Mark 5:24-34 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.… This woman has a word for two classes. She urges the penitent to a full confession, and the true convert to an open profession. I. TO THE PENITENT, URGING A FULL AVOWAL OF THEIR STATE AND CONDITION. Tell Jesus all the truth(1) about your disease. Show yourself in all your foulness to the great Physician. Do not draw the picture flatteringly when you are in prayer. Do not use dainty terms; but make a clean breast of every sin. (2) about your sufferings. Tell how your heart has been broken, your conscience alarmed. Let your sorrows flow in briny floods before the Lord. Though no other can understand them, He can. (3) of your futile attempts after a cure; your wicked, sinful pride in seeking a righteousness of your own, instead of submitting to that of Christ. (4) regarding your hopes. (5) and your fears. II. REASONS FOR THIS. 1. The Lord knows it all already. It would be folly to deny or attempt to hide what He has seen. 2. To tell Him will be a very great service to you. It will tend to make you feel your need more. While you are in the act of opening your heart to God, He will pour in the oil and wine of His Divine grace. III. TO THOSE WHO ARE CONVERTED, BUT WHO HAVE NOT YET ACKNOWLEDGED THEIR FAITH IN THE PRESENCE OF OTHERS. 1. This is for God's glory. The Christian is not to be always wishing to expose what is in him; that were to make himself a Pharisee; but if God has put in you anything lovely, beautiful, and of good report, who are you that you should, by covering it, rob Him of His praise? 2. For the good of others. In the case before us, the woman's confession was doubtless intended to strengthen the faith of Jairus, who was sorely tried by this delay. You do not know of how much service your open confession of Christ might be to some trembling soul. 3. For the person's own sake. I have no doubt this was the main reason. Suppose Christ had let her go home quietly, without any word from Him — when she reached home she would have said, "Ah, I stole that cure; I am so glad I have it." But one day there would come a dark thought, "What if it should die away after a time; then I shall be as bad as ever; for I never asked him." Conscience would say to her, "Ah, it was a theft;" and though she might excuse herself, still she would not be easy. Now Christ calls her up, and conscience cannot disturb her, for He gave her the cure before them all. She need not be afraid of the return of her disease, for Jesus has said, "Thy faith hath made thee whole." (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.WEB: He went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they pressed upon him on all sides. |
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