"While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore." But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, "Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be saved." So when He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl’s father and mother. Now they were all crying and lamenting for her, but He said, "Stop crying, for she has not died, but is asleep." And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died. He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Child, arise!" And her spirit returned, and she stood up immediately. And He gave orders for something to be given her to eat. And her parents were astounded, but He directed them to tell no one what had happened."
Good Morning beloved,
We welcome you to worship today in the name of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot begin to tell you what a privilege it is to have you here with us today this Lord's Day, reminding me of both the blessing and importance of community and the shared faith that unites us all. I am beyond grateful for the tremendous joy that God continues to bless me with week after week, I cannot even begin to measure the value of this precious gift of being called to preach. I suppose the most difficult challenge for me is to know when to stop, I confess I am not as good at that as perhaps I should be. It was recently brought to my attention by someone very, very dear to me, that my preaching and teaching has a tendency to go on and on...and on...and on. However, in my defense, the more knowledge of the person of Jesus Christ I accumulate, the more eager I am to share this profound wisdom and understanding with you. I've been told on a number of occasions, that I have an intense passion for Jesus Christ, I believe it's fair to say, for me, knowing my Savior has become somewhat of an obsession for me, it is the greatest of joys in my life. I count myself incredibly blessed to be able to get to do that, it is an immense privilege to have such an opportunity of dedicating my life to studying the life and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, which is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, has been translated into over 3,000 languages making it the most translated book in the world, meaning a significant portion of the world’s population can now read and understand the Bible in their own native tongue.
Scripture teaches we are a community, an assembly of redeemed people, emphasizing our common citizenship in a kingdom in submission and allegiance to our King, none other than Jesus Christ Himself, Who leads us with love and guides us with unparalleled divine wisdom. We are a family, intricately bound together in a loving relationship with one another through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The word family is really a beautiful word, a word that carries a broad spectrum of meanings and interpretations, from individuals related by blood, the sacred bond of by marriage and by the transformative process of adoption. The word family denotes of intimacy, it speaks of genuine care and honesty, an identity with a greater sense of belonging but more than anything else, it embodies of unconditional, sacrificial love between members who are willing to go to great lengths to support one another and putting others' needs before their own during life's difficult trials and celebrating in times of rejoicing. Within the church family we are commanded to be known for our love for one another. We could then say, love is the backbone of the church.
I don't know about you, but I had the privilege of being raised in family where confronting negative behavior whether it was confronting willful disobedience, confronting an inappropriate attitude, or confronting something else that wasn’t right, there was a genuine loving concern for dealing with whatever the problem was. I, being a loving and devoted father, have endeavored to raise my own sons with that same loving care, with a genuine concern for confronting anything that was amiss, addressing any form of inappropriate, ungodly conduct that didn’t align with our family values, with the focus always on resolving the issue with love, rather than merely focusing on discipline, although there certainly were times when discipline was a necessary component of the solution. In fact, research indicates that children raised in homes where positive reinforcement and open communication are prevalent tend to exhibit higher levels of self-esteem and better problem-solving skills, ultimately developing into well-adjusted adults with a mutual respect for one another. That’s just the way it is in a family.
As under shepherds of His flock, we are entrusted with the divine mandate to love the sheep and we are held accountable by God for their spiritual well-being and that certainly includes those members of the flock who wander. I believe our love for the congregation is not to be passive, but active and is demonstrated through our unwavering commitment to their spiritual health and protection. Ensuring that none of our spiritual family are lost, neglected or harmed, is a responsibility of paramount importance and should never be taken lightly or approached with complacency. Sin that is not dealt with swiftly and severely within the church is like a ticking time-bomb, and will surely have devastating consequences.
Therefore, I strongly believe that sin must be addressed with urgency and decisively, as a virulent spiritual cancer, as it spreads twice as fast and is equally just as deadly, posing a serious threat not only to individual souls but also to the collective health of the Body of Christ. To further illustrate my point, a study by Barna highlights that unresolved sin within church communities can lead to significant declines in attendance and engagement, underscoring the urgency of tirelessly addressing sin to safeguard the unity and health of the church, just as a shepherd would tirelessly search for one of the lost sheep of the flock. It’s the sacred duty of all members of the church to protect their fellow Christians from the corruption of unchecked sin by following Christ’s pattern for church discipline found in Matthew 18 verse 15 and following.
It should come as no surprise that church discipline is such a low priority for many churches that a significant number of believers freely and openly sin without hesitation, even while the pastor is standing in the pulpit delivering a sermon. Many who claim to follow Christ, yet have continued to live the kind of life that is inconsistent with the teachings and values they profess to believe and uphold. A study conducted by LifeWay Research in 2018 found that only 27% of evangelical pastors in the United States believe that church discipline is practiced within their congregations. I have on an occasion engage in a conversation with a pastor, who through a number of moral failures and indiscretions in his own personal life has fallen into sin, and who vehemently opposed the idea that he should be permanently removed from the pastorate. As I've stated numerous times, when the pastor fails to uphold the moral integrity of biblical standards, the congregation will soon follow. The lack of emphasis on implementing disciplinary measures in the church has led to the clear disconnect between professing to follow Christ and actually living a life that aligns with His teachings.
Frankly, much of the conduct within the church today, more closely mirrors the culture, where moral lapses are frequently overlooked or ignored, and in some instances, even celebrated, rather than Christ. Almost daily, a new list of pastors’ names who have defaulted from the ministry because of some form of immorality, inappropriate relationships, or abuse of power have been brought to my attention, where leaders are expected to uphold biblical standards. Tragically, many within the religious community, neglect to even discuss despite the seriousness of these issues, they would rather sidestep these uncomfortable conversations claiming that every church has it's problems. While that is certainly true, I do not believe that means that sin should be ignored, mine or anyone else's. I am convinced silence only serves to perpetuate the cycle of misconduct and erodes trust in all religious institutions. I believe that it is crucial for those within the ministry where integrity and accountability are vital, to confront these issues openly, honestly and with transparency to pave the way to effective solutions. Some of these men in ministry are bringing shame upon the name of our Lord, where it's crucial for those in positions of spiritual leadership to uphold the highest standards of integrity and honor, damaging the church's credibility.
Sin has to be confronted because of the impact it has the family of God, it's like Paul writes in Galatians 5, a little leaven will leaven the whole lump. This metaphor highlights how even a seemingly minor sin can spread and influence the entire community of faith, leading to widespread consequences, undermining the spiritual health of the Body.
Discipline though painful, must always be mitigated with mercy, and delivered with encouragement, which helps to alleviate the discomfort. Studies have shown that discipline when implemented balanced with love and compassion, ensuring the goal is lasting personal growth rather than punishment, individuals are more likely to respond positively and apply the lessons learned more effectively, ultimately leading to more favorable outcomes. A family can’t function in love if it tolerates everything that violates that love. That's why it's so crucial to confront sin aggressively, if left unresolved it erodes that closeness, that intimacy that is foundational for strong familial bonds and creates relationships that are more destructive than healthy. Over time, disagreements and misunderstanding can turn into silent stand-offs that can last for decades or even a lifetime. Is it then any wonder why God has always wanted to eliminate the sin that represents a form of moral deviation that disrupts the love, harmony and sanctity intended for His family?
Let's pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, as always we are thankful for Your Word, help us to hear it well, so that it would resonate deeply within our hearts. Lord, help us to cultivate a genuine love one another mirroring the way You have loved us, blending chastening with mercy and compassion in a way that manifests familial love, truly caring for one another needs and that involves both support and confronting sin, demonstrating that we are Your children not merely through our words but also through our actions. And, may we do it in such a way that honors You and exalts Christ. In His name we ask and pray.
Amen.
Today's Message: Jesus: Our Compassionate Redeemer Part 3
Let's open our Bibles and turn them to the Gospel of Luke chapter 8, Luke 8:49-56. I hope you will follow along with me as I read our text for today, so that we can set it in our minds, and allow it to settle deeply within our hearts, creating an opportunity for us to discern what the Holy Spirit has to personally say to each of us today through the Word and make application, allowing it to transform our lives.
"While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore." But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, "Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be saved." So when He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl’s father and mother. Now they were all crying and lamenting for her, but He said, "Stop crying, for she has not died, but is asleep." And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died. He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Child, arise!" And her spirit returned, and she stood up immediately. And He gave orders for something to be given her to eat. And her parents were astounded, but He directed them to tell no one what had happened."
It's easy to become annoyed or begin to feel frustrated when others abruptly interrupt us while we are deeply engrossed in something that we feel is important, whether it's a text, a phone call, or an unexpected knock at the door, it's actually ironic, that even as I have been working on this message, I experienced numerous delays and unexpected interruptions and I was humbly reminded that they are both woven into the fabric of God’s divine design, they can teach us patience and in some cases, even cause us to reconsider our priorities. It took me a moment before I realized Jesus would not have gotten irritated, He was exceptionally sensitive to the needs of those around Him, allowing Him to respond accordingly, whether is was tending to the sick, like Peter's mother in-law or feeding the hungry, His actions were always guided by love, even in situations where others would have lost their patience, He maintained His composure, taking time to minister to them. I am grateful that the Holy Spirit graciously reminds me of these profound truths in His gentle way.
Perhaps, if I hadn't been working on this message at precisely this exact moment, it might well have escaped my notice that was God is always intricately weaving His divinely purposed interruptions and delays into my schedule, in spite of the constant demands on my time, as He continuously shapes my life according to His perfect plan. Our Lord's life and crucifixion serves as an exemplary example of how God's divine timing operates in our own lives. I find it fascinating how, in our fast-paced world, these brief moments can teach us patience and strengthen our faith. I pray that the Holy Spirit will use this message to touch your heart the way He has mine in preparing it.
Let's begin by looking at verse 49, "While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore." Luke does not explicitly indicate who He was still speaking to, however, we can assume He was still speaking to the woman who had reached out to touch the fringe of His garment and was immediately healed, or perhaps He is speaking to the crowd, because Scripture doesn't say, we can't be dogmatic. Either way, I imagine Jairus must've have been thinking, as any parent facing a desperate situation would, "If only that woman hadn't interrupted Him, Jesus could have arrived in time to save my daughter. He could have tended to this woman afterward. After all, she's already been suffering for twelve years, what difference would another thirty or forty minutes make in such a longstanding affliction?" As we noted earlier, it's important to recognize that interruptions and delays are all part of God’s divine design. Often, what initially appears to be a delay is, in fact, an opportunity for spiritual and personal growth, in preparation for something that is to come.
People naturally have a fear of death and the process of dying, as Christians, we understand that Jesus Christ has power and authority over that, a hope that offers us reassurance. In fact, our Lord came into the world in the form of a human to end our fear of death and grant us eternal life, right? If you will recall, back in chapter 7, He interrupted a funeral procession in the town of Nain by touching a coffin. And, He said, "Young man: I say to you, arise." And then, the lifeless young man sat up and began to speak, demonstrating Christ's miraculous power to overcome death. Jesus has been healing the sick, He's been restoring the sight to the blind, making the lame to walk, casting out demons, liberating those held captive to spiritual bondage and conquering death throughout His Galilean ministry.
Verse 50, "But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, "Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be saved." We don't know who the unidentified messenger is, probably somebody from Jairus' household, approaches him with the most devastating news a parent could ever receive, there is no longer any hope for intervention, it's too late. "Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore." Despite the gravity of this devastating news, Jesus' response is immediate and reassuring. He encourages Jairus not to be afraid any longer, but to have faith, to believe in the possibility of a miracle even when the situation seems hopeless and she will be saved. Jesus uses the Greek verb "phobeó" a word often associated with the divine power of God over human fate. By the way, Luke doesn't record it, but Matthew does in chapter 9, it was at this point, Jairus said to Jesus, "While He was saying these things to them, a synagogue official came and bowed down before Him, and said, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live." Jesus got up and began to follow him, and so did His disciples. I love that he has faith to believe that Jesus has the power over death, even though the messenger did not, being a leader of the synagogue in Capernaum surely Jairus was well aware of the miracles Jesus had been doing. He would have been there in the synagogue when Jesus had cast the demon out of the man right in the middle of the service. He would have heard about Jesus giving sight to the blind, restoring hearing to the deaf, or even healing lepers. I believe this passage underscores the importance of having faith and to keep believing, even in the face of what seems to be insurmountable odds. Notice at the end of the verse, Jesus says "and she will be saved," it's the Greek verb "sózó," a word used to describe
both physical and spiritual salvation, obviously He's talking about she's going to be resurrected. Jesus makes that same promise to us all, if we'll only keep believing, even when we're tempted to doubt, He promises us life even though we face death. He's coming back you know, even though we don't know the day or the hour, we have the promise of the resurrection. If that’s the attitude that Jesus calls Jairus to have, how much more we are to have today to replace our fears with faith? When I look at the past, I am continually amazed at what God has done in and through my life. When I look to the future, it's easy to become anxious, so I am always reminded to look at what God has already done, to reflect on all the incredible ways in which God has orchestrated events in my life. Every chapter of my life is a testament to His amazing grace, His endless mercy and His boundless love.
Verse 51, "So when He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl’s father and mother." By the way, Matthew tells us enough time had passed for the funeral to start, "When Jesus came into the official’s house, and saw the flute-players and the crowd in noisy disorder." If you will remember, they didn't have the ability to embalm, so they needed to start the burial process right away, they would have had everybody on notice that she was about to die, so by the time that Jesus and Jairus got there, the funeral was in full swing. Jewish funerals in the first century were quite different from the somber funerals we have today, where everybody is speaking very softly, so as not to create a disturbance. It was absolute chaos in Jesus' day, we're talking about screaming and howling, wailing and moaning, and loud hand clapping from hired professional mourners to magnify the agony, and get everybody else going, while at least two flute-players played dirges on high-pitched flutes. As people were ripping their clothes, by the way, it is required that you tear your clothes and wear them over a thirty-day period to show your mourning. Can you even imagine going to a funeral like that today?
Verse 52, "Now they were all crying and lamenting for her, but He said, "Stop crying, for she has not died, but is asleep." The word stop is the Greek particle "μή" is used to express an absolute prohibition. This is strong language, He is essentially saying "Stop all this chaos and get out!" Mark adds that He began putting them out, "ekballó,"using the same word used when He cleansed the temple. Matthew tells us He said, "Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep." Notice that Jesus emphatically denies she is dead, defining death as sleep, because it's not permanent, sleep is only temporary. When someone dies when often hear people say "Rest in peace," that is not supported by the Bible, while the physical body may sleep until the time of the resurrection, the soul does not sleep after death, it goes immediately into the next life. According to 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, which says to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord, assures that we as followers of Christ will wake up in heaven. And, in Luke 16:22-23, Jesus teaches that unbelievers and those who only believe are in Hades in an eternal state of torment.
By the way, in Matthew 7:21, He also says "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter." Clearly indicating that not all believers, particularly those who do not do the will of the Father will not enter heaven! I believe this serves as a profound reminder of the importance of living in obedience to His Word, a strong warning that must not be taken lightly. In John 14:15, Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." Do you claim to love Jesus while continuing to disobey His commands? To further emphasize this point, 1 John 2:3-4 says "And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him," highlighting the importance of more than just a verbal declaration of, but aligning our actions with His teachings. Obedience is not something that should be reluctantly performed out of obligation, but rather as a natural expression of genuine love and unwavering commitment to Christ with joy and an eagerness. Scripture presents us with many examples of this and I won’t belabor the point by going over all of them. I’m sure you remember the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, you don’t need to look it up now, the point is all ten outwardly appeared the same, the difference between then was internal. By the way, the five foolish virgins were shut out of the kingdom of God forever! Because our Lord was concerned enough about hypocrisy to speak of it over and over again, I am compelled to be concerned about it as well.
Verse 53, "And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died." When Jesus said she was sleeping, everyone present erupted into laughter with scorn, they were making fun of Him, ignorance is pretty predictable isn't it? It always manifests as mockery. Keep in mind, they’re hired professionals who weren't really grieving. Even today, the world still mocks what they can't understand. The Greek verb "katagelaó" is used to describe the disdain that accompanied their actions, by combining the prefix "kata" meaning "against" and "gelaó" meaning "to laugh." Throughout church history, Christians beliefs have frequently been met with skepticism and derision, by millions of non-Christians outside the faith, however, more recently research has shown that criticism is no longer confined to those outside the faith, many within Christianity itself, who call themselves Christians, have generated a great deal of negative perceptions claiming many Christians are excessively political, overly judgmental, and increasingly hypocritical. There are many of these people who are deceived sitting in the churches believing they’re in a relationship with God only to find out on Judgment Day, Christ doesn't know them. And, He will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Mark, who records the same account, tells us "He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was." The implication is He literally takes them, I can just imagine Him tenderly putting His arms around the grieving parents overwhelmed by sorrow, or taking them by hand as He led them into the house, because our Savior has a compassionate nature and a loving heart.
Verse 54, He went into the room where she was in spite of their laughter and "He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Child, arise!" According to Mark, Jesus used an Aramaic term "talitha," meaning "little girl" or "damsel and the Aramaic word "koum," meaning "to arise" or "to stand up." It beautifully translates as a term of endearment, "Little lamb, arise!, I say to you, arise!" I love that. By the way, only Mark records the original Aramaic phrase which was the common daily language spoken by the Jewish people in Israel at the time of Jesus, even though Scripture was written in Greek. Then, He compassionately took her by the hand, and we know He didn't have to take her by the hand, but this is personal. If you will remember, He did the same thing for Peter’s mother-in-law, didn't He? In fact, He didn't have to go to Jairus' house, He could have healed his daughter from where He was. He literally commanded her to live, in the same way He had commanded everything into existence when the earth was formless and void according to Genesis 1.
Verse 55, "And her spirit returned, and she stood up immediately. And He gave orders for something to be given her to eat." And, just like that "her spirit returned, and she stood up immediately." It's the Greek word, "peripatéō," which patéō means to walk, the prefix peri intensifies it, so immediately she got and began to walk around. There's no recovery period, no physical therapy, every miracle Jesus performed was instaneous and complete, there were no progressive miracles, ever! Instantly, she was as healthy as any other twelve year old, probably healthier. Then, "He gave orders for something to be given her to eat." When can be certain how long she was asleep, but I love that, after Jesus took care of her spiritual needs, He was concerned about sustaining her physical life. Can you imagine all those who were laughing and mocking Jesus when this little girl who was one minute "dead," and the next minute she was alive, up walking around?
That brings us verse 56, "And her parents were astounded, but He directed them to tell no one what had happened." Jesus seems to have a history of saying that doesn't He. Scripture never gives us an explanation why He says that, but I believe it's because He doesn't want to create a situation that would prompt the religious leaders, who already hated Him, to expedite their plans to kill Him. The English translations says her parents were astounded, in the Greek, it's the verb "existémi," her parents were hysterical, they were literally out of their mind. It's the same word used in Mark 3:21, when His own family thought He had lost His mind and they tried to take custody of Him. Obviously, Jesus didn't want the news of her resurrection to spread, after all, the people already tried to force Him to be a king, it wasn't time yet, the cross is still a few months away, but I'm not sure how anyone could keep that a secret, when everybody in town knew that Jairus' daughter was dead and now she's alive, up walking around.
Whenever we proclaim the Gospel today, it is crucial that we consistently emphasize the significance of the cross, not just as Easter, because it is the cross that provides salvation to everyone who believes. That's why Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:2, "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." I don't know about you, but personally, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude for that old rugged cross, where my Lord paid for my transgressions, and exchanged my wretchedness for His righteousness, granting me the immeasurable gift of eternal life. A precious gift I confess I am unworthy of.
The cross, is not just an old relic of the past but a powerful testament of the present, the enduring love and grace that God offers to every sinner who is willing to repent and believe the Gospel. Jesus wants to give you eternal life, today is the perfect time to accept His offer of salvation, I beseech you, do not postpone this very important decision until tragedy happens, life is unpredictable and the moment of death is too late!
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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