Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

           Text: St. Mark 5:21-43, but especially these words –

While he was by the lake, one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he…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.” So Jesus went with him…And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She 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. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him…and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped…At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”…Then the woman…came and…told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” While 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?” Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe”…When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep”…He took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her…”Little girl, I say to you, get up!” Immediately the girl stood up and walked around.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear Friends in Christ Jesus:

           Boundaries are something we understand very well. We’re taught that we may go just so far – and no farther. Trespassing signs limit access. Traffic signs set speeds, give us directions, but also warn us. There are scientists who try to define the bounds of reality. In many ways, life is governed by establishing limitations – by lines human beings have drawn. And to cross them frequently invites pain, conflict, ridicule, or punishment.

           However, the text for today breaks down barriers. It crosses the line. It tells of One who crosses over human boundaries – and who goes beyond what we allow ourselves to hope or permit ourselves to believe. It reveals to us – Jesus, who opens doors we had long believed were closed. It’s important for us to note the lines He crosses and what such action means for all people. You and I will look at several boundaries today – and how Jesus dealt with them.

           Many members of the church today think that a person must know a lot about Jesus in order to come to Him. They feel that Jesus has something to do only with those who have a close personal relationship with Him, who devoutly believe in Him, who have a good understanding of His Word, and of course who belong to the church. In this way, people tend to set limits on whom Jesus will welcome and to whom He’ll respond. And yet, the text presents us with two people who approach our Lord with very little knowledge of Him, who have mixed feelings about Him, and who apparently have come to Him as a last resort. Certainly, these aren’t the kind of people some might think that Jesus would be interested in. Yet, He responds positively to both the Jewish synagogue ruler and to the woman who was ill.

           Why does Christ respond in this way? Because they come to Him. They seek help from Him. They are people in need. And their coming gives evidence of a spark of faith – that perhaps this One can and will do something about their needs. They come with a poor understanding – but they come. And they receive what they expect from Jesus. Our Lord’s response to them reveals an openness to those who will come regardless the completeness of their understanding of Him, no matter how shallow their faith, even if they come to Him as a last resort. Unbelievable? I guess it is, especially to those who would impose limits on His love.

           There are those who say you shouldn’t expect too much of Jesus. They say that many problems are beyond His abilities. They question whether He really can help people cope with a troubled marriage, a wayward child, an alcoholic or abusive spouse, or terminal illness. Perhaps people must simply grin and bear whatever takes place in life. You and I tend to think that because a problem is out of our hands – it’s also out of God’s. The text deals with the question of His ability. The woman came to touch His clothing and was healed. While she was wrong about the clothing, she was right about the faith. In her trust and hope was saving power, as our Lord revealed to her – “Daughter, your faith has healed you.” Jairus also realized the outcome of his request – as his daughter was graciously restored to life. When someone asks why Jesus should be bothered with a problem, we ought to respond – “Who else is there who can really help? He alone has the words of life.” And He is able to do far more than we can ask or could ever imagine.

           Our Lord’s disciples were also protective of His time and tried to limit who could come to Him and when. However, Jesus didn’t allow Himself to be governed by ideas and standards imposed on Him by others. As He was getting ready to teach, He allowed Jairus to interrupt. And on the way to help his daughter, He allowed the woman to interrupt. Perhaps we haven’t wanted to bother Jesus. With all the problems in the world, why would He want to hear our complaints or deal with our hurts? But that’s just the way it is with Christ. The sick woman is given some of His time – to experience His healing power. He literally invites interruptions as He reminds all generations – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” He wants us to come – at any time, wherever we might be.

           He also wants us to govern our lives in a similar way. Can we adjust our schedules to answer the calls of life and meet the needs of others in love? For Christ saw the people who came to Him – not as interruptions, not as interferences, but as opportunities. In the text, you and I see our Lord individualize His love and attention. After the woman had reached out to Jesus, she heard Him ask – “Who touched my clothes?” The disciples responded somewhat sarcastically – “You see the people crowding against you, and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’” How could one person be singled out in the crowd? But this is exactly what our Lord proceeded to do. He responded to an individual need.

           It seems preposterous, at least to many, that God could care for one person when there are billions of other people in the world. But that’s precisely the concern that Jesus demonstrates. And He’s there for each of us as though we were the only one in need. Jesus saw in the sick woman – and sees in each of us – one of His Father’s children. He wants each of us to know Him – to see what faith has really grasped – not the hem of a cloak, but the very power of God Himself.

           He wants us to know what’s happening in this relationship with Him. So He called out to the woman. Perhaps she was scared. Will Jesus punish me for what I’ve done? In touching Christ, she thought she had contaminated Him – that was the rule of that day. And that’s just the point! Our uncleanness is traded for His healing and restoration. We who are sick with sin can transfer it to Jesus for His healing through forgiveness. He came so that each and every person might be blessed through Him. The people of all ages are to learn that there’s no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

           How often isn’t it said – “I don’t know enough about Jesus to speak of Him.” People also fail to testify because they forget how the Lord has been with them through some very difficult times. In fact, I remember someone saying to me – “If God will just help me this once, I’ll be in church every week.” Well, the miracle occurred – the attendance didn’t. As Christians, we must ask what happens to people in trouble when they forget what God has done for them and then fail to tell others. People sometimes need to hear how God has delivered us. It was that kind of report that the woman in the text had heard, and it brought her to the Savior. May our lives and actions carry reports of Jesus that would make those who see and hear us – eager to begin a journey to Him.

           There’s a point, many say, beyond which no one can go. A group of mourners came out to Christ and told Him He didn’t have to bother coming to the house of Jairus – because his daughter had died. They implied that this was a boundary that not even Jesus could cross. But our Lord ignored what they had to say. The art of ignoring, as here shown by Christ, can be one of the fine arts of faith. We need to learn this also, for we can get caught up in the fear that Christ can’t go beyond a certain point. We can pay too much attention to the limiters. Jesus shows us that the last word never belongs to His detractors. But people don’t give up easily when someone crosses the line. The mourners laughed at the coming of Jesus. They laughed at Him for thinking there could be something on the other side of death, for believing that He could venture beyond the fixed limits of life.

           Jesus proceeded to the child’s bedside, and by the power of the Word that remains outside the realm of human bounds – He commanded the little girl to arise. And she did! Those who come to Christ – who take Him seriously enough to cross the line of doubt, peer pressure, personal opinions, and shame – who aren’t afraid, but only believe – will hear the precious words of our Lord – “Your faith has healed you.” This is God reconciling the world to Himself.

           There are no boundaries that Christ won’t cross on our behalf. We have seen His love and power triumph over hopelessness, fear, ignorance, and death. He comes into the limits of our world and opens up the possibilities beyond those limits. He goes with us and leads us. His constant support, encouragement and forgiveness enable us to come to the Father and overcome sin. He’s the One whose words of great promise will bring forth joy beyond all understanding – as He finally brings us into the house of the heavenly Father forevermore. Christ crosses all barriers and carries us safely through – where the best is yet to be. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen. 

Authored by Reverend Carl Trosien.