Class Lesson January 7, 2018

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

When it comes to pain and illness, many of us fall into one of three categories: call the doctor immediately, try our own home remedies or over-the-counter solutions, or ignore it and hope it goes away. 

I fell into the third group when I started suffering from heartburn and stomach pain. But after the pain had gone on far too long, I finally went to the doctor. After several rounds of treatments and tests, the doctor announced I had several things wrong: a hiatal hernia, severe acid reflux, and a pre-cancerous condition in my esophagus. 

For months, I followed the doctor’s instructions. But I finally made another decision: I asked others to pray for me. And they did. A short time later, the doctor told me: “Robby, you’ve done everything I’ve asked you to, but I’m still amazed. Your esophagus is just fine.” 

It hit me: calling on the Lord should have been the first thing I did! 

The Gospel of Mark records the story of a man who needed medical help for his daughter—a man who wisely went to Jesus. As we explore his story, we’ll see the incredible result of his faith.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

Mark 5:22-24 

22 One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and begged him earnestly, “My little daughter is dying. Come and lay your hands on her so that she can get well and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against him. 

Jairus was a big deal in the community. Beyond the temple in Jerusalem, the local synagogue was the center of community life. As one of the synagogue leaders, Jairus had responsibilities in leading worship and instruction, which made him one of the highest ranking leaders in his town. This text is shocking, then, when it describes Jairus—with a large crowd watching—falling at Jesus’ feet and begging for help. 

In the first century, a Middle Eastern man in a high position carried himself with the utmost dignity at all times. Such a man would never make himself a public spectacle. Yet Jairus didn’t care that a large crowd had gathered around Jesus. Neither did he care that Jesus was unpopular with the religious elite. All he knew was Jesus had the ability to heal people, and Jesus was his last shot. Jairus knew where his hope lay. He understood what was important and what was not. 

Jairus begged one thing: “My little daughter is dying. Come and lay your hands on her so that she can get well and live.” Jairus was facing something he absolutely could not control. His daughter’s life was entirely out of his hands, and it was tearing him apart. 

Just because the situation was out of Jairus’s hands doesn’t mean he had no hope. On the contrary, he knew precisely where he could place that hope: in the hands of the Healer. He didn’t ask Jesus to come and “try” to heal his daughter; his words were full of certainty. He said, “Lay your hands on her so that she can get well and live” (emphasis added).

What are some common obstacles that keep us from turning to Jesus with our needs?

Many of us initially approach Christ in the same way: we come out of desperation, but only after we’ve tried all human possibilities for relief. We are desperate for healing, restoration, direction, purpose, identity, or freedom from the bondage of sin and addiction. Whatever the source of our desperation, we look to Jesus for help. 

Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t turn us away. He comes when we seek Him even as He did with Jairus—He looks on us with compassion and meets us where we are.

Mark 5:35-40 

35 While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 When Jesus overheard what was said, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” 37 He did not let anyone accompany him except Peter, James, and John, James’s brother. 38 They came to the leader’s house, and he saw a commotion—people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 They laughed at him, but he put them all outside. He took the child’s father, mother, and those who were with him, and entered the place where the child was. 

Jairus’s daughter—his only child (see Luke 8:42)—wasn’t just sick; she was moments away from death. Surely Jairus had exhausted the resources that were available to him. Every doctor in town, every religious ritual, and every home remedy had proven ineffective. Going to a mysterious rabbi purported to have healing abilities might have been a last-ditch effort, but he’d heard enough to make him believe. 

Then came the terrible news: “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?”

This wasn’t the only time Jesus’ timing seemed to be off in a dire situation. Toward the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus’ friend Lazarus was sick and dying. When Jesus received word that Lazarus was sick, He remained where He was two more days before heading to see him. (See John 11:1-7.) 

In both cases—the death of Lazarus and the death of Jairus’s daughter—it seemed that Jesus was too late. In reality, He was right on time. Sometimes we may find ourselves in difficult or even tragic situations. When that happens, we want Jesus to respond on our terms and in our time. Of course, it doesn’t work that way. We need to remember that all of our experiences are divinely orchestrated by God to display His glory. 

We may see a delay with irreversible consequences, but Jesus does not. Resuscitating a dead person was no harder for the Son of God, the Creator of the universe, than healing even a minor illness. We may not understand why God delays at times, but we can trust that He always works to bring glory to Himself. 

When they arrived at Jairus’s house, grief and mourning had already filled the place. Everything seemed wrong to those mourning—but everything was right in the eyes of the Son of God. Over the sound of mourners heavy with the despair of loss, Jesus spoke incredulous powerful words of comfort: “The child is not dead but asleep.” 

For the Author of life, raising the dead was as simple as waking a small child from sleep.

What have you learned in recent years 

about trusting God?

Mark 5:41-43 

41 Then he took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum” (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up”). 42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was twelve years old.) At this they were utterly astounded. 43 Then he gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and told them to give her something to eat. 

Even in the first century, people knew what a dead person looked like. They didn’t have the scientific instruments we possess today, but as people looked down at Jairus’s daughter, they knew she was devoid of any life. So when an itinerant rabbi walked in and said, “The child is not dead but asleep” (Mark 5:39), they may have thought He was making a cruel joke. 

How has Jesus brought healing 

into your life?

But Jesus knew the miracle He was about to perform. Jesus took the disciples who had accompanied Him, along with the child’s parents, into the room with the dead girl. There, He did something that may have seemed quite unremarkable: Jesus merely took the girl by the hand and said, “Little girl, I say to you, get up.” No magic words, no incantations, no mystical potions. Jesus’ words were all that was needed. “Immediately the girl got up and began to walk.” 

The only one able to bring a dead body back to life is the One who instills life in the first place. If Jesus is able to give and restore life, He surely can be fully trusted to handle any situation we face. 

Jesus didn’t raise this young girl simply because she died. Other people died in the towns where Jesus ministered, yet He didn’t bring them all back to life. The Gospels only record two other instances when Jesus resuscitated a dead person. (See Luke 7:11-15 and John 11:38-44.) We may wonder why He didn’t raise more, but we know that Jesus purposed to do precisely those things that would bring Him glory. 

Our lives will also be hit with misfortunes and mishaps, and we won’t always know why. In fact, we very often won’t know why. But before we jump to conclusions, let’s trust the One who’s in control of every situation. He will bring healing in His time and in His way—and for His glory.

What are practical ways we can support 

those waiting for God’s healing?

LIVE IT OUT

How can you actively trust Christ this week? Consider doing one of the following in the days to come: 

• Pray deeply. What are you going through that seems beyond hope? Go to Jesus in prayer and give your situation to Him. Pour out your thoughts, emotions, confusion, doubts, and anything else. Listen for God’s response. 

• Trust fully. God doesn’t always work according to our timetables, but we can trust that He will do what’s best. As you pray, fervently express your trust that He will answer out of His great love and power. 

• Provide generously. Find someone in your community who has a need they cannot meet on their own. Let God use you and your group as the channel through which He works, giving glory to Him in the process. 

Doctors are a wonderful part of our modern society. We should all use them as often as necessary. More importantly, we should seek help and healing from our Creator in every circumstance.

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Teacher's Notes

What are some home remedies you rely on when you’re sick?

A list of several home remedies for common ailments. As you read each one aloud, invite group members to decide if the remedy actually works or not by a show of hands if they believe the remedy is “Fact” or “False.”

1.     A bowl of onions in the room wards off the flu. [FALSE]

2.     Chocolate eases coughs. [FACT]

3.     A copper penny over a bee sting provides relief from pain and swelling. [FALSE]

4.     Licorice helps heal sore throats. [FACT]

5.     Toothpaste takes the itch out of bug bites. [FACT]

6.     Sprinkle white flour on a minor burn to help it heal. [FALSE]

7.     Tea bags help ease the pain of cold sores. [FACT]

The Gospel of Mark records the story of a man who needed medical help for his daughter—a man who wisely went to Jesus. As we explore his story, we’ll see the incredible result of his faith.

Mark 5:22-24, 35-43

What lessons can we learn from Jesus’ healing?

Mark 5:22-24 

22 One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and begged him earnestly, “My little daughter is dying. Come and lay your hands on her so that she can get well and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against him. 

Jairus was a big deal in the community. Why?

When it comes to pain and illness, many of us fall into one of three categories:

1.     call the doctor immediately,

2.     try our own home remedies or over-the-counter solutions, or

3.     ignore it and hope it goes away.

Why isn’t calling on Jesus to heal us the first thing we do?

·       Many of us initially approach Christ in the same way: we come out of desperation, but only after we’ve tried all human possibilities for relief. We are desperate for healing, restoration, direction, purpose, identity, or freedom from the bondage of sin and addiction. Whatever the source of our desperation, we look to Jesus for help. Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t turn us away. He comes when we seek Him even as He did with Jairus—He looks on us with compassion and meets us where we are.

Mark 5:35-40 

35 While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 When Jesus overheard what was said, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” 37 He did not let anyone accompany him except Peter, James, and John, James’s brother. 38 They came to the leader’s house, and he saw a commotion—people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 They laughed at him, but he put them all outside. He took the child’s father, mother, and those who were with him, and entered the place where the child was. 

Then came the terrible news: “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?”

What does Jesus say? “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” Last week’s lesson Jesus said, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

What have you learned in recent years 

about trusting God?

·       My job loss, my panic attack, selling our house

"Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

“Don’t be afraid. Only believe.”

Mark 5:41-43 

41 Then he took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum” (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up”). 42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was twelve years old.) At this they were utterly astounded. 43 Then he gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and told them to give her something to eat. 

Jesus does something here pretty unremarkable: He takes the girl by the hand and says, “Little girl, get up.” No magic words, no incantations, no mystical potions. Jesus’ words were all that was needed. “Immediately the girl got up and began to walk.”

 Why didn’t Jesus raise more people from the dead?

Jesus didn’t raise this young girl simply because she died. Other people died in the towns where Jesus ministered, yet He didn’t bring them all back to life. The Gospels only record two other instances when Jesus resuscitated a dead person. (See Luke 7:11-15 and John 11:38-44.) We may wonder why He didn’t raise more, but we know that Jesus purposed to do precisely those things that would bring Him glory. 

Why does God only heal certain people and not everyone who sincerely prays for healing?

·       It is not always God’s will to heal a person physically. A person may sincerely pray and truly have faith that God can heal, but if it is not God’s will to provide the healing at that time, then no healing will come (see 1 John 5:14). Sometimes God’s blessings come in other ways besides physical healing. If it were always God’s will for people to be healed, then everyone would be healed every time he or she became ill. If good health were always God’s will, then Christians should never die. We can’t blame someone’s malady on a lack of faith, for we know, biblically, that God sometimes uses illness to accomplish His will. Also, it’s not just wayward believers who get sick. Paul “left Trophimus sick in Miletus” (2 Timothy 4:20), and Paul himself had a physical ailment that the Lord declined to heal (2 Corinthians 12:7–9).

·       Often, Christians have an over-simplified idea of healing. They think that, if they are sick, they have only to ask God to heal them and, because God loves them, He will heal them straightaway. Healing is seen as proof of a person’s faith and of God’s love. This idea persists in some circles in spite of the truth that every mother knows: a parent does not give her child everything he asks for every time, no matter how much she loves him.

·       We need to understand that healings, even in the Bible, are very rare indeed. For the first 2,500 years of biblical history, there is no mention of any healings whatsoever. Then during the life of Abraham we have a possible healing, although it is only implied (Genesis 12:17–20). Then we have to wait until the life of Moses, who performs a number of signs to authenticate his authority as God’s leader. However, the only healing associated with Moses is Miriam’s cleansing from leprosy (Numbers 12:13–15).

·       In the covenant God gave to Israel, there were a number of provisions to regulate their lives, and there is an emphasis on physicality and material things in the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 28, God promises to reward Israel’s faithfulness with freedom from disease. This is the clue to the meaning of miracles in the Bible. God promised Israel health, long life, children, flocks, corn, grapes, etc.—and victory over their enemies—if they stayed faithful to the Lord. At the same time, God threatened them with sickness, barrenness, disease, drought, famine, the loss of livestock, and enemy occupation if they forsook the Lord. This is the context of Israel’s relationship with sickness and healing. The promise to be kept “free from every disease” in Deuteronomy 7:15 was specifically part of the Mosaic Covenant with Israel under the theocracy; such a promise is not given to the church. With the coming of Christ, we have the fulfillment of the Mosaic Covenant (Matthew 5:17) and a reversal of the effects of Israel’s spiritual backslidings. Wherever Christ went, He healed the sick, but this was not just because of kindness on His part; His healings were always a sign from heaven of Christ’s authority as Messiah (John 7:31). He was giving Israel a taste of the kingdom of God (Luke 11:20). Those who refused His authority were often left sick (Matthew 13:58). At the pool of Bethsaida, for example, Jesus healed only one in a huge multitude (John 5). The apostles were also given the specific power to heal the sick, and for thirty-seven years they went everywhere healing those who heard their message. Again, their miracles, including healing, were confirmation of the truth of the gospel the apostles proclaimed. The twelve apostles did not heal everyone, either. Often, there were Christians left unwell in spite of the apostolic power. Paul says to Timothy, “Use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1 Timothy 5:23). Why didn’t Paul just lay hands on Timothy and heal him? It wasn’t because Timothy didn’t have enough faith; it was because it was not God’s will to heal Timothy that way. The healing ministry was not for anyone’s personal convenience; rather, it was a sign from God—to the Jews of the Old Covenant primarily—of the validity of the apostles’ message. We are not living in the apostolic days today. Of course, God can and does heal today when He wants to.

·       The question we need to ask in any given situation is, what does God want? Does He desire to heal the individual in this life, or does He have another plan to show His glory through weakness? Someday, all sickness and death will be eradicated (see Revelation 21:4). Until then, there is a greater healing, the cleansing of sinful hearts, that God performs every day.

The movie Shadowlands depicts the relationship between C.S. Lewis and Joy Gresham from friendship to marriage to Joy's death. As the film concludes, C.S. Lewis grieves Joy's passing and says, "Why love if losing hurts so much? I have no answers any more. Only the life I have lived. Twice in that life I've been given the choice: as a boy and as a man. The boy chose safety, the man chooses suffering. The pain now is part of the happiness then. That's the deal."

·       The hurt is a sign of the love. The hurt is a sign of the happiness and joy we had. Now, while happiness may ebb away, joy and love can continue. That said, it does not take away the hurt. As C.S. Lewis said, "That's the deal."

Our lives will also be hit with misfortunes and mishaps, and we won’t always know why. In fact, we very often won’t know why. But before we jump to conclusions, let’s trust the One who’s in control of every situation. He will bring healing in His time and in His way—and for His glory.

God wants us to come to Him with a Jairus kind of faith. He wants us to come to the end of our own abilities. He wants us to come to the place where we know that we can’t, but where we believe that He can!

Jairus had his faith enlarged by this encounter with Jesus. He discovered the power of God and his life would never be the same.

If I could leave you with anything today, it would be this:

·       When sickness comes – Believe Jesus!

·       When death comes – Believe Jesus!

·       When the bottom falls out of life – Believe Jesus!

·       When the answers to your prayers are delayed – Believe Jesus!

·       When you are ridiculed for your faith – Believe Jesus!

·       When you are looking at a hopeless situation – Believe Jesus!

Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.”

Contrast: The intertwining of these two miracles has a sandwiching effect. Jairus and his daughter are the bread and the woman is the “meat.” Jairus’ daughter is twelve years old. The woman was sick for 12 years. What does that mean? Who knows. We don’t know, but it is probably just a literary device to link the two stories together. Jairus is a synagogue ruler. The woman was unclean because of the blood problem. So, you have an insider and an outsider compared and contrasted. There is a woman and a child, death and disease, a public miracle and a private miracle. Lots of contrasts and comparisons going on. Perhaps the point is that it doesn’t matter what your social status is, Jesus is the answer.

Billy Graham: This doesn’t mean, however, that we shouldn’t pray when someone is sick and ask God to heal them. Ultimately, our lives are in God’s hands, and even when He uses medicine to bring about a person’s healing, He still should get the credit. The Bible is clear: “From the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death” (Psalm 68:20).

You are right, however, when you say that God wants us to have a strong faith. But how does our faith grow? It begins with our personal commitment to Jesus Christ and His will for our lives. It continues as we grow closer to Him through reading His Word, the Bible, and through prayer and fellowship with other believers. Is your faith in Christ growing stronger every day?

I don’t fully know why God restores some people to health but doesn’t do it for others. Some day in heaven we’ll understand, but in the meantime, we can only look to Him in faith and trust. If we don’t, we’ll only end up in bitterness, anger and confusion — and that’s a dead-end road. Remember: God knows what it is to lose someone to death. His only Son died on the cross for us.

When I place my problem beside the Lord, it suddenly grows very small. No matter how great it looks in my eyes, it is nothing compared to Him! After all, a God Who can create a universe from nothing can do anything! A God Who can part a sea, rain down manna from heaven, heal a sick body, raise a dead body, and save a lost soul can do anything!

Hope to see you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan