Saturday December 28
“Do Not Be Afraid; Only Believe…”
Luke 8:49-56
49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher." 50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well." 51 When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. 52 Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping." 53 And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise." 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. 56 And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.
I can imagine that Jairus was getting pretty anxious as Jesus has stopped on their way to his house to heal this woman of her “flow of blood” issue, and to take the time to talk with her and then send her on her way with these beautiful words of encouragement, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” His daughter is dying, and the sooner Jesus gets to his house the better. Do you ever feel like Jesus is taking too much time to help you or to answer your prayer?
Then, sure enough, someone comes from Jairus’ house and gives him the message: “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” You can only wonder what Jairus must have thought and felt at that moment! “Jesus, my daughter was dying, and you could have healed her. Instead, You stop and help this woman who has had this problem for 12 years. You could have come back tomorrow and taken care of her problem. Now my daughter is dead!”
But Jesus responds to assure and comfort him by saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and your daughter will be made well.” Now remember in this chapter it was right after Jesus says, “Don’t hide the light of your candle under a basket or bed, but put it where it can help everyone”, that He reveals His authority over the wind and waves of the storm on the sea by simply saying, “Peace be still” (Mark 4:39). Jesus has power over the elements of nature!
At Gadara on the other side of the sea, Jesus cast out a legion of demons from the maniac and reveals His power and authority over the demonic forces of hell. And He still has power over them today! Then Jesus also reveals His power over sickness and disease when He heals this woman of her flow of blood. And now, as we come to the end of the chapter, Jesus reveals that He has power and authority over death itself. Is it no wonder that Jesus said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; only believe!”
About a year and half later, we find a similar situation in John 11. Martha and Mary’s brother, Lazarus was deathly sick, and they sent word to Jesus to come and heal him. But Jesus lingered where He was so long down by the Jordan River that when He finally arrived Lazareth had died. When Jesus finally shows up, Martha confronts Him by saying, “If you had been here my brother would not have died.” Jesus responds to her with these famous words in John 11:25-26, “Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" And a few minutes later, Jesus would call Lazarus out of grave and present him alive to his sisters and their friends!
My friend, Jesus still has power over sinners who are dead in their trespasses and sins! (Ephesians 2:1). Paul goes on to assure us of His resurrection power in Ephesians 2:4-9: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
It doesn’t matter whether you are a dead religious sinner like Paul, or a wicked evil bad sinner, Jesus has the power to save you because of His love, mercy and grace and the power of His resurrection! When Jesus and Jairus arrived at the house the people were weeping and in deep sorrow over the dead girl. Jesus separated the unbelieving crowd from the believing crowd and went in and raised the girl from the dead!
The question Jesus asked Martha is still the same today, “Do this believe this?” To Jairus Jesus said, “Do not be afraid, only believe!”
Today you can believe that Jesus can save you or your lost family members and friends! Only believe!!!! And you don’t need to be afraid of death for yourself or your loved ones! Only Believe!
God bless!
留言