Mark 5:36

Good evening, like exiles. In today's devotional, we'll be diving further into the topic of faith, specifically how it interacts with fear. But let's start with a little thought exercise. Let's imagine that you and your friends or family are visiting a remote island for a vacation. One night, someone in your group falls ill, just a little bit of nausea. The following days it just turns into vomiting and they just get worse and worse to the point where you need to go and get help. You take your car and you go to the closest city hoping to find something that resembles a hospital. You find a pharmacy and you run up to the counter and you talk to the pharmacist explaining what's been going on. Pharmacist says, oh, sounds like cholera. It's pretty serious stuff. They could probably die in the next 24 hours. But don't worry. Less than 1% of people die if they receive a oral rehydration mixture of water, salt, a little bit of sugar. Cure in hand, you get back in your car with the pharmacist. You make your way back home to your loved one. But the city rush hour traffic kicks up. You receive a phone call. On the other side of the line is a sobbing voice. It's too late. They passed away. How would you feel? What would you even do? And now imagine at that time, the pharmacist just turns to you and says, don't be afraid. Just trust me. This happened to a man by the name of Jarius. a synagogue leader who falls down to Jesus' feet, pleading for him to heal his dying daughter. Jesus agrees to go with him, but along the way, a woman approaches Jesus and hopes to be healed, delaying Jesus from going to Jairus' daughter. While this is happening, other people arrive from Jarvis' house to inform him that his daughter has died, suggesting that it was pointless to bother Jesus anymore. Let's turn to the book of Mark, chapter 5, verse 36, on page 840 in your Pew Bibles, and see how Jesus responds to this. It goes, but overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, do not fear, only believe. Do not fear, only believe. There are three questions I want to ask as we think about this tonight. The first question being, what kind of fear is Jesus talking about? Jesus simply said, don't be afraid. or do not fear. But doesn't other parts of the Bible tell us that we should fear? Isn't the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom? Shouldn't Jairus just stand there in awe before God while his daughter is dead at home? So what's different about the kind of fear Jesus is telling him not to have? Merriam-Webster dictionary defines fear as an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. Many of us have experienced this fear in one form or another. Simply watching the news talk about world politics can stir up fear in the form of anxiety. Or maybe a young man who's asking out a lovely lady for the first time can have fear manifest itself as anxiety, or as timidness or shyness. Or perhaps we have sinned against a brother or sister and are filled with dread because of fear of confrontation. For Jarius, this fear could be the fear of never hearing his daughter's voice again, a fear that grips his heart and sinks it to despair. This kind of fear can be more or less categorized as a worldly fear. But there's another type of fear, the fear of the Lord. This fear is not about cowering in dread, but about standing in wonder and respect before God. Fear of the Lord is a realization of God's infinite greatness and our finite nature. It is the awe we feel when we witness the great difference between his holiness and our sinfulness. It is an awestruck wonder of a child before a magnificent and loving father. is a reverent fear that acknowledges God's supreme authority of his power and justice. Jesus is telling Jarius to not be afraid out of compassion, knowing that a worldly fear has entered his heart and is gripping on. The second question is, why should Jarius not fear? Jairus shouldn't fear because it makes absolutely no difference for Jesus whether his daughter is sick or dead. Jesus' power is the divine force that transcends all earthly limitations. The fact of the matter is that being afraid of worldly things is not helpful when you're trying to have faith and believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus told Jairus to stop being afraid because his fear has no added value. Fear and faith simply just don't go together. Before Jairus could really trust Jesus, he had to decide to put fear away. Jairus already had faith that Jesus could simply put his hand on his dying daughter and heal her so she may live. So why can he not do the same after she's dead? It just doesn't make sense to have that fear when you claim to have that faith. Jesus is assuring Jarius that he's good, that he's compassionate, and as long as he's with him, there is no need to fear. Finally, the third question is, what should Jarius do with his fear? How is one supposed to overcome fear? It's rather easy to say, don't be afraid, but talk is cheap. It's much harder to walk the walk and put fear away. In fact, it's almost certainly cruel to tell someone who's just heard that their daughter has died to not be afraid. But then again, it wasn't just anyone who said it. Jesus was the one who said, don't be afraid. But he followed up with only one thing, only believe. Jesus didn't say, don't fear, I can raise the dead, even though he can. He said, don't fear, only believe. Directing Jairus to trust in him, not his healing abilities, but his power, his wisdom, his grace, Jesus himself. to trust Jesus and believe that he is able. Belief means that Jairus doesn't have to know how things will work out or exactly what Jesus will do, only that in the end, everything will be well, because Jesus is altogether able and trustworthy. As Christians, the most terrifying thing we can imagine is to be forever apart from God. It's so terrifying because it's so easy to see. We all know that we are sinners, but we will really know it on the day of judgment. We may know that we are not a better person than those who are going to hell, but we will really know it on the day of judgment. We may know the realities of hell, but we will really know it on the day of judgment. We may say we know the greatness of Jesus's salvation and that he himself bore our sins in his body on the cross so that we may die to sin and live for righteousness by his wounds that we have been healed. But we will truly know it on the day of judgment. But we don't have to fear this damnation. First John chapter four verses 17 and 18 states, love has been perfected among us in this, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment, but he who fears has not been made perfect in love. If we can have boldness without fear on the day of judgment through our faith in Christ Jesus, what does worldly fears even have to stand on? When we encounter worldly fears, we should use it as a reminder to turn to God. Spurgeon really said it the best. He said, there is no cure for the fear of man like the fear of God. As we conclude, I will leave you all with three points of application. First, faith drives out unnecessary fears. When we place our faith in God, we trust in his control over our lives. Isaiah chapter 41 verse 10 says, so do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Faith in God's presence and strength drives out unnecessary fears that can overwhelm us. Secondly, faith brings a reverent fear. A reverent fear is a deep respect and awe of his power and holiness. It's recognizing his authority and living in obedience to his will. Hebrews chapter 12, verse 28 and 29 reminds us, therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. This reverent fear leads to many blessings. It is the foundation of wisdom and knowledge. To fear the Lord means to recognize his authority and seek his guidance, understanding the true wisdom and insight comes from him and him alone. Fear of the Lord promotes humility and dependence on God. It reminds us of our human limitations and our dependence of his grace and mercy. It helps us approach God with the proper attitude of humility and submission, recognizing our need for his guidance and strength. The fear of the Lord keeps us aligned with his will, protecting us from the pitfalls of sin and the consequences of disobedience. It helps us experience the fullness of his love and grace. Finally, have faith in God. To cultivate a faith that overcomes fear, we must continually seek God. Seek him through prayer, seek him through his word, through fellowship with other believers. Romans chapter 10, verse 17 says, consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. As we grow in our faith, our trust in God's strength, strengthens, diminishing our fears, and increases our reverence for him. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for the truth of your word that dispels our fears. Help us grow in our faith, trusting in your power and love. Replace unnecessary fears with a reverent fear of you. Lead us to wisdom and obedience. Guide us daily as we walk in faith, knowing you are always with us. Let us not forget that faith drives out fears and replaces it with a reverent fear of you. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.