WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.560 It's a joy to be here with y'all this morning. 00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:08.080 Um I've been wanting to come and and see what the Lord is doing and and come and be with y'all. 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:30.480 When when Brad and Brian came and and over some uh over dinner, first down in South Florida, and then a lot of a lot of dinners and hang times and said, we we wanna um the Lord's calling us to start a church that that preaches the gospel, that preaches Jesus Christ and Him lived, died, and crucified for sinners without any qualifications. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:38.000 We're like, okay, well we're you know what we're in, because that's that's what we want to do. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:44.159 I know it's what y'all want to do, is to help perpetuate churches that are going to talk about Jesus a whole lot. 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:48.640 Um so yeah, it's good to be here. 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:49.280 Thank you. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:50.640 Thank you, thank you, thank you. 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:58.640 And by the way, this whole posture of uh of churches, and uh so churches is people, right? 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:09.760 So people living lives not with this posture, but with this posture, not with hands tightly clenched, but with uh palms open, ready to receive and ready to give at the same time, that was modeled to us as well. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:11.439 So we didn't make this thing up. 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:13.120 This has been going on for 2,000 years. 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:23.760 Walter Hinneger over at Westside Press and Chris McDaniel and all those all those guys and gals over at Trinity Anglican modeled that for us as well. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:26.000 And we know that y'all are gonna do the same thing. 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:27.920 We know that y'all are gonna do the same thing. 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:29.760 Um I'll say this before we jump in. 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:33.920 I don't want opening remarks to take up half the time, but y'all have a great pastor. 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:38.239 Y'all have a wonderful, wonderful pastor. 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:42.239 Um Russ has been and Christy have been dear friends of ours. 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:48.480 We were we were backyard neighbors for a while, and y'all took them away from us, and so I'm kind of mad about that. 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:50.640 Um because we had a blast. 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:54.799 I mean, you know, that was a hey, we got some hot dogs in the market way if y'all want to come over. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:58.400 Y'all want to come over and hang out and play on the playground. 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:08.000 Um, Russ has been a dear friend, and Russ is smart and he's capable, and he loves Jesus, and he's a good leader because he loves people too. 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:10.800 And so um y'all are blessed. 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:11.919 Y'all are very blessed. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:14.000 I know you know that, and I'm not playing politics here. 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:16.960 I'm just saying that because Russ is my dear friend and I love him. 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:21.120 And we love Christy and the and the and all the girls as well. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:22.639 All the girls. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:25.039 All that's to say. 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:26.319 Thank you for letting me be here. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:29.280 It's a it's a it's a joy and an honor to be with y'all. 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:33.919 Um I'm gonna preach from Mark chapter 5, verses 21 through 43. 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:39.360 Story of Jarius and his daughter and an old sick woman. 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:41.439 Um, if you have your Bibles, you can turn there. 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:42.719 It's in your bulletin as well. 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:46.879 So follow along with me as we read the gospel passage this morning. 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:55.840 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. 00:02:56.080 --> 00:03:06.000 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jarius by name, and seeing him he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death. 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:11.599 Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:16.719 And he went with him, and a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:28.319 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and she had spent all she had and was no better, but grew worse. 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:34.240 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:38.800 For she said, If I touch, even touch his garments, I will be made well. 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:45.360 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:53.599 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, Who touched my garments? 00:03:54.800 --> 00:04:00.159 And his disciples said to him, You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, Who touched me? 00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:03.280 And he looked around to see who had done it. 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:13.599 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:19.279 And he said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well. 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:22.800 Go in peace and be healed of your disease. 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:30.560 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, Your daughter's dead, why trouble the teacher any longer? 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:38.480 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not fear, only believe. 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:43.600 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John, the brother of James. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:50.560 And they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:55.439 And when he had entered, he said to them, Why are you making a commotion and weeping? 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:58.079 The child is not dead, but sleeping. 00:04:58.319 --> 00:04:59.600 And then they laughed at him. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:08.720 But he put them all outside, and he took the child's father and mother, and those who were with him, and went in there where the child was. 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:16.639 Taking her by the hand, he said, Talitha kumai, which means, little girl, I say to you, arise. 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:22.959 And immediately the girl got up and began walking, for she was twelve years old. 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:32.720 And they were immediately overcome with amazement, and he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:34.240 Let's pray very briefly. 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:35.279 We'll jump in. 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:44.560 Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be pleasing to you now, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:45.519 Amen. 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:51.920 So a quick hypothetical question for you all this morning, and it's a very general question, but bear with me. 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:55.120 When's the last time you lost control of the situation? 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:01.199 When is the last time you lost control of the situation? 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:06.319 Whatever the situation may be, when's the last time you lost control of the situation? 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:13.120 I lost control of a situation a couple weeks ago. 00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:17.199 It has to do actually with one of the members of your church, one of your elders, actually. 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:18.720 Um Brian Robinson. 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:19.759 It has to do with Brian. 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:25.360 Um actually, Brian was more of a solution uh than than than me losing control. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:28.720 So I I have this I have this thing with dentists. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:31.680 And it's nothing against Robinson Brian. 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:34.639 Brian's a dear friend, but I haven't been to the dentist in a long time. 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:44.399 And it's kind of one of those like I don't need to go to the dentist if, you know, if I have a little pain, I'll just take some advidal and it'll go away eventually, and I'll be a man and not worry about it. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:49.600 Well, I I had I'd been having this problem uh in in one of my back teeth here for a while. 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:54.079 And it would come and go, and it'd flare up and I'd take some advil and no big deal. 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:56.079 A few weeks ago, it got to a point. 00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:57.759 Have y'all ever had a bad toothache before? 00:06:57.920 --> 00:06:59.839 I'd never had before until this. 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:03.680 It I was it was driving me out of my mind. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:09.680 It was horrible, horrible, unbearable pain. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:12.240 Um, it was driving me absolutely nuts. 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:15.040 I had lost, I couldn't control that thing anymore. 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:19.680 No amount, I mean, probably an unsafe amount of advil wasn't doing anything for me. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:30.720 I lost control of the situation, and I was forced into a situation where I had to look outside of myself for help. 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:37.199 So it was a Thursday night, about 9 o'clock, and I start texting Brian. 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:40.399 I said, Brian, I is can you squeeze me in tomorrow? 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:42.720 Is there any chance you can squeeze me in tomorrow? 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:44.720 I I gotta get some relief from this thing. 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:51.519 And Brian, being Brian, of course, he's like, meet me up, meet get in the car, come up tonight and meet me at the office. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:54.959 And if you know Brian, that's no surprise to you at all, right? 00:07:55.040 --> 00:08:00.560 So Brian, we we get there and Brian takes some x-rays, and he's like, Man, I hate to say this. 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:02.240 You need a root canal. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:04.240 You need a root canal. 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:05.199 So I was like, okay. 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:12.079 You know, at this point it was like, if it's gonna take this pain away, whatever, if you gotta pull this sucker out, do it. 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:20.560 Um Brian, again, being Brian Robinson, made some calls the next morning and said, All right, I can get you in with Dr. 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:25.040 Goldstein up here at 9.30 the next day. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:28.800 So I go up and and by the way, if you you know, if you need a dentist, go to Brian. 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:30.240 If you need a roof now, Dr. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:32.399 Goldsmith is, or Goldstein is awesome. 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:33.600 I didn't feel anything. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:35.519 It was, it was, it was wonderful. 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:41.600 Um friends, I had lost control of the situation though. 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:51.840 And I had to, I was, I was, I found myself in a situation where the white flag had to go up, and I my dentist issue was utterly defeated. 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:57.200 So when is the last time you lost control of the situation? 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:04.480 We see three people in our passage this morning, in our gospel passage this morning, with big problems. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:08.799 They had utterly lost control of the situation. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:09.519 Three of them. 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:10.639 Three people had. 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:16.159 A very successful, very religious man had lost control of the situation. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:28.159 A poor, sick, frail old woman had lost control of the situation, and a dead little girl had lost control of the situation as well. 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:29.279 Three people. 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:33.440 All powerless in what confronted them. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:45.440 Powerless over their bleak situation, even though you know they tried, you know they, I mean, we see it, you know, Jerry has tried, you know, his daughter fought, you know, this old woman that says specifically she tried for years and years. 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:50.000 They tried and tried to gain control and power, and it didn't work. 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:52.559 It didn't work. 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:08.639 For them and for us, these loss of control scenarios, they they breed a lot of questions, don't they? 00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:11.759 They breed a lot of questions. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:18.399 Will God continue to love me if I admit that I can't keep this thing under control? 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:24.559 Will he abandon me if I give up? 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:29.200 Will the people around me who love me and who I love abandon me if I give up? 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:34.480 Or will he always be with me? 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:41.039 Will God, you know, if we get right down to it in this situation in our passage, will God heal my child? 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:45.679 Will God heal me? 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:49.519 And all the things that are in here that nobody knows about. 00:10:52.399 --> 00:11:01.519 And friends, it's we it's good news for us when we see how Jesus responded to these people in this passage who had utterly lost control. 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:12.159 It's good news for us when we see how the maker of the stars responded to his creatures who were powerless over so many things and yet whom he loves. 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:18.399 Let's look at the three of them and let's see their situations and let's see how Jesus responded. 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:19.360 First, Jarius. 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:22.080 Who was this guy, Jarius? 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:27.039 Mark says he was a ruler of the synagogue. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:28.960 Okay, so so what does that mean? 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:34.000 Well, it's uh sort of like Redeemer, sort of like village church. 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:39.360 You know, each each each each synagogue in these times, they had a college of elders, if you will. 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:48.000 And they were presided over by a ruler of the elders who would oversee the services, he would oversee the finances, and he actually possessed the power of excommunication as well. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:55.519 So Jairus was not a priest, but he was a lay leader, if you will, in the synagogue at the time. 00:11:55.679 --> 00:12:01.840 He was, it doesn't say this overtly, but the ruler of the synagogue, this guy was a respected, successful man. 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:07.759 Probably had a great job, and he probably did a good job, and he did well. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:10.080 He was a pillar of his community. 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:11.039 Okay? 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:14.080 He had a lot of religious power as well. 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:16.480 So this guy had Jerry's had it together. 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:17.679 Jerry's had power. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:21.840 Jerry's could get stuff done in his life. 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:22.480 Okay? 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:25.919 Until his daughter got sick. 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:30.159 And he couldn't get that done. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:31.519 He couldn't fix that. 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:33.919 That was a situation that he couldn't fix anymore. 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:35.200 He couldn't control that. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:38.159 Have you been there before? 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:40.159 Have you been there? 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:50.000 Maybe not with a sick child, but have you been there where maybe a sick loved one or some some health problem rip control from your hands? 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:51.440 I've been there. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:52.720 I've been there. 00:12:53.519 --> 00:13:04.000 You know, when you when you hear words like epilepsy and autism come out of the mouth of your doctor and describing your son, that's a powerless situation. 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:07.440 That's a powerless situation. 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:16.320 Um I like a lot of you, I got really good in my life, and you know, if you say, do you control every situation that you're in, I would say, of course not. 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:21.840 But at the same time, we put ourselves in situations where we can at least pretend like we have control, right? 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:31.279 But then when you actually get in a situation where you're facing something, especially if you're facing a sick child, and there's nothing you can do about it. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:35.039 The only way to describe that, friends, is it's a death. 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.960 It's a death. 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:40.240 Have you died that death before? 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:47.679 You know, when you die that death, there's only one thing you can do. 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:59.120 You could kneel down at the feet of the maker of the stars and say, Come and lay your hands on her, come and lay your hands on him, so that he may be made well and live. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:01.279 That was where Jarius was. 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:04.879 Control ripped from his fingers. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:08.000 So, how did Jesus respond to Jarius' plea? 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:10.720 That's the big question for us humans, right? 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:12.480 How did Jesus respond? 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:18.399 They didn't get a lecture for him to double down and and and give it another go. 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:22.639 He responded with love. 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:29.200 And he responded with presence and he responded with action. 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:32.399 Scriptures say, he went with him. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:38.559 He didn't say, here's a prescription to fix your mess, go do it. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:41.039 He didn't throw money at the situation. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:46.399 He went, he went with Jarius in order to heal his daughter. 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:54.159 Love, presence, and action is the way Jesus responds to us losing control. 00:14:55.600 --> 00:15:00.799 Love, presence, and action is what he does. 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:09.200 On their way, however, to heal Jarius' daughter, we we come into contact with another person who was utterly powerless. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:12.159 This is an old woman who was desperately, desperately sick. 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:13.440 Her situation was this. 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:16.799 She suffered from 12 straight years of menstrual bleeding. 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:29.039 And this was not only devastating physically for her, it also left her as a social outcast, as one who was branded unclean and untouchable in her society for that whole time. 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:31.360 12 years of this. 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:42.960 So you can just imagine the physical and the emotional turmoil that she had gone, she had been going through for a long, long time. 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:46.639 This woman lost control years before this. 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:55.200 And not only that, but quack witch doctors had taken all of her money in her desperate attempt to find healing. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:16:02.960 So she was ruined, she was powerless in her helpless situation. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:04.559 Some of you have been there too. 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:10.080 It's a physical illness or emotional wound that won't go away and is wreaking havoc in your life. 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:13.279 Maybe it's bankruptcy too, which is what she experienced. 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:18.080 That's been the death blow for a lot of people over the past five years, right? 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:19.279 I had control. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:22.639 I was master of minded man, and I had a lot of money, and then it was gone. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:25.200 You want to talk about a death blow in our culture. 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:29.039 Because if there's anything we fear, we fear losing our money. 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:33.279 And when it's gone, that is a death blow. 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:37.120 She had lost all of it. 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:42.399 Her health, her friends, her family, and her money. 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:45.919 And at that point, there's only one thing you can do. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:53.279 Out of sheer desperation, yet with great trust, kneel down and touch the pure right garments of her creator. 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:57.120 How did Jesus respond? 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:05.119 Not with scorn and condemnation, which is what we might expect from some leaders. 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:10.960 Not with a get away from me, you unclean woman, which according to the law, he had every right to do. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:17.279 Instead, he called her daughter. 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:20.000 He called her his daughter. 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:23.920 He called her a beloved one. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:29.119 He loved her in the midst of her powerlessness, and he healed her. 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:48.559 And then lastly, we're we're introduced to another character in the story that whether we're willing to or not, whether you've been through a family illness or an illness yourself, whether you've declared bankruptcy or not, we can all relate to this next person. 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:51.279 And this is gonna sound strange, but bear with me. 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:53.759 We can all relate to this dead little girl. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:57.599 We can all relate to this dead little girl. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:04.400 So as Jesus was going on his way to heal her, Jarius' daughter died. 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:05.759 She died. 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:07.119 She was dead. 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:12.559 Okay, the morning rituals had begun there at the house. 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:16.000 Jesus was too late in getting there. 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:21.599 But he tells something, he he tells Jarius, her father, something really curious. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:27.599 He says, after the people, his people had come and said, too late, she died. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:35.839 After that, Jesus says to Jarius, don't fear, do not fear, only believe. 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:39.039 Do not fear, only believe. 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:50.799 And friends, he's telling that to you and to me in the midst of our powerless situations that we're all in right now this morning. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:52.799 That's what he's telling to us. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:56.640 Don't fear, only believe. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:03.599 He's telling that to you in the midst of your death and my death as well. 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:06.240 Don't be afraid, trust me. 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:08.240 I'm making all things new, he says. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:10.720 I'm even making dead things new. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.079 That's what I do. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:15.519 It's my specialty. 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:18.319 That's what Jesus says. 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:20.240 And friends, that's true. 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:23.680 Making dead things come alive is Jesus' specialty. 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:25.200 It's what he does. 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:27.200 It's what he does. 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:42.559 So not only can we relate to Jarius in his powerless situation, or to this old woman in her powerless situation, we can relate to his daughter in her powerless situation, as friends, because death is the ultimate powerlessness, is it not? 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:49.519 A dead person can't do anything to heal a situation. 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:53.119 A dead little girl can't do anything to heal her situation. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:57.519 And it's something that we are all facing today. 00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:03.039 I don't mean to be macabre or morbid or anything like that, but we're all dying, friends. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:05.200 We're all dying. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:11.039 We're all dying metaphorical deaths, and we're all on our way to dying physical deaths as well. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:13.119 That's the reality of our situation. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.680 That is the human condition. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:17.519 We're dying. 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:19.599 It's something we're all facing. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:27.119 No matter how strong and powerful and in control you feel right now, we are all Jarius' daughter ultimately. 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:32.400 We are all, the Bible says, dead in our trespasses and sins. 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:47.200 And friends, only when we're able to admit that we're dead will we be able to stop balking at the free gift of salvation and resurrection that God is offering to us through his son. 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:52.720 It's only when that white flag of surrender comes up and says, I'm a dead man. 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:57.440 There's nothing I can do anymore. 00:20:57.759 --> 00:21:00.160 I've tried it all and it hasn't worked. 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:02.720 That's when we stop balking at grace. 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:09.119 That's when our hands are pried open and we said, Oh, I if it's going to happen, it's going to have to happen from the outside. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:15.920 So, friends, our faith is not I'm a pretty good person who just needs to get a little bit better. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:24.640 It's rather I'm a dead man who needs to be raised to new life through a power outside of myself. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:27.279 That's what Christianity is. 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:29.759 St. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:34.400 Paul put it this way, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:37.519 Put it this way: I've been crucified with Christ. 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:39.759 It's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:45.920 And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:55.839 So how does Jesus, how did Jesus respond to his beloved, powerless, out of control, dead children? 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.359 How does Jesus respond to that? 00:21:57.599 --> 00:22:00.640 I'm going to let this Jesus storybook Bible take it from here. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:02.160 If you don't have this, get it. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:06.319 If I'm ever preaching a passage that's in here, it's one of the first things I consult. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.799 Read it to your kids. 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:15.119 Read it for yourself because it's a wonderful, wonderful expression of who Jesus is and what the gospel is. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:19.680 Just then, Jarius's servants rushed up to Jarius. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.960 It's too late. 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.799 They said, Your daughter's dead. 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:24.079 And Jesus turned to Jarius. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:26.319 It's not too late, just trust me, he said. 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:31.200 At Jarius' house, everyone was crying, but Jesus said, I'm going to go wake her up. 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:35.039 And then everybody laughed at him because they knew she was dead. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:44.799 Jesus walked into the little girl's bedroom, and there, lying in the corner in the shadows, was the still little figure. 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:48.559 And Jesus sat on the bed and he took her pale hand. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:50.960 Honey, he said, it's time to get up. 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:56.640 And he reached down into death and he gently brought the little girl back to life. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:03.359 And the little girl woke up and rubbed her eyes like she'd just had a good night's sleep, and she leapt out of bed. 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:08.000 Jesus threw open the shutters and sunlight flooded the dark room. 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:08.720 Hungry? 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:10.559 Jesus asked, and she nodded. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:12.240 So he called to her family. 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:14.640 Bring this little girl some breakfast. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:19.279 Jesus helped and healed many people like this. 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:24.079 He made blind people see, and deaf people hear, and lame people walk. 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:27.599 He was making the sad things come untrue. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:30.640 He was mending God's broken world. 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:36.160 My friend Jacob Goff, he put it this way. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:41.599 He said the hardest truth to believe as a Christian is the most essential truth of Christianity. 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:44.000 Jesus makes dead things alive. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:50.720 The hardest truth to believe as a Christian is the most essential truth of Christianity. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:54.559 Jesus makes dead things alive. 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:59.279 That's true for you, and that's true for me this morning, right now. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.640 Let's pray. 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:05.039 Lord, we give up. 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:30.880 Or we need a merciful Savior because we're dying over here. 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:35.359 And we are so glad that that's what you are. 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:39.359 You proved it in your scriptures, you prove it at your table week after week. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:41.759 Lord, and you prove it in our lives. 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:50.559 So, Lord, just like you told Jarius, we know that you're telling us don't be afraid, just believe. 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.920 Lord, help us. 00:24:52.480 --> 00:25:00.240 Help us in the midst of our losing control, help us in the midst of our losing power, and help us in the hour of our death. 00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:02.400 In your name, Jesus, we pray. 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:03.200 Amen.