Text: Mark 5:25-27

Subject:  A Do or Die Situation

Introduction:  To be in a do or die situation means that you are at your wits end corner.  The only choice you have is to sink or swim.  The purpose of this sermon is to look at a woman who was in a “do or die situation” and some factors involved in her situation. 

            At the point of the text Jesus has just finished casting out demons of a man who lived at the 2300 block of the neighborhood graveyard.  After that Jesus departed and exited a boat and there greets him one of the rulers of the synagogue named Jairus with a concern about his daughter, so Jesus head toward Jairus’ house with an ocean of people of following him.  But then while his is on his way there comes a woman from the rear of the crowd and as every intention of touching him.  Let’s take a look at this woman…

I.                   Physical Condition (25-26a,c)

·        This was a continuous flow of blood as related to her menstrual cycle according to Leviticus. This has gone on for 12 years (144 months; 624 weeks; 4380 days) What a miracle for her to still be alive!  With that loss of blood, I’m sure was mighty weak; in that day there is no indication of blood transfusions.

·        After seeing doctors/physicians her condition grew worse.

·        She had a disease (dis-ease)

II.                Financial Condition (26b)

·        Her physical condition led to her negative financial condition

·        She spent all she had.

·        She seems to have been a rich widow.

·        One truth that comes from this text is there are some things money cannot buy.  It can buy you a good doctor, but not health; it can buy you a refrigerator of food, but not a good appetite; it can buy you a house, but not a home; it can buy you a fabulous wedding, but not a good marriage; it can buy you an expensive car, but not direction in the right way; it can buy the most expensive bed Havarty’s has to offer, but not a good night sleep.

III.             Social Condition (27)

·        Her physical condition also led to her social illness of ostracism.  She was an outcast because of her condition.  She was an outcast in society just as the leper.  She was considered unclean.  She could not go to the temple or society’s women’s clubs.

·        This is why she came up from the rear. 

·        She could not touch anyone, much less a man, that was a no-no in her culture.  Touching him would render her unclean.

IV.              (Conclusion) Spiritual Condition (28-34)

·        A woman of faith…she took a chance…for her it was a do or die situation.

·        Jesus already knew something was going on (30-32).

·        She confessed (33) and came clean…

·        Her faith made her whole in him, her referred to her as daughter (term of endearment as being part of the family); her faith made her whole (in society); her faith made her whole of her plague/disease.

·        It was a do or die situation…but she was not the only one in a do or die situation…Jesus was in a do or die situation when he said let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done.

III.           His Petition Answered – “…and He heard me.”

·         Cp. Psalm 40:1-3 says, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.

Conclusion – Ocean Voyage (illustration)

While crossing the Atlantic on an oceanliner, F. B. Meyer was asked to address the first class passengers. At the captain’s request he spoke on “Answered Prayer.” An agnostic who was present at the service was asked by his friends, “What did you think of Dr. Meyer’s sermon?” He answered, “I didn’t believe a word of it.”

That afternoon Meyer went to speak to the steerage passengers. Many of the listeners at his morning address went along, including the agnostic, who claimed he just wanted to hear “what the babbler had to say.” Before starting for the service, the agnostic put two oranges in his pocket. On his way he passed an elderly woman sitting in her deck chair fast asleep. Her hands were open. In the spirit of fun, the agnostic put the two oranges in her outstretched palms. After the meeting, he saw the old lady happily eating one of the pieces of fruit. “You seem to be enjoying that orange,” he remarked with a smile.

“Yes, sir,” she replied, “My Father is very good to me.”

“Your father? Surely your father can’t be still alive!”

“Praise God,” she replied, “He is very much alive.”

“What do you mean?” pressed the agnostic. She explained,

“I’ll tell you, sir. I have been seasick for days. I was asking God somehow to send me an orange. I suppose I fell asleep while I was praying. When I awoke, I found He had not only sent me one orange but two!”

The agnostic was speechless. Later he was converted to Christ. Yes, praying in God’s will bring an answer.

Our Daily Bread, April 16

·         Jesus’ predicament - in the garden

·         Jesus’ petition – let this cup pass from me, not my will but thy will be done…

·         Jesus’ answered petition – he went to Calvary