Drawn to Christ; Near Enough to Touch

Mark 5:21-43

And when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore.And one of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet and pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come, that by coming, You may lay Your hands on her, so that she will be saved and live.” And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. —MARK 5:21-24 LSB

PRAYER DRAWS US TO CHRIST BY KEEPING US FOCUSED ON CHRIST

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. —Philippians 4:5b-6 ESV

In my distress I called on the Lord, and He answered me. —Psalm 120:1 ESV

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:7 ESV

And a woman—who had a hemorrhage for twelve years and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His garment. For she was saying, “If I just touch His garments, I will be saved from this.” And immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she knew within her body that she had been healed of her affliction. —Mark 5:35-29

SCRIPTURE DRAWS US TO CHRIST BY KEEPING US CENTERED ON CHRIST

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ. —Romans 10:17 esv

You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! —John 5:39 NLT

And immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and was saying, “Who touched My garments?” And His disciples were saying to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?ʼ” And He was looking around to see the woman who had done this. But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” —Mark 5:30-43 LSB

WORSHIP KEEPS US NEAR TO CHRIST

Let us come into His dwelling place (presence); Let us worship at the footstool of His feet. —Psalm 132:7 LSB

While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?” But Jesus, overhearing what had been spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid, only believe.” —Mark 5:35-36 LSB

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He will strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! —Psalm 27:14 NKJ

WE ARE DRAWN TO CHRIST BY THE COMPANY WE KEEP

And taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”). And immediately the little girl stood up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that some food should be given to her to eat.” —Mark 5:41-43 LSB

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. —Proverbs 3:5-6 esv