Sermon Recap: Luke 8

Good Afternoon Church, and a very happy Monday to you all. My children are back in school after Spring Break and my prayers are with the teachers.

We hope you were able to join us yesterday as Pastor Steve Osborn led us through the latter half of Luke 8, specifically verses 40-56, where we see desperation dignified. There are two main stories woven through the text. The first is of a 12-year old girl who was dying. The other of a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. This began a discussion of compare and contract. When we are introduced to the 12-year old girl, we also meet her dad, Jairus, a leader in the synagogue. As Jairus implores Jesus to go to their home and heal her, a great crowd gathers around Jesus and the woman who has been bleeding touches the fringe of Jesus' robe in faith of being healed. Both sought Jesus. Both were desperate. Both had faith that Jesus' power would heal.

Contrast-wise, one man, the father, is named and in leadership which gives us a title of cultural importance while the bleeding woman is unnamed, yet we know she is an outcast because of her ailment. The cultural disparities are visible but what unifies them in not only their desperation, but the promise and hope of Jesus- that He is for all people. Jesus dignifies desperation because He steps in and meets us there.

The minute that the woman who had been bleeding touched the fringe of Jesus' robe, He stopped and said this:

"'Who was it that touched me?' When all denied it, Peter said, 'Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!' But Jesus said, 'Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me'. And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace' (v. 45-48). 

Do you see what Jesus calls her? He gives her a name, Daughter. Furthermore, she was not hidden. Jesus knew her as His own. The intimacy of this moment astounds me for she was not only physically healed, but can imagine the newness of life she walked away with? No longer an unnamed woman. No longer a societal outcast. Known. Welcomed. Healed. It's incredible!

As Jesus was still talking, a man from Jairus' home came and told him that his daughter was dead. When they arrived at the house, all were mourning and weeping, and Jesus responds:

"'Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.' And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, 'Child, arise.' And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat" (v. 52-55).

First of all, could you imagine laughing at Jesus? Maybe with Him, but certainly not at Him. Woah. Not only was Jesus in the business of healing Jairus' daughter, but also humbling the leaders who were certain they knew better as shown here. Jesus has this impeccable way of restoring our impaired hearts.

Pastor Steve closes with these two points:

1. Even the bodies that were healed, eventually died. Though they then likely died of natural causes, the healed bodies cannot live forever. The promise of the good news of Jesus is what we live for.

2. This good news of Jesus never stops working for He never stops working. Pastor Steve read through Romans 8: 31-37 as Paul asks these seven questions:

*What then shall we say to these things?
*If God is for us, who can be against us?
*He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
*Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
*Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
*Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
*Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

And then Paul closes this way: 

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (vs. 37-39).

Nothing can separate us. Nothing could separate the bleeding woman from the love of God. There is incredible human need in the every day, quite possible in your every day, and we are so desperate for not only the healing of Jesus, but the love that conquers all.

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Deep Dive Bulletin Questions: 

1. In Luke 8, we are reminded that Jesus brings healing and peace to the storms and ailments of our lives. By faith, there is healing. Are you desperate for healing today?

2. After the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years was healed, Jesus said this, "Your faith has made you well". What power does our faith in Jesus have? 

3. How can we be sure of the power of our faith in Jesus?

4. When you're in need of healing, whether physical or otherwise, is your tendency to go toward Jesus?