WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.780 Good morning. Good morning. Good to see everybody. 00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:08.060 This morning, super, super, super to be with you this morning. 00:00:08.300 --> 00:00:13.960 And it's just good. It's just good, isn't it, to have some time. 00:00:15.259 --> 00:00:18.000 Life is crazy, man, crazier than ever. 00:00:18.240 --> 00:00:22.199 Seems like in so many different ways, stuff going on all over the place, 00:00:22.740 --> 00:00:25.219 globally and nationally and locally. 00:00:25.219 --> 00:00:30.379 And it's just good, isn't it, just to have a bit of time to come aside, come away. 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:34.519 I love those little passages in the Gospels where Jesus says, come away. 00:00:35.340 --> 00:00:36.479 You know, come away with me. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:42.700 And I like to think that maybe that's what he calls us to do regularly, daily, really. 00:00:43.320 --> 00:00:47.579 It's not just Sundays that we come away just regularly every day, every morning. 00:00:47.659 --> 00:00:51.140 We talk about quiet time or space or whatever to be with Jesus. 00:00:51.140 --> 00:00:55.259 Just so, so precious, guys. Just so, so precious. 00:00:56.980 --> 00:00:59.960 Be thankful. Be thankful for what you have. 00:01:01.100 --> 00:01:02.640 Be thankful for who you have. 00:01:03.620 --> 00:01:07.859 Your church body here, but the head of the body, Christ. 00:01:08.379 --> 00:01:09.980 These are precious times. We need them. 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:12.180 We really need them. We need them. 00:01:12.980 --> 00:01:15.620 I honestly believe we need these times to live. 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:19.079 I don't know if you think about it that way, but we need these times to live. 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:21.700 We need what we get, and God gives us. 00:01:22.439 --> 00:01:24.359 Give us this. What? Give us this. 00:01:25.319 --> 00:01:27.019 Give us this. The Lord's Prayer. Give us this. 00:01:27.679 --> 00:01:30.159 They are. Man, we need it, guys. 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:34.099 Let him who serves do so as with the strength that God supplies. 00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:38.019 So soak it up. All right? You ready? 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:40.439 Soak it up. Well, you've been here already. 00:01:40.539 --> 00:01:42.120 Just soak it up. Soak up the songs. 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:44.200 Soak up the fellowship. 00:01:45.819 --> 00:01:47.219 Soak up the time in God's presence. 00:01:47.219 --> 00:01:48.140 Soak up the prayers. 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:53.219 And pray now that we just soak up a bit of God's Word here. 00:01:54.120 --> 00:02:00.039 So just want to try and get our thoughts going a little bit here around just this story. 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:02.219 And I know for you guys, this is... 00:02:02.939 --> 00:02:08.719 We're just kind of diving in the middle, really, of a big story that Mark's telling. 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:20.680 We're coming in the middle of a big story that Mark, we believe, who was a good friend of Peter, is telling us. 00:02:20.979 --> 00:02:21.699 Peter was there. 00:02:22.699 --> 00:02:24.400 Peter saw it. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:25.719 He heard it. 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:26.719 He heard it. 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:31.020 As John says in his first epistle, touched it. 00:02:32.020 --> 00:02:32.300 Right? 00:02:32.659 --> 00:02:33.620 Or touched him. 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:36.740 And it's really good to remember that as we read this. 00:02:36.939 --> 00:02:49.000 You know, people are writing to us here who are a whole lot closer to the physical nature and the actual appearing of Christ on earth. 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:50.479 And now we're just telling us the story. 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:53.419 And so we're diving in a little bit, I know, in the middle of this. 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:55.740 But I think you'll get the drift. 00:02:56.219 --> 00:02:59.960 I'm sure you probably know a bit about the Gospels and the Gospel story. 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:05.560 You'll get the drift here as Mark just continues to try to bring us closer to Christ. 00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:15.360 And just kind of do what maybe we're trying to do this morning, which is just kind of stop, look, and listen. 00:03:15.719 --> 00:03:16.159 Right? 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:19.780 To what God wants to give us so that we can live. 00:03:20.819 --> 00:03:25.599 Just do what He wants us to do in our lives and live the way He wants us to live. 00:03:25.780 --> 00:03:29.520 And make the most of the short time, guys. 00:03:30.099 --> 00:03:33.060 The short time that we've got in this world. 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:33.920 My goodness. 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:34.159 Yes. 00:03:35.019 --> 00:03:37.839 My next birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks. 00:03:38.259 --> 00:03:39.599 And I'm old. 00:03:41.060 --> 00:03:43.799 I'm a whole lot older than I... 00:03:43.799 --> 00:03:46.239 I was going to say I'm a whole lot older than I feel, but not really. 00:03:47.259 --> 00:03:49.659 I'm kind of feeling it now as well. 00:03:51.119 --> 00:03:53.679 But time is moving on. 00:03:53.739 --> 00:03:54.699 Let's make the most of it. 00:03:55.099 --> 00:03:56.000 Let's make the most of it. 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:56.979 Okay, so Mark 5. 00:03:57.439 --> 00:03:57.759 All right? 00:03:57.839 --> 00:03:58.359 Got your Bibles? 00:03:58.799 --> 00:03:59.859 Got something to look at? 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:00.959 There, don't look at me. 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:01.859 It's not much to look at. 00:04:02.399 --> 00:04:02.719 All right? 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:03.560 Look at your Bibles. 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:05.400 That's a whole lot better to look at. 00:04:05.979 --> 00:04:08.140 Mark chapter 5. 00:04:08.379 --> 00:04:08.800 All right? 00:04:09.020 --> 00:04:16.840 And I guess I am old enough to remember from years ago a guy named Rich Mullins. 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:20.179 Some of you might know Rich Mullins. 00:04:21.919 --> 00:04:28.379 And he came from kind of like an American Indian type background, Midwest American kind of a guy, 00:04:28.599 --> 00:04:30.799 and broke into the Christian music scene. 00:04:31.579 --> 00:04:32.719 And it was an amazing guy. 00:04:32.899 --> 00:04:35.159 He died in a car wreck in 1997. 00:04:35.539 --> 00:04:37.899 I think he was 40, just your early 40s. 00:04:37.899 --> 00:04:38.899 He was an amazing guy. 00:04:38.899 --> 00:04:40.159 He was an amazing guy. 00:04:40.159 --> 00:04:49.939 He was a very gutsy kind of Christian music artist, was Rich Mullins. 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:55.979 And he wrote out of the real struggles of his own life. 00:04:56.039 --> 00:04:58.159 He was just very, very, very honest. 00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:02.060 He never took any money for any of the money that he made on his albums. 00:05:02.060 --> 00:05:03.200 And they made a lot of money. 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:05.520 He was a very popular Christian music artist. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:07.760 And he had a board of guys around him. 00:05:07.760 --> 00:05:08.600 And he made loads of money. 00:05:08.640 --> 00:05:09.860 He gave them all the money. 00:05:10.260 --> 00:05:13.640 He told them, every year, all I want is I just want an average working salary. 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:15.719 And he lived off of that. 00:05:15.779 --> 00:05:19.939 And he gave everything else to really to a lot of the American Indian reservations and all that. 00:05:20.180 --> 00:05:21.819 But he was very, very aware. 00:05:22.259 --> 00:05:31.579 This guy, he had, I think Amy Grant at his tribute service called him the conscience of contemporary Christian music. 00:05:32.579 --> 00:05:37.819 The conscience of, just calling people back to the gutsy reality of the Christian life. 00:05:37.899 --> 00:05:38.399 You know what I mean? 00:05:38.939 --> 00:05:40.740 The gutsy reality of the Christian life. 00:05:40.740 --> 00:05:42.259 And don't tell me you don't live it. 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:44.879 Don't tell me you don't live it. 00:05:44.979 --> 00:05:47.439 We often get sucked into trying to pretend we don't. 00:05:47.500 --> 00:05:48.139 But we do. 00:05:48.479 --> 00:05:50.500 The gutsy reality of the Christian life. 00:05:50.579 --> 00:05:51.860 And this guy just wrote out. 00:05:51.919 --> 00:05:55.139 He was very aware of God's mercy towards him. 00:05:55.579 --> 00:06:00.339 And I remember he wrote a song called, There's a Wideness in God's Mercy. 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:03.939 And it came to mind when I was reading this text. 00:06:04.120 --> 00:06:08.339 There's a wideness in God's mercy I cannot find in my own. 00:06:08.339 --> 00:06:14.939 And he keeps his fire burning to melt this heart of stone. 00:06:15.939 --> 00:06:18.299 He keeps me aching with a yearning. 00:06:18.699 --> 00:06:27.379 Keeps me glad to have been caught in the reckless raging fury that they call the love of God. 00:06:27.620 --> 00:06:28.319 Can you feel it? 00:06:28.979 --> 00:06:29.639 Come on, guys. 00:06:29.679 --> 00:06:30.139 Wake up. 00:06:30.620 --> 00:06:31.319 Can you feel it? 00:06:31.379 --> 00:06:32.059 Can you feel it? 00:06:32.159 --> 00:06:32.839 Can you get it? 00:06:32.839 --> 00:06:34.039 You get it. 00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:40.699 But I think that's what Mark is talking about here in this passage. 00:06:41.099 --> 00:06:44.579 I think that's exactly what Mark is talking about here in this passage. 00:06:44.799 --> 00:06:56.620 As I think he describes just something of the outrageously wide scope of God's mercy for a broken humanity. 00:06:57.379 --> 00:06:59.679 It's what Mark's gospel is all about. 00:06:59.819 --> 00:07:01.339 It's what he's trying to get at. 00:07:01.339 --> 00:07:08.000 It's what he's trying to get us to see and to remember and to savor and to trust and to live. 00:07:08.019 --> 00:07:09.560 He's trying to get us here. 00:07:09.659 --> 00:07:11.500 He wants us to see Jesus. 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:12.619 Mark does. 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:15.019 It's why he writes his gospel. 00:07:15.159 --> 00:07:17.039 He wants us to see Jesus. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:22.019 Psalm 121 says, I look to the hills. 00:07:22.199 --> 00:07:22.500 Right? 00:07:23.039 --> 00:07:23.899 I look to the hills. 00:07:24.099 --> 00:07:25.639 He doesn't really want us to see the hills. 00:07:25.779 --> 00:07:26.319 Look at the hills. 00:07:26.479 --> 00:07:28.859 But when you look at the hills, what are you supposed to remember? 00:07:29.359 --> 00:07:30.219 I look to the hills. 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:31.380 Where does my help come from? 00:07:31.440 --> 00:07:37.040 My help comes from the Lord, the maker, the maker, the maker. 00:07:38.300 --> 00:07:39.020 The maker. 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:41.440 I don't know if any of you read any Paul Tripp. 00:07:42.200 --> 00:07:43.220 He's a good guy to read. 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:48.260 Christian Counseling Educational Foundation, Paul Tripp. 00:07:48.440 --> 00:07:50.200 And he's constantly writing Paul Tripp. 00:07:50.260 --> 00:07:50.700 I love it. 00:07:50.699 --> 00:07:52.099 He writes about grace and mercy. 00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:56.779 And he's constantly trying to remind us that you're never going to find it here. 00:07:57.800 --> 00:08:05.159 You're never going to find the true satisfaction and the depth of the reality of life that God wants you to have by just looking horizontally. 00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:07.319 Because you're just looking at the hills. 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:09.019 You've got to remember who made them. 00:08:09.159 --> 00:08:09.319 Amen? 00:08:09.919 --> 00:08:10.980 You've got to remember, look beyond. 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:11.759 Look at the hills. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:14.039 But remember who made them. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:17.639 And so Mark is writing this and he's telling us this. 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:24.120 And so from one end, really, of the spectrum to the other, Mark tells us a story here within a story. 00:08:24.219 --> 00:08:24.879 Did you see that? 00:08:25.159 --> 00:08:28.199 He tells us a story within a story. 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:33.360 Starting with this Jewish synagogue leader with a 12-year-old dying daughter. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:39.500 And then before he even finishes that story, he starts another one. 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:40.840 Really interesting. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:41.819 Passage this. 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:45.679 Really interesting kind of literary technique or whatever he gets into here. 00:08:45.939 --> 00:08:48.819 Before he ever finishes that story, he starts another one. 00:08:48.820 --> 00:08:52.500 This one about an anonymous woman. 00:08:52.640 --> 00:08:54.000 We don't even know her name. 00:08:54.080 --> 00:08:58.360 Only that she has a 12-year-old bleeding condition. 00:09:00.180 --> 00:09:05.200 And you can see already just some kind of threads that Mark uses here to tell this story. 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:06.560 To grab our attention. 00:09:07.940 --> 00:09:12.660 So that we'll see something more of who Jesus really is. 00:09:12.680 --> 00:09:15.800 So we can feed our souls and live our lives, guys. 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:16.960 For Christ. 00:09:17.400 --> 00:09:17.580 Okay? 00:09:17.680 --> 00:09:18.040 So here you go. 00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:24.500 Three observations that I think direct our attention here in this story to the vastness of God's mercy. 00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:26.439 The vastness of God's mercy. 00:09:26.579 --> 00:09:28.559 And by golly, we need it. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:29.079 Amen? 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:32.480 By golly, we need his mercy. 00:09:32.819 --> 00:09:34.179 We need his grace. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:35.480 Daily. 00:09:36.259 --> 00:09:36.659 Daily. 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:40.059 Thank you, Jesus, that it's available to us. 00:09:40.259 --> 00:09:44.299 So the vastness of God's mercy and ultimately to the cross of Christ. 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:45.379 We can come to communion here. 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:46.439 So I think this is really good. 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:48.800 It will lead us to thinking about the cross. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:51.000 The place of God's mercy here. 00:09:51.040 --> 00:09:55.800 And maybe we can carry those thoughts into remembering the Lord's death when we get there this morning. 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:57.040 So just three observations here. 00:09:57.040 --> 00:10:04.080 First, number one, is that both of these people have a desperate need. 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:04.680 Don't they? 00:10:04.940 --> 00:10:05.500 Did you see it? 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:07.220 Both of these people have a... 00:10:07.220 --> 00:10:10.580 Marco Stacani goes to lengths here to show us this. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:18.799 They both have a desperate need, seemingly to the point that nothing else matters to them. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:29.740 Have you ever had something going on in your life that's so big that really all the other stuff of your life just fades into insignificance? 00:10:29.839 --> 00:10:30.059 Anybody? 00:10:31.339 --> 00:10:31.679 Anybody? 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:34.919 Occasionally, I get migraines. 00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:37.259 Occasionally, I get migraines. 00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:38.639 I don't know if you've ever had a migraine. 00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:40.980 But occasionally, I get migraines. 00:10:41.139 --> 00:10:42.159 And whoop, that's it. 00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:43.600 I'm gone. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:44.840 Forget it. 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:45.460 I'm wiped. 00:10:45.559 --> 00:10:46.919 There's nothing else I can do. 00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:48.159 I can't read. 00:10:48.439 --> 00:10:49.419 I can't talk. 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:50.620 I can't socialize. 00:10:50.819 --> 00:10:51.899 I can't do anything. 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:57.139 I just have to lay down, close my eyes, and I'm out for however long it's going to take until I recover. 00:10:57.720 --> 00:10:58.019 Right? 00:10:58.200 --> 00:10:59.439 And that's just a migraine. 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:04.260 But seemingly, these guys have such a desperate need, nothing else matters to them. 00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:11.800 Something's going on here with both of these people that absolutely seems to obliterate anything else that's going on in their worlds. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:13.480 First, with this dad. 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:16.140 First, with this dad. 00:11:17.340 --> 00:11:19.920 And listen, it's just tearing them to pieces, isn't it? 00:11:19.940 --> 00:11:20.580 You can see it. 00:11:20.780 --> 00:11:21.520 You can feel it. 00:11:21.640 --> 00:11:22.000 Read it. 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:22.900 Get with it, guys. 00:11:23.300 --> 00:11:24.660 Feel a little bit of it this morning. 00:11:25.040 --> 00:11:29.140 This is what I think the gospel, this is what the Spirit of God wants us to do with His Word. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:29.840 Don't you? 00:11:29.900 --> 00:11:32.960 Especially the narrative bits, which were in here. 00:11:33.400 --> 00:11:35.920 What God wants us to do is, Lord, help me get into it. 00:11:37.040 --> 00:11:38.080 Help me get into it. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:43.300 I'm not sitting this morning here, Sunday morning, July 7th, Brunsfield Evangelical Church. 00:11:43.340 --> 00:11:44.320 I'm not sitting here. 00:11:44.700 --> 00:11:47.120 I'm back there with them. 00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:49.860 I'm back there with Jesus and this guy. 00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:56.160 And I can feel the dust on my feet and taste it in the air. 00:11:56.220 --> 00:11:57.460 And I'm here with this guy. 00:11:57.460 --> 00:12:01.460 And he's got this need and it's tearing him to pieces. 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:04.080 This ruler of the synagogue, we're told. 00:12:04.180 --> 00:12:04.680 You see that? 00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:07.000 This ruler of the synagogue. 00:12:07.340 --> 00:12:10.400 Here he is, this big shot in the community. 00:12:10.540 --> 00:12:10.980 That's who he is. 00:12:11.040 --> 00:12:11.759 He's a ruler of the synagogue. 00:12:12.040 --> 00:12:13.560 He's in Israel. 00:12:14.060 --> 00:12:15.139 He's a ruler of the synagogue. 00:12:15.700 --> 00:12:16.960 Synagogues were the big places. 00:12:17.160 --> 00:12:24.200 That was the kind of place of worship and gathering and community and everything. 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:26.560 And he's the top dog. 00:12:26.660 --> 00:12:28.240 He's the ruler of the synagogue. 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:29.020 Big shot. 00:12:29.580 --> 00:12:35.740 One commentator says, this man of prominence, position, prestige, privilege, prosperity, and power. 00:12:37.220 --> 00:12:37.660 Right? 00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:37.740 Right? 00:12:39.459 --> 00:12:40.179 But you listen. 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:41.740 You know what I see when I read this here? 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:43.899 I just see a dad. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:46.740 I just see a dad. 00:12:47.179 --> 00:12:47.639 Don't you? 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:54.159 A dad who seemingly couldn't care less about his prominence, position, prestige, privilege, prosperity, power. 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:55.699 Couldn't care less about that. 00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:57.980 Because he doesn't come riding in on his horse. 00:12:58.040 --> 00:12:58.540 You notice that? 00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:00.840 He doesn't come riding in on his horse. 00:13:01.040 --> 00:13:02.800 He comes falling in on his face. 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:07.900 Comes falling in on his face. 00:13:08.180 --> 00:13:13.420 Because the only thing that matters to him right now is that his daughter is dying. 00:13:14.180 --> 00:13:14.960 And he's desperate. 00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:17.580 He's desperate. 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:20.540 And it just grips you. 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:21.600 It just grips you. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:22.600 You read this, it grips you. 00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:27.560 Because you can think of times in your life when things come your way. 00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:29.460 And they're big. 00:13:31.019 --> 00:13:31.659 They're big. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:32.440 They're gigantic. 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:33.620 They're overwhelming. 00:13:34.019 --> 00:13:35.060 We get this in life. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:36.279 We get this in life. 00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:44.480 People sometimes in their greeting, to me, it was a guy, I remember a guy at the gates of my daughter's primary school. 00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:45.759 Years ago. 00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:46.560 Years ago. 00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:50.540 And this guy used to greet me, at least for a while he did anyway. 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:53.279 He greeted me with, how's life? 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:54.919 Anybody ever say that to you? 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:55.579 They greet you. 00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:57.240 Rather than saying hello, they say, how's life? 00:13:57.299 --> 00:13:57.980 Anybody say that to you? 00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:58.399 How's life? 00:13:58.639 --> 00:13:59.319 What's your answer? 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:01.579 What's your answer? 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:05.379 When God says to you, when somebody says to you, they greet you with, how's life? 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:05.980 What's your answer? 00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:08.019 I try to be honest in all that I do. 00:14:09.079 --> 00:14:10.419 I try to be honest with people. 00:14:11.079 --> 00:14:12.159 So somebody says, how's life? 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:15.879 If you're rushing to go somewhere, you'll probably just say, fine, or good, or whatever. 00:14:16.419 --> 00:14:19.539 But if you're really honest, come on, guys. 00:14:20.079 --> 00:14:22.740 And somebody says to you, how's life? 00:14:24.079 --> 00:14:24.899 What's your answer? 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:28.659 So this guy used to ask me at the gate, how's life? 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:30.079 And I'm just thinking, you know what? 00:14:30.139 --> 00:14:30.779 I'm a Christian. 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:31.719 I want to be honest. 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:33.480 So I used to tell him, how's life? 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:36.319 And I would tell him in two ways. 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.120 He'd say, how's life? 00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:40.200 And the first time he asked me, I just said, it's sin cursed. 00:14:42.539 --> 00:14:43.299 How's your life? 00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:44.960 How are you doing? 00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:47.620 It's sin, but you can't stop there. 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:49.519 You can't stop there because that's not the whole story, is it? 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:51.179 But that is the truth, isn't it? 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:51.679 How's life? 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:52.460 Sin cursed. 00:14:52.560 --> 00:14:53.100 You got a problem? 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:53.659 I got a problem. 00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:56.980 You got struggles? 00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:57.560 I got struggles. 00:14:58.139 --> 00:14:59.379 Your family's got issues? 00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:00.480 My family's got issues. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:00.899 No? 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:02.100 Anybody? 00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:03.159 No? 00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:04.539 Right? 00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:06.980 That's the way it goes. 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:07.960 How's life? 00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:09.799 It's sin cursed. 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:11.740 It's why it is the way that it is. 00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:14.980 But it's grace filled. 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:17.659 Or if you like this morning, mercy filled. 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:19.440 Is that not fair? 00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:19.960 Is that not true? 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:20.659 Come on, guys. 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:22.299 Somebody asked you, how's life? 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:22.840 Get ready. 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:23.399 Get ready. 00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:27.419 Now that guy asked me that same question for about four or five weeks, and then he stopped 00:15:27.419 --> 00:15:27.759 asking. 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.000 Right? 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:30.940 For obvious reasons. 00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:39.020 But I hope he got, I hope that guy remembers this crazy American guy in Scotland who just 00:15:39.020 --> 00:15:40.120 tried to be honest with him. 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:43.900 Sin cursed, but it's grace filled. 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.600 That's how life is. 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:46.840 That's how life is. 00:15:46.880 --> 00:15:47.600 And you feel it. 00:15:47.660 --> 00:15:48.160 You feel it. 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:48.580 You feel it. 00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:51.680 That's what's going on here with this guy. 00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:52.840 He's desperate. 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:53.360 He's desperate. 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.180 He grips you. 00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:56.920 You can feel the guy's anguish and his pain and his fear. 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:57.879 You can feel it. 00:15:57.940 --> 00:16:01.320 And you're just waiting now because he's come to who? 00:16:02.400 --> 00:16:03.200 He's come to Jesus. 00:16:03.520 --> 00:16:04.300 He's come to Jesus. 00:16:04.520 --> 00:16:07.460 And by now in Mark's gospel, we're just diving in the middle. 00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:11.300 But by now in Mark's gospel, Mark's got you set up. 00:16:11.980 --> 00:16:13.300 He set you up, Mark. 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:14.600 He's bringing you on his journey. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:20.560 He set you up to know that when somebody comes to Jesus in need, watch out. 00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:27.500 When somebody comes with an honest heart, an open heart, a real plea to Jesus, you're 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:32.879 just kind of waiting on the edge of your seat to see what he's going to do. 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:33.560 Right? 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:35.160 So here we are. 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:35.759 We're waiting. 00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:36.440 We're waiting. 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:37.340 What's he going to do? 00:16:37.560 --> 00:16:39.780 My daughter, what is Jesus going to do? 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:44.379 But amazingly, before Mark can even get around to telling us, you see what happens. 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:49.639 Before Mark can tell us what Jesus is going to do with this guy's daughter, Mark tells 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:51.780 us that Mark starts another story. 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:53.160 Did you see it? 00:16:53.160 --> 00:16:54.280 He starts another story. 00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:56.900 And maybe you think he's losing his place or something like that. 00:16:57.019 --> 00:16:58.680 But I think he knows exactly what he's doing. 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:01.160 I think he knows exactly what he's doing. 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:06.840 And I think he's got a huge point that he's trying to make here. 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:09.220 And this is how he's going to make it. 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:11.559 Because now here comes this woman. 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:13.639 Right? 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:15.379 And man, she's desperate. 00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:16.899 Isn't she? 00:17:17.439 --> 00:17:19.059 It's like a bit of a theme here. 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:20.139 She's desperate. 00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:23.759 And we don't know who she is. 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:25.800 And we don't know where she's from. 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:28.900 But oh my goodness, we know that she's desperate. 00:17:29.060 --> 00:17:29.440 Don't we? 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.320 We know that she's desperate. 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:36.599 In fact, you can't see this in the English text. 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:44.460 But in the original, Mark gives, it's a bit of a literary technique he uses here. 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:52.480 And he gives this elaborate description of this woman's suffering in seven participial clauses. 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:56.579 Seven participles that he just boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. 00:17:56.579 --> 00:18:01.500 And he just wants us to get enough to feel what this woman is living through. 00:18:03.379 --> 00:18:07.779 Seven participial clauses makes this the longest sentence in his gospel. 00:18:08.179 --> 00:18:09.339 This one here. 00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:18.059 She's bleeding, suffering, spending, not benefiting, worsening, hearing, and coming. 00:18:18.199 --> 00:18:18.699 It's incredible. 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.740 He just lists it out. 00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:27.380 Here's this woman and whoomph, this little snapshot of her desperate life. 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:31.880 And so Mark even writes this in a way that focuses our attention on this woman's need. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:34.279 Because it wasn't just debilitating for her. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:34.900 It was defiling. 00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:37.559 So what she had wasn't just debilitating. 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:41.259 Somebody, you know, breaks a leg or whatever else and it's debilitating. 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:42.759 It was more than that for this woman. 00:18:42.839 --> 00:18:43.680 It was defiling. 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:48.519 Because Leviticus tells us that her bleeding put her in the category of the contaminated. 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:53.819 All right, so it wasn't, it was deeper than just a broken leg. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:56.680 It was deeper than just an illness. 00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:58.720 It was deeper than just a stay in the hospital. 00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:00.099 It was deeper than any of that. 00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:01.259 It was really deep. 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:06.099 Let's put her in the category of the contaminated, the unclean. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:10.400 And this woman has had 12 years of it, we're told. 00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:12.400 12 years of it. 00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:15.799 And so both of these people have a desperate need. 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:25.700 And I would suggest to you that every human being has a desperate need, don't we? 00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:29.039 We're all born. 00:19:29.899 --> 00:19:30.779 Think about it. 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:34.139 We're all born desperate. 00:19:35.879 --> 00:19:37.139 Fair or not fair? 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.539 We're all born. 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:41.980 Probably the day we're born, we don't know it. 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.039 Right? 00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:49.759 And there's some people who live quite the way through their life before they get it. 00:19:49.899 --> 00:19:52.180 In fact, sadly, some people never get it. 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:54.059 They feel it. 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.420 They feel it. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:00.500 I often think about this with my neighbors and my unsaved family. 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:04.220 You know, I hear from around the holidays maybe, or I see people in the street in my neighborhood. 00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:10.100 And I look at their lives, and of course, you live with neighbors and stuff, and you get to know them. 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:20.220 And you begin to feel and realize that they know something in their life and in their hearts, but they can't articulate it. 00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:22.480 Right? 00:20:22.600 --> 00:20:23.960 Because they don't know what it is. 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:25.860 They just know that something's not right. 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.440 They're desperate. 00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:27.299 Okay? 00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:28.039 Just think about that. 00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:28.720 Okay, number two. 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:31.059 So both of these people are desperate. 00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:36.399 Number two, both of these people seem to have at least some understanding that Jesus can help them. 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:37.839 Right? 00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:41.319 Some, I don't know how deep it goes or where it goes, whatever. 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:45.419 They seem to have some understanding that Jesus can help them. 00:20:45.679 --> 00:20:47.000 And so they approach Him. 00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.899 They approach Him. 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:49.960 Right? 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:56.619 They don't approach Him because, you know, He's looking good or He's got a great fanfare or whatever else. 00:20:56.619 --> 00:21:08.759 They obviously, word is gotten to these guys to know that somehow, someway, somewhere, this guy can help them in their desperation. 00:21:09.199 --> 00:21:09.719 He can help them. 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:11.299 And so they approach them. 00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:13.099 And you know what? 00:21:13.139 --> 00:21:15.019 We're not told how much theology they have. 00:21:15.619 --> 00:21:16.219 Not told that. 00:21:16.439 --> 00:21:22.279 Don't know how much theology they have or how fully they've put all the pieces of the puzzle together on Jesus. 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:25.099 Because, listen, that's what Mark's trying to do. 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.440 You understand that? 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:29.940 That's what Mark's trying to do here. 00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:33.920 He's the guy that's pulling all this together for us. 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.299 You get it? 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:37.240 This guy's just a part of the story. 00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:39.399 And this woman's a part of the story. 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:42.000 And, of course, their story is the story of their lives. 00:21:42.139 --> 00:21:44.539 And they're figuring things out just like we do. 00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:48.259 And they're putting pieces together of the puzzle of life just like we do. 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:57.539 But Mark is pulling all of this together into his gospel for us so that we will get the picture on Jesus. 00:21:57.960 --> 00:22:01.779 So anybody reading his story won't be left in the dark. 00:22:01.899 --> 00:22:03.279 That's why we use the Bible, guys. 00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:05.920 Particularly the gospels, the story of Jesus' life. 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:08.180 So that we can get a picture of Jesus. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:12.319 In fact, in the very first sentence of Mark's gospel, he says this. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:18.139 He says this is the beginning of the good news about Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:20.179 Remember that if you've read Mark's gospel. 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:23.019 That's how he starts the whole thing off. 00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:26.980 And so, listen, that's what Mark's doing by writing this for us. 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:29.879 But as far as these guys are concerned, they're just hurting. 00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:33.700 They're just hurting, desperately hurting. 00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:35.899 And they know Jesus can help them. 00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:41.379 Because the ruler of the synagogue comes falling on his face. 00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:44.120 And the woman comes grabbing at his cloak. 00:22:45.340 --> 00:22:48.800 Both in a desperate attempt to somehow get his attention. 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.980 Get his help. 00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:51.300 Get his mercy. 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:54.020 Get his mercy. 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.640 Find his mercy. 00:22:57.240 --> 00:23:06.800 And I wonder if Mark's not pressing two massive things out here to his readers in this story. 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:12.680 One, the tragic nature of every fallen human before God's infinite perfection. 00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:16.159 I wonder if Mark's not going a little bit deeper than just the physical here. 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:18.119 We know he is. 00:23:18.159 --> 00:23:19.960 Because that's the gospel, isn't it? 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:23.139 Gospel's not just Jesus will stop your bleeding. 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.940 Or get rid of your migraine. 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:27.539 Right? 00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:29.659 Mark's picture is far bigger than that. 00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:32.319 Because the issue is far bigger than that, isn't it? 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:34.480 The issue is eternal, guys. 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:37.500 The issue is about eternal life and eternal death. 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:40.419 Huge, huge, infinite stuff. 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:46.240 And I wonder if Mark's not just, he's just not working us together through his gospel. 00:23:46.399 --> 00:23:53.259 He's working us together to start looking beyond just the surface to the depths of who we really are in our humanness. 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:58.799 To see the tragic nature of every fallen human before God's infinite perfection. 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:03.379 But two, that the only hope we have in the universe is Jesus. 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.000 Amen. 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:06.119 I think he's trying to get us to see that. 00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:07.519 I think he's trying to get us to see that. 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.859 And maybe you'll agree with me here. 00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:09.440 Maybe you won't. 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:13.119 But I think every atom of agony, looking at these people's stories, 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:17.119 every atom of agony, every fragment of suffering that we have in our life, 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:27.159 every tiny fiber of disruption of what Paul Tripp calls our claustrophobic little kingdoms of one that we live in. 00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:28.239 You ever feel that? 00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:29.139 It's all about me. 00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:37.319 Our claustrophobic little kingdoms of one are all just one massive tool of God's infinite mercy. 00:24:38.979 --> 00:24:39.699 How's life? 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.439 It's incursed. 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:45.120 And when we feel that and we see that and we experience that, 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:50.460 that's actually part of God's mercy because we want to do something about that. 00:24:51.320 --> 00:24:53.900 We want to find some help and some hope, don't we? 00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.840 We want to find some help and some hope. 00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:58.200 We're desperately lost. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:00.580 We're desperately lost. 00:25:01.600 --> 00:25:06.480 We need God's mercy because until you and I are convinced of our need for God's grace, 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:08.259 we remain desperately lost. 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:14.079 And so whatever God has to do to open our eyes to the overwhelming need of our hearts, 00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:15.920 it's totally worth it, guys. 00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:17.279 And often it hurts. 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.640 Often it hurts. 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:24.240 What it's going to take for God to open our eyes to the needs of our hearts sometimes hurts. 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:24.779 Is that fair? 00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:25.500 Think about it. 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.660 Think about it. 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:34.599 He uses, he moves around the pieces of the broken puzzle of the life to accomplish his purposes. 00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:39.719 He's infinite in his thoughts and his actions and his providential workings, isn't he? 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:41.500 And he does that in our lives. 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:42.459 That's how he does it. 00:25:42.959 --> 00:25:46.919 The psalmist says, before I was afflicted, I went astray. 00:25:47.459 --> 00:25:48.419 Think about this. 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:53.959 Before I was afflicted, I went astray. 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:56.900 But now, now what? 00:25:57.140 --> 00:25:58.559 Now that I've been afflicted. 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.600 You got me, Lord. 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.340 You got me. 00:26:01.860 --> 00:26:02.779 You got me. 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:04.920 Look up, Sutton. 00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:05.559 Look up. 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.140 Look up. 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:07.579 Now that I'm afflicted, look up. 00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:10.340 Now I keep your law. 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:11.220 Incredible. 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:14.380 And so Jesus says, what does he say? 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.100 Come to me. 00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:17.539 All you who are, got it together? 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:20.980 Come to me, all you who are weary. 00:26:21.159 --> 00:26:22.079 Anybody weary this morning? 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:24.759 Anybody we've seen here getting weary in your preaching here? 00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:25.519 Anybody weary? 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:26.639 Feeling it? 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:28.259 Feeling the heaviness of life? 00:26:28.619 --> 00:26:28.879 Fair? 00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.139 It's there, guys. 00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:30.779 How's life? 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:31.579 How's life? 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:32.460 It is. 00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:33.539 Come on with me. 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.960 Who are you going to answer that guy at the gate? 00:26:35.379 --> 00:26:38.779 Life is sin, curse, but grace-filled. 00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:39.980 You'll get better at that. 00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:40.839 You'll get better at that. 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:49.259 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest for your souls. 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:50.299 My goodness. 00:26:51.199 --> 00:26:53.740 When peace like a river attendeth my way. 00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:55.000 Aren't those nice days? 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:57.079 When peace like a river attendeth your way. 00:26:57.159 --> 00:26:57.839 Aren't those nice days? 00:26:58.939 --> 00:27:00.539 When peace like a river attendeth my way. 00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:01.399 Oh, my goodness. 00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.179 That feels so good. 00:27:03.139 --> 00:27:03.919 That feels so good. 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:12.660 Or when sorrows like sea billows roll. 00:27:13.800 --> 00:27:15.200 You got those days, too, I bet. 00:27:16.100 --> 00:27:17.100 You got those days, too. 00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:18.120 Whatever my lot. 00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:20.580 You've taught me to say. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:22.480 What? 00:27:23.120 --> 00:27:23.700 It's well. 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:26.200 It is well with my soul. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.100 That's it, guys. 00:27:27.420 --> 00:27:28.019 Desperate need. 00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:29.400 Approach to Jesus. 00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:36.200 And then finally, just here, a wonderfully wide mercy. 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:39.759 It's a big part of this story. 00:27:39.800 --> 00:27:40.480 Did you catch it? 00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:42.600 It's like from one end of the spectrum to the other. 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.720 You have to see this. 00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:46.500 Mark doesn't, you know, it's from one. 00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:48.140 The guy and the woman. 00:27:48.620 --> 00:27:48.940 Boom. 00:27:49.040 --> 00:27:50.620 There are totally two ends of the spectrum. 00:27:51.840 --> 00:27:53.420 And mercy's in between. 00:27:54.280 --> 00:27:55.640 The ends of the spectrum. 00:27:56.100 --> 00:27:56.740 You get it. 00:27:56.840 --> 00:27:57.480 You get it. 00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.800 Mercy's for you. 00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.720 Mercy's for me. 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:03.319 Mercy's for your neighbor, your colleague, your friend, your family. 00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:05.879 Wonderfully wide mercy. 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:09.519 These two radical ends of the human spectrum, aren't they? 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.759 This leader and this lady. 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.559 He's a man. 00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:14.139 She's a woman. 00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:14.899 He's rich. 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.899 She's poor. 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.460 He's respected. 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:18.299 She's rejected. 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:19.980 He's honored. 00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:20.740 She's ashamed. 00:28:21.099 --> 00:28:22.019 He leads the synagogue. 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.759 She's excluded from the synagogue. 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:28.119 He has a 12-year-old child. 00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:30.659 She has a 12-year-old challenge. 00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:33.539 He's had 12 years of delight. 00:28:33.639 --> 00:28:34.939 She's had 12 years of despair. 00:28:35.099 --> 00:28:35.779 Probably more. 00:28:35.879 --> 00:28:38.179 You could just keep going with these guys here. 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:41.299 And yet, despite all of it, despite all of it, guess what? 00:28:42.379 --> 00:28:44.679 Jesus meets them both, doesn't he? 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.819 He meets them both. 00:28:46.739 --> 00:28:47.659 Listen, what a story. 00:28:47.660 --> 00:28:50.480 And I think Mark takes this story. 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.600 Listen here. 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.460 Finishing this up. 00:28:52.540 --> 00:28:53.900 Wrapping it up as we come to communion. 00:28:54.720 --> 00:29:03.259 I think Mark takes this story of, watch it, of bleeding and dying people. 00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:05.420 That's what this story's about, isn't it? 00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:08.519 Bleeding woman, dying daughter. 00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:13.000 I think he takes this story of bleeding and dying people. 00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:15.019 A bleeding woman and a dying daughter. 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:21.980 And I think Mark uses this to point to an ultimate bleeding and dying. 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:25.740 An ultimate bleeding and dying. 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.759 Because you know what? 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:30.359 The reason I say you just think, oh, that's a lot of speculation. 00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:31.119 Well, wait a minute. 00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:31.759 Let me finish. 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:32.879 All right? 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:37.420 Do you know what word he uses, Mark, for both of these deliverances? 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:38.240 It's really interesting. 00:29:38.340 --> 00:29:39.279 You don't see it in English. 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:41.740 Do you know what word he uses for both of these? 00:29:41.820 --> 00:29:43.420 The both of these deliverances. 00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:45.720 When the woman touches Jesus' clothes. 00:29:45.820 --> 00:29:46.240 Watch this. 00:29:46.340 --> 00:29:46.700 Look at it. 00:29:46.900 --> 00:29:48.420 Mark chapter 5. 00:29:49.300 --> 00:29:51.480 When the woman touches Jesus' clothes. 00:29:51.580 --> 00:29:52.779 Verse 28. 00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:57.920 She says, I'm going to touch his clothes because if I touch his clothes, I'll be. 00:29:58.060 --> 00:29:58.900 What does she say? 00:29:59.600 --> 00:30:00.600 I'll be healed. 00:30:00.800 --> 00:30:01.279 I'll be healed. 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:04.019 You know what word Mark uses for that? 00:30:04.320 --> 00:30:06.779 He uses the same word that's used for saved. 00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:12.220 Same word that's used for saved in the Bible. 00:30:13.620 --> 00:30:14.740 Same in verse 34. 00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:15.320 Look at this. 00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:19.440 Where Jesus says, daughter, your faith has what? 00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.240 Same word. 00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:22.080 Same word. 00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:23.779 And in Jairus, verse 23. 00:30:24.060 --> 00:30:25.279 My little daughter is dying. 00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:31.039 Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live. 00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:31.539 Guess what? 00:30:31.620 --> 00:30:32.100 Same word. 00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:33.080 Same word. 00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:36.659 Now, you know, you need to make something of that. 00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:38.240 You need to just take that. 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:39.819 Let it rattle around a little bit. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.899 And think about it. 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:44.599 I think Mark is saying more than just Jesus will heal your headache. 00:30:45.939 --> 00:30:47.699 I think he wants us to see more than that. 00:30:48.139 --> 00:30:49.399 That, yes, he cares for us. 00:30:49.439 --> 00:30:51.379 And by the way, every healing comes from God, doesn't it? 00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:54.179 Every healing comes from God. 00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:56.700 And God's promised to heal every disease. 00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:58.519 The only thing that's up in the air is the timing. 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.580 Right? 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:02.279 The only thing that's up in the air is the timing. 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.440 I want it now. 00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.900 God just sometimes says, wait. 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:10.279 Or he might just say, I'll give it to you when you come and you're with me. 00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:12.140 Right? 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:16.160 So, but it's more than just what we think physical, physical, physical. 00:31:16.360 --> 00:31:17.080 Far more than that. 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:19.440 We know that the biggest issue is not physical. 00:31:19.560 --> 00:31:22.460 The biggest issue is our eternal destiny. 00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:23.759 That's the biggest issue. 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:25.200 Where am I going to be forever? 00:31:25.880 --> 00:31:27.420 How am I going to be healed forever? 00:31:30.420 --> 00:31:31.100 Same word. 00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:32.279 Same word he uses here. 00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:36.880 And I'm not saying that eternal salvation was in the minds of either of these two people. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.279 Mark doesn't tell us. 00:31:38.360 --> 00:31:39.600 I'm not saying that's what was in there. 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:43.640 All I'm saying that it's interesting that in both cases, verse 36, 00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:48.360 when the people come from Jairus' house to tell that his daughter had died, 00:31:48.840 --> 00:31:50.079 what does Jesus say to him? 00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:50.519 Watch this. 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:51.500 Look, verse 36. 00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:57.299 When the people come and tell the guy, don't bother the teacher anymore. 00:31:57.380 --> 00:31:58.299 Your daughter has died. 00:31:58.460 --> 00:31:59.500 What does Jesus say? 00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:02.400 He says, Jairus, don't be afraid. 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:04.519 Just what? 00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:06.019 Believe. 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:07.400 Hmm. 00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:08.359 Hmm. 00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:08.859 I wonder. 00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:09.519 Hmm. 00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:10.480 Right? 00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:11.579 What's going on? 00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:12.039 What's Mark? 00:32:12.380 --> 00:32:13.559 Where's Mark bringing this? 00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:15.480 Just believe. 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:18.360 And then in verse 34, what does he say to this woman? 00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:23.180 Daughter, your faith has healed you. 00:32:23.860 --> 00:32:26.420 Your faith has healed you. 00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:29.079 What might Mark be saying to us? 00:32:29.140 --> 00:32:30.360 And so, guys, here's the question. 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:32.740 As we come to the table this morning, here's the question. 00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:36.839 The ultimate question is just where do you stand with Jesus? 00:32:37.099 --> 00:32:38.039 That's the ultimate question. 00:32:38.139 --> 00:32:39.079 Where do you stand with Jesus? 00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.500 Where are you? 00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:43.379 Where are you with him? 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:45.240 What's it all about for you? 00:32:46.139 --> 00:32:47.699 What's church all about for you? 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:49.220 What's life all about for you? 00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:51.720 Where are you at with Jesus? 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:52.539 Where are you at? 00:32:53.639 --> 00:32:54.799 Who is he to you? 00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.819 These guys had to figure it out. 00:32:56.879 --> 00:32:57.720 They had to figure it out. 00:32:57.960 --> 00:32:59.379 It wasn't just boom, boom, boom. 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.180 What's it? 00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:01.379 They had to figure it out. 00:33:01.480 --> 00:33:09.039 And even when Peter got it right and he says to Jesus, you're the son of God. 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:09.879 You're the Messiah. 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:10.879 You're the son of God. 00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:12.779 He turns around right after that. 00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:16.259 He knows who Jesus is, but he completely misses what Jesus has come to do. 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.480 These guys had to get it. 00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.319 We have to get it. 00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:18.879 It's a journey. 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:20.220 Where are you? 00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:20.879 Where are you? 00:33:20.879 --> 00:33:22.200 Keep pressing on, guys. 00:33:22.659 --> 00:33:23.700 Keep pressing on. 00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:27.140 Where do you stand with his death for your sin and his resurrection for your life? 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:30.539 Where do you stand with his invitation to come and find rest for your soul? 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.279 Where do you stand? 00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:33.180 Where do you stand? 00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:34.759 Because all of us have a desperate need. 00:33:34.860 --> 00:33:38.759 All of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death. 00:33:38.840 --> 00:33:43.900 But listen, the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:48.600 And so we need to make an approach to Jesus because he's the only hope that we have. 00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:50.180 He's the only hope that we have. 00:33:50.180 --> 00:33:52.799 But when we do, my goodness, I'll tell you what we'll find. 00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:56.319 Is we will find an infinitely wide mercy. 00:33:57.360 --> 00:33:58.920 An infinitely wide mercy. 00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:02.180 And I pray that we'll all land there today. 00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:04.240 And we'll stay there today. 00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:06.059 And not drift from there today. 00:34:06.140 --> 00:34:10.639 So hopefully keep those thoughts together, rattling around in your head as we come to the table. 00:34:10.740 --> 00:34:11.900 Let me just pray here. 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:14.340 Father, thank you for your goodness to us this morning. 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:15.199 Thank you for Jesus. 00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:21.279 Thank you that even though it doesn't take rocket science to figure out that life is sin cursed. 00:34:22.659 --> 00:34:25.799 We just want to thank you today that it's grace-filled. 00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:28.039 It's mercy-filled. 00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:30.559 And it's just there for the asking. 00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:36.219 It's just that these people just asked you with a humble heart and you gave it to them. 00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.439 It's there for the asking. 00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:39.239 Well, we know that it's there when we need it. 00:34:39.239 --> 00:34:44.379 Help us to represent that well to a dying world so that they'll come as well 00:34:44.379 --> 00:34:47.799 and find your grace and mercy in their time of need. 00:34:48.239 --> 00:34:49.419 In Christ's name, amen.