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Faith is Better than Fear

Sunday, January 1, 2023
Pastor Jojo Ma

 

This morning we’re going to see his power over death. It’s important to remember that Jesus is performing these miracles to show that He is in fact the Son of God who has come into human history to save His people from their sins.

In our passage today Jesus is going to continue to demonstrate His authority and power as He heals a woman of severe bleeding and raises a little girl from the dead. More and more, Jesus is revealing that He is the very Son of God come in human flesh.

21-24 21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and 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.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.

24-26 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.

27-30 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?”

Church, be in awe of Jesus, have reverence and love for your Savior, the Lord of the universe. Worship him in your life, he is worthy, there’s none like him.

30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?”

The word “power” in verse 30 is the word “dunamis”. We get the word “dynamite” from it.

Phil 2:6-8 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

The “kenosis theory”, coming from the greek word “kenool”, which means “empty” from Philippians 2:7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Jesus voluntarily gave up some of his divine qualities and put limitations on himself as he became fully man.

30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?”

Paul Copan: “Jesus didn’t lose essential divine attributes; rather, he voluntarily, temporarily suppressed or gave up access to using certain divine capacities and powers he possessed all along. Like a father holding back the full force of his powers while playing soccer or baseball with his kids, so the Son of God, before coming to earth, determined to restrain his divine capacities.”

32 And he looked around to see who had done it.

Tim Keller: “Jesus chooses to stop and talk with the woman who has just been healed. This makes no sense. It is absolutely irrational. In fact, it’s worse than that: It’s malpractice. If these two were in the same emergency room, any doctor who treated the woman first and let the little girl die would be sued. And Jesus is behaving like such a reckless doctor…But Jesus will not be hurried.”

35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”

Mk 4:37-40 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Church, what are your fears?

Jesus is saying to you in your fears and worries, in your lonely pains and tears: Trust me, be patient, there’s no need to hurry. I’m in control, be at peace, be still. Do not fear, only believe.

Jesus will not be hurried because he loves us; he wants so much more for us, for us to grow to trust him and believe in him and love him. So he allows the storms and he allows the stops.

Faith glorifies God.

But Jesus calls us to a living, loving trust. And I want to grow in this, and I want us as a church to grow together in a trusting faith in Jesus as we battle our fears. I pray we can encourage one another with the words of Jesus: Do not fear, only believe.

37-40 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And 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.

 41-43 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Tim Keller: “If you go to Jesus, he may ask of you far more than you originally planned to give, but he can give to you infinitely more than you dared ask or think.”

But just like Jairus, remember that God moves and works according to His schedule, and it’s a schedule of love and goodness toward you. You need to believe this.

Are you anxious? Are you fearful? Are you impatient? Do you feel the need to control everything? Are you trying to hurry Jesus?

If he stops, then stop with him, and wait patiently. His time is perfect. Let him take you by your hand. Let him do what he wants to do; he knows what’s best for your life, much better than you. He knows what he’s doing. He loves you completely. And when this life has past, don’t worry. Soon it’ll be time to wake up.