| I have a standing agreement with the airlines. If | | | | get on to my house. Hurry! I live just over there! |
| I'm not there by departure time, they are | | | | We often think that our issues are more |
| supposed to go ahead and leave without me. So | | | | important than anyone else's. We will also get |
| far, I've never missed a departure. I missed a | | | | caught up in the urgency of our need, and forget |
| connection over 30 years ago (and they left | | | | that there may be others who's needs are as |
| without me), but I didn't miss my initial departure! | | | | great or even greater than ours. We sometimes |
| How many times have you come upon a situation | | | | try to make comparisons and think ourselves |
| when it was too late? You were too late to enroll | | | | more (or less) worthy than that person. |
| in a class or too late to avoid a parking ticket? | | | | Fortunately, God is a lot smarter than we are. |
| Have you ever been too late to a concert, game | | | | How often does your own agenda outweigh |
| or event and you weren't allowed in because the | | | | anyone else's? |
| doors were closed? | | | | It's Too Late! You Took Too Long! - Matthew |
| In Matthew 9:23-26; Mark 5:35-43; Luke 8:49-56, | | | | 9:24b-26; Mark 5:38-43; Luke 8:53-56 |
| Jairus has come to Jesus to ask Him to heal his | | | | Jesus, it's too late! My servant just came and told |
| dying daughter. Jesus has agreed to come, but is | | | | me that my daughter is dead. You can go now. If |
| interrupted by the touch of a woman with a | | | | only You hadn't let that old lady wait and hurried |
| bleeding problem. Jesus pauses to assure her of | | | | to my house? Don't you realize that I can do a lot |
| her healing while Jairus is waiting. Let's look at this | | | | to help you? Why did you have to stop? My |
| situation from Jairus' perspective. | | | | daughter was so young and had so much life |
| Hurry Jesus, I Need You NOW! - Mark 5:35-36 | | | | before her. |
| Luke 8:49-50 | | | | What? You are still coming to my house? But |
| Jesus, come quickly! My daughter is dying and I | | | | don't you understand? It's too late! She's dead! My |
| need you to come and heal her before its too | | | | daughter is dead because you stopped to |
| late. I'm a synagogue ruler and a very important | | | | confront some old woman who touched you in a |
| leader in this community. I can help you in | | | | crowd of people. Believe what? Are you so stupid |
| Capernaum and the surrounding area if you come | | | | as to not understand that "dead" means? It's |
| and heal her NOW! But you must hurry! She is | | | | over! |
| very close to death! | | | | You want these people to go outside? Okay, |
| How often do you and I go before God and beg | | | | everyone, leave. Do your mourning outside. My |
| for His immediate intervention in a situation that | | | | wife and I want some time alone with our |
| we perceive to be a crisis? None of this is news | | | | daughter. |
| to God. He saw it coming. He knows all about it | | | | What are you doing, Jesus? She's not asleep! |
| and He is right there with you as you are going | | | | She's dea... that's happening? She's getting up! |
| through the anxiety, fear and other emotions. He | | | | She's alive? Jesus, you just raised a dead person |
| knows what the outcome is going to be and He | | | | back to life! You are amazing! I've never seen |
| will stand beside you through the entire ordeal | | | | anyone with that much power! Oh thank You! |
| regardless of the outcome. | | | | THANK You! Thank YOU! |
| Why Are You Stopping? - Matthew 9:23-24a; | | | | It is never too late for God to intervene in |
| Mark 5:37-39; Luke 8:21-52 | | | | someone's life and do a miracle. However, the |
| Jesus, why are you stopping? What do you mean | | | | most important miracle He ever did was when He |
| someone touched you? Can't you see that there | | | | saved you from your sins through the blood of |
| are hundreds of people bumping into us as we are | | | | Jesus. We also want to remember that our crisis |
| trying to get to my house? Many of them have | | | | is the most important to us, but it may not be |
| touched You. Why are You stopping? Hurry up, | | | | the most important to God. We must labor to |
| my daughter is dying and I need you to save her | | | | love and trust Him regardless of how He |
| NOW! | | | | responds to our urgent pleading. |
| Jesus, this is some old woman. Her life is almost | | | | The "Getting To Know Jesus" Bible study teaches |
| over. My daughter is only twelve years old. She | | | | us see that Jesus cares about everyone and He |
| has her entire life ahead of her. This old woman is | | | | is not influenced by political power. He goes with |
| not important in this community. She hardly gives | | | | us through every crisis and He cares regardless |
| anything to the synagogue. Stop wasting time | | | | of the outcome. |
| trying to find out why she touched you and lets | | | | God bless you and have a great week! |