Scripture tells us:

"While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?” " (Mark 5:35)

While she was alive, there was hope… now hope is gone. She is dead. The official tells Jairus “why trouble the Teacher anymore?” Since the child was dead, Jesus could do nothing. Jairus world came crashing down around him…..

The next scripture verse is crucial. The next scripture verse was spoken to Jairus, and it also rings in our hearts today. The heart of the message is a lesson being taught to Jairus and still teaches us today. The Scripture reads:

"Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”" (Mark 5:36, NIV)

Jesus’ words “Don’t be afraid, just believe” had to ring hollow in Jairus’s ears. Jesus is calling out to him, don’t be afraid; just believe. We too need to hear these words from Jesus: “Don’t be afraid, just believe.”

Your faith will not be put to shame. Scripture tells us the rest of the story.

"But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat." (Mark 5:40-43, NIV)

Jesus brought more than just life to a Little girl. He also brought Salvation. Many people witnessed what had just happened. Many people continue to read about this event in Scripture, and you are hearing the same message today.

Your faith will not be put to shame. Jesus came to the aid of Jairus. His saving action changed the life of Jairus, his little daughter, the family, the mourners, all the friends, and the witnesses that were pressing in around him. Notice that Jairus asked Jesus to come and lay his hand on her, but he didn’t. He healed her through the Power of His Word. It was not until she was alive that he took her by the elbow. Jesus may not always answer our prayers the way we want Him too. He is there and he will be with us in the good times and the bad. When you are fearful, come to Jesus. Don’t become discouraged. Your faith will not be put to shame. Jesus comes to us today through His Word. Our faith is God’s gift to us. We rejoice today that Salvation has come to us.

AMEN