Mark 5:36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he said to the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. I. THE PERSONS TO WHOM THE TEXT IS APPLICABLE. The case of Jairus. There was an evil he wanted to remove. A danger he wanted to prevent. A blessing he wanted to procure. 1. The first qualification of souls coming to Jesus is a sense of want, some evil to be removed, etc. 2. This sense of want brings us out of ourselves — out of dependence on mere external means. 3. The expression of our wants in earnest supplication. 4. Jairus came to Christ in faith. II. THE NATURE OF THE DELIGHTFUL DUTY AND PRIVILEGE. 1. Fear is a painful feeling, arising from the apprehension of some evil. A man at the feet of Jesus need not indulge in tormenting fear, for there is no evil he is in danger of but he may be saved from — no blessing he needs but he may secure. "Fear not," etc. 2. What is this believing — what is faith? Sometimes it is called looking, receiving, etc. III. THE RIGHT YOU HAVE TO ALL THE ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE TEXT. 1. If you have the sense of need, and if you are at the feet of Jesus, then you have an absolute, personal, Scriptural right to appropriate the salvation of God as your own. You are just where a sinner ought to be, etc. 2. You have a right because you comply with the invitation. 3. You are at the central point of all the promises. All "yea and amen" in Him. 4. Will you still indulge in tormenting fear? "Yes," says one, "You don't know what reason I have to fear," etc. Enumerate the various sources of fear, and show that no sinner need fear who is truly penitent and at the feet of Jesus. (W. Dawson.) Parallel Verses KJV: As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. |
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