6. Prayer and Faith

Mark 5:35-43

 

35 While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”

36 But Jesus overheard[a] them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”

37 Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James).

38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing.

39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”

40 The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. 41 Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!”

42 And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed.

43 Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat.

 

▣                    Prayers must be answered.  Prayers should be held until they are answered.  The key to prayer is not to give up.  But in order to continue praying, you must have faith.

 

I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. (Mark 11: 24)

 

The daughter of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, fell ill.

When her daughter fell ill, the synagogue leader must have resorted to several methods. Pleading fervently with him. “My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.” (Mark 5:23)

Then the ruler of the synagogue came to Jesus. But he was delayed as Jesus was on his way to the synagogue leader's house. Meanwhile, her daughter died.

People came from the house of the synagogue leader and said that he no longer had to take the Lord into the house because his daughter had died before he could get home.

 

But the Lord went to the house of the synagogue leader and raised his daughter from the dead.

The synagogue leader Jairus believed in God, but his situation was very pessimistic.  Nevertheless, he believed in the Lord to the end.

Then what happened?  Her daughter survived.

Humans may be anxious, but the Lord is perfect.

 

1. He must believe to the end.

 

While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” (Mark 5: 35)

 

The synagogue leader believed that the Lord would heal his daughter.

But on the way home, my daughter died. People said it's no use anymore.

But the Lord raised his dead daughter to life.

From a human point of view, healing the sick is promising, but healing the dead is impossible. But there is nothing impossible with the Lord.

We must trust the Lord to the end in all circumstances.

Even if your daughter dies, you must believe in the Lord.

The Lord's power is not limited by a person's condition.

The Lord's power is perfect. They expected of the Lord only to the level of healing, but the Lord performed the miracle of raising the dead.

 

2. You must pass the test.

 

But Jesus overheard[a] them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” (Mark 5: 36).

 

While taking Jesus home, the synagogue leader has several tests.

First, my daughter is ill and is on the verge of death.

Second, it is difficult to take Jesus, but you will be delayed on the road.

Third, my daughter died on the way.

Fourth, doubts arose in my heart.

 

From the beginning, the Lord decided to save his daughter and saved her. It is perfect faith to keep the first faith you had in the Lord, no matter how disturbing your heart may be.

 

But Jesus overheard[a] them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” (Mark 5:36).

 

Christians only need to believe. We need to know how the Lord treats people through the Bible and the way he treats them.

 

3. He must believe the word of the Lord.

 

He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” (Mark 5: 39).

 

People wept that the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue had died.

But the Lord says that she is not dead, but that she sleeps.

It is true that the daughter of the synagogue leader is dead.

But the Lord said he sleeps, and he did just that.

To answer prayer, you must believe in the Word.  Then the word of the Lord will be fulfilled.