title="English

When You Want to Cry Help

Mark 4:35-5:43

The title of my message today is When You Want to Cry Help. Have you ever been in that kind of situation? I’m talking about the kinds of trouble-filled situations we all experience in our imperfect world. What kinds? Several come to mind:

First, there’s the trouble caused by natural disasters. When “Superstorm Sandy” swept through the east coast recently followed this past week by a major snowstorm, people were devastated. Here in CA, we usually have to deal with things like uncontrollable fires of earthquakes.

Or second, there are times of great stress and pressure. I’ve had many of those. We all have times in our lives when there are forces at work outside of our control. Sometimes those forces feel supernatural – even demonic. We feel like crying for help.

Or third, there are times of physical sickness. It’s been an unforgettable experience over this past week for me to be preparing this sermon in the midst of my father struggling with serious physical suffering. As he was in excruciating pain and there seemed to be no chance for healing, I thought about this sermon in much more personal ways than usual. Again and again, I’ve cried to God for help.

And fourth, the most intense times often come when a loved one is close to death? I find that in the midst of those times, most of us feel utterly hopeless and helpless.

That brings us today to a remarkable section of the Bible. God inspired Mark to include four stories placed back to back to back to back describing four situations in which people were in deep trouble. In them, people had come to the end of their wits. They didn’t know what they were going to do. All that they could do was cry out and hope someone would step in and help them. And amazingly, they found that Jesus was there. He didn’t always do exactly what they asked – but he transformed the helplessness into hope.

Today, we’re going to glance at these well-known stories. The thing I want us to think about is the difference it makes when we truly believe that Jesus is who he says he is (the One who is in control of all), then we specifically ask him to help, and then we live by trusting him.

What I will do is first to race through each of the four situations the Bible records and look at what the people had to deal with. Second, I will go back and look at what the people did in the midst of their trouble. We’ll see they didn’t always do what we might teach people to do in a seminary class. And third, I have a way I want us all to respond to God’s Word. So, let’s begin.

Part 1: The Situations of Helplessness

1. Situation #1: A Natural Disaster (4:345-41)

Some of us learned this story in Sunday School. Jesus and his disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee and a huge storm hit. V. 37 says, “A furious squall came out” and the waves broke over the boat – so much so that the disciples’ boat was nearly swamped. In biblical times, people had an almost superstitious dread of the sea. Read through the Psalms or Isaiah and you’ll see it. Almost always, the sea and storms at sea were associated with primeval forces that were outside of peoples’ control. Some of my friends who come from parts of the Middle East say that it is often still true today.

So, the disciples were at sea in the midst of a huge storm. I imagine this is what the people of New Jersey felt this past week when they heard news that, after experiencing the devastating storm called “Sandy”, another storm was coming. In the 21^st C. we fool ourselves at times into thinking we can control so much about our environments – and then suddenly we learn that countless things still fall outside our control. That’s what was happening in the disciples’ lives. They were terrified. They had no recourse but to cry out for help. On their own, they were quite literally, help - less.

2. Situation #2: Life out of Control (5:1-20)

This is another familiar story – this time about a violent madman. In 5:2, when Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs because he could not live among people. No one could keep him from his destructive ways. Even their strongest chains did nothing to restrain his violence. The man tried self-mutilation (as many students in our day are trying). What was his life like? Night and day among the tombs, he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

I often wonder how we might diagnose him if he or his family came to our church seeking help. I think we might find it hard to figure the cause of the problem. We probably would guess that he had a disintegrated personality disorder and seek to treat that diagnosis. It’s still hard for us to discern clearly whether a problem is physiological in nature, psychological or otherwise. But, of course, Jesus knew.

The Bible tells us without reservation or embarrassment that this man was demon possessed. It’s not that all psychoses are necessarily demonic. But, the Bible is clear in teaching that demonic activity can lead to this sort of emotional disturbance.

What has become clear to me over my years of experience is that there are many people who feel the same kind of emotional and mental disturbance in our day as this man felt. There are countless people who personally feel their lives are out of control. People in this man’s community had tried to help but had failed. The best they could do was get him out of town and into the cemetery because, practically speaking, he was as good as dead.

Let me say this: however your worldview looks at Mark 5, when you read about this man you have to see a real human being in history. He was a man who could not be helped by any one and a man who couldn’t help himself. So this man, just like those disciples on the stormy sea, was help-less.

3. Situation #3: Chronic Sickness. (5:25-34)

This story gripped me in new ways as I was preparing the sermon from my father’s ICU room. When others who were at the hospital heard there was a “man of the cloth” over in room 3045, they came and asked me to come and pray with them. In our text, we read about a woman’s sickness in 5:25-26.

This woman’s problem was gynecological. She had some sort of uterine hemorrhage so that, by the standards of Jewish ceremonial law, she was an outcast. She was viewed as being “unclean”. The result was this: even though she wouldn’t have been considered insane or demonized like the man in 5:1-20, she was no better off. She had no place of belonging. Even if people loved her, they were able to do anything for her. She had seen many doctors but she became steadily worse. The healing she needed went beyond the medical knowledge of her day. Just like the men at sea and the man at the cemetery, this sick woman was helpless.

4. Situation #4: Family Facing Death (5:21-24, 35-43)

This has been the most emotionally moving story of the four for me over the past week as I thought that my father might die. See 5:22: When one of the synagogue rulers named Jairus came to see Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come.’”

Many things in life are tough but there are few tragedies in life more devastating than bereavement. And I think no bereavements are more shattering than the death of a child. I know that many of us here at LAC know that truth first hand. And for those who haven’t experienced the death of your child, I’m quite sure you can imagine what Jairus felt in the story: The dryness in his throat and the wetness in his eyes as he went to Jesus and said, “My little daughter is dying.”

Can you feel that? If you’ve ever been by the bedside of child who was desperately ill, you can feel the tears this Dad is fighting back and the panic that was almost consuming him: “Jesus, I’ve heard about the power that you have. Can’t you do something for my little daughter?”

And yet, it seemed like nothing could be done because people came to Jairus and said, “Don’t bother this man any more. Your little girl is already dead!” So you see, similar to the disciples in the storm, similar to the violent man, and similar to the woman who was sick, this father was helpless.

Summary: The Bible is drawing together in these chapters many of the problems of life we all face in our imperfect world. In one story after another, people are at the ends of their ropes. For each of them, it must felt like falling off a cliff. You can feel it happening and, as you are falling, you find yourself grasping -- hoping maybe there is a rock somewhere you can hold on to. That brings me to the second part of my message. What did they do?

Part 2: The Prayers for Help

1. The anxious and accusing plea (4:35-41)

When the terrified disciples came to Jesus (who was sleeping in the boat), they didn’t say what we might teach people to pray in church. In v. 38, they woke Jesus up and snapped at him, “Teacher, don’t you care?”

Think about it: How many of us in times of stress have lashed out at the people we are closest to? We say things to our spouses – or parents -- or church leaders that accuse them even when they may not deserve it. Sometimes we do this to God. We say, “Don’t you know what’s happening to me? Don’t you care?”

Now the encouraging thing to me as a Jesus-follower is the way Jesus responded to their accusation. Instead of being offended at the impudence of it, Jesus viewed the question as an invitation. You see, it takes a very wise and caring friend or counselor to know that when people say “Don’t you care?” many times what they mean is, “Can’t you do something?” Do you see that? So Jesus did something. It’s amazing.

V. 39: He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet, be still” – and they obeyed! The wind died down and the sea became completely calm. There is only one word for that – Power! We see power to do something that no one else could do. Power to control those forces that are out of human control -- power to be able to change the helplessness of those men into hope.

2. The defensive longing(5:1-20)

I read the demon-possessed man’s words in v. 7 a bit different from the way some read them. I hear in his words what I’ve heard in so many I’ve met who think they aren’t good enough to be accepted by God. They think they’re too far-gone to receive God’s help – too bad to experience God’s grace. See v. 7: He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus son of the most High God.”

As I’ve visited hospital emotional wards, I’ve discovered that those who have the most sever emotional disorders often also have an almost uncanny interest in spiritual things. That’s why this man’s words ring so true to me. This particular story in Mark 5 takes place in a non-Jewish neighborhood. The people there probably had no idea who Jesus was. But this troubled man wanted to know what Jesus would do with him.

So much could be said about this man’s salvation – but let me simply say that Jesus took this man’s words at face value. Indeed, Jesus wanted to do something in his life. Basically, Jesus’ actions declare, “You are right. There are things I want to do no matter how bad off you are and how much you feel trapped by evil.” So we see the amazing rescue: This herd of swine was happily making pigs of themselves on the hillside. Jesus cast the demons out of the man; the swine go “hog-wild” and become the first “deviled ham”.

The man is set free. People have all sorts of problems with this event so let me summarize a few things:

1. Yes, I do believe in supernatural realities like demonic activity.
2. I also know that emotional disturbances like this can be caused by physical or environmental problems. It’s hard for us at times to sort out the causes of bondage and violence.
3. Whatever the cause is, Jesus cares, Jesus can change things, and Jesus has complete control over all realities in the universe. We must take the causes seriously – but we need never be afraid.

This is what is clear to me: Jesus’ interaction with this man and the demons is taking place on a realm far beyond what most of us comprehend -- and he has power over it. Jesus has power over it all! And we have should be as astounded as the crowds were in vs. 15: When they came to Jesus, they saw this man “sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind”. When Dennis Rodman play for the Bulls, I used to say in Chicago that this would be a little bit like having Dennis Rodman sitting in the front row singing hymns.

There’s only one word for this: Power. Jesus has power that liberated the shackled man from bondage, transformed his addictive practice of violence into peace, and changed his helplessness into hope.

3. The wish filled grasp (5:25-34)

The sick woman’s appeal to Jesus has also troubled many people. It’s seems like this woman didn’t know how to pray – she reached out to him with what seems like a superstitious gesture. See V. 27.

Superstitious people often attribute good fortune to things like this. Throwing salt over our shoulders, wearing a certain color on exam days, knocking on wood -- all those sorts of things. But look at how Jesus dealt with the woman. He refused to mock or reject her strange way of reaching out to him. Instead, Jesus saw the real glimmer of faith that was in her heart. Notice v. 34: Woman it is your faith that has healed you. Not her superstition – but her faith. As in the other stories, Jesus did what no one else could do. He spoke and she was healed. This time, the Bible itself uses the word to describe Jesus’ act in v. 30: Power. Jesus had power to change the helplessness of this chronic invalid into health and hope.

4. The desperate plea (5:21-24, 35-43)

I read this passage often in the midst of the time leading to our daughter’s death many years ago. We have here the most distraught cry for help of all. V. 23: Jesus, please come -- and Jairus fell on his knees.

Remember, Jairus was a Jewish ruler. In most cultures, when you are in a leadership position, you shouldn’t show weakness. This was clearly true among Middle Eastern men in the 1^st century. And yet here is a man who knew that showing weakness was not really weakness. He was simply coming to the right place for help. Jairus fell on his knees before this young Jewish rabbi and urged him to come to his home.

And, as you know, it looked like Jesus hadn’t come quickly enough. I love what transpires. Jesus pulls the family to the side. He takes his three closest disciples. Then, Jesus speaks to the young girl in her own language. And she awakes. No big show -- no exhibitionism. And again, what we see is power: Power even to dispel the shadow of the grave. Power to turn the helplessness of a bereaved Dad into hope.

Part 3: Our Response -- Why do you think God inspired Mark to record these four stories back to back to back to back? I think they are recorded this way so that when we gather in a church and we feel helpless, we will know that the first thing we should do is turn to Jesus. You see, the Bible teaches us that times of feeling helpless are a part of human life anywhere and anytime in this imperfect world -- and will be until Jesus returns and makes all things right. We still face the sorts of situations that these people raced?

I have faced times like these – and still do. We all will feel fear, anxiety, and even despair at times in this world. We too will not always know how to reach out to God and how to pray in the right way. But, I want you to learn to bring trouble to Jesus. I want you to know that Jesus has power over all troubles in this world, that Jesus cares about all the trouble in this world, and that he will, in his way and time, make all things right. I want to call us as God’s people back to a simple child-like faith in Jesus. I want us to know that though we may not see exactly what God is doing in a situation, he wants us to come to him and simply to say in what ever way we can possibly do it, “Lord Jesus, I need your help and I’m ready to follow you no matter what happens. I want to call us here at LAC to a child-like faith that falls into the arms of Jesus.

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t use all that God has created as we seek his help. We should use the courts to seek justice, medicine to bring healing, and counseling to find support. But I doubt that many of us here at LAC would deny that.

I’ve discovered that when I call on us in our church family to bring troubles to Jesus and to trust him, few of us go out and throw our medicine away. Now, don’t do that! Medicine is a part of God’s creation and he often uses it to do his healing. But, most of you agree with me about that. I find that the bigger problem for us is that we tend to become what I call practical agnostics. We say we believe in God but, when it comes to the practical issues of everyday life, we don’t conduct ourselves in ways that show we trust God. In trouble, we often do only the things that unbelievers do. If we have physical problems, the only thing that we do is go to the doctor. Or, the only way we feel comfortable praying is “God direct the doctors hands.” We sometimes fail to put into practice what we believe, i.e., that when we become Christians we enter into a real relationship with the all-powerful Jesus who gives to us his very spirit – and who calls upon us to count upon his presence. We too need to learn to come to him and ask for his help.

Be sure of this: God’s help may not come exactly the way or time we expect it. But the message that I want to proclaim is this: Jesus asks us the same thing that he asked those disciples in Mark 4:40 -- Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? He asks us those questions sometimes when we are in the midst of a natural disaster. He asks us sometimes when the stress we feel is so gripping that we don’t think we can move. Jesus asks those questions when we are going through physical pain and we cannot understand why God is allowing so much suffering. He asks them when we are facing death among our loved ones. Why are you afraid? Don’t you have faith?

And he says to us the same thing he said to Jairus: Don’t be afraid, believe....believe.

To His glory,

Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor