Worship Helps for Pentecost 6

Daughter of Jairus

Joseph Brickey

Worship Theme: What are we to think when a baby dies? Or a 12 year-old girl? Or we, at any age, see death looming? ‘Believe only’ Jesus said. Is that ‘just believe’ as if believing is something easy, or minor? No. He means no fear!  Believe only. God calls us away from all trust in ourselves or anyone else to rely only in him and his promises in Christ, our Risen Savior.

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 12:11 "This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. ¹² You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.'" ¹³ Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. ¹⁴ But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die." ¹⁵ After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill. ¹⁶ David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. ¹⁷ The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. ¹⁸ On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, "While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate." ¹⁹ David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" he asked. "Yes," they replied, "he is dead." ²⁰ Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. ²¹ His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!" ²² He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' ²³ But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me." ²⁴ Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him; ²⁵ and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.

1. Why is it significant that David and Bathsheba’s son died on his seventh day?

2. What is the last thing God records about what David said regarding his dead baby?

3. What hope does this seem to show?

Epistle: 2 Timothy 1:8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, ⁹ who has saved us and called us to a holy life-- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. ¹² That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. ¹³ What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you-- guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

3. Timothy must not be ashamed of the gospel, though that gospel had gotten Paul imprisoned and soon would get him beheaded. What should Timothy do?

4. Jesus has not just defeated death. What else has he done? (See 1:10).

Gospel: Mark 5:21-24a, 35-43 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. ²² Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet ²³ and 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." ²⁴ So Jesus went with him. … ³⁵ 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?" ³⁶ Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." ³⁷ He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. ³⁸ When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. ³⁹ He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." ⁴⁰ But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). ⁴² Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. ⁴³ He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

5. How did Jairus show faith in Jesus?

6. What words did Jesus speak in 5:36 that should stick with us? Why?

Answers:

1. The boy would have been circumcised on the eighth day of his life, a week after his birth (Leviticus 12:3). God said any uncircumcised male would be cut off from God’s people.

2. David said, ‘I will go to him, but he will not return to me.’

3. David seems to have expected to be reunited with his baby after death. David’s sin has cost the child's life, but David remains confident of God’s undeserved love.

4. Timothy should join with Paul in suffering for the gospel. He should preach with sound words, just as Paul had. He should guard the truth of the gospel, like a prison guard watches a prisoner, knowing his very life is at stake.

5. Jesus has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light, through the gospel.

6. Jairus came to Jesus knowing he could do what no one else could. He believed that Jesus could put his hands on his dying daughter and she would be healed.

7. When Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid, just believe,’ he was speaking to a situation that looked impossible. The child was dead; anyone could see it. But nothing is impossible with God. Jesus lovingly restored the girl to life. Think of all the reasons, therefore, we can have sure hope. Since Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter back to life:

·         Jesus is God

·         Death does not faze Jesus

·         Even Jesus’ seeming delays are part of his good plan

·         Jesus is all-powerful; raises the dead effortlessly

·         Jesus promised to raise us from the dead to eternal life

·         Whenever Jesus promises us grace, we don’t have to do anything, for we merit nothing; he tells us ‘Believe only.

Putting your faith into action

The apostle Paul writes: “For your sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might become rich.” When we consider what Christ gave up to come to earth, and what he suffered for us on the cross, God’s love becomes evident. In receiving this love, we become rich beyond measure, for there is no price we can put on the gift of eternal life. In response to such generous giving, we also learn to give generously.

A reading from the Book of Concord for Pentecost 6

Although troubles still remain, Scripture interprets these not as the prices for eternal death.

Troubles are not always punishments or signs of wrath. Indeed, terrified consciences should be taught that there are more important purposes for afflictions, so that they do not think God is rejecting them when they see nothing but God’s punishment and anger in troubles. The other more important purposes are to be considered, that is, that God is doing His strange work so that He may be able to do His own work, as Isaiah 28 teaches.  When the disciples asked about the blind man who sinned, Christ replies that the cause of his blindness is not sin, but that “the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:2–3). In Jeremiah it is said, “If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it …” (49:12).  So the prophets, John the Baptist, and other saints were killed.  Therefore, troubles are not always punishments for certain past deeds, but they are Godworks, intended for our benefit, and that God’s power might be made more apparent in our weakness.

Paul says God’s strength “is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Because of God’s will, our bodies should be sacrifices, to declare our obedience, and not to pay for eternal death. God has another price for that: the death of His own Son. – Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article XIIB, Confession and Satisfaction, paragraphs 60-63

Text of the opening hymn: Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus

Let us ever walk with Jesus, Follow his example pure,

Flee the world which would deceive us And to sin our souls allure.

Ever in his footsteps treading, Body here, yet soul above,

Full of faith and hope and love, Let us do the Father's bidding.

Faithful Lord, abide with me. Savior, lead; I follow thee.

Let us suffer here with Jesus, To his image e'er conform;

Heaven's glory soon will please us, Sunshine follow on the storm.

Though we sow in tears of sorrow, We shall reap in heav'nly joy,

And the fears that now annoy Shall be laughter on the morrow.

Christ, I suffer here with thee; There, oh, share thy joy with me.

Let us also die with Jesus. His death from the second death,

From our soul's destruction, frees us, Quickens us with life's glad breath.

Let us mortify, while living, Flesh and blood and die to sin,

And the grave that shuts us in Shall but prove the gate to heaven.

Jesus, here I die to thee, There to live eternally.

Let us gladly live with Jesus; Since he's risen from the dead,

Death and grave must soon release us. Jesus, thou art now our head.

We are truly thine own members; Where thou livest, there live we.

Take and own us constantly, Faithful Friend, as thy dear brethren.

Jesus, here I live to thee, Also there eternally.