Quest 21
Have you been put on hold and losing hope?
There’s one thing you need.
SADLY HIS PARENTS DID NOT RESTORE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR SON
Chris McCandless broke off relationships with family and headed for wilderness.
Crossed a river in April 1992 to hike 15 miles into the Alaskan wilderness.
He found a deserted bus and lived in it.
In July, starving, he tried to hike out but the river was too high.
In September his 67-pound body was found by hunters.
A half mile downstream was a cable tram with the basket on his side of the river but he didn’t know it. Also, about 2 days hiking upstream would have brought him to a bridge.
JAIRUS WANTED A RELATIONSHIP RESTORED
1. He came while there was hope.
And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him.
His 12-year-old daughter was still alive.
He must have been desperate to leave his dying child’s bedside.
You have come to Jesus when there was hope.
2. The situation became hopeless.
And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years . . . she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?”. . . But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”
All looked well until Jesus stopped. This woman had been suffering for years. What difference would one more day make? His daughter did not have one more day.
If Jairus was watching, what would he have seen?
What situations in your life have become hopeless?
3. Now he only had the word of Jesus.
But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”
Now all he had was the word of Jesus.
If all you have is God’s word, is that enough for you?
4. Only those who hold to his word see God work.
But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.
His daughter was restored to him.
Two ways of dealing with restoring relationships in life: 1) when I see it, I’ll believe it; 2) I’ll believe it, and I’ll see it.
John 20:29 – “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
One thing could have saved Chris McCandless.
