At Death's Doorstep...

In January 1989, Don Piper was on his way back to Alvin, Texas from a church planting conference at Trinity Pines Conference Center around Lake Livingston.  Don was an associate pastor at South Park Baptist Church in Alvin and was considering starting his own church.  Instead of the normal way home from Trinity to Alvin, he decided to take Hwy. 19 out of Trinity through Huntsville, and on the old Trinity Bridge, his 1986 red Ford Escort was hit head on by an eighteen-wheeler operated by the Texas Department of Corrections.  This bridge was well known for being long and having no shoulders.  The truck sandwiched his small car between the bridge railing and the driver’s side of the truck.  All those wheels went right on top of his car and smashed it.

 

The accident report stated that the impact of collision was about 110 miles an hour.  The semi was traveling 60 miles an hour, and Don was traveling 50 miles an hour.  The truck driver didn’t have a scratch on him.  However, Don was killed instantly.  In one powerful, overwhelming second, he died.

 

Those were his words that he wrote on page 20 of his book “90 Minutes in Heaven.”  That’s right.  For 90 minutes, Don Piper was dead, but today, he is alive after two resuscitations, 34 surgical procedures, and $6 million dollars in medical bills.  He is living proof that Jesus is the master over death.

 

On the pages of the NT, we find another story reminding us that Jesus is master over death as well.  We have seen in recent weeks that Jesus is master over disasters like the storms of life.  He is master over the demonic like Bro. Ronnie preached last week.  Next Sunday, we will see that Jesus is master over disease, and today, we are reminded that Jesus is master over death.

 

Remember that in May, we saw what Jesus said.  In June, we are seeing what Jesus did.  In May, we saw His words.  In June, we are seeing His works, and He is master over all.

 

This morning, let’s make five observations in this story about Jairus’ daughter. 

 

 

1. A Petition that was Urgent, 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

 

Jesus and His disciples had now crossed back over the Sea of Galilee after calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee.  Like before, the crowds found Him and wanted to be around Him. 

 

In verse 22, we are introduced to Jairus.  He was a ruler of the local Jewish synagogue, probably in Capernaum. 

 

This meant that he took physical care of the synagogue and planned the worship services.  This was more of an administrative role rather than a priestly role. 

 

He probably was present for Jesus did back in 3:1 and came to Jesus with an urgent petition or request.

 

Mark 3:1, 1 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.

 

Verse 23 tells us that Jairus begged Jesus earnestly to save his little daughter.  He didn’t just ask once.  He asked again and again and again.  I can’t even imagine being in Jairus’ shoes in this situation. 

 

Luke 8:42 tells us that this was Jairus’ only daughter, and she was about 12 years old.  Mark also tells us that she was at the point of death, close to death, knocking on death’s door.

 

In verse 24, Jesus appears to oblige Jairus’ request.  Jesus headed with Jairus back to his house to physically heal his daughter.  As He went, Jesus was surrounded or thronged by the massive amounts of people.

 

Then, the unthinkable happened.  When time was of the essence, Jesus got delayed in the crowd.  People wouldn’t let Him through.  Can you imagine what Jairus was thinking? 

 

Come back next Sunday as we look at this divine interruption sandwiched between two scenes with Jairus and his daughter.  Not only is Jesus master of disasters and demons and death.  He is also master over disease.

 

 

2. A Perception that was Usual, 5:35-38

35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”  36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.

 

 

According the story, it seemed that the unthinkable had happened.  Jesus didn’t get to the girl in time.  She had died or at least that was the report that Jairus received in verse 35.  I can’t even imagine. 

 

Once Jairus’ daughter died, the rest of the family gave up, and you and I would have also.  That was usual or normal.  There was no reason to bother Jesus any longer.

 

In 5:38, the professional mourners had already arrived, and they were making plans for burial.  Verse 38 would be the equivalent of our visitation at the funeral home.  The girl had died and now the people and family were coming to pay their last respects.

 

When Jesus suggested that the girl was not really dead, those gathered at the house laughed at Him.  Verse 40 literally says they laughed in His face because of His stupidity.  Of course, the girl was dead and there was nothing that could be done now.

 

Everyone in attendance knew that this girl had died.  There was no breathing.  There was no pulse.  She was dead.

 

Those trying to discount the miraculous and the supernatural have said that she just slipped into a coma.  Notice 5:23 when Jairus said she was at the point of death or literally at death’s door.  Matthew 9:18 records Jairus as saying she has died.

 

Matthew 9:18, 18 While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.”

 

In 5:35, the report from Jairus’ home was that she had died.   In 5:38, it is obvious that her family thought she had died. 

 

In Luke 8:55, when Jesus healed her, it says that her spirit returned.  Undoubtedly, she was dead.

 

Luke 8:55, 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.

 

 

3. A Prescription that was Unheard Of, 5:36

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”

 

5:36 carries the idea that Jesus heard the report from Jairus’ house, and He ignored it.

 

He then did the unthinkable.  He said to Jairus something we heard Him say previously after calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee.  He said to Jairus, “Don’t be full of fear.  Be full of faith!”

 

Jairus had believed enough to come and find Jesus and beg him to come to his house in 5:23. Jesus encouraged Jairus to keeping believing, keep having that faith.  This story wasn’t over yet.

 

 

4. A Proclamation that was Unorthodox, 5:37, 39-42

37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”  40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

 

Jesus was about to do the supernatural.  He was about to perform a miracle.  He was about to show that He was the master over death.

 

In 5:37, for the first time, we see the inner circle of Peter, James, and John, and Jesus wanted them to be on hand for what was about to take place.  Maybe the others had to stay back for crowd control.

 

These three would have also satisfied Deuteronomy 19:15.

 

Deuteronomy 19:15, …by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.

In 5:39, Jesus entered the house and asked about all the commotion and the weeping and the wailing.  He then made the unorthodox proclamation that the girl was not dead but sleeping.

 

Remember we looked a moment ago at the reality of her death.  More than likely, Jesus was not speaking absolutely but from His own perspective.  To everyone else, she was dead.  To Him, who was able to make her alive again, she was not dead but only sleeping.

 

5:40 says they began laughing at Him.  They began laughing in His face.

 

But He made them leave the room and brought in the three disciples and her parents.  They were about to witness a life restored.

 

5:41 says Jesus took her by the hand said to her, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”  Immediately she did.  Luke tells us that they gave her something to eat.

 

Luke 8:55, 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.

 

 

5. A Prohibition that was Understandable, 5:43

43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

 

In verse 43, we may not initially understand what Jesus did, but think about it.  Jesus wanted protection from His enemies.  Jesus wanted protection from the crazies.

 

Therefore, He tried to slow the hysteria. 

 

 

Conclusion

First, Jesus is the master over physical death.  It happened here in Mark 5.  It happened with Lazarus in John 11.  It happens in hospitals all over.  It happened with Don Piper.

 

Second, Jesus’ timing is perfect, and ours is not.  We may be frustrated with what we think is God’s inactivity or failure.  However, it may simply be that His time hasn’t come yet, and His is always better than ours.

 

Third, Jesus is the master over spiritual death.  Because He is the master over physical death and was resurrected, He provides mastery or victory over spiritual death.

 

You must realize that if you have never received Christ as your personal Lord and Savior that you are spiritually dead.

 

Ephesians 2:1-4, And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

 

If you are spiritually dead, the only way to eternal life is through personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

 

1 Corinthians 15:54-57, 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”  55 “O Death, where is your sting?  O Hades, where is your victory?”  56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.