WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:03.600 We're taking a break from Nehemiah today. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:10.800 Truthfully, I've really looked forward to Nehemiah chapter 8. 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:15.199 It's my favorite chapter in the whole Bible. 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:21.679 And it even contains my favorite verse in my favorite chapter in the whole Bible. 00:00:22.559 --> 00:00:33.600 But at Cabo Park, we say all the time that we are living our life as a mission to redeem Birmingham for the glory of God and good of the city. 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:40.799 And so sometimes there are things that happen in our city that means that we need to talk about them. 00:00:43.119 --> 00:01:05.280 Wednesday morning, when I woke up along with many of you, and saw on the news that they had found Camille Cupcate McKinney's body discarded in a dumpster after ten days of her abduction. 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:16.319 I was just filled with a sense by the Holy Spirit that Nehemiah chapter 8 needs to wait. 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:28.560 And that if we want to talk about redeeming Birmingham, then we ought to talk about some of the things that happened in the context of Scripture. 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:33.040 Now, of course, there are lots of evil things that happened in our city. 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:37.599 And every one of them, of course, deserves discussion. 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:39.680 But there's something about this one, wasn't it? 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:43.599 Maybe it was the fact that she was three years old. 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:47.280 Maybe it was the fact that she was taken from a birthday party. 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:54.560 Maybe it was the amber alerts that every one of us got on our phones at the exact same time. 00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:59.439 Or the amber alert notifications that we saw on the highways. 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:09.280 Or maybe for our family it was because our son plays basketball in the neighborhood with some of the people that were directly affected by this? 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:13.360 Or maybe it was for other reasons for you? 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:27.680 But I just I just sense that we need to go to God's word today and ask a really basic question: does God care about our pain? 00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:43.520 Of course, the way that anyone in this room processes, does God care about our pain, specifically in reference to this poor child and her family? 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:48.639 None of us are feeling the pain at this moment like they are. 00:02:53.199 --> 00:03:02.240 But uh there are two people in scripture in Mark chapter five who experience pretty exquisite pain. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:09.199 And so before we look to God's word, I'm gonna pray for us. 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:27.360 I thank you, Lord, for Camille Cupcake McKinney's life. 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:33.120 I thank you, Lord, that she's safe with you. 00:03:35.360 --> 00:03:42.319 We pray for her family and for her loved ones, that you would comfort them. 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:55.120 And that you would attend to us with your Holy Spirit, with your word, so that as we think about Mark chapter five, you would help us. 00:03:55.759 --> 00:03:57.599 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:18.480 Mark chapter five, in context, Jesus has calmed a great storm and cast out many demons from a man leaving an entire town astonished. 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:28.959 And now the crowds are following him, not because they believe in him, but because they want to see miracles. 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:32.000 They want to see action. 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:53.279 And Jesus teaches us through the particular pain of two individuals in this text, that really faith is the antidote to fear. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:05:02.319 And that faith itself is a gift of God, and that we're to believe in Jesus. 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:19.199 And to say it another way, the way it's worded in your worship guide, since uh fear, faith is an antidote to fear, we must believe in Jesus. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:31.680 And we're presented with these two individuals in Mark chapter 5 that really uh exhibit uh two folks that are experiencing pain on a lot of levels. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:36.720 And what I want to do today, just as we ask that question, does God care about our pain? 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:45.839 Through the lens of faith being the antidote to fear and belief in Christ, I want to say three things. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:55.279 We want to say, what is it that we want, or they wanted in this passage, or we collectively wanted as we thought about this child this past week? 00:05:55.920 --> 00:05:58.720 What is it that he wants, Jesus? 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:00.879 And what is it that we get? 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:07.680 Our story starts by describing for us what we want in verse 21. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:15.040 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd had gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:26.480 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus, by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death. 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:32.959 Come and lay your hands on her so that she may be made well and live. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:36.000 And he went with him. 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:38.399 Now, Jesus has done a lot of miracles. 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:43.680 I've said he's Mark takes a pain to say, He's he's beside the sea. 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:44.319 What sea? 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:54.000 The sea that he's just calmed, yeah, you know, uh a sea after a storm, the waves lap for hours, but not with Jesus. 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:59.040 He says the word in a great storm, a great tempest is utterly still. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:04.720 There's not a ripple on the water, it's completely, supernaturally still. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:15.680 And he's just come from a town where the whole town is beside themselves because he's cast many demons out of this one individual, and the crowds are thronging around Jesus. 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:18.399 Don't you like that word that Mark will use later in this text? 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:21.279 They're they're they're they're they're all around him. 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:23.600 They can't wait to see another miracle. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:30.480 They're they're they're they're they're in desperate need for such such such displays. 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:38.079 And and out of the crowd comes one man named Jairus who personifies the crowd as a whole and their need for a miracle. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:41.839 And we can just picture the theme, Jairus, he's a ruler in the synagogue. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:43.920 He you can you can hear it, can't you? 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:46.720 Just the cacophony of what the crowd must have been like. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:50.800 And and out of the crowd, Jairus finally finds Jesus. 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:52.000 And you can just hear him. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:08:01.920 Jesus, wait! Wait, stop, wait! People are turning around, he's pushing people out of the way, and he's he's he's he's worming his way through the crowd, and he finally gets to Jesus. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:09.759 He falls down on his face, which to us we might think that that's normal, but it's not normal for a guy that's a big wig in town. 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:15.439 And he falls down on his face and he says, You've got to come to my house, my daughter's dying. 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:18.240 What does he want? 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:20.079 He wants a miracle. 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:23.759 Of course he does. 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:27.279 His daughter's dying. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:30.240 Of course he wants a miracle. 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:35.200 What did we pray for when we got the amber alert? 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:38.480 Lord, save her. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:46.080 We don't know where she is, her parents don't know where she is, the authorities don't know where she is, but you do. 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:52.799 Lord, save her, rescue her. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:58.799 Use any means, bring her in, and day after day after day, for 10 days, Lord. 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:04.080 But it's not the only thing that we want. 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:07.759 It's it's a miracle, sure, but but also relief. 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:12.559 Relief is described to us as the great crowd followed him in verse 24. 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:15.200 They thronged, there's that word, thronged about him. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:29.360 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for 12 years, and had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather worse. 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:43.840 She had heard the reports about Jesus, that's about him healing people, and she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment, for she said, If I could just touch even his garments, I'll be made well. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:50.639 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:52.399 We we see this scene, right? 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:55.360 The crowd is is lively. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:09:58.960 He's gotten up off the ground. 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:01.759 Jesus says, Okay, which way to your house? 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:06.720 Jairus says, this way, and and the crowd parts and they're and they're headed that way. 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:12.559 And in the crowd is this woman who's given this chronic, says, has this chronic disease. 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:16.159 Notice Mark, Mark is is is careful to mention the details. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:19.759 The woman who has a discharge of blood for 12 years. 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:23.600 What does she want? 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:25.679 She just wants relief. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:28.720 Relief of her pain. 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:40.559 I want you to think about, like, put it, put it in this Old Testament context, that that condition meant that she was ceremonially unclean, so she couldn't attend temple worship. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:49.600 And that condition also meant that she couldn't be around other people because if other people around her, they would she would make them ceremonially unclean. 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:53.759 So not only was she a spiritual outcast, she's a social outcast. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:56.240 And she's been that way for 12 years. 00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:58.159 What does she want? 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:00.240 She just wants relief. 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:02.799 She just wants help. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:04.559 Jairus wants a miracle. 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:06.879 She wants a miracle too, but she just wants relief. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:10.799 She wants some kind of spiritual relief, some kind of social relief. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:11.679 She just wants help. 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:13.840 She just thinks if I could just judge him. 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.799 And look what happens. 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:22.639 What happens next is we find what Jesus wants. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:39.600 In verse 30, and Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, Who touched my garments? 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:46.879 And his disciples said to him, You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, Who touched me? 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:48.159 Let's pretend. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:51.039 Like there's a fire that happens right here. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:12:07.840 And everybody all together rushes out those doors, and we're all trying to get about the same time, and so parents are picking up little kids so that they won't be trampled, and we're all headed out the door, and some guy in the middle says, Who's touching me? 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:10.960 The answer is everyone is touching you. 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:13.519 What do you mean, who's touching me? 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:15.279 That's what Jesus says. 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:16.720 What's he after? 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:18.879 He's after faith in her. 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:20.159 He wants faith. 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:20.639 Why? 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:21.840 How do you know? 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:26.559 Because what she wants is to be able to access his power. 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:30.399 She thinks, if I could just, if I could just get up to him, they're headed that way. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:31.840 He I won't get his attention. 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:37.279 They're in an emergency, but if I could just make it to him and just grab the tassels of his coat. 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:40.799 She wants a drive-by healing. 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:47.120 And you don't blame her. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:50.080 She just wants relief. 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:53.919 But what does Jesus want? 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:56.399 He doesn't want to just give her relief. 00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:57.279 He wants something more. 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:58.639 He wants faith. 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:00.559 Listen to what he says. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:03.600 They say what we would say. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:07.279 You see the crowd pressing around you, and you say, Who touched me? 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:10.559 And he looked around to see who had done it. 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:12.320 Well, he knows who's done it. 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:18.720 But when the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:24.000 That's the second time in this passage somebody's fallen down before him and told him the whole truth. 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:27.120 What does he make her do? 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:30.080 She wants to drive by healing, but he makes her go public. 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:35.440 Can you imagine what that must have been like? 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:45.120 The feeling of insecurity and at the same time of security that I've been healed, but now the whole crowd is quiet and they're looking at me. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:52.720 Spiritual, social outcast, and Jesus says, What does it say? 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:57.120 And she told him the whole truth. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:05.440 And he said to her daughter, Your touch, no, your faith has made you well. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:07.919 What's Jesus after? 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:09.360 He's after faith. 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:14.240 He's not after superstitious drive by healings. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:19.279 Go in peace and be healed of your disease. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:24.240 But he's not after just faith, he's after faith in him. 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:28.639 Not faith for faith's sake or faith in outcomes. 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:31.120 He's after faith in him. 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:32.159 How do you know? 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:34.159 Remember what's happening? 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:39.279 They're an emergency proceeding to Jairus' house. 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:41.519 Jairus' daughter doesn't have a cold. 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:43.360 She doesn't have a sinus infection. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:45.440 She doesn't need antibiotics. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:48.320 She's not going to get tubes put in. 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:51.039 She doesn't need braces. 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:52.639 She's going to die. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:06.240 And Jesus has the audacity to appear what it seems to be to commit medical malpractice, the great physician. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:10.480 To stop and heal this woman with a chronic condition. 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:15.360 Think about how Jairus must have thought. 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:27.519 It would be as if, and I don't know if this is a law, actually or not, or if just a custom, but it would be as if, you know, when you're driving down the road and you hear an ambulance behind you, what are you supposed to do? 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:30.080 Stop or pull off and make way for the ambulance? 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:33.759 It would be like some guy just refusing to do that. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:41.360 And then finally, when they do pull off to the side, the ambulance driver, instead of zooming past them, decides to pull over and have a conversation. 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:43.440 Say you really shouldn't do that. 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:49.679 Can you imagine how gyrus must have felt? 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:50.559 What do you mean? 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.200 We're stubborn. 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:53.759 She's had it for 12 years. 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:56.000 She just said it. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.720 What are you doing? 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:00.399 You gotta get there quick. 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:02.080 She's dying. 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:06.320 We felt the same way, didn't we? 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.200 Day after day. 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.480 That's what statistics say. 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:13.600 The longer they're gone, the less the chance of finding the child. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:17.840 Lord, what are you doing? 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:21.360 Do you not care about our pain? 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:26.159 That's when it happens. 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:34.720 Well, he was still speaking, verse thirty-five, there came from the ruler's house some who said, Your daughter is dead. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:40.559 Why trouble the teacher any further? 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:56.159 And Jesus says, I'm coming anyways. 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:20.720 It would be it would be as if the police decided to an FBI decided decided to stop pursuing Camille's kidnappers so that they could catch a gang of graffiti artists. 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:34.079 It seems at the apparent delay and cruelty of the great physician, he's let this little girl die. 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:40.319 What does he want? 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:44.559 He wants faith, not just faith in outcome, not just faith in faith, but faith in him. 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:51.519 He says, when you come to me, you're gonna have to trust me far more than you could possibly imagine. 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:54.160 Because what do we get when we come to him? 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:56.880 The first thing we get that's clear in this text is peace. 00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:58.960 What does he say to the woman? 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:02.240 Daughter, your faith has made you well. 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:04.240 Go in peace. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:12.240 When the Lord of the universe says go in peace, he's not saying, go in peace. 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:16.160 Go relax. 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:25.759 He's talking about eternal security with God, being made right with God. 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:41.440 So the apparent delay of the great physician, Jesus used the opportunity to save eternally a woman who thought she just needed relief from a condition. 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.400 She gets peace. 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:48.079 What does Gyrus get? 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:50.240 He gets belief. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:19:00.799 Gyrus doesn't know that Jesus is eternally saving this woman with this condition. 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:05.279 All he knows is that Jesus has got some power. 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:14.880 And if he can just get Jesus to his house while his daughter is still alive, then he'll be powerful enough to heal her. 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.039 How do we know? 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:20.960 Don't trouble the teacher anymore. 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:22.480 She's dead. 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:24.160 He didn't make it. 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:45.279 Seems as though the great physician is committing malpractice, and he seems as though he's doing it on purpose. 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.720 But what's he really after? 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:52.720 He's really after saying, Jairus. 00:19:55.200 --> 00:20:04.400 When you come to me and ask me for something, I'm going to give you something, but I'm going to give you something that far more than what you really think you need. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:07.200 I'm going to give you something that I think you need. 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:10.240 I'm going to give you belief. 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:18.640 It's as if he looks over the shoulder of those who are giving the news and says, I'm coming anyway. 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:20.640 Believe in me. 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:22.319 That's what he actually says. 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:24.880 Do not fear, verse 36. 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:27.519 Only believe. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:29.920 Listen to that text. 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:38.480 But overhearing what they said about Jairus' daughter being dead, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, don't fear. 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:42.000 Only believe. 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:44.960 Why? 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:46.720 How can he say that? 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:56.400 Because what we ultimately get in just peace, in just belief, we get Jesus himself. 00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:03.119 Verse 37, he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John, the brother of James. 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:09.599 And they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:14.480 And when he entered, he said to them, Why are you making a commotion and weeping? 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:19.440 The child is not dead, but sleeping. 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:21.680 And they laughed at him. 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:36.559 But he put them outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was, and taking her by the hand, he said to her, Talifa Kumi, which means, little girl, I say to you, arise. 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:44.880 And immediately the girl got up and began walking, for she was twelve years of age. 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:50.319 And they were immediately overcome with amazement. 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:53.920 What he thinks he needs is a miracle. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:22:02.240 What he thinks he needs is to get there, to get Jesus there just in time, because for Him, Jesus is powerful enough to do what he wants. 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:09.359 If he can just control his power, if he can just do what he asks, then Jesus will accomplish the things that Jairus wants him to. 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:15.440 But for Jesus, healing a sick child or a dead child is no difference. 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:17.359 He's that powerful. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:25.359 And so he says to the child, you can just picture it, can't you? 00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:28.640 Although we're only told a few of them are there. 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:37.839 Maybe he kneels down by her bed, he takes her by the hand, and he says, Talipha to me, which means, little girl, I say to you, arise. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:46.720 He didn't take her by the hand, and he says, I therefore say to you, rise up and walk. 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:54.960 Talipha doesn't mean, I command you. 00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:02.400 A common translation of that word is something that I say to my daughters all the time. 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:04.079 I call them honey. 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:05.839 Honey. 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:07.519 Sweetheart. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:09.519 That's what it means. 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:18.720 Arise, kumi doesn't mean stand up, therefore, and carry thy mat, King James Version. 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:24.559 It means it's time to wake up. 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:48.000 Jesus looks death in the face, the enemy of everyone who's ever walked through the face of the earth, whom no one can conquer, and says, Death is like sleeping when you are with me. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:52.079 Sweetheart, it's time to wake up. 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:17.039 Which means in the darkness of the wreckage of Jairus's sin-wrecked misery, Jesus says, What I'm going to give you is something more than you asked. 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:33.680 Because the reason that I'm able to say to this child, honey, wake up, is because I'm going to defeat death on the cross and rise again the third day. 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:44.559 And can't you hear him speaking over Jairus' shoulder to the family of Camille? 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:51.200 I know that you prayed for her to come home. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:58.799 And I did bring her home. 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:02.559 Just not to you. 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:12.079 She is safe with me. 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:25.200 And one day I will say to her and to you, honey, it's time to wake up. 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:34.400 Many of you will know this about us. 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.680 Many of you will not. 00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:50.799 In April 2011, our house was destroyed by a tornado, and we were subsequently involved in a two-year insurance dispute. 00:25:54.400 --> 00:26:04.000 And even after the house was condemned and then demolished, I would still go over and do yard work there. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.160 I don't know. 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:12.640 I think it was just some sense of uh I've worked so hard over the years to make it look nice. 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:20.799 And uh even next to this gaping hole, I wanted there to be some sense of beauty. 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:27.920 But one spring day, I as I was headed over there thinking, what am I doing? 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:36.960 Why am I going to cut the grass and trim the azaleas at a house that doesn't even exist? 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:41.839 I turned the corner and I wasn't prepared for what I saw. 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:49.599 The Azalea bushes that used to be in front of our house were absolutely on fire with blooms. 00:26:53.680 --> 00:27:04.000 Every branch, every twig, it seemed, had several blooms on them so that they just exploded with color and beauty. 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:14.799 In the midst of the wreckage, in the midst of the sin, in the midst of the misery of it all, God was saying, I'm making something beautiful. 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:19.839 You are the azalea bushes. 00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:26.880 And in the midst of it, God is making you beautiful. 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:33.359 Does God care about our pain? 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:48.000 Feel the scars through faith in the word on his hands and the side where he was stabbed with a spear and say, Yes. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:50.640 He cares about our pain. 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:58.480 And because of it, we'll believe in him, because he's given us that gift. 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:07.680 And one day, he will come again and say, Dear child, it's time to wake up. 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:15.119 Friends, our city, if you're paying attention, is hurting. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:22.799 There are a lot of people that have been really profoundly affected by this. 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:34.559 And it's easy if you don't live there to not think about it, because it may not come to your mind. 00:28:35.759 --> 00:29:04.960 But if we really believe that our call is to live our life as a mission to redeem our city, then I would urge you to pray for them and pray not only for comfort for them, but pray that God would prevent and prevail over evil in our city. 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:08.559 So I'm gonna do that right now. 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:11.119 Let's pray. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:30.480 We weep with the family of Camille. 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:40.160 Tossed aside like we might get rid of garbage. 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:50.400 But you were there, and she is with you. 00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:59.119 Heal and bind up broken hearts. 00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:06.880 Protect this place from evil, O Lord. 00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:16.240 And say to us soon, it's time to wake up. 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:21.119 Come quickly, Lord Jesus. 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:23.119 Amen.