FATHER'S DAY
A Father's Faith
~Mark 5:21-29, 35-43~
In-person service at
Second Baptist Church
2412 Griffith Ave.
Los Angeles
William S. Epps, Senior Pastor
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21When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. Mark 5:21-29
35While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36Overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 37He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. Mark 5:35-43
Introduction
We applaud fathers today! Father’s Day illuminates and distinguishes fathers as positive role models and the influence they have on their children, families and society. Over many years, Father’s Day has become a significant event within the life of the church. There is a clarion call across America and the world for men to become the fathers their families need. Fatherhood is an awesome responsibility and can be very meaningful and fulfilling as well as detrimental and destructive. We are thankful to fathers who teach lessons that about character, ethics, principles and virtues that respect life and promote its continuance to the fulfillment of its possibilities. Fathers' legacies are unique treasures passed from generation to generation.
While the Bible does not command such a celebration, it does not prohibit it. We join with the tradition that has long been established acknowledging fathers. Father's Day celebration had a modest beginning. While one theory states that Dr. Robert Webb of West Virginia is believed to have conducted the first Father's Day service in 1908 at the Central Church of Fairmont, however, it was the colossal efforts of Sonora Smart Dodd, who made it possible for the day to acquire national recognition. The history of Father's Day dates back to 1909, in Spokane, Washington. Sonora Smart Dodd was listening to a Mother's Day sermon, at the Central Methodist Episcopal Church. The lecture inspired her to have a special day dedicated to her father, William Jackson Smart, who had brought her up and her siblings, single-handedly, after their mother died. Dodd’s mother died in 1898 during childbirth, leaving her father William Jackson Smart to raise Dodd and her five younger brothers.
Consider what it means to cite the responsibilities of fathers
in the life of their families and the world.
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Our scripture today provides a glimpse into the life a father whose name is Jairus. His name means "Jehovah enlightens." (etymology of Jairus comes from the verb to give light / to shine, to enlightened / to illumined). Fathers give light and shine providing enlightening and illumining for those who depend and watch and follow their example. Jairus was the head of a local Sanhedrin or court of elders, supervising the synagogue worship and life of the community in Capernaum. No doubt he heard about Jesus as Jesus had left Nazareth and made Capernaum His home following the death of John the Baptist. It was there that Jesus healed a centurion's servant, Peter's mother-in-law, a paralyzed man who was lowered through a roof, a man who was possessed, and many others who came to see Him.
Jairus' daughter was 12 years old and she was deathly ill. This was his only child. Luke abbreviates the original account in Mark and Matthew condenses the story even more without mentioning the name of the father at all. Jairus comes to Jesus to ask him to come to his home and save his little girl. Jesus consents and they head toward Jairus’ house. On the way they are interrupted by a woman who sneaks to get a healing from the Lord. The procession stops while the Lord finds out who has secretly sought to touch his garment in search of healing and wholeness. No doubt Jairus is getting more anxious as the Lord delays. As the women who tried to get what she wanted unnoticed is exposed, Jesus lets her know that her faith has made her whole. By now they are approaching Jairus’ house and "while Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler, and said 'Your daughter is dead,' 'Don't bother the teacher anymore.' " (8:49) Jesus responds to Jairus saying, "Don’t be afraid: only believe, and she shall be made whole."
Faith defines one’s identity. Faith determines one’s action and behavior. Faith decides character, ethics and principles about what and whom one trusts. The practice of our faith is what is woven into the lives of those who care about us and emulate us. Those are the things you pass on to your posterity / your progeny.
Consider a few implications of a father’s faith from the
example of Jairus for your life.
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Firstly, a father’s faith defines his identity.
Jairus is a father who has belief and faith that informs his understanding of himself. He is well-regarded in his community. Luke calls him "a ruler of the synagogue," "the official who has charge of the arrangements for the synagogue services." He isn't the attendant (Luke 4:20) who does the actual work, but the synagogue president, the leader. His duties include conducting the synagogue worship and selecting of those who are to lead the prayer, read the scriptures, and teach in the service.
Now this highly respected citizen of Capernaum comes up to Jesus in the multitude of pushing and shoving individuals. They make way for him out of respect, but he is not there to pay his respects to the rabbi. He has been the one responsible for inviting Jesus to participate in the synagogue services since Jesus has taken up residence in Capernaum. He doesn't come to greet an old friend. He has been waiting for Jesus to return -- hoping he would return in time, and now he is here. Jesus is Jairus' last hope. (It has been said that “wits end is the favorite place for faith to emerge.”)
Mark records Jairus' plea: "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live" (Mark 5:23). Jairus is on his knees "pleading" with Jesus. The Greek word is parakaleo, which is variously translated, depending upon the context, means, "request, implore, appeal to, entreat." Please come! Please! So Jesus goes with him.
Consider Jairus’ faith. He has heard the report that Jesus' boat is coming, and so he has left his daughter's side and gone down to the beach to see Jesus as soon as He lands -- he and hundreds of others. From his words in Mark he seems to believe: "Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live" (Mark 5:23). He believes that if Jesus will just touch the girl, she will be healed and live. Jairus is staking his faith on a touch from Jesus' hand to pull his daughter back from the brink of death. Jairus hopes they will not arrive too late.
Jairus puts the welfare of his child in Jesus’ hands. Jairus put his reputation on the line also. Reverence for God as you express your faith will sometimes put you in a situation that has the potential for embarrassment and humiliation. Jairus did not come by night but in full public view. He could have sent servants to find Jesus and bring him to his house, but he came himself. Some things are too important to delegate. It should be noted that Jesus and the religious persons of His day were at odds. The Scribes, Pharasees, and Saducees did not embrace Jesus, and Jesus did not succumb to them. By seeking out Jesus he was exposing himself to ridicule from those who discounted Jesus.
Jairus had a problem he could not solve on his own. He went to Jesus. He went where he expected to get the help he required and the fulfillment of his desire for his daughter to be healed. The composer says it in this way, “where could I go but to the Lord seeking a friend to be with me to the end, where could I go but to the Lord.”
Sometimes all you can do is go to the Lord with your request when all else fails and you are out of options.
Consider what it means that a father’s faith shapes his identity,
who he is as an individual and a person.
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Secondly, a father’s faith determines his actions and behavior / Jairus persisted through life threatening interruptions.
Jairus’ life was interrupted by tragedy. When tragedy strikes, it often comes with no warning, crashing down upon us taking us by surprise and leaving us amazed and dazed. Wow! His only daughter was deathly ill. We are not told what sickness she had but only that it would kill her. Bad things do happen to good people.
Jesus consents, and begins to move toward Jairus' home across town. But the crowd is so overwhelming that it is difficult to move at all, much less make rapid progress. There was the crowd that interrupted the progress. There are always those who gather around and impede your progress. You can imagine that all sorts of people were in the crowd.
Then, there was someone else in need who interrupted the progress. Taking advantage of the press of the people, a woman with an incurable hemorrhage came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of His robe. She said to herself, 'If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.' (Mark 5:28). Jesus felt that power had gone out of him, and at once turned around and asked, 'Who touched my garments?' He realized that this was due to no accidental jostling by the crowd, but to someone's longing for healing, and He insisted that they declare their need. As Jesus looked round, the woman, knowing that she could not escape His notice but that she was now instantly cured, came forward, fell at His feet and owned up to what she had done. Whereupon Jesus answered: 'Daughter, your faith had made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.' (Mark 5:34).
Just as Jesus finished talking with the woman and sending her on her way, a whole woman for the first time in a dozen years, Jairus can see one of his close friends pushing to where he is. The man's face reflects the message he carries, and when he gets close enough his words are grim. Bad news interrupts. "While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler, 'Your daughter is dead,' he said. 'Don't bother the teacher anymore.' " (8:49)
Consider what it means that a father’s faith is not deterred by interruptions.
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Jairus hears the words he has been dreading, and his immense grief now turns to inconsolable grief and sorrow. Jesus intervenes as a friend at his side.
"Don't be afraid," he says, "only believe, and she will be healed." Imagine this scene, seeing Jesus reaching out to this grieving father and putting His hand on his shoulder. Jesus feels his pain as deeply as He felt His own at the death of Lazarus and wept salty human tears at his loss (John 11:33-35).
We are admonished in sacred writ, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16).
That is what Jairus did. He embraced the One in whom he had faith to find grace to help in his time of need. A composer reminds us that “Jesus cares with our heart is pained to deeply for mirth or song, when the burdens press and the cares distress and the way grows weary and long Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.”
There comes a time, sometimes, when even solid faith buckles. We hope against hope and then our hopes are dashed. We are tempted to give up and walk away from Jesus. But Jesus doesn't let us go so easily. "Don't be afraid," he says gently. The Lord knows our anxiety, doubts and fears. The Lord knows our frustrations and faults, our limitations and liabilities, our vulnerabilities. Jesus knows we are afraid to face our fears. However, the Lord does not let us face our fears alone. The Lord goes with us to carry us beyond our fears to a faith that alleviates and diminishes what we can’t face on our own. “Don’t be afraid, only believe." I am with you to face life in all of its reality to get you through the bad, undesirable, unfortunate, and ugly. When you can’t keep your faith, let the faith of Jesus keep you. It is Jesus’s faith that helped Jairus to go and face the worst possible outcome. The way the sweet lyricist put it in Psalm 23 says it all. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me.”) (Psalm 123:4). The Lord is with us in all of life’s changing scenes and interruptions.
Consider what it means that with faith in the Lord
you do not have to face your fears alone.
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Thirdly, a father’s faith decides who to trust.
There were other voices heard that day. There was the voice of the one with the dreadful news. There was the voice of the those who ridiculed Jesus. Jesus says in the midst of our hopeless situation, don’t be afraid, only believe and you can get through this.
Jesus refuses to leave Jairus alone with his anxiety, doubt and fear, but goes with him. Jairus comes to Jesus on the basis of his own faith. But when it seems Jairus’ faith fails, Jesus carries him with Jesus’ own faith. Let Jesus’ faith carry you forward to face what you fear to get beyond your anxiety, doubt and fear.
Jesus simply turned to Jairus and said, 'Do not fear, only believe.' When they reached the house to find everyone weeping and wailing, Jesus said, 'Why do you make a tumult and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.' (Mark 5:36, 39).
Those who had gathered scornfully laughed at Jesus, knowing the girl was dead. Unbelieving mourners laughed at Jesus. This is the first occasion on which the three of the apostolic band are singled out - Peter, James and John. They and the parents are the only ones allowed to enter. There is a sacredness in great grief which demands protection from the rude gaze of mere curiosity. Those who were willing to wail so freely were also willing to laugh.
Jesus then turned them all outside, allowing only the parents and His closest followers, Peter, James and John, to remain. Then in the presence of these five whose faith He could trust, Jesus commanded the child to get up. Jesus’ faith carries us through the most difficult moments of life. Jesus’ faith satisfies us in all of life’s situations. Jesus’ faith gives us insight that lightens our load and prepares us to go forth in confidence and trust that we have a companion that is present to us in all of the changing scenes of life to see us through to a desired end.
Consider what it means for fathers to decide and determine in whom or in what
they will trust to make the best decisions for their children and family.
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Conclusion
Oh, for a faith that will not shrink, / Though pressed by every foe,
That will not tremble on the brink / Of any earthly woe
That will not murmur nor complain / Beneath the chast’ning rod,
But, in the hour of grief or pain, / Will lean upon its God.
A faith that shines more bright and clear / When tempests rage without;
That when in danger knows no fear, / In darkness feels no doubt.
Lord, give me such a faith as this, / And then, whate’er may come,
I’ll taste, e’en here, the hallowed bliss / Of an eternal home.
Teach me to trust in the faith of Jesus.
Faith of our fathers, living still, / In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword;
Oh, how our hearts beat high with joy / Whene’er we hear that glorious Word!
Our fathers, chained in prisons dark, / Were still in heart and conscience free;
How sweet would be their children’s fate, / If they, like them, could die for thee!
Faith of our fathers, we will strive / To win all nations unto thee;
And through the truth that comes from God, / We all shall then be truly free.
Faith of our fathers, we will love / Both friend and foe in all our strife;
And preach thee, too, as love knows how / By kindly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers, holy faith! / We will be true to thee till death.
Consider what it means to have faith that has been tried and true
as the examples of fathers before have demonstrated.
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