From Please Go to Please Come
Desperate Faith in Sickness, Waiting, and Death
Mark 5:21-43
1. Desperate Faith Comes to Jesus
“Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him: ‘My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.’” Mark 5:22-23
This is desperate faith. Jairus does not bargain with Jesus or attempt to impress Him. He simply falls at His feet. His position could not heal his daughter. His influence could not stop death. His religious standing could not rescue his family. So Jairus does the only thing he can do: he brings his helplessness to Jesus.
“So, Jesus went with him” (v. 24).
Those five words are filled with hope. Jairus came to Jesus carrying a burden he could not bear and facing a situation he could not change, and Jesus went with him.
The miracle has not happened yet. His daughter is still sick. The danger has not passed. But Jairus is no longer walking toward that crisis alone. Before he receives the miracle of Jesus, he receives the presence of Jesus.
2. Desperate Faith Reaches for Jesus
“And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.” Mark 5:25
For twelve years, she had lived with the same condition. Think about how long twelve years is. Twelve years of waking up and discovering that nothing had changed. Twelve years of appointments, treatments, hope, and disappointment. Twelve years of wondering, “Will I ever be well again?”
Her faith did not produce the miracle: Jesus did. Faith was simply the empty hand that reached out and received what only Christ could provide.
She reached out hoping to be healed, but Jesus gave her more than she requested. She received healing for her body, peace for her heart, and restoration for her life.
The crowd did not notice this woman, but Jesus did. To everyone else, she was an interruption. To Jesus, she was a daughter. He was not too busy, too distracted, or too important to stop for her.
3. Desperate Faith Trusts Jesus Through the Delay
Every moment matters to Jairus. Every second feels urgent.
While Jesus is still speaking, messengers arrive from Jairus’s home: “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?” Mark 5:35
The delay created the setting in which Jairus would see even more of Christ’s glory. Jairus came believing Jesus could heal sickness. Jesus was about to show him that He possesses authority even over death.
Jesus does not allow the voices of fear and hopelessness to have the final word. The messengers say, “It is over.” Jesus says, “Do not be afraid.” They say, “Do not bother the Teacher.” Jesus says, “Keep trusting Me.”
Jairus originally trusted Jesus with a dying daughter. Now Jesus asks him to trust Him with a dead daughter. His circumstances had changed, but Jesus had not.
Faith is often tested in the space between our request and Christ’s response. It is tested in the waiting.
4. Desperate Faith Trusts Jesus When Death Appears Final
Jairus had left the house filled with urgent hope. He returns to a home filled with grief. Mark tells us there is commotion, crying, and loud wailing. The mourners have already gathered because everyone believes the story is over.
“Talitha koum!” Mark translates these Aramaic words for us: “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”
Our faith is not measured by whether we receive the miracle we requested. It is revealed by whether we continue trusting Jesus when His answer differs from our request.
Final Thought:
When sickness leaves us helpless, when waiting leaves us confused, and when death leaves us broken, Jesus calls us to trust Him because His compassion is personal, His timing is purposeful, and His power is greater than the grave.
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