Mark chapter 5. We'll be looking at verse 20
through the remainder of this chapter. For time's sake, I will
not be able to read through the whole chapter, but we will take
an overview of this story, for it is one story. It is one providence,
one time. All of this happens at the same
time. And my purpose in this is to
show us the purpose of Christ. The purpose of Christ in delayed
mercy. That's the title of the message.
The purpose of Christ in delayed mercy. Now we read in verse 20
that He departed I'm sorry, verse 21, "...and
when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side,
much people were gathered unto Him, and He was nigh unto the
sea." Our Lord Jesus Christ having displayed mercy, His purpose,
remember, He purposed to cross the sea and go to Gadara to save
that demoniac, and He did that. He accomplished that salvation
of that man. And immediately they cast him
out and he returned back to his place. He went back to the other
side to Capernaum. He returned to Capernaum. And upon his return, there was
a great reception of him, a great multitude had gathered about
to see him. Now at Capernaum, I want you
to understand this, this was his hub where he, in his ministry,
he kind of centered around this place. He did many miracles there
in Capernaum. And so he was well known in this
place. And when he returned, because
of the miracles, because of curiosity, whatever their reason, a great
multitude came to him. But this one man came, this man
Jarius in verse 22. He said, Behold, there cometh
one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jarius by name. And when he had
saw him, he fell at his feet and besought him greatly, saying,
My little girl, my little daughter, lieth at the point of death.
I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be
healed, and she shall live." And Jesus went with him. As soon as he gets off the boat,
this man comes. And it's not a poor man. This
is not a man of low estate. This is a man of high degree
and wealth. This is a man that is high in
stature. He is the ruler of the synagogue
of Capernaum. Capernaum being so large a city,
the synagogue itself was a very large synagogue. He was a man
of great renown. And yet notice how this man comes. He comes as a beggar. His little girl was sick. And
he greatly besought the Lord. He fell at His feet. And besought
Him that He would come and lay His hands on him. Now I want
you to see the faith of this man. This man knew something
about Christ. I'll tell you this, he didn't
know much about Christ. As we'll see, he didn't know
much. But He knew this, that this was the war. If there was
anyone to help, Jesus was the man. And He came and He bowed
Himself and besought Him. He begged Him for the life of
this dear one to His part. And I want you to see the compassion
of Christ. What did He do? He agreed to heal this girl. Now this girl, and I want you
to understand, this verse here, it says, at the point of death,
this one was not just sick, this one was on her last breath. She was at any moment ready to
expire from this life. It was an urgent case. It was
an urgent case. What we would call time-sensitive.
Don't you agree? It was very time sensitive that
he come. This man had faith. But I want
you to see this. He had little faith. Remember
that centurion that came to him and said, my servant is sick. Would you heal my servant? And
the Lord said, I'll come. And he said, no, you don't even
have to come. You just say the word and my servant shall be
healed. That faith is great faith. That man Jesus admired his faith. It was great faith. This man not so. This man had
little faith. He believed Christ was able,
but he believed Christ had to be present, that Christ had to
actually lay his hands on earth. So as they begin this journey,
our Lord is going to teach this man something about himself. Our Lord is going to not berate
his little faith, but rather increase it. Increase it. So we see the long suffering
of the Lord to go with him. But. Something happens. Something happens. Look at this
in verse 24, Jesus went with him and much people followed
him and listen, thronged him. Oh, my. Oh, my. A delay. A delay. Much people thronged Him. He
was on His way. He had determined to heal the
girl, but He was hindered by a crowd. A crowd of people slowed
His progress toward the little girl. But now then, even more than
this, verse 25 down to verse 34, something even greater slows
His pace. And a certain woman, which had
an issue of blood twelve years, and suffered many things of many
physicians, and spent all that she had, and was nothing better,
but grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came into the
press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may
touch his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain
of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she
was healed of the plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing
in himself that power had gone out of him, turned him about
in the press and said, Who touched my clothes? Oh my! Who touched my clothes? The disciples
said, Lord, don't you know that the people thronged thee? And
you say, Who touched me? Jesus stopped dead in His tracks. And He looked about to see her
that had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling,
knowing that it was done what was done in her, came and fell
down before Him and told Him all the truth. Oh my! Another delay. Not only was He
stopped in the middle of the crowd until He finds out who
touched Him, but now He's going to sit and listen to this woman's
story. Can you not feel the frustration
in Jairus? Why is He stopping? Doesn't He
know that my daughter is at the point of death? He begins with such good hope.
The Lord said He was coming. He has some hope that there's
healing, but the crowd slows, and His hope begins to, like
the sands in hourglass, begins to dwindle down, and now, He
stops in the middle of the crowd and time is going, time is moving. His daughter is still about to
expire. And not only does He find the
woman who does this, but He sits and listens to her life story. Now look in verse 35. Verse 34, Jesus said unto her,
Thy faith hath made thee whole. Go in peace. behold from that
play all now we can get moving again the next person while there came
the rule of the synagogues how certain which say uh... daughter why troubles why troubles
him anymore Friends, at this point, can you
not know that the hope of Jairus was lost? How could he do this? He promised to cover her. He said he would heal her. And
now she's dead. He delayed. The crowd got in
the way. He stopped. He listened to this
woman and now my daughter is dead. His hope was lost. But now look at the face of the
Lord Jesus Christ and do you see any discouragement? Listen
to what He says. As soon as Jesus heard the word
that was spoken, He saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, here
it is, Be not afraid, only believe. Only believe. Friends, our Lord
Jesus Christ was in no way discouraged either by the crowd or by the
woman. In fact, He purposed both of
them. He purposed both of them. Jesus
was going to display something. He was going to display much
more power and glory for Himself by not just healing this girl,
but we know this, He was going to raise her from the dead. These delays of mercy were necessary
to show forth His goodness to His people and the glory of His
dealings. These were necessary delays. Necessary. I've taken great lengths to go
through this whole history. But by the grace and power of
God the Holy Spirit, I want us to learn this lesson. Every delayed mercy is on purpose. Every delayed mercy is on purpose
for your good and for the glory of God. This is the reason for delayed
mercies. This is prominently displayed
that the purpose of God is for the good of His people. And I want us to see this mercy
delayed in three things, three purposes here that are intended
by this delay. First of all, I want us to see
the trial of his faith was God's purpose in the delay. The trial
and increase of this man's faith was the reason for the delayed
mercy. Now, he could have said, she's
here. Could he not? Did he not have
power to do that? We know in the centurion's case
he did. Yet he delayed. And I'm telling you, it was for
the trial of this man's faith and the increase of his faith.
Secondly, it was for the salvation of this woman. This was necessary
for her salvation. In the providence of God it was
at this time. She was to be born of the Spirit
of God. And thirdly, delayed mercy is
always a demonstration of the deity of christ and the glory
of christ for the good of his people but i want you to first take
hold of this truth in order to learn these things you must take
hold of this truth god is absolutely sovereign in all things everything
that god has decreed in eternity shall come to pass in time without
exception. Without exception. Everything
that is happening now and has happened since and shall happen
in the future is always only according to the sovereign will
of God. Now friends, people can kick
at that, they can spit at that all they want to, but it does
not matter. It is true. And it's best you
bow to it. It's best you bow to it. And
I know God's people do. Why? Because we know God is good. And all that God does is good.
And God, this is the purpose of God in His sovereign mercy. Listen to this covenant that
He made. This is our covenant. You who believe in Christ, this
is the covenant God has made with Christ for us. Here it is.
He said, I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will
not turn away from them to do them good. Now listen, if that's
God's covenant, should we not then desire that God have His
will? God's will is, He said, Yea,
I rejoice to do them. It's not only God's will to do
us good, it's God's joy to do us good. Now you get that? The only reason God rejoices
do you and me good is because of Christ. We understand that
but the only hope for us is Christ The only the only reason God
rejoices to do us good because he sees us as he sees us in union
with his son And it's God's pleasure. It's and then what Jesus said
it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom So everything
that God does is for your good You're good John said behold what manner
of love the father had bestowed upon us that we sinners should
be called the sons of God. Sons by an eternal covenant which
we were given to Christ to be all our salvation and behold
the love of God. The love of God that drew salvation's
plan. Behold the grace that brought
it down to man. Behold the mighty gulf that God
did span at Calvary. The only reason I know God is
going to do me good is because of Christ. Because I'm in Christ. In Jesus Christ, the only begotten
of the Father. who was given to suffer and die
for our sins, has accomplished for us eternal redemption. So then, we know, Paul said,
Romans 8, 28, we know, now do you know this? That all things work together for good to them that love God. to them
who are called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow,
He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His
Son, that Christ might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover, whom He did predestinate, He also called. And whom He called,
He also justified. And whom He justified, He also
glorified. What shall we say to these things?
If God be for us, this is what we say, if God be for us, who
can be against us? He that spared not His own Son,
but delivered Him up for us all, if He had done that for us, how
then shall He not with us freely give us, what? All things. How is He not freely going to
do that? Freely give us all things. Therefore, all who come to God,
all who Christ died, all that God chose, all that Christ died
for, all those who come to Him in faith and repentance, He said,
shall never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hands. Why? Because this is the sovereign
will and purpose of God. And now, we see one of these
that God chose. We see one of these that God
gave to His Son. One that Christ should die for.
One that He should raise again for His justification. This Mangerius
is a picture of all of us. This man came in faith. This
man came in faith to Christ. But what brought him there? Providence. The hand of God brought
him there. Who do you suppose made his little
girl sick to the point of death? It was God. It was God working
that horrible thing for Jarius's good and he did it moved him to see his weakness
and inability. It moved him to disregard his
state and standing as a ruler and a wealthy man. He disregarded
all of that and came to Christ as a beggar. And that's exactly
how he does with us. He causes all of this world,
through the providences and circumstances of life, he causes us to see
the vanity of the world. The vanity of our flesh. The
vanity of our religion. The vanity of our self-righteousness. And He moves us to come in faith
to Him. Just like He did to Jairus. This
man came and bowed himself. A ruler came and bowed himself
at the feet of Jesus. And so does everyone who needs
salvation. We come because we have a need.
This man had a need. Did he not? Was it not a great
need? How much greater is our need concerning sin. We need
Him to save us. We need Him to justify. We need
Him to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness and therefore
we come as beggars. Have you come as a beggar? If
not, you should because that's all you are. So God brings this man Jairus
helpless and hopeless to himself. And then being full of faith.
He trusting Jesus Christ and the ability of Christ. He trusts
Christ to be alone to heal this girl. It wasn't a cooperative
effort, was it? Jesus, if you'll come and do
this, then I'll do that for you. No. It was solely based on His
mercy. He came solely based on mercy. He came for mercy. Seeking mercy. so this man here
is a picture of us as he comes in he says this if you lay your
hands upon her now his faith was very small i'm encouraged by this you don't
need great faith to come you just need faith you need
to believe and so then i want to see the
first purpose of jesus is to increase this man's faith. To increase this man's faith.
He comes by small and weak faith, so the Lord agreeing to go with
him to heal her, by these chosen events, by these ordained events,
He sets in motion, out of His purpose, to try this man's faith. Now you who believe, is that
not God's promise to you? that he will try your faith what does Peter say about the
trial of faith he said the trying of your faith being much more
precious than gold which perishes the trial of our faith is necessary
so that we might be comforted does God know your faith Yes,
He gave it to you. Do you know it? How often are you perplexed about
your faith and how weak it is? How often do you even doubt you
have faith at all? How shall you know that you are
an elect of God except you believe on the Son of God? Faith is the
evidence of our salvation. So then, if I know that my faith
is of God, then that gives me comfort. That gives me assurance. And so then, the first measure
of the trial of his faith was this crowd. He said Jesus went
with him. Verse 24, And much people followed
and thronged him. This is the first measure of
the trial of his faith. And then, the stopping of the
Lord Jesus Christ from any progress at all. The woman touched him
and he just stopped. And then, not only did he stop,
now he sits and listens to the woman's cries, the woman's pleading,
the woman's testimony. And then, just as though he's
about to have some measure of hope in moving forward, he comes
with the message, my daughter is dead. Trouble not the master
anymore. you not feel the doubts and fears
of his mind concerning the promise to heal? Surely his patience
was pressed to its limits, and then the worst of all, his fears
was made a reality in the death of his daughter. What sorrow
this man must have felt! What pain and fear! What doubt
of Christ's promise should come to his mind! Lord, why did you even say you'd
go to begin with? Why did you give me any hope
at all if this is what it would end? And what is Jesus' words of comfort
to him? Be not afraid, only believe. Do you not see it was the Lord
that purposed the crowd as well as the woman? It was the Lord who caused the
delay. It was the Lord who actually
took the life of his daughter. And all this so that Jerry's
faith should be increased. That he would cause to look at
Him and not look at the circumstances, but rather look to Christ. He
said, look, don't look at these things. Don't be afraid of these
things. Look at me. Only believe me. Stop looking at the providence.
Stop looking at the circumstances. And look to me! Look to me. Don't be afraid. How often have we been in affliction
and fled to Christ? And tell me, when you flee to
Christ and His Word comes to you, are you not enlightened
with some hope? When you hear that message, I
will not turn away from Thee to do Thee good. Is that not
to give you some hope of deliverance? Some measure of light in the
darkness. You feel that He's at a moment
that He's going to come. Any moment now. You're anticipating
Him to come and deliver you from the storms of your life. And
then all of a sudden, something causes a delay. Providence doesn't get better,
it gets worse. And your hope begins to dwindle. Your fear takes hold of you.
Darkness clouds into your soul and steals your joy, your peace. Truly, this is the trial of our
faith. This is the trial of our faith. When the Word and the
promises of God seem to be at odds with His providence. But friends, this is the only
way faith can grow. This is how God designs to give
us more faith. You pray for more faith? You
do? Don't you realize you are praying
for delayed mercy? You're praying for difficulties. In Newton's prayer, you remember,
he said, I asked the God for grace and faith, and I thought
at once He would come and give me what I desire. But what happened? He said, every devil, every demon assaulted
my soul in every part. He was afflicted, he was troubled.
Doubts and fears came to his mind. Sickness of body, sickness
of mind. And he said, Lord, why would
you do this? And he answered, this is how I give grace and
faith. This is how I give it. Through
the trial. to those seeming contradictions. Isn't this what he did with Mary
and Martha and Lazarus? Same thing, isn't it? He said,
they sent a letter, Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick. And
they thought, isn't that what you do, you think? I thought
he would come immediately when I said that. What happened? He delayed still four more days. And what did he tell his disciples
he said this sickness is not unto death and yet he died Is
there not a seeming contradiction here? How can we reconcile his promises
his word with the providences we face I We in the providence of God look
and see that all is bad. He promised me good and all is
bad. I'm sick, my children are dying,
my money is gone, my body is wrapped with pain, my loved one
is dead. He promised and yet it seems
all is ill with me. Yet God said, I will never turn
away from you to do you good. Never will. I will never leave
you nor forsake thee, and yet you feel as though He's abandoned
you. This is not, is this not what
is happening with Jairus? The Lord promised to heal and
yet the crowd stepped in. The Lord promised to heal and
the woman stopped it. So let us in such time then hear
the word of your Savior. Here it is. Listen very carefully. Be not afraid. What's the remedy for fear? Faith. Only believe. Jerry, stop looking at this. Christ is saying, look here.
Look to me. Believe. Only believe. His faith was being tried. And I'm thankful to see this,
that Jairus' faith was found to be true faith, wasn't it?
How do I know Jairus' faith was true? Because he still went. with Christ to his home. He still
brought Christ to his dead daughter. You see, his faith has increased
from being there to touch her and heal her to raising her from
the dead. And you know that's exactly what
he did. He raised her from the dead. Believer, do you still believe
in Christ? After all your troubles after all your difficulties after
all your afflictions after all the seemingly Contradiction seeming
contradictions of life and the promises of God. Why is it you
still believe? Because your faith is real Your
faith is the faith that God gives Now is that not more precious
than gold that perishes? The Apostle said, make your calling
and election sure. How can you know that except
you believe? And how should you believe? Is
my faith like those that go away? How many people have you known
to believe for a while and go away? Is my faith like theirs? Or is it real? The only way to
know And when the trial is done, can
you not see the promise of God was sure? You see the promise of God is
more sure. Christ, in this display, shows
His deity. And so it is with all the finishing
of all of our trials. Christ deity is magnified. His
promises are exalted. He's we say. You did what you
said you would do. And you did it better than I
ever thought you could. This is God's providence. This
is God's providence. To try our faith and listen at
the same time he was trying the faith of Jairus. What else was
he doing? He was saving this woman. This woman's a picture of us
too, isn't it? If Jairus' daughter hadn't been sick, if God had
not given him faith, the crowd would not have come in. She would
have not pressed in the crowd because she was afraid. She would
have not come by herself. She needed the crowd to come.
She needed to try to sneak in. You see God using the providence
there? And she's a picture of us, isn't
it? We were like her, had an issue of blood. We were outcast
from the worship of God. We were outcast from the people
of God. She was not allowed to be there
being a woman with an issue of blood. And so God using the crowd
allowed her to sneak in. And she sneaks in and she touches
Him. And he stops. Why? Because that's his child.
And he loves her just as much as he did Jairus. And so then she gives a testimony. Now what is he doing for Jairus
in this? He's preaching the gospel to
Jairus. By this woman and her experience,
he's preaching the gospel to this man in the midst of his
trouble. Isn't that the best thing for us? Now I know this,
you in the midst of your trouble, hearing the preaching of the
gospel is something that the flesh is totally against. I don't
feel like it. When you're in trouble, don't
you do that? I don't feel like it. I'm sure Jairus didn't feel
like hearing this gospel message. But listen, it was the best thing
for him. He should be able to see himself
in her. He should be able to see his
salvation in her salvation. And so God purposed the salvation
of this woman. Now let's see how these two are
interlinked. The trial of Jairus' faith and the salvation of this
woman happening all at the same time. You see that God can do
more than one thing at a time. In the midst of our trouble,
who are we focused on? When you're in trouble, who are you focused
on? Me. When I'm hurting, I don't think
anyone else exists. I don't think anyone ever hurts
like me. I'm telling you, I don't. That's
just it. I've got a pain in my neck and I'm telling you, you
don't know anything about that. That just hurts. Well, I'm focused
on me. Jairus is focused on himself. Christ must redirect our focus. And He does this through trial,
through difficulties. And lastly, we see that all of
this ended well for all parties. Did it not end better this way? Which way would God be more honored? Healing the girl or raising her
from the dead? Well, you know, raising her from
the dead. And so then we may see through
this man the providence of God in our own lives. that God is working all things
for our good, that when He delays mercy, we should not doubt His
promises, but only believe. When the crowds press in and
when God stands still, let this word sound in our heart, be not
afraid, only believe. i'm only if he delay behold he is not i he is still work he's still saving
even though we don't we may not see friends, God is working all things
together. Now all things individually may
not be good, but they are working together for our good. Let us then lay down at the feet
of Christ in the midst of every problem and know that God in his love
for you will not turn away to do you good, but rather rejoices
to do you good. I pray that God would teach us
this. Help us to see His strength is made perfect when? In our
weakness. In our weakness. Manifest better
in our weakness. Thank God. Help us. Let's stand,
be dismissed, and pray.