Looking Unto Jesus

(A sermon preached by Dr Sung during the Amoy
Pentecost, November 3rd to 13th, 1934)

Text: Mark 5

v. 21 "Arid when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea." After Jesus had cast out the devil in the country of the Gadarenes, he took a boat to Galilee. When he got ashore, the Bible tells us, "much people followed Jesus." Although the number is not recorded, we can visualize a very great crowd. But of such a great crowd only two persons. a man by the name of Jairus and a woman, one who had an issue of blood, needed Jesus and sought after Jesus. O that we who have heard the Word of Jesus here will seek after Jesus!

v. 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." This Jairus was warden of a synagogue, superin­tendent of a synagogue, a man of high position. When he saw Jesus he fell on his knees. It is not a simple matter for a man of such a position to kneel before Jesus. When a man needs Jesus he will humble himself before Jesus.

v. 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 he healed; and she shall live." He did not pray once or twice. He prayed repeatedly - because he needed Jesus, he earnestly prayed because his daughter was very near death. He wanted Jesus to heal her. This daughter was his life, or was his other life. He needed Jesus, because his life was fast ebbing out. On ordinary days he did not need Jesus, but now when he was on the point of death, he needed Jesus. There's a rhyme: "When there is a way, ask the Taifu (doctor). When there is no way, ask Yesu." So that's the kind of person Jairus was.

Once I was in Kwangsi Province. A sister came to get my help, asking me to go with her immediately to hospital because a woman patient was dying. Many doctors could not help. So I went with her. When I got there I prayed over her, anointing her with oil. She recovered. But this was a case of calling on Jesus in an hour of hopelessness.

v. 24 "And Jesus went with him; and much people thronged him." When Jesus went along with Jairus the Bible tells us there were two types of people who followed Jesus. The first type followed. The second type thronged him. Of course Jairus was one who followed, and he did so because his heart was with Jesus. The rest of the people merely jostled along to see the fun. Jairus said to Jesus, "Lord, be quick! My daughter is fast dying!" How did Jesus answer? Jesus said, "Cannot." Now if there were airplane or train, one would take plane or train. But in those days there was neither plane nor train. They had to walk. They could not rush. How often do we hurry the Lord, but the Lord will not let us hurry. Jairus had not faith in nor knowledge of Jesus. Jairus said, "Lord! Be quick!" There's a song: "With Christ by my side, why should I worry?" Now, Jairus had Christ by his side, yet you see hint worrying. 'There are many in the' Church today who are like Jairus, who worry their heads off in this and in that. Let us learn not to worry when Jesus in by our side! (Only Jesus! Only He can satisfy. Every burden becomes a blessing, When I know my Lord is nigh.)

v. 25 "And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years ... " While Jesus was on the way there came a thin woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years. I'm sure there are some in our midst who have this sickness. What is to suffer from an issue of blood? It is like a Christian coming to a revival meeting whose heart is now washed cleats by Jesus' precious blood. But when the revival meeting is over, he cools off, like the issue of blood draining away . . . And this process is repeated whenever he attends a revival meeting. This woman was plagued with such an issue of blood for twelve years. I think there are many church members who are "bleeding" members. May such members with the issue of blood receive the Word of the Holy Spirit and be healed this afternoon!

v. 26 "And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse." This woman's sickness was very serious: Not only was she not cured by the many doctors she consulted, she got even worse. When she had a way out, she consulted the Taifu (doctor). Now that she had no way out. she consulted Yesu.

v. 27 "When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment." This woman had great faith, so she thought a touch of Jesus' garment would be enough, because there was such a crowd and it was not easy for her a woman to get to Him. Her faith was very great!

v. 28 "For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole." Brothers and sisters, Do you want to have your bleeding cured? There's only one way. Touch Jesus' gar­ment every day, and you will he healed. The woman knew there was power with Jesus' garment, so in spite of the great crowd, she sought to touch Jesus' garment.

v. 29 "And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of the plague." She found Jesus. She touched his clothes. She was instantly healed! Brothers and sisters, Do you fear you'll cool off after the revival meeting? Then you are to touch Jesus' garment everyday! Jesus' garment is the Holy Bible!

v. 30 "And Jesus immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, "Who touched my clothes?" Now when this woman touched Jesus' garment she was healed, while Jesus felt power had gone out of his body. If we read our Bible everyday, Jesus' power will flow into our bodies, to keep us from cooling off.

v. 31 "And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?" Jesus asked. "Who touches my clothes?" The disciples answered, "The multitude has pressed on you!" But there's a great difference between touching and pressing. Many people read the Bible like touching the garment. They regard the Bible so precious, so sweet like honey. But there are others who read the Bible like pressing it in a throng. They read the Bible like one "viewing flowers on a race­horse", which is quite unprofitable. When we read our Bible and pray everyday. we must be like her who touched Jesus to be profitable. For Jesus' Word has great power.

I am deeply touched by the way my father read his Bible. He would get up everyday at 5 am when it was dark. First he would light a candle. Then he knelt down to pray before he read his Bible. Sometimes he laughed, sometimes he wept. When I saw this one day, I asked my father, "Papa, what book are you reading?" He said, "I'm reading what the Heavenly Father is telling me." When I heard this I was deeply moved. From that time on I loved to read the Bible.

Many read the Bible like reading an ordinary textbook. O that everyone will love to read his Bible like the way I study the Bible with you. touching the Bible, verse by verse. In this way only can our revival be preserved from being a temporary thing.

v. 32 "And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing." If we read our Bible everyday our heart will gradually enlarge, like Judas' heart. (Here is a play of words for the two Chinese characters for Judas: Yu-Ta means become bigger --- enlarge.) Not only large, but extra-large, yea even to the size of that of Judas Iscariot's - we become proud. So, we should not only read our Bible everyday, but also witness for Christ. Then it will not become like Judas'.

Now this woman, having touched Jesus garment, found that her blood had stopped, so she wanted to get away. Would Jesus let her? having been healed, she must now witness to it.

v. 33 "But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth." She would not testify, she was afraid to testify, so she trembled. Many are in the Church today who are afraid to witness. Let me tell you, Don't be afraid! When you witness, just look to Jesus. We who have touched Jesus' garment are duty-bound to witness for Jesus. There­fore every pastor, elder, deacon, layman must witness for Christ!

v. 34 "And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of the plague." Now that she has testified, she has become Jesus' daughter. So when we witness for Jesus, we become His children. Jesus having seen her testimony said to her, "Your faith has saved you." Jesus said, "Go home in peace."  Her testimony was not in vain. Jesus wanted her to testify in order to strengthen Jairus' faith. This woman was sick for twelve years, which marvelously tallies with Jairus' daughter's age of twelve years. The doctor could not cure this woman, nor cure Jairus' daughter. They were all at their wit's end, so they come to Jesus. If Jesus could heal the woman with an issue of blood for 12 years, so can He heal Jairus' daughter. Jairus' faith now came alive! His faith rose to 100^°.

v.35 "While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why trouble thou the Master any further?" Now when Jairus' faith was at the zenith, suddenly there came someone reporting, "Jairus, your daughter is dead. It is hopeless! Why bother Jesus anymore?" When Jairus heard this, he wept before Jesus, "I asked you to come quickly, but You simply took your time. Now my daughter is dead, I won't follow You." From 100^° plus his faith plunged to 100^° minus! Seeing him stumbling, Jesus nevertheless would not permit him to fall. So will Jesus not let us fall!

v. 36 "As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe." Jesus said to Jairus, "Jairus, don't be afraid, only believe. I have the power." Hearing this, Jairus' faith rose from -100^° + 75^°. His faith increased again.

v. 37 "And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James." At this the Devil said to Jairus. "Jairus, only fear, do not believe!" Hearing this Jairus' faith dropped back to -75°. So Jesus would not let any other person follow. He brought along only Peter, James and John. For these three disciples were the most faithful. These three disciples said to Jairus, "Jairus, Don't be afraid. Only believe! Our Master's words are reliable." When Jairus heard this his faith increased again --- to +50°. Ah! A person's faith is never sure. Now high, now low, how pitiful like Jairus' faith!

v. 38 "And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly." Jesus went with Jairus to his house, and when Jairus saw his wife weeping. the relatives weeping, the friends weeping ... everybody weeping, so he also wept --- bitterly. In the face of all these weeping, his faith dropped to -50°.

v. 39 "And when he was conic in, he saith unto them, why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead but sleepeth." Jairus hearing this that his daughter was not dead, rose up in faith to +45°.  How unstable is his faith.

v. 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." When they heard Jesus say these words they thought Jesus was crazy. Those who were weeping now laughed: ha, ha, ha! When Jairus saw them laughing his faith dipped once more to -45^°. When he heard their criticisms and scornful laughter, he was stumbled again.

When Jesus saw that their laughter hindered Jairus' faith, He chased them all out. Jesus said to Jairus again, "Do not fear. Only believe." Jairus' faith increased again to +45°.

So Jairus followed Jesus to his daughter's room. Jairus thought before his daughter was asleep.  Now he saw her with his own eyes lying on the bed, not a breath left, motionless, plainly dead. Jairus burst into tears again. His faith plummeted to -100°, for he only looked at circum­stances, he looked at the outside, and not unto Jesus. How unreliable is a man's faith!

v. 41 "And he took the damsel by the hand, and saith unto her. Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise." Jesus said, "Jairus, what a faithless man you are!" Then Jesus pulling her up by the hand, said, "Girl, I tell you to get up. At this the girl sat up on her bed and called out. Daddy! Now Jairus' faith soared back to +100^°.

v. 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." When his daughter sat up. her body was weak and without strength, for she had not eaten for days. Jairus, seeing her, said in his heart, "She is so weak, she might die again." Down to +45^° did his faith slip!

v. 43 "And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat." Jesus said, "Jairus, where is your faith? Now she lives. Her body is weak because she has not eaten for days. Now give her some milk. Having taken the milk, she received strength, and was restored to her former self. Jairus seeing his daughter fully recovered, regained his faith +100`. How pitiful! Jairus looked at appearances but not to Jesus. So his faith fluctuated, even to zero degree.

Brothers and sisters, Jairus' experience has been my experience. When I became desperate and lost heart my faith dropped simultaneously. When I felt the Lord was with me, helping me, my faith rose.... pitiful! O that everyone here this afternoon will not look at circumstances, not look at the outside, will look only unto Jesus, in adversity or prosperity, following Him to the end. Whom shall we fear when the Lord is with us? Amen.