Only Believe
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday’s service and hymns are below.
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Dear Friends,
As we prepare for tomorrow’s worship here are some thoughts that might help to open up the passage before us. In tomorrow’s service we will continue our series in Mark’s Gospel in chapter 5. Sunday’s hymns for reading are below. I hope you have opportunity to look at them beforehand. Our verses are:
Mar 5:21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.
Mar 5:22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
Mar 5:23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
Mar 5:24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
…
Mar 5:35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
Mar 5:36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Mar 5:37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
Mar 5:38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
Mar 5:39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
Mar 5:40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
Mar 5:41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
Mar 5:42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
Mar 5:43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
‘Lord, Save My Children’
I doubt there is a saved soul who does not earnestly desire the salvation of their loved ones. Perhaps we have an unbelieving parent, or a brother or sister whom we long to see brought to a knowledge of the truth. Perhaps our husband or wife is without Christ and has no interest in spiritual matters. At home our views are tolerated, but in no way shared. Maybe it is our children who lie heaviest upon our heart and we find ourselves pleading often in prayer, ‘Lord, save my children. Save the little ones.’
That they might know thee
One consequence of the gift of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is a desire for others to receive what we have received. The love of God and the death of the Lord Jesus become so dear to our souls we wonder why others do not want to share Him, too. The horror of hell is so vivid we expect our warnings to be heard and heeded. Yes, we know grace is a gift, we know new life must be created, and we know spiritual understanding is foolishness to the natural man, but despite this, we feel if we can say it often enough, or loudly enough, we just might get through. Sadly, the opposite is true and our earnest efforts often result in driving off those we love most.
If I were God
There are many reasons why believers in election and sovereign grace ought to be more at peace than others concerning these matters of heaven, hell and eternal destiny. God is sovereign in salvation for which we are, and forever shall be, thankful. Yet our natural affections wrestle with our spiritual understanding and the flesh and the spirit exhibit their rivalry in many ways. How often have we thought, if I were God I would do it better! We are ashamed to speak of some of the notions our flesh has harboured against God in this respect, may He forgive us.
Jairus an example
The account of Jairus’ daughter is a lighthouse in a dark sea. Do you think the Lord does not know the love we have for our children? Do you imagine our natural affection for our family is more than the divine love God has for His family? Jairus came to Christ seeking life for his daughter. Let this be our guide. He did not sit at his daughter’s bed demanding she be well; that she get up and have something to eat. He knew it was impossible. Instead, he pleaded with the Lord Jesus that she might be saved. In this, let Jairus be our pattern. We train up our children while we can in the things of the gospel, then we leave their soul’s welfare with the Lord. If the implications of this drives us to our knees it is intentionally so and no bad thing.
Salvation is of the Lord
Our Saviour told the woman with the issue of blood that her faith had made her whole. That is not to say her faith was the cause of her salvation, but it was the means by which she experienced Christ’s healing in her body. Jairus’ faith, not the faith of the child, brought Jesus to the little girl’s side that He might give her life. Faith does only what is in its power to do, and Jairus did what he could.
Let this be my humble contribution to the spiritual deadness of those that I love. I shall confess with Abraham, ‘Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?’ and I will bring the eternal needs of my children and my grandchildren to my Lord. It is all I can do. I cannot believe in Christ for them but I can bring their case to Christ for them. This I shall do knowing He alone is able to save and accomplish what neither I nor my loved ones can do for ourselves.
Our hymns for tomorrow are below.
Hymn 1
(Gadsby Selection 88)
The Wonders of Redeeming Love. Ps. 130. 7
J. Hart L.M.
1
How wondrous are the works of God,
Displayed through all the world abroad!
Immensely great! immensely small!
Yet one strange work exceeds them all!
2
[He formed the sun, fair fount of light;
The moon and stars, to rule the night;
But night and stars, and moon and sun,
Are little works compared with one.]
3
[He rolled the seas and spread the skies,
Made valleys sink and mountains rise;
The meadows clothed with native green,
And bade the rivers glide between.
4
But what are seas, or skies, or hills,
Or verdant vales, or gliding rills,
To wonders man was born to prove –
The wonders of redeeming love?]
5
’Tis far beyond what words express,
What saints can feel or angels guess;
Angels, that hymn the great I AM,
Fall down and veil before the Lamb.
6
The highest heavens are short of this;
’Tis deeper than the vast abyss;
’Tis more than thought can e’er conceive,
Or hope expect, or faith believe.
7
Almighty God sighed human breath!
The Lord of life experienced death!
How it was done we can’t discuss,
But this we know, ’twas done for us.
8
Blest with this faith, then let us raise
Our hearts in love, our voice in praise;
All things to us must work for good,
For whom the Lamb has shed his blood.
9
[Trials may press of every sort;
They may be sore, they must be short;
We now believe, but soon shall view,
The greatest glories God can show.]
Hymn 2
(Gadsby selection 69)
The Consolation of Election. Eph. 1. 3-7; Deut. 7. 7
Gospel Mag., 1777 8.7.4.
1
Sons we are, through God’s election,
Who in Jesus Christ believe;
By eternal destination,
Saving grace we here receive;
Our Redeemer
Does both grace and glory give.
2
Every soul of man, by sinning,
Merits everlasting pain;
But thy love, without beginning,
Formed and fixed salvation’s plan.
Countless millions
Shall in life through Jesus reign.
3
[Pause, my soul! adore and wonder!
Ask, “O why such love to me?”
Grace has put me in the number
Of the Saviour’s family;
Hallelujah!
Thanks, Eternal Love, to thee!]
4
These are springs of consolation,
To converted sons of grace;
Finished, free, and full salvation
Shining in the Saviour’s face!
Free grace only
Suits the wretched sinner’s case.
5
When in that blest habitation,
Which my God for me ordained;
When in glory’s full possession,
I with saints and angels stand;
Free grace only
Shall resound through Canaan’s land!