Israel: A Nation is Born

Title: Israel: A Nation is Born

Text: The Pentateuch

Introduction: The Pentateuch is the name given for the first 5 books of the Bible. Often times you’ll hear it called the Law or as it is known in Hebrew, the Torah. It is these books that give us a foundation for understanding our faith and religion. We understand better who we are through these books. We understand how we got to where we are through these books; that is, our beginnings and our journey. The world makes more sense to us when we get this background information. These five books provide the foundation for the rest of the story.

We’re in the midst of a sermon series entitled: His Story. We’ve looked at Creation and the perfection of the Garden of Eden. We next covered life in the Fall. Last week we covered the Patriarchs from Abraham down through the 12 sons of Israel. And that is where we pick up this morning, with the 12 sons and how they grow into a nation.

Let’s walk through these five books this morning to see a nation come into existence.

I. Genesis

exp.: Genesis presents the stories of Creation, the Fall, and presents God’s plan of redemption through Abraham…

• Abraham (had Ishmael & Isaac)
• Isaac (had Esau and Jacob)
• Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel, had 12 sons
• The 12

Israel had 4 wives. The one he apparently loved the most was Rachel. She died while giving birth to Benjamin, his 12^th son. The two boys she gave him were his favorites. And Joseph, the oldest of the two, was doted upon without hesitation in front of the others. Joseph’s apparent arrogance didn’t help matters either.

You see, Rachel was the wife he loved the most, but she was the wife who bore Israel no children. And for a woman who was barren – a common theme we see throughout His Story – the shame was almost unbearable. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was considered barren. Rebekah, Isaac’s wife was, too. And it appeared, Rachel was, too. So here is this man who loves this wife more than the others and when she has a son, he is most cherished. She dies giving birth to another son. You can understand why Israel might have favored these two more than the others. They were growing up without a momma.

But Israel’s favoritism and Joseph’s arrogance led to a lot of heartache. Some of the older 10 brothers wanted to kill him, but sold him as a slave to some of their distant cousins, Midianites, descendants of Ishmael, who were headed down to Egypt.

Summed up: God used the mess of their family to get Joseph down to Egypt, where the whole family would eventually come to be saved. At first he was a slave, then a prisoner. But God took him from the lowest of places and raised him up to be 2^nd in command of all of Egypt. And though it seems harsh, it would be Joseph’s unfortunate circumstances of slavery and imprisonment that would provide for him a move to be 2^nd in Command of all Egypt. His family in Israel would have to come to him for food during a horrible famine and Joseph would keep them there, providing for them – saving them.

t.s.: And there they would stay for 100’s of years as they multiplied and filled the land. Let me show you:

II. The Exodus

exp.: According to Exodus 1.5, there were 70 people in Israel’s family that moved down to Egypt. rd 1.5-7; this sounds like the covenant with Adam and with Noah – be fruitful and multiply… But a ruler would rise to power who did not know Joseph and was bothered by their increase in numbers. So he enslaved them. Basically, Exodus 1 covers 400 years of history. Chapter 2 covers 80 years, the 1^st 80 years of Moses’ life. From Exodus 3 through Leviticus and to the middle of Numbers covers about 15 months.

At the age of 80, Moses returns to Egypt to lead his people out of Egypt as a free people. There in the wilderness they would get organized. They would learn what it means to be God’s people. They would be structured for mobility. They would be given ample opportunity to grow in their faith.

God will perform incredible miracles before them to help them come to faith in Him.

1. The 10 plagues
2. The Cloud by day and the Pillar of fire by night.
3. The parting of the Red Sea; crossing on dry ground and then, drowning Pharaoh and his army.
4. Bitter water turned into something they could drink.
5. Manna
6. Water from the Rock
7. At Mt. Sinai, they beheld the glory of God in the peals of thunder and lightning, smoke, fire, trumpet blasts…

…where God gives his people his commandments and laws. For these first few months the Israelites set up camp and God would be outside their camp. They’re probably camping in their tribes and clans, but there seems to be no order or structure to their set up.

The picture was clear: God was saving his people. Now, he would do what he must to make them a people worthy of being called his people.

God called Moses to come up to the Mountain at Sinai to receive his commands – commands these people needed to learn. By the way: this was their request. They begged Moses to intercede for them. God was too ‘scary’ for them. They were too terrified to get anywhere near God. So, they begged Moses to intercede for them. He would go and visit with God and then come back and tell them what God said.

But, while Moses was up on the mountain of God, the people lost faith. Moses didn’t return for a long time and so they asked Aaron to make them another god of gold, a calf. Big mistake!

God was so angry with them that he was going to destroy them. But, Moses interceded for them and God relented from destroying them.

Summed up: In the book of Exodus the people are set free and brought out to the Wilderness of Sinai. There God gives them the 10 commandments and establishes a place for Him to dwell in their midst. The rest of the book is filled with instructions for constructing the place where God’s presence would dwell among the people. This place is called the Tabernacle. In this book, the tabernacle is built and the Glory of God moves into the Tabernacle.

t.s.: There is still so much for them to learn, though. A lot is happening here and very quickly. Which brings us to the book of Leviticus

III. Leviticus

exp.: The book of Leviticus is basically more instruction. The Laws that would make them different and distinct from all other people are given in Leviticus. God gives them his precepts, laws and commandments to follow so that they would become more like him and image him to the world… they would be distinct and different from all other people in the world. Then, they could be with him: he would be their God and they would be his people.

You see, up to this point there was just one problem preventing him from dwelling in the midst: their sin. You see, God is perfect and holy. They are not. And the two don’t mix.

The one thing the laws of Leviticus would demonstrate to them was their sinfulness and their great need for atonement.

Think about this: since the beginning of creation man has rebelled against God and done things his own way. From the first bite of the forbidden fruit to Abel killing his brother to …. Man’s standard has been to rebel against God. Man’s standard is sin. God’s standard is holiness. When I say ‘holiness’ think: perfection, clean, uncommon, unblemished, unmarked, pure, and righteous in every way. The law was given to show his people that they were sinners, imperfect, common and unclean, blemished, marked, impure and unrighteous in every way. – They were the antithesis of Him. To be with Him, their sin would have to be removed – it would have to be atoned for.

So, laws were set in place to show the standard of perfection. The punishment for rebellion against God’s law was death. But, to demonstrate God’s great love for his people, he gave them the sacrificial system to pay the penalty and take the punishment for them. The idea was that they didn’t have to die; a substitute could be sacrificed on their behalf. Then, through faith in God through that sacrifice, they could be holy and have a relationship with Him.

God instructs them to build a ‘place’ for him. Really, no place can contain him, but they need something to demonstrate the presence of God. So instructions are set for a Tabernacle to be built. This Tabernacle will be a holy place and the inner part where God dwells will be the most holy place (holy of holies). This is all very new to them. Their whole lives have been spent in slavery. They’ve only known what has been passed down through oral tradition. Now, God has saved them and set them up so that He might dwell with them; that He might Tabernacle with them, that He might pitch His tent in the midst of theirs.

So a standard is set and a redemption policy is put in place to accommodate their failure. We read about this in Leviticus 16 – it is called the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Their sinful state is described in 17-18. And by the time we get to 19, we see the holiness of God and the call for His people to be holy. Rd 19.1-2; ¹And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ² “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. And the call is repeated throughout Leviticus: Be Holy as I am Holy.

Transition: Once God teaches them of his standard, then he moves to set them in place so that He might dwell in their midst. And that leads us to the book of Numbers.

IV. Numbers

exp.: It is here in Numbers that they get organized. God has taught them that He is holy and they must be holy to be with him. And then to demonstrate this, he moved them around Him. No longer was he outside of where they camped – or I guess better understood, no more were they outside and away from him…now they were around him…literally, surrounding him.

Let me show you what I mean:

1. Exodus 33.7-11: The Tent of Meeting

⁷ Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. ⁸ Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. ⁹ When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. ¹⁰ And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. ¹¹ Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

2. Numbers 2
   1. East: Judah, Issachar, Zebulun
   2. South: Reuben, Simeon, Gad
   3. Levites around the Tabernacle
   4. West: Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin
   5. North: Dan, Asher, Naphtali

And by his commands, sin was to be taken outside the camp. They would take a shovel with them outside of the camp to go to the bathroom. If someone was sick or unclean, they would be sent outside the camp.

Once everything was set, they celebrated the Passover – for the 2^nd time. So, they’ve been out there for a year, learning about what it means to be God’s people. After the Passover, God said it was time to move out and head to their new home – The Promised Land! And he gave them specific instructions on how they would travel.

And they do, just as God had established. From now on until they enter the land, they would move this way; they would camp this way with God dwelling in their midst. Look at Numbers 9.15-23; And in Chapter 10 they take off. By the next chapter they’re complaining again! Even Miriam and Aaron get in on dogging Moses in Chapter 12. By Chapter 13 they arrive just outside the Promised Land. Finally, freedom from slavery and the opportunity to experience Eden Restored, God dwelling in their midst, and a land flowing with milk and honey. All they have to do is follow God into the land.

Then God does something very interesting: he orders Moses to send in spies to spy out the land. One man from each tribe. I’m sure you know the story by now: the 12 came back with the most wonderful stories, but 10 of them had fear in their eyes. We can’t do it. They’re too big! Remember the Nephilim of Genesis 6? Well, they’re here in Numbers, too. 10 of the 12 Spies told the people to turn back and surrender to Egypt. If they go into the Promised Land, they’ll all die. Better to take their chances in the desert – to die trying to get back to Egypt by way of the desert. If they continue into the Promised Land, their children will become prey to these Giants in the Land.

Man, they upset God one time too many. He told Moses once again, Get out of the way. I’m gonna kill them all! I’ll raise up a new nation with you. But Moses pleads with God and intercedes for the people once again. We pick up where Moses has interceded for them. Look at Numbers 14.20-23; 28-35;

So God gives them just what they asked for. They will all die in the desert and their children, all of those alive 20 and under will enter the land. Only Joshua and Caleb, the two spies who encouraged obedience and trust, would enter into the land.

app.: And that is just what happens. One by one, beginning with the 10 that led the people astray, they all die.

t.s.: Over the next 40 years all will die who were in the Census – that is, 20 years old and older. Only Caleb and Joshua will enter the land.

V. Deuteronomy

exp.: Deuteronomy means 2^nd Law. This book is about this 2^nd generation preparing to enter into the Promised Land that their parents and grandparents rejected. Moses presents the Law to them again and leads them to make a covenant with God.

Application: there are so many points where we could apply this story to ours.

• The Holiness of God. How often do we forget how awesome and great God is in His Holiness? How often do we treat Him with contempt by making Him common in our eyes?
• The sinfulness of man and the need for forgiveness and atonement. Do we realize the wickedness of our hearts? Do surround ourselves with so much of the world and sinfulness that we become callused to our own depravity?
• We as God’s people are to image God to a lost world just as they were supposed to do. How are we doing in that?
  • Do the leaders lead people astray because they’re scared or don’t like what they find as God is leading? Leader: are you more like Joshua and Caleb or more like the 10 whose names we don’t remember?
  • As a follower, are you pressing onward in faith? Or, do you find yourself grumbling and complaining against the leadership, the ministry, or God himself? How are we doing with that?

I worry, though, in pressing for application, that we would forget the point of these stories all being tied together; it is too easy to forget about the Snake Crusher and the Lion from the Tribe of Judah who would be King when you get lost in the stories, chapter after chapter and book after book. But really, God is reminding them all along; they’re just not listening. And the same goes for you and me.

Conclusion: It truly is amazing to see this storyline being written throughout all of history. Here today we’ve seen a nation come out from Egypt and be set free from their slavery. Moses led them. But this Moses was not the Snake Crusher. He’s not the lion of Judah, but rather a descendant of Levi.

Look at Deuteronomy 18.15-18; yes, there will be many prophets who will rise up and lead them, sharing God’s Word with them. But here is a prophecy about the One who is coming. A reminder that He is the one who will crush the head of the serpent and is Abraham’s son, and is the lion from the tribe of Judah and will be a prophet like Moses – a rescuer, ruler and redeemer, as Stephen calls him in Acts 7. Don’t miss that now. Stephen is reminding them that they have been looking for this Promised One… ‘the Prophet’ as he is known. Peter does the same thing in Acts 3.22 when proclaiming Christ in the Temple.

Each Gospel points out that the Israelites were looking for this Promised One (Mt 17.5; Mk 9.7; Lk 9.35) Jn 1.1-25; 5.45-47; Jesus is very plainly telling them right here that He is the One they’ve have been hearing about all of their lives. He is the one they have been waiting for.

If you’ve not heard, let me share with you, his name is Jesus. He fulfilled all of these promises and more we’ve not even looked at yet. He is the one this story is all about.

Let’s pray…

Mark 5.21-43

 

Me on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee

Title: Desperate People

Text: Mark 5.21-41

Introduction: thank you, Stephen, for reading Scripture for us this morning.

1^st, let me say: Happy Father’s Day, Dads! Stand.

2^nd, I’m finishing off a series on Jesus and his authority as demonstrated through miracles. We’ve already looked at how he demonstrated his authority, that is, He is Lord over:

1. The Natural Realm: when he spoke to the wind and the waves.
2. The Spiritual Realm: when he healed the Gadarene Demoniac of his demon possession.
3. Now, today, we’ll look at his authority over the Physical Realm

3^rd, Next week, I’ll move away from Mark for a week and talk about church polity: it’s function and organization.

So, here I am in Israel on the Sea of Galilee and I find myself standing where Jesus was when these stories took place. How do I begin to tell you about Israel? It is impossible. I can show you pictures and tell stories – but that won’t really do. You have to go. You really do. I told Lisa that I should have gone 30 years ago. And I’ve should have gone back multiple times since. Every seminary student should go to Israel. It should be required for graduation.

I feel like I should apologize for some of the things I’ve said over the past 30 years. I imagined the stories taking place in my western mind. I did not realize how off I was. I’ll show you what I mean: turn to Mark 5.21.

Today we continue our study in Mark. We’re in the midst of a sermon series on miracles Jesus performed demonstrating his authority over the natural, the spiritual, and today, the physical – even death. Read 5.21 with me. 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. Well, our context tells us that Jesus was on the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Garesenes where he healed the Gadarene Demoniac. His popularity had grown so much that he just needed to get away from all of the people. They pressed in on every side. He left the towns and villages because he could no long enter into them without being mobbed. Now, after this experience with this man and commissioning him to be a missionary to the Decapolis, he crosses back over to the north side of the SOG where he did most of his ministry.

He isn’t in town. The people have come out to him. They’ve not had to walk very far. But mind you, it would still be a hard walk, because of the terrain. It is some 700 ft below sea level. Everywhere along the north shore goes up from the water – and it goes up steeply.

1. Show pics of the north shore. (Use Laser) – I took this picture from Tiberias, a town of Gentiles on the western side of the SOG. John 6.1
2. North Shore…

Read 5.22a – ²² Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name… there are actually two desperate people we’ll meet this morning: Jairus and A unnamed woman.

Read 5.22b-23; there are two parts to this man’s situation that I want you to notice in this passage:

1. His Despair:

• He fell: at the feet of Jesus
• He implored: he begged if you will,
• He persisted: earnestly is translated from poly – lit.: many or much sayings

 

2. His Request: just come and touch her – lay your hand on her to accomplish two goals – σῴζω and ζάω; that she may be saved, rescued, or delivered. And, she may live.

• This 1st word is a verb – Jesus said that is why he came – to save, to rescue, to deliver.
• This 2nd word is used in comparison to death. Jesus said in Jn 10.10: I have come that they may have life.

Here we have our 1^st application for the day: When you pray…pray according to the will of Jesus. If you want to know that your prayers, although they are selfish in origin, that those prayers are within God’s will – pray that way – pray God’s will over your situation. If you’re praying for someone – say your child, a friend – pray Scripture over him or her.

Jairus is asking Jesus to do just what Jesus has said is his purpose: ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. Rd v 24a; ²⁴ And he went with him.

I’m sure Jairus was stilled scared and filled with worry, but there must be some relief. Look at the rest of v 24: And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.

Now, with this relief that Jesus is coming to see his daughter, there has to be some frustration for Jairus. This word translated thronging here is a word that means to press. As in what they do with olives to get olive oil; or to grapes, to get the juice or to make wine. The people who are thronging and pressing all around had to be slowing them down. Jairus has his request, but now Jesus has got to get there. I’ve pictured this scene in my mind many times. So many people who’ve gathered around him to see miracles, or maybe they’ve come to get something from Jesus. I’m sure there are desperate people in this crowd, too. People like Jairus. We meet another such person in v 25 – rd 25-28;

I want to encourage you to explore this woman more in your discussions in the study time that follows in our small groups. For now, let’s look at these two people who really sit in contrast to each other:

1. Jairus: a ruler of the synagogue, top dog on the ladder of society, probably respected and trusted. When we’re introduced to Jairus, we meet him by name and position.
2. The woman: we don’t know her name. As for position, she has none. She’s not allowed in the synagogue, nor was she allowed around anyone in the community. What money she had that would have given her position has been spent on doctors.

Most people appear on the rungs between these two extremes. Hence, they probably represent the whole ladder. I leave that for more discussion in class.

As with Jairus, I’d like you to note her actions:

1. Her Desperation

• She was unclean: because of her blood disease, an outcast in their society.She wouldn’t be allowed near anyone, let alone into the synagogue and have access to the priests.
• She suffered at the hands of those who offered her something they couldn’t provide. Time and again, placing her hope in physicians who couldn’t provide her with a cure.
• She was poor: she had exhausted her resources of money on doctors and remedies; There have been times that I’ve thought to myself that if I had money, I could fix this problem. Then one day my mother-in-law was told by a very wealthy friend the following line that has always stuck with me. She said: if money can fix it, it ain’t a problem.

 

2. Her Persistence: she has no right to ask. She’s not even supposed to be near him or anyone one else for that matter. The law is clear on this.

Leviticus 15.25-27: ²⁵ “If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her menstrual impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness. As in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean. ²⁶ Every bed on which she lies, all the days of her discharge, shall be to her as the bed of her impurity. And everything on which she sits shall be unclean, as in the uncleanness of her menstrual impurity. ²⁷ And whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.

But she’s thinking: if I can just get near him and touch him, he will save me and I’ll live. All the days of her impurity – for 12 long years – she’s had to avoid people. Can you imagine the disgust of those who might sit where she sat or touch what she touched? Can you imagine the mistreatment – ugly things said when someone was declared unclean for a day because of their contact with her? Can you approach her humiliation?

But He is her last hope. She truly believes that if she can just touch his garment…and she uses the same word Jairus used in v. 23 – σῴζω – I’ll be saved, cleansed, rescued, delivered! And evidently, she touches him.

I shot a photo of a painting – a mural on a wall in the museum in Magdal. This photo captures the artists impression of this moment when she is able to reach out in faith and touch the hem of his garment. Which, by the way, Matthew and Luke mention – just the fringe of his garment. And what happens? Her faith becomes real… rd v 29;

One particular moment in time and she is changed. She is healed. And, she knows it. But so does Jesus. So he asks who touched him. But of course, the disciples are like – really?

The story began by the sea. Jairus requests the presence of the Lord to attend his daughter. They move in that general direction. The village wouldn’t have been too far. The houses were stacked together. The streets were incredibly narrow. It wouldn’t take too many people to create a congestion.

I have some pictures of synagogues from two separate villages there.

This is Capernaum. I don’t know if this is the same village where these things happened. Could be, but we don’t know for sure… But these villages were all very similar. This 2nd synagogue is in Magdal. So, there you have it…

Now let’s pick up in v 46-48; Look at the words that characterize her: exposed; Trembling; Falling down before him. This is what was said of Jairus – he fell down before Jesus. You know what? That probably describes all of us. Some of us, our problems are exposed to the world and we cry out to Jesus with their full awareness. But, for others, their problems are hidden and unoticed.

Can I just stop for a moment here. I wonder if the people around knew this woman. Maybe. Probably. But, with all eyes focused on Jesus and all attention on him, no one noticed this unclean woman slipping in on Christ. In some ways this is good. For one reason, people focused on Jesus are not busy judging those around them. That could be another application for today: People focused on Jesus are not busy judging those around them.

She stands there – exposed, guilty. But look what Jesus says: rd v 34;

There isn’t time to even notice that Jesus was headed somewhere to do something for someone. If this had been me, I would have said: Ok, what was I doing? No so with Jesus – He knew. His movement was interupted. He questioned who touched. It gets quiet as everyone looks at this out of place woman. His words of forgiveness and healing haven’t even left the thoughts of those listening when messengers come to tell Jairus.

So desperate was this man for his daughter that he left her there in her sickness seeking the favor of the only one who could heal her. Now, it was too late. She was gone. There comes a time when you don’t need to ask for something anymore.

Ill.: King David knew this. Do you remember the story of his sin with Bathshba and how she became pregnant? A child was born and David was told this child would not survive. ¹⁶ David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. ¹⁷ And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. ¹⁸ On the seventh day the child died. The servants feared to tell David of his son’s demise. If he acted like this while the child was alive, what would he do when he found out that his newborn son had died? David noticed his servants acting differently and knew something had happened. They told him the truth, “He is dead.” ²⁰ Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. ²¹ Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” ²² He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ ²³ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

She’s gone now. There comes a time to stop asking. Can I bring her back again? No. I will one day go to her, but she will not return to me.” Jesus must see this because he says, Do not fear, only believe. This is the same word he used with the woman he had just healed. Belief and Faith are the same word. One is a verb and the other a noun, but the same meaning. This woman’s actions – demonstrating her belief – had brought her healing. This man’s belief in Christ – it would accomplish the same thing.

Taking his garden buddies with them, they headed off to Jairus’ home. When they arrive, there is a commotion. Each time this word appears in the NT it is translated uproar or tumult. It is used to describe crowds that are causing trouble – getting ready to riot. I wonder why Mark used this word. Were people angry? When a child dies, it is different in many ways than that of someone much older who has lived a full life. Whatever his reasoning, we get the idea that there is a very loud commotion going on outside of the home with loud weeping and wailing.

Jesus, ever in control, tells them all that they don’t understand the situation inside. That’s why they’re behaving the way they are. They think they know – but they don’t really. And when Jesus let’s them in on the truth – And they laughed at him (v 40a); rd v 40b-43;

Mark doesn’t tell us about this mom and dad. I can’t really even begin to understand what they might be feeling. How can one express a gratitude for such a blessing? My guess is that there are no words that can communicate that kind of thanksgiving. How do you put to words, how can you describe what happens in a heart when one was at the lowest point a human can go and snatch them from such despair and grief? And what heights of joy they must now be feeling! The Gk word here is the word we get ecstatic and ecstasy. Oh, and then he says – don’t tell anyone what happened here and give her something to eat!

Conclusion: Don’t tell anyone! That would be tough!

I’d like to have a time of praise and worship and give folks a chance to respond to what God may have been doing in hearts. I’m thinking of David’s response: he cleaned himself up, went in to worship – and then got something to eat.

If there has never been a time in your life when you encountered Christ – I offer him to you today. I can’t promise you the healing these people received, but I can promise you that Christ will do in your life what you need. He cares for you far more than you’ll ever know.

 

Questions for discussion:

1. What similarities do you find between the two stories?
   1. Ceremonial Unclean – impure
      1. The woman’s bleeding caused her to be unclean – thus isolated from the community for more than a decade
      2. The girl’s death made her unclean – you’re not supposed to touch a corpse
   2. Daughter
      1. Jesus calls the woman “Daughter”
      2. The girl is the daughter of Jairus
   3. 12 years
      1. The woman had been sick for 12 years
      2. The age of the girl is 12 years old
   4. Both involve the touch of Jesus and their faith
      1. The woman’s faith to just touch his garment
      2. Jairus is encouraged to persevere in his faith
   5. What contrast do you note between the two stories?
      1. He is one of the rulers of the synagogue – probably the highest rung in that community ladder.
      2. She is unclean and unable to participate in the community. To make matters worse, she is a woman.
   6. Discuss the differences of life in the Law and life in Christ. Discuss how through the law unclean things made clean things unclean. And, discuss how Jesus wasn’t affected like that. He made unclean things clean! Lev 15.25-27; Lev. 11.39-40 – dead things bring the same consequence as that of the woman with a blood discharge. Mark Horne: Under the Mosaic system Death spread but Life did not. But Death was not a problem for Jesus! Death and uncleanness did not corrupt Christ.
   7. This story ends beautifully, but David’s story – not so much. How does one surrender themselves to the will of God – especially when God’s will runs counter to their own? Maybe there are some personal testimonies here… be sure to direct each story toward the glory of God. There is sometimes a tendency toward sensationalism and the glory of God gets lost. Sometimes people die. Sometimes children die. Do you suppose we overlook the times that God has spared our children and loved ones and focus only on the tragedies? As a grandfather, I remember Caroline being at death’s door. I remember another family in the same hospital with their little one. Their child died. Caroline lived. How is God glorified in both stories.
   8. One of today’s applications was to pray according to the will of God. That sounds easy, but how does one really pray that way? Do you find your prayers are more self-centered than Jesus-centered? What are some ways you can change your focus?
   9. Another similarity between the two stories is the topic of faith. Jesus did what he did to demonstrate his authority over the physical, even life and death. How do we exercise our faith in both tragedy and triumph? And when we do, how does that demonstrate Christ’s authority over life and death?