Mark 5 Ask - You Shall Receive

Ask – You Shall Receive

Mark 5

Funny, isn’t it – our view of Jesus Christ is almost a self-fulfilling prophecy. Those who expect little or nothing from Him find their attitude quite confirmed. Here are some examples from the Scripture – from which we hope to learn.

The Holy Bible, New International Version

Mark 5

¹They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.^£ ²When Jesus got
out of the boat, a man with an evil^£ spirit came from the tombs to meet him.
³This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with
a chain. ⁴For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains
apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
⁵Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself
with stones.

⁶When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of
him. ⁷He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son
of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” ⁸For Jesus had
said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!”

⁹Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” ¹⁰And he begged Jesus
again and again not to send them out of the area.

¹¹A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. ¹²The demons
begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” ¹³He gave
them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd,
about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and
were drowned.

¹⁴Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and
countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. ¹⁵When they
came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of
demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
¹⁶Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-
possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. ¹⁷Then the people began to
plead with Jesus to leave their region.

¹⁸As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed
begged to go with him. ¹⁹Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family
and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on
you.” ²⁰So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis^£ how much
Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

²¹When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a
large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. ²²Then one of the
synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet ²³and
pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put
your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” ²⁴So Jesus went with him.

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. ²⁵And a woman was there
who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. ²⁶She 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. ²⁷When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind
him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸because she thought, “If I just touch
his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in
her body that she was freed from her suffering.

³⁰At 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?’”

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

³⁵While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus,
the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher
any more?”

³⁶Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid;
just believe.”

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

In this lesson, please note four types of people:

	The mourners – who know that Jesus can do nothing
	The herdsmen – who want Jesus to do nothing
	The ruler – who thinks Jesus might be able to do something
	The woman – who knows Jesus can do all she wants

Each of these we must examine in terms of their attitude, their request of Jesus, and his reaction.

The Mourners – Those Who Know

A bit of local culture must come first. In this time, there were people who were paid mourners. You hired them to do the proper weeping and wailing at a funeral. If it sounds strange, remember that we hire funeral homes. One thing is sure: you don’t call these people unless someone has died.

Their attitude

Their attitude is simple: we’re the ones in the know. We know the story; we’ll tell you the answer, God.

You may not think that applies to Christians today. But give some thought to it:

	Have you ever given God detailed instructions on how to handle some crisis in your life - or more importantly, in someone else’s life? As if He couldn’t figure out what to do?
	Have you ever gone to prayer just to list your complaints? Some of us are so bitter that our prayers are nothing more than a complaint session. We never ask anything; we complain about everything. Is it any wonder that we receive nothing?

Their request

What request? They don’t ask anything of Jesus. Why?

	Because they are so “wise.” They are so wise that they will decide who is God – for whatever purpose is at hand. God is God on Sunday mornings, when we need a beautiful worship service to be proud of. But Monday He’s not so convenient.
	Ultimately, if you decide who is God, day by day, the truth is that you have made yourself your own little god.

Jesus’ Response

In one sense Jesus proves that these people are right. They expected that he could do nothing – and that’s just about what they get. It’s self-fulfilling prophecy.

But in another sense he gives them what they need. He gives them a sign, if they will only see it. Here, it is the awakening of the dead girl. In our time His signs are numerous; if the church is active.

The Herdsmen

Have a little sympathy for these guys; they didn’t ask for trouble.

Their attitude

	These are the people who are content with the status quo. It’s a quiet life. The house is good; the car is running fine; the kids aren’t in trouble with the law; life is good. Why are you bothering me, Jesus?
	All they want to do is make a buck – or more precisely, a few more bucks. They’re not asking for riches, nor for miracles – just a little more. These guys are herding swine – forbidden to the Jews. I’m sure they could rationalize it in their minds. After all, it’s profitable, and I need the money. It’s not like I was eating the pork, after all.
	They’re willing to tolerate the evil around them – the demoniac, after all, lived nearby – as long as it isn’t personal. Hey, what’s the problem? I’ve never had an abortion, personally (not surprising, considering I’m “him.”) As long as the pornography’s in plain brown wrappers, what’s the problem?
	Most of all, they don’t want to feel guilty. Don’t remind us about that pork.

Their request

Their request is simple: go away. Do we ever act like that?

	Do we ask Christ to hide in the church? Stay where he belongs – out of our lives and in the sanctuary?
	Most particularly, do we want him to let sleeping worms lie? Not to bother us about the guilt on our consciences?

Jesus’ response

Jesus gives them exactly what they ask for. He goes away. It is sad to think of it that way, but if the things of this world crowd Him out of your life, He will go away.

But He will leave someone behind – a witness. Miracles you don’t care about; signs you will not see. So he leaves behind a person, a witness. If you want to know if you’re a herdsman, check around for the witness in your life.

The ruler

Here’s one of the nice guys. He resembles a lot of us.

His attitude

He’s a man of little faith – but not “no faith.” He’s educated in the Scriptures, and he knows the “theoretical” answers to the questions. We may conclude from the fact that Christ does not rebuke him (as he did the Pharisees) that this man is indeed a righteous man. His life is full of good works – but something is missing. That something is a full and complete faith.

There’s one other thing: he’s come to a crisis in his life. His daughter is dying.

His request

He knows what he wants – his daughter’s life. He also knows the “right way” to get it – by asking God. It’s important to remember here: little faith is not the same thing as no faith. He’s asking in the little faith he has for the great thing he wants most of all. Sound familiar?

Jesus’ response

Jesus gives him a three-fold response:

	First – by way of the woman who was bleeding – he gives him an example of the faith he should have, and its results. He strengthens the little faith to make it grow.
	Next, by his explicit command, he removes the fear that blocks that faith from growing.
	Finally, he grants his request.

There’s a pattern there for us. Look for the examples around us, and let our faith be strengthened. Listen to his command: do not be afraid. Then look for his blessing.

The Woman

You need to understand the desperation of this woman. A woman in her monthly period was considered ceremonially unclean. For that time of the month, she could not participate in the synagogue, the center of life in a Jewish village. But for this woman, her “period” never ended. She would be unclean – an outcast – all the time. She was slowly bleeding to death – alone.

Her attitude

Her attitude is a joy to behold. She has that great faith.

	Note that having that faith still means she waits until God’s moment for healing. It is not a magic talisman; it is faith.
	She puts it simply: “if only.” She knows the character of God; the question is whether or not she can get close enough. How many of us desire to get “close enough” to God?
	Ultimately, she does not consider anyone’s opinion (the virtue of being an outcast) but acts on faith. Action still counts.

Jesus’ response

Jesus’ response can be summed up in the name of God: I Am. She has relied on his eternal, unchanging nature – the nature of God. She knows that God is good; that he is merciful.

That might just be a solid definition of faith: to rely on the nature of God. He does not change; yesterday, today or forever. What changes is our reliance on Him.

Note this: no explicit action by Christ is required. Her faith alone, when in touch with his nature, is sufficient. He is God in the flesh; therefore, He will heal.