The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-01-28
JESUS USES HIS POWER
TO HELP

JESUS USES HIS POWER
TO HELP
LESSON TExT-Mark 4:35-41; 5:35-43.
GOLDEN TEXT-Why are We SO fearfulp
How IL 1t that We have no faith2-Mark 4:40.
Help-that is what man needs,
and nothing but the power of Christ
will suffice to meet his fears and sor-
rows. Christ appears in Mark as
not only the matchless Teacher of
the parallels we have just studied,
but the mighty Worker.
This is the Gospel in which Christ
is presented as the Servant of Je-
hovan, who came to use His infinite
grace and power for our deliverance.
Two great fears gnaw at the -vitals
of mans existence. Life is full of
awful dangers, and death is so
dreadfully final and sorrowful. He
Is afraid to live, and afraid to die
apart from his faith in Jesus Christ.
We find the answer to both these
fears as we here see
Jesus Power OvercOmes
I. Fear of Life's Dangers mark
4:35-41).
The long day of teaching had end
ed ". 35), and the disciples car
ried out His request that they 60 to
the other side of the lake to rest.
Just "as he was'' they departed, and
before long the tired Jesus was
asleep. We know how He felt, and
what is even more blessed, He
knows how we feel when we are
tired.
AS He slept, a sudden storm (com-
mon on the Lake of Galilee) brought
deathly fear to the hearts of His
disciples. For the moment they saw
only the angry waves, the smallness
of their boat, and the hopelessness Of
their situation.
Had they forgotten Jesus? With
Him in the boat, they had no reason
to fear. They called on Him, and in
His majestic and authoritative
peace be still'' the wind and waves
recognized their Masters voice.
Should we not learn that in this
day of fears and alarms, we may
(if we are Christians) count on His
presence and His power. If we look
at the overwhelming waves of cir
cunstances and think how frail we
are, surely our hearts shall fail us
for fear. But if Christ is with US,
we are in no danger.
Now they were struck with awe
at His power. Sometimes the de-
lverances wrought by our Lord so
reveal His presence and power that
His followers are more deeply
moved than they were by the perils
which threatened. Whether mas
tering the storm, or standing unseen
in our midst today, He appears to
the eye of faith, clothed in divine en-
ergy and power" Ordinary.
III. Fear of Deaths Deep Sorrow
(5:35-43).
Trouble is visitor in every home,
1t does not matter how securely that
home may be founded upon wealth
or social position. Frequently, death
chooses shining mark in taking a
dearly beloved child. Children strike
their roots deep into our hearts and
when they are torn from us our
whole beings are rent and convulsed.
Such was the great storm of sorrow
which had come upon the home of
Jairus, leading him to make the
brave step of faith and hope which
brought him to Jesus.
Then as Jesus turned to 60 with
Jairus woman touched Him. He
stopped to seek her out and COM
mend her for her faith. The SEEM
ing delay must have greatly troubled
Jairus, particularly when the SER
wants came and informed him that
he need no longer trouble the Master
since his daughter was dead. Not
infrequently we have similar expe-
riences, where it seems that while
God has promised to help US, He has
been turned aside and has forgotten
us. The psalmist in Psalm 1913 cries
out, "My tears have been my meat
day and night, while they continually
say unto me, Where is thy God?"
Our Lord was not troubled at all
by the message of the servants of
Jairus, but He showed His thought
full consideration of the father by
reassuring him with the words, "Fear
not, only believe"
Everywhere fear blocks the way
of human peace and progress. Di-
vine wisdom offers a remedy for it
all-only believe. We excuse our lack
of faith by the conditions which con-
front us, but none of us face condi-
tions worse than those which con-
fronted Jairus. His daughter was
dead and he was told to believed He
obeyed and his faith was rewarded.
When He said, "The child is not
dead, but sleepeth," our Lord did
not mean that actual death had not
taken place, but He meant that in
the sight Of God death is like sleep.
In the eyes of Christ spiritual death
was undoubtedly far more terrible
than physical death. A man may be
physically alive and yet being spir-