THEME: (LESSONS FROM JARIUS ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST)
TEXT: MARK 5:21-24
BY: Marvis, Kaine
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On a daily basis we all make requests in one way or other to our friends, neighbors, relatives and to brethren and/or to business associates. When one wants to make a request he or she tends to be on his or her best behavior or character in order for such a request to be granted.
To make a request is to “ask for something to be done or to be given” in a polite way as a favor or courtesy, solicitation or petition.
As children of God we often make request of Christ as I believe that all of us sited here this morning has done in one way or the other before coming to worship. The popular story or encounter between Christ and Jarius is recorded for our learning.
Mark 5:21 –24;
21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.
24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.
As Jesus Christ was teaching the crowd a synagogue official approaches him and pleaded with him to deliver his daughter (twelve year old) from a critical illness.
The synagogue was similar to the church in its leadership arrangement. It was ruled by a group of elders and Jarius was a member of that group. From the passage one can say he was anxiously waiting for Christ. He rushed to Christ and fell before him, explaining in a pleading voice to Christ that his little daughter was at the point of death. “He wanted Jesus to go to his house and lay his hand on her so that she would get well and live.
Jarius trusted that Jesus, once acquainted with his daughter condition would help her. From our text, Jarius provides us with a picture of someone making a proper and sincere appeal to Jesus and also a model example to imitate on how to make a request of Christ. Hence we will be looking at lessons from the encounter between Jarius and Christ.
- He went reverently to Christ.
God want us to reverent him at all times. To be reverent is to “honor and respect.” God and reverence go together. God alone should be reverent and at such Jarius did when he fell at the feet of Christ when he saw him (Mark 5:22). He had a measure of faith in Jesus Christ that caused him to fall to his knees when he entered into Christ’s presence this was reverential acknowledgment of Christ.
Jarius knew that Jesus Christ had power stronger them anything he had ever known before. Because of who he believed Jesus to be, his heart constrained him to pay the appropriate homage to him. When we (Christians) make our request or appeal to the son of God we must reflect our understanding of who he is in our actions as well as our words. We must fall before him as God fearing believing and reverent human beings.
- He Went Earnestly to Jesus.
Mark 5:23a and he “begged him earnestly”. To be earnest is to be serious and determined about something. Jarius daughter was critically ill and at a point of death. He put his whole heart into his request and Christ saw it in every word that he spoke. He knew only Jesus that could save a dying person.
The same character was displayed by Jonah in the stomach of the fish. He was serious with his prayer to God. His creator was his only hope. His situation demands that he make an earnest prayer to God Jonah 2:7;
7 “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple. NKJV Same goes to us Christians, we must pray earnestly to God. He is the one that stands between our soul and death like Jonah, Jarius illustrates that we should be earnest in our prayer.
- He went purposefully to Christ.
Jarius had a plan in mind. He wanted one thing from Christ: “please come and lay your hands on her, so that she will get well and live” Mark 5:23b he believed that the hands of Jesus had the powers to raise his daughter from her deadly illness.
Any believer who thinks seriously about his spiritual needs, knows fully well what he should be asking God.
Like Bro Oghenekaro will say “anything is nothing.” the believers soul must have Christ’s saving grace, or he will die a spiritual death. Salvation addresses human needs as nothing else can.
- He Went Urgently to Jesus
Jarius knew that time was running out for his daughter Mark 5:23 says (at the point of death. Luke 8:42 says his daughter lay “dying” but Matt. 9:18, the man said my daughter has just died. Jarius knew that she was at least on the process of dying at any moments her life could end. The relationship the father had with his daughter intensified the feverously of his plea.
As a parent how urgent are you making a request of Christ for your child?
Each believer has but a moment standing between life in this world and eternity a thin veil of flesh separates the mortal from the immortal. Life can usually be repaired but in eternity a lost soul has no access to the plan of salvation. While we can, we should all turn to Jesus urgently, with a sense of great importance and immediacy.
- He went to Jesus expectantly.
Jarius believed that Jesus could heal his daughter. Maybe has seen Jesus performs miracles and believed he could do whatever needed to be done to heal his daughter. This scene has highlight of the glory and Beauty painted by sincere faith.
In James 1:6, James admonishes believers –
“6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (NKJV) The question before us is, do we believe in Christ? Do we have confidence faith? Do our hearts say with Jesus we cannot fail? Without him we cannot succeed. Whenever one makes a request of Jesus. Christ will look beyond that request to see if it has been voiced by faith in the heart.
Conclusion
Beloved, today we don’t have Christ physically with us to make request of, but we can make our request through prayer and if we don’t doubt, He will grant our request.
22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” NKJV See also Mk 11:24, Luke 11:9. John 14:13.
Many will perish because they have never make a request to Christ to save them. Some will be lost because they have called upon him to save them with halfhearted spirits. James 4:3 – You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Those who will be saved are those who have accepted his offer of salvation with wholehearted sincerity and obedience.
Beloved the good lord will not turn away any searching, earnest, and determined soul. If you really want to walk with him to the end. Jesus through God’s providence will see that you are given the opportunity to do just that.
May God bless us richly as we reverently, earnestly; purposefully; urgently and expectantly seek Him in Christ name amen.
Reference
Truth for today (2017) 2209 Benton, search ISSN 0744 – 8562.
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