The Delay of Christmas

Sermon by Pastor Don
Gateway Church.
December 19, 2010

** Notes of an awed believer touched by God. My own version and understanding of the sermon **


God is a God of promise and keeps/fulfills His promises as well.

* God's questionable delay
Bible Text: Mark 5:22-43

22Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet
23and implored Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live." 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him.
25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She 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. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

35 While 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?”

36 Overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But 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. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

The first story is about a woman subject to bleeding for twelve years. She herself suffered long enough to finally redeemed herself and be healed but the main story of this subject is about Jairus and his daughter. (There would be another long good topic for the story of this woman but for now let us focus on Jairus).

Jairus came first to Jesus but because of the interruption of the woman the answer to his request came late.

Jesus was still speaking to the woman when people came to Jairus saying "It's too late, she's dead. Don't bother Jesus anymore" (vv.35) It is good as saying as "It's not worth it anymore. You cannot undo the irreversible. She's dead. No hope. No future."

I could fairly imagine how Jairus felt that time. Maybe I would ask: How could this happen? I came to him in time but there are so many things around that came up. Isn't the pain of losing my daughter too trivial that it should be set aside? What hope is there left when she's dead?

But still Jesus answered: "Do not be afraid. Just believe."

In the midst of failing hope God wants us to believe.

Why?

Why are there delays in our innermost requests?

1. IN GOD'S DELAYS HE TEACHES US WISDOM.
-Remember God see's what we don't. God is always one step ahead from us. He knows what is best.

2. DELAY TEACHES US THE GRACE OF GOD.
-God is not impressed. No one can earn God's favor - it's GRACE.
Delay EXPOSES/REVEALS our heart.
Never think that delay cause it rather it reveals it.

3. DELAY TEACHES US THAT HE IS UTTERLY TRUSTWORTHY.
-God is never late, but owes the opportunity of not getting early.

So what happened to Jairus?

Jesus came to the house held the little girls' hand and told him softly. “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). She stood up began to walk and went to eat.

In my version it is the same as saying " Sweetheart, stand up. Walk. Build your strength."

Jesus has the POWER.

God always comes through. It is not over. Stand up!

Don't confuse your agenda for Him. He delayed not to frustrate but to save me because God knows my heart. He knows I'm not ready for it.

Wait in God.
Don't lose heart.
Don't Give up.