Friday Evening Notes from the 2010 Shepherds’ Conference

John MacArthur closed out the 2010 Shepherds’ Conference on Friday night with a sermon from Mark 5:21.  If you would like to download the audio or video from the conference, go here.

The greatest demonstration of the compassion by God was the incarnation of Jesus Christ.  He chose to heal sick people, release demon possessed people, raise dead people…along with God’s power came compassion.  This is the heart of God manifest in Christ.  The theological reason for suffering always go back to divine sovereignty, that God has a purpose in it.  But even God’s response to suffering is compassion, mercy and even grief.

There are three things that make a lasting ministry.

• Separation
• Sincerity
• Sympathy

Your people need to know you care!  God only came into the world one time and it was one massive display of compassion.  Even when you can explain that God has a purpose, be there to show sympathy!

Mark has one purpose; to make it obvious that Jesus is God incarnate.  No person makes this confession until the 15th chapter and 39th verse, no one, except demons.  “We know who you are, the holy one of God”, they couldn’t help saying it because they were terrified.  A Gentile Roman solder outside the nation of Israel was the first to say it.  after Christ died.

What strikes me about him is this compassion that is demonstrated.  He knew the sovereign purpose of God. He, the God who inflicts the pain, is there to catch the sufferer.  He didn’t seclude himself, his entire ministry was in public.  His entire ministry was in the street, field, other’s homes, on the sea with only occasional rest and time with His disciples.

He is Accessible
The number of followers were so relentless that it was even difficult for him to eat.  He never left the crowds.  There was always a large crowd waiting for him, bringing all the people that needed to be healed.  He is like a hero, celebrity and in all history there has never been anything like this.  Out of all the fickle mob numbering in the thousands, there are two whose faith is real; a man and a woman.  One was rich the other poor, one respected one rejected, one with a 12-year-old dying, one with a 12-year disease.

Jarius, he was a lay leader, revered, religious and a man the people would follow.  He fell at Jesus feet – this is politically incorrect.  For a synagogue ruler to do this is putting himself in a difficult position with the “establishment”.  He worshipped!  You only bow down to a superior.  “Please come see my daughter.” he pleaded.  There is no doubt in this request.  Later we’ll see that she isn’t just at the point of death, but already dead.  The father does not budge in his faith.  He is a rare man; few believed savingly in Jesus.  Jesus went off with him.

Note that these people could get to Jesus. Sometimes we think we are more important than we are.

He is Available
As He goes a large crowd presses in on him.  He pitched his tent with people, no hierarchy, no ivory towers.  Jarius’ only hope was for Jesus to heal his daughter.  What drives Jesus’ availability – the compassion of our Lord.  He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.  Mt 12:20  “A bruised reed He will not break…”  He doesn’t throw people away.  Mt 14:14; Mark 8:2, Mt 9:36  His compassion was indiscriminate.

He is Interruptible
Verse 25 presents a woman with a hemorrhage for 12 years.  This is so personal, a woman with a female bleeding problem.  She is not just a face in the crowd.  Mark describes her with participle phrases; physiological problem and without strength; it was dangerous, she could bleed to death, severe social effects (uncleanness & everyone you touch is unclean); just imagine the courage and desperation.  She could not be cured.  Then in verse 27 she does something unthinkable, she touches Jesus.

Remember Luke 7 when the prostitute came in and kissed the feet of Jesus.  The Pharisees went ballistic and asked if they knew who she was…but nothing stopped Jesus.  He was not defiled.

This woman from Mark 5 went to multiple doctors, but every day nothing changed.  So you wanted to touch his garments.  She touched the fringe; the tassels on their robes (which the Pharisees enlarged to look more holy).  If I just touch His garments I’ll get well. This is not pagan superstition about a robe on her part, its  about the man who had demonstrated such power.

Verse 29 says immediately she was healed.  Being interruptible is a good thing to learn.

He is Intentional
This is not just a woman in the crowd.  Verse 30 Jesus perceived that His power had gone out.  His power is personal!  He experiences every expulsion of power.  He is involved.  Our God is not detached and unfeeling.  He is unaltered by what men do, but He feels everything.  No one receives His power without His involvement.

Such a personal God, such a personal work.  He is very intentional.  He knows where and to whom His power goes.  He knows the plan for this woman and that her name is in the lamb’s book of life.  This is one of His sheep.  He will act in grace and in power…to restore her to her husband, family, town, synagogue and to reconcile her with God.  He is about to save this woman.

“Who touched this garment”? You don’t have to be afraid even though you are an outcast.  This is a demonstration of the effectual call.  This is one who He is seeking and saving.  This is irresistible grace; reaching out to one who belongs to Him.  He looked around for her because He wasn’t finished with her.

Verse 33 – the woman came in fear and trembling.  She wasn’t afraid of the circumstances, she had already overcome that before she touched Him.  She was fearful and trembling because she knew she was in the presence of God.  She was aware of what happened to her…she came and fell down before him in worship.  This was the posture of the undeserved begging for mercy.  This is penitence and worship.

Her problem may have been a result of sin (maybe even sexual sin).  She collapses and tells Him the whole truth about her.  This is a confession of her sin (repentance), a confession of her faith.

He said to her “Daughter”.  That word, coming from Christ, is a word to dispel fear.  This is the only time it is used in the New Testament.  This means, you are in my family.  These are words of grace and words of welcome.  He addresses her as a child of God.

“Your faith has saved you” – “Go in peace”  You can’t have peace without being saved.  Some of the most wonderful things happen when you get interrupted.  If someone is so concerned with deep pain in their life, take that opportunity to penetrate to the real issues.

Verse 35 Meanwhile…Jarius’ daughter had died.

He is Imperturbable
Calm, tranquil, unflappable.  Verse 36  Jesus is unflappable and says “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe (keep on believing)”…”and she will be made well”.  There is a wonderful reality in operating unhurried because then you are acting in the sovereign purpose of God.

Peter, James, and John were with him.  Verse 38 “a commotion” – very different from a Western world funeral.  In Israel the idea was to make a racket, tearing clothes (they had 39 rules for tearing; ie, the tear was to be over the heart if the mourner was the  father or mother of the deceased); hired professional screamers; add flute players with loud dissonant music.

“Why make commotion and weep…the child hasn’t died”  Jesus uses the word “asleep” – temporary sleep is Jesus description of death here…just as it is temporary for us.  He put out all the mourners and then took along the child’s father and mother as well as Peter James and John (to report on it).

He is Charitable
There is a tenderness here.  “He takes the child by the hand”.  This is tenderness and compassion.  “Talitha kum!” = a sweet nickname for a little girl, “little lamb”.  This is the God of the universe with great tenderness.

“Immediately the girl got up and began to walk”.  There was no need for therapy.  John MacArthur has been in therapy for 4 months for knee and back surgery.  When Jesus healed someone there was no recovery period.

They were all stunned.  Verse 43 – He said, give her something to eat.  First he showed  tenderness to the father, then the mother and now the girl.  So intimate, so tender.

Then we have theological issue: Jesus gave them strict orders that no one should know about this.  What?  Jesus said this again and again and again.  “Don’t tell anyone”.  He gave them strict orders (a prohibition).

There are some possible reasons why He gave this instruction:  1) The house might be overrun by people.  2)The crowd, with Messianic expectations, would make the crowd aggressive and would try to force Him to be king (this view is not likely because he often gave this instruction) 3) He didn’t want to escalate the fear and intentions of his enemies.

John MacArthur doesn’t think any of these are the reason – he think the issue was this wasn’t the time to go, to spread the message, and it wouldn’t be the time until the cross and the resurrection.  Only then would He send them with the full message.  Until the cross the full understanding was not available.  After that, go tell everybody!