At East Valley International Church, we’ve embraced tools like Anthropic’s ClaudeAI, not because we’ve abandoned biblical ministry, but because we refuse to let methodology limit God’s reach. When someone desperately Googles “Does God love me?” at 3 AM, they encounter not religious platitudes, but Christ’s actual presence responding through whatever means He chooses.

The gospel has always been disruptive innovation—transforming water molecules, rewiring paralyzed systems, reversing death. The same Spirit who spoke through burning bushes now moves through artificial intelligence. The delivery evolves; the message remains eternal: God is relentlessly pursuing you.

This Sunday, Pastor David Jerome unveiled the essence of true faith in “Faith in the Face of Desperation” – The Heart’s Reception to the Gospel, from Luke 8:40-56.  — one of the most beautiful and instructive stories in all of Scripture about what real faith looks like when you’re desperate.

Approximate reading time: 30 minutes.

Download the PDF to print at home (19 pages): Faith in the Face of Desperation

Meet Pastor David Jerome

After an accomplished three-decade career as an aerospace engineer, Pastor David Jerome felt a clear calling to global ministry, leading him and his wife Kenda to embark on a new chapter in the Philippines. For eleven impactful years, the Jeromes directed Church Partnership Evangelism—an initiative designed to unite churches from the United States with local Filipino congregations through focused outreach and collaboration.

Their work primarily involved welcoming mission teams from American churches and pairing them with Philippine partners to carry out widespread house-to-house evangelism campaigns. Recognizing the importance of local leadership, David and Kenda devoted significant energy to equipping Filipino Christians, providing hands-on training in sharing the Gospel and nurturing new believers. This approach empowered local teams to lead intensive evangelistic efforts that reached entire neighborhoods and towns.

David’s ministry in the Philippines was built on a strong foundation from Mesa Baptist Church, where he and Kenda invested more than 40 years serving in diverse roles, including nine years as an elder. His experience consistently showed a commitment to shepherding and encouraging others in their faith.

Married for 42 years, David and Kenda have been blessed with a vibrant family of six—three children and their spouses—and three grandchildren who are central to their lives.

Now settled back in the United States, Pastor Jerome continues to share his passion for evangelism and discipleship, drawing from his decades of experience to inspire and build up the church with renewed commitment and a broadened perspective shaped by his time in international ministry.

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(Due to variable audio quality—including background noise, unclear speech, or recording issues—this transcription may contain errors or omissions not present in the original recording. For complete accuracy, please refer to the audio itself or consult with participants about any uncertainties in the text.)

This is becoming habit. Let’s start with a funny story that we encountered a few years ago in the Philippines. An American missionary pastor working in the Philippines was invited to speak on a Sunday morning. After being introduced, he steps to the pulpit and, desiring to practice his allegedly sublime language learning, he addresses the congregation with a common greeting. Most of you already know where I’m going with this.

Immediately upon entering or uttering those words, the congregation breaks into a mix of responses. Some stare at him in shock and disbelief at what he had just said. Others shake their heads with smiles on their faces. Many start to giggle under their breath, and then some just laugh out loud like you guys just did. As he stood there wondering what he had done to elicit such a mix of responses, his face began to turn red as he realized the error of what he had just said. Instead of saying what is a common greeting for “good morning, everyone,” he replaced the N with an S in Tanai and greeted them with “good morning devils.” Fortunately, it was not me. It wasn’t, but I made a lot of mistakes in language learning when we were living in the Philippines.

OK. Oh, good morning, everyone. My name is Luke, that’s not the nine. And I’ll say it right. Our text this morning is found in Luke chapter 8, verses 40 and 56. And I think that ends chapter 8. Then we’re going to start moving on into chapter 9 and beyond.

But before we start with our text, I want to begin with this familiar passage that is found in Hebrews 11. Verse 63, it says, now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, for by it the elders obtained a good testimony. Verse three, by faith we understand that the world was framed by the word of God so that the things which are seen were not made of things that were visible.

So, yes, this passage in Hebrews has been the subject of many sermons, probably many Bible studies, and we could go into a discussion on this for the next two or three hours, but we’re not going to do that. Brother Sanji is going to be addressing this in a few weeks, probably, in our Friday night Bible study. But I do want to touch on one thing that is connected to our study of Luke this morning.

The writer of Hebrews makes a statement in verse one. He makes a claim. And then he gives us an example of that claim in verse three. He says, in verse one, “the evidence of things not seen.” He’s defining faith—evidence of things not seen. And then, in verse three, he gives us the example he wants to share: by faith, we understand that the world was formed by the word of God so that things which were seen were not made of things which are visible.

Where’s he going with all that? First of all, he’s saying, think about this: we believe by faith that God spoke the universe into creation. Do you believe that? Amen? OK. We trust this to be true, yes? We didn’t see it happen. Even God challenged Job back in the book of Job, “Were you there when I created the foundation of the universe?” No, we weren’t there. But we heard about it. And we read about it. And we see the evidence of the creation around us.

Paul wrote this letter to the Romans in Romans 1:20. He said, “For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen.” We see creation around us, and we know that God—we believe by faith that God—is the one who created that creation, being understood from what has been made so that people are without excuse. We simply have faith that God did all of this.

In today’s passage, we are gonna see people who act on faith. And we’re gonna see some others that do not act on faith. Our goal is to define these three kinds of faith. We’re gonna define three kinds of faith. And these examples of faith are gonna be exhibited in the people who are responding to desperate situations that they find themselves in. When we are done, hopefully we can clearly see what kind of faith we have.

But before we begin, let’s pray. Father God, thank you for this morning. Thank you for all that you do in our lives. Thank you for the creation that you have put us in and surrounded us with. We believe by faith that you are the one who created us, created the universe, and you have created your word, your truth, that we can study and learn more about your characteristics, your meaning, and who you are. Father, thank you for all these things that you have done for us. We probably ask that you would be with your speaker this morning, that your word should come clearly out of his mouth.

And Father, we thank you for all the things that you do for us and that you do for your son, Jesus. In his name we pray. Amen.

OK, I want to begin with a short review and a definition of faith, including a biblical definition. We won’t spend a whole lot of time on it, but we want to have that as our background.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary provides several definitions of faith. One: allegiance to duty or a person. Fidelity to one promise. Sincerity of intentions. And then he starts going into a biblical definition: belief and trust in loyalty. Belief and a trust in loyalty to God. OK? And then belief in the traditional doctrines of religion. And then this one I don’t fully agree with: firm belief in something for which there is no proof.

We’ve already said it. We have proof of creation. Something that we believe in. We believe in God. We have a lot of proof that God exists. But we have proof. But it also means complete trust in that entity. According to the Lexham Bible dictionary, faith is the reliance upon and trust in God. Faith is a firm conviction or belief in God’s truth combined with a deep trust and confidence in him. And that confidence in him leads us to obedience.

It involves knowing and consenting to what God has said, as well as committing one’s life to that truth, especially regarding Jesus Christ’s ability to save us. The deep commitment of faith is expressed through actions, and that’s important as we go into our text in a few minutes, through actions, and service to the one we have faith in, and that being Jesus Christ.

But there’s an important aspect of faith that we cannot overlook: faith seems to have, in its foundation, an unseen component. We don’t see what it is that we have faith in. Remember, Hebrews tells us—Hebrews 11 tells us—faith is the evidence of things unseen. We believe something. There’s evidence that it exists, but we cannot see it with our eyes. We hope for it. And in that hope, we have faith, or a belief that it must exist.

You’ve never seen God, right? Anyone here seen God personally? I haven’t. None of us have seen Jesus, and I suspect that none of us have seen the Holy Spirit. But I have also never seen the womb. But I know it’s there. I’ve never seen my brain, but I know it’s there. I wouldn’t be thinking, I wouldn’t be talking if I didn’t have it. I’ve never seen my heart, except maybe in a Sodom and Gomorrah or something. But I’ve never seen my heart, but I know it’s there because I can feel it beating.

What we have is evidence that God exists. We have evidence of these things in our life. Paul reminds us of this unseen element of faith. In Romans 8:24–25, he writes, “For in this hope we are saved, but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not have, we wait for it patiently.” Who hopes for what they already have? We don’t hope for something we already have. We hope for something in the future, something that we want very badly.

Two of the subjects in our text in Ruth are going to demonstrate to us this kind of faith. One immediately, and then one who eventually does. And then we’re going to see those who don’t have faith. We’re going to get to that shortly, but I want to finish our definition of hope by describing some of its characteristics or faith’s. We’re going to start with characteristics.

The Apostle Peter gives us insight into the characteristics of authentic Christ-centered faith in the midst of difficult times. He outlines these characteristics in 1 Peter, chapter one, verses four through eight. Starting in verses four to eight, or four to five, we find these characteristics: “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you who are protected by the power of God through what? Faith. For a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Everyone has faith. The atheist has faith that his rational reasonings have removed the possibility of God. That’s faith. He has faith in his intellectual ability. Others have faith in their abilities, in their skills, in their connections, their friends, their family, sometimes even in themselves. So where is our faith anchored? Is our faith—or if our faith is in Christ—our anchor of faith will hold.

A well-anchored faith in Christ exhibits several characteristics. Let’s look at the first three.

Number one: our faith in Christ is imperishable. Peter wrote that—first thing he said, to inherit an inheritance which is imperishable. Faith in Christ is kept in heaven.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:19–21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If our faith is set upon the things of this world, faith will perish.

Countless kingdoms have come and fallen, economies have been built up and destroyed, and nations have been established and vanished. All that is left of these kingdoms are the things that we see in museums. Only the kingdom of heaven has remained constant in the past 6,000 to 8,000 years, and even before that. Our faith is to be set in heaven and not on things of this world. That is the only way we know that our faith will be imperishable.

Second characteristic of faith: our faith in Christ is uncorrupted. History is full of leaders who started out with the best intentions, but pride, ego, or other flaws in their character have gotten away, and they fail. If we place our faith in a leader, it is only a matter of time before the corruptible nature of this individual becomes revealed. But we cling to the truth that Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, so he exhibits perfect, absolute, and uncorrupted power. There’s no pride, there’s no ego. There’s pure power. Our faith can only be incorruptible when it is placed in Christ.

Third characteristic: our faith in Christ is unfading. It never goes away. Just like his nature. Hebrews 13:7–8 tells us about the unchanging character of Jesus. “Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Why? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” Unfading—it’s never going to change, it’s never going to go away, it’s always going to be there. When our faith is anchored in Christ, we are assured that faith is well-founded, unchanging, and eternal.

Now, Peter is going to continue these characteristics of faith in verses six through eight. He says, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.” Now we’re starting to break into some of the subject of our text a little bit in a few minutes—in Luke, trials.

We all face trials in life. “So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold, which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” And in verse eight: “And though you have not seen him, you love him, and though you do not see him now but believe in him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” So, our faith must be anchored in the timeless nature of Christ.

But how do we know that faith in Christ will hold up during these storms of life? Why should I trust Christ? Simple, because this is no ordinary faith. This is living faith that is tested. James 1:2–4 says this: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work, so that you may mature and complete.”

A tested faith is going to exhibit the final three characteristics of faith.

Fourth: our faith in Christ is valuable. In verse seven, Peter compares the value of our faith to gold. The goldsmith has a method as he refines it and makes it more pure. The goldsmith melts the metal, so it becomes a liquid, and after it becomes a liquid, all the impurities rise to the top. Before it cools, you scrape away all those impurities. He repeats this process several times. And when no impurities are remaining, there are no impurities coming to the top, the process is complete.

Here’s a quick question: Is the process of our refining ever complete? Only at the day of the Lord.

Peter says that our faith is like gold. As it is tested, it will begin to bring the impurities to the surface. So we need to face these trials so that we can grow more mature. When the impurities are removed, our faith becomes more valuable.

Gold is the standard by which we measure value, right? I mean, gold is up over $3,000 an ounce now. Can you imagine that? If you had bought tons of gold in the past at $150 or $200 an ounce, you’d be a millionaire. But it’s valuable. And while gold is valuable, it is secondary to our faith. Gold can perish, but our faith, if it’s anchored in Christ, will not perish. We already talked about that—it’s as valuable as that gold. Peter tells us that faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is more valuable than gold.

Our faith is something eternal, not something that can be destroyed.

Fifth characteristic of faith: our faith in Christ is revealing. The goldsmith knows that as he continues his refinement process on the gold, as it becomes pure, he can see his reflection in the metal. Our faith should reflect Jesus and reveal him in our life to the world. People should see us—we reflect Jesus, and we should see Jesus in us.

1 Peter 1:14–16 tells us, “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance, but just as he who called you is holy, be holy in all you do. For it is written, be holy because I am holy.” If we are to reflect Christ, then we are to be holy because he is holy. The end result of Christ-centered faith is that all our lives are shaped and molded by Him. Our faith begins to reflect the deeper knowledge of Jesus, and we share that with the world. Just as the goldsmith knew he had pure gold when he looks into the metal, people should see the reflection of Jesus in us.

Finally, the sixth characteristic of faith: our faith is centered on our love for Christ. In verse 8, Peter concludes his list of faith characteristics, telling us that the essence of faith does not require our sight in order to have a deep love for Jesus. Through our faith, we understand the reality of Christ and his promises, and this results in adoration for him.

Peter says that real faith is loving Christ, even though you have never seen him, but still know that he exists—the evidence that he exists. Believing and putting faith in that evidence that you see. Faith and love are inexplicably connected.

Ephesians 3:16–19 reminds us of this connection between love and faith. “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being.” Evidence that Christ exists is in our inner being. “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all of the Lord’s holy people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. And to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all fullness of life.” Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we love Jesus Christ.

OK, now, we have that foundation, that background on faith to move into our text. So let’s take a look at how all of this applies in the passage in Luke chapter eight, verses 40 to 46. And as we do, we will discover three kinds of faith.

Starting with verses 40 to 42: “And as Jesus was returning, the people welcomed him, for they had all been waiting for him. And a man named Jairus came, and he was an official of the synagogue, and he fell at Jesus’ feet and began urging him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about 12 years old, and she was dying. But as he went, the crowds were pressing against him.”

Here’s the scene: Jesus and his disciples had just returned from the region of Nazareth (we talked about that last week) where he had healed the men, the demons. The crowds had gathered because they heard Jesus is here, and large crowds began to follow him again. So, as Jesus and his disciples get out of the boat and people begin to realize he’s back, the crowd gathers. It is here we are introduced to the first subject of our study of faith: Jairus.

Through the crowd, Jairus, this leader of the synagogues, makes his way to find Jesus, begs him to come to his house and heal his daughter. So that’s the scene.

As they start to go off to Jairus’ house, some more things begin to happen. We’re going to pause the story of Jairus for just a few moments because another story is developing about a person who also needs Jesus’ help. We find her story beginning in verses 43 and 44: “And a woman who had suffered a chronic flow of blood for 12 years and could not be healed by anyone came up behind him and touched the fringe of his robe, and immediately her wound stopped.”

Let’s stop and talk about this for a few moments. For 12 years, this woman lived a complete outcast—unable to have contact with anyone or anything because her bleeding was viewed as unclean. She had spent all her money on doctors trying to find a cure.

But now, she hears about a healer—someone who has healed a lame man, someone who has healed lepers, someone who has given sight to blind people. And she believed that he could heal her too. She had some faith.

Mark adds additional detail to this woman’s story. In Mark chapter 5, verses 27–28, we read: “After hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind him and touched his coat. For she had been saying to herself, ‘If I just touch his garment, I will be healed.’” Because of her uncleanness, she knew that she could not touch him and he could not touch her. But she believed that by touching the fringe of his cloak, that would be enough to heal her. Regardless of what people might think of this woman, in faith she pushed through the crowd and simply touched the fringe of Jesus’ robe. And when she did, she was immediately healed.

She demonstrated the first kind of faith that we find in our texts this morning: confident faith. Confident faith is a believing faith that moves us to action—we discovered that back in our definitions of faith. Something that moves us to action; a belief that makes us want to do something. This woman had a confident, believing faith that led her to action. That was simply to touch the robe of Jesus Christ. Her faith drew power from Jesus, and she received what she believed Jesus could provide. That’s confident faith. May God always honor someone who comes to him in believing faith.

Then Jesus responds to her in verses 45–48. Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched me?” While they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on you.” But Jesus said, “Someone did touch me, for I was aware that power had left me.” Now when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before him and admitted in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

There’s a lot there, but it’s very simple, and I love this part of the story. As Jesus and his disciples were making their way through the crowd, Jesus stopped to look for her. How many times in our life has Jesus stopped and waited for us, gone after us, come to get us? For all our life, we were running away from salvation, running away from Jesus. But he had always persisted and faithfully come after us, and he wanted to stop and have an interpersonal relationship with her.

Here’s the interesting thing: even though there are many people pressing in and touching Jesus, he already knew who it was. He already knew who it was that touched him and received the healing—all he wanted to do was have a personal encounter. Have we all had personal encounters with Jesus? I certainly hope so. If you haven’t, let me see afterward and I’ll help you understand a personal encounter with Jesus.

But the most beautiful part of this statement, the most beautiful statement in this passage is what he says to her. He says, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” There’s intimacy in his response to her. He calls her daughter. He says, “Daughter, you are my child. You are important to me.” That’s what Jesus wants with us. We’re important to him. He wants us to come to him by faith and accept what he has done for us.

Many people would have touched him, but none had the faith and expected healing. She believed Jesus could heal, and that motivated her to take action and touch his robe. And Jesus was ready to respond to that hand of outstretched faith. That is what confident faith does.

The second kind of faith we find in this passage is called cautious faith. Cautious faith is faith that is not quite sure if we can believe in God. We see that starting in verse 49: “While he was still speaking, someone came from the house of a synagogue official saying, ‘Your daughter has died. Do not trouble the teacher anymore.’”

So, while Jesus was speaking to the woman, someone from the house of Jairus makes his way through the crowd. But instead of crying by faith, he comes in doubt. When he got to Jesus, instead of drawing power from Jesus, he informs Jairus that his daughter has died. That probably devastated Jairus. The messenger, and probably now Jairus, had a cautious, hesitant faith. As long as the child was still alive, there was hope that Jesus could heal her. But now that the child had died, there was no need to follow the teacher anymore—hope was lost. They lacked faith that Jesus could heal her still.

But then Jesus responds to the fear and doubt being felt by Jairus in verse 50: “But when Jesus heard this, he responded to him, ‘Do not be afraid any longer. Only believe. Only have faith and she will be made well.’”

Cautious faith is hesitant to believe, doubting “Sure, you can do the little things, but you can’t do the big things.” When confronted with tragedy, cautious faith reverts back to its previous beliefs. The woman, in confident faith, set aside her fear and her shame. She believed, and she acted on her belief, and she was healed. Now, Jesus is telling Jairus—the same could be true for you. What you saw me do with that woman who had faith can happen to you if you’ll just have faith.

We need to have a confident faith. So instead of listening to those who came with the news, Jesus and his disciples continued with Jairus to his house.

What happens next is found in verses 51–53. Here, we discover the third kind of faith: critical faith. Critical faith doubts God and does not believe he can do what he says.

Verse 51: “They came to the house. He did not allow anyone to enter with him except Peter, John, and James, and the girl’s father and mother. Now they were all weeping and mourning for her, but he said, ‘Stop weeping, for she has not died but is asleep.’ And they began laughing at him, knowing that she had died.”

So, they came to the house of Jairus. It is full of people weeping and mourning, following the Jewish custom for mourning someone who has died. To the people in the house, it was clear that she was dead. But it was not clear to Jesus that she was dead. He tells them, “Stop weeping, stop mourning, the girl is not dead.” And they respond with laughter and ridicule.

Quite a contrast between confident faith and this critical faith—believing by faith that Jesus is going to do something as opposed to, “Ah, even if he says it, I don’t believe it.”

Mark adds clarity and detail to this story in Mark 5:38–40. We read, “They came to the house of the synagogue official and he saw a commotion and people loudly weeping and wailing. After entering, he said to them, ‘Why are you making commotion and weeping? The child has not died, but is asleep.’ And they began laughing at him. But putting them all aside, he took along the child’s father and mother and his own companions and entered the room where the child was in bed.”

Because they didn’t have faith, they were not going to be allowed to witness the power that Jesus had. He put them aside, said, “No, you can’t come in. I’m going to show you the power, but you’re not going to get to witness it firsthand.” Jesus left the doubters outside and took only those who were walking by faith in to witness what he could do.

Then, finally, we read in verses 54–56: “He, however, took her by the hand and spoke forcefully, saying, ‘Child, arise.’ And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately, and he ordered that something be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he instructed them to tell no one what had happened.”

It is amazing what God can do in response to believing, confident faith. Actually, God can do anything, anytime, even if we don’t believe it. But in response to our faith, God loves to overwhelm us with his greatness. He just overwhelmed these two parents with his greatness by simply saying, “Child, arise.” While people mocked Jesus, the parents were overwhelmed and amazed. Oh, that we would have that kind of faith.

So, let us summarize what we learned this morning. First, the biblical definition of faith is a reliance upon and trust in God and a firm conviction or belief in God’s truth, combined with a deep trust and confidence in him that leads us to obey—we saw that in Hebrews 11, verses 1–3.

Then, we discovered there are three kinds of faith. Confident faith—a believing faith that moves us to action. This kind of faith is described by six characteristics which we went over: imperishable, incorrupted, unfading, valuable, revealing, and centered on our love for Christ. The woman who was bleeding for 12 years exhibited this kind of confident faith.

Second, cautious faith—a faith that is not quite sure it can believe in God. Jairus was hesitant and fearful. He’d just been informed his daughter died. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore. No need. She’s already dead.” He was not quite sure that he could believe Jesus could do anything more. His faith did lead him to seek Jesus out, believing initially, “If I get Jesus and come to my house, he can heal my daughter.” But now that she was dead—no more. When confronted with tragic news, he almost reverted back to what he believed before. Jesus helped him put aside his fear and move to having confident faith.

And then, there’s critical faith—a faith that doubts God and does not believe that he can do what he says he can. Instead of believing Jesus and taking him at his word, Jairus’ family laughed at him, mocked him. “Oh, get out of here. You can’t do anything more. She’s already dead.” They lacked any kind of faith that he could go one step further and raise her from the dead.

So, the kind of faith that we should have is to trust God’s promises, even when we cannot see it. Remember, faith is the evidence of things unseen. The woman came to him in faith, not knowing if it was really true, but having a faith that it could happen. She put her trust in something that was unseen, and then when it was seen, she rejoiced. Same with the parents—rejoicing because of what they had just seen, having put their faith and confidence in Jesus Christ that he could do what was necessary.

Faith is the attitude of our heart that says, “Lord, I do not have all the answers, but I’m going to put my trust in you.” So, what kind of faith do we have—confident, cautious, or critical?

Let’s pray. Father, I thank you for this truth that you have given us. Thank you that you have given us, even though we don’t see it, a faith that trusts in you, a faith that allows us to come before you, to lay our burdens down to you, and then allow you to work in our lives and do that for us.

Father, as we go from this place today, we ask that you would give us this confident and leading faith that centers our love, our adoration on Jesus. As we do that, people will see the faith in us, through us, and allow us to tell them more about what God can do in their lives.

Father, thank you for this morning. Thank you for this time together, fellowship together. And Father, protect us as we go out into this world and share our faith. Father, thank you for all that you’ve done in our lives. And most of all, I thank you for Jesus.

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Faith in the Face of Desperation

Comprehensive Bible Study and Sermon on Luke 8:40-56

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INTRODUCTION

Have you ever faced a situation so desperate, so hopeless, that you didn’t know where to turn? A medical diagnosis that shattered your world? A crisis that left you feeling helpless? A problem that had no human solution?

In Luke 8:40-56, we meet two people in exactly that position—a desperate father watching his daughter die, and a desperate woman who had suffered for twelve years with no relief. Both had exhausted every option. Both were at the end of their rope. Both faced circumstances that seemed utterly hopeless.

But both did one thing that changed everything: they came to Jesus in faith.

This passage is one of the most beautiful and instructive stories in all of Scripture about what real faith looks like when you’re desperate. It’s a story within a story—Jesus is on His way to heal one person when He stops to heal another. It’s about interrupted plans and divine timing. It’s about faith that persists even when circumstances seem impossible. It’s about a Savior who has power over disease and even death itself.

What makes this passage especially powerful is that it shows us two very different expressions of faith.

Both stories teach us that when we come to Jesus in faith—however imperfect, however desperate, however weak—He responds with power, compassion, and grace.

Let’s walk through this remarkable passage together and discover what it means to have faith in the face of desperation.

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PART ONE: A FATHER’S DESPERATE PLEA (Luke 8:40-42a)

The Setting: Jesus Returns

Verse 40: “Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.”

Jesus had just come back from the region of the Gerasenes, where He had delivered the demon-possessed man (Luke 8:26-39). The people there had asked Him to leave, but here in Jewish territory, on the western shore of Galilee, the crowd welcomed Him eagerly. They had been waiting for Him—anticipating His return, eager to see Him, hoping for His help.

This sets the stage for what follows. Jesus is surrounded by a pressing crowd, thronging Him on every side. It’s in this public, chaotic setting that a desperate father pushes through to reach Him.

The Man: Jairus

Verse 41: “And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’s feet, he implored him to come to his house.”

Let’s understand who Jairus was and what this moment cost him.

His Position: “A Ruler of the Synagogue”

This was no ordinary person. Jairus held one of the most respected positions in Jewish society:

Responsibilities of a synagogue ruler:

• Oversaw worship services and maintained order
• Chose who would read Scripture and pray
• Managed the synagogue building and staff
• Was a respected leader and teacher
• Represented religious authority in the community

Social implications:

• Wealthy and influential
• Highly educated in Scripture
• Part of the religious establishment
• Expected to maintain dignity and propriety
• Under scrutiny from fellow leaders

His Action: Falling at Jesus’s Feet

Think about what this means. A man of Jairus’s status doesn’t typically:

• Fall down in public
• Beg anyone for anything
• Show such vulnerability
• Risk his reputation
• Humble himself so completely

But desperate times call for desperate measures. When your twelve-year-old daughter is dying, pride becomes irrelevant. Status means nothing. Reputation is worthless. All that matters is getting help.

“Falling at Jesus’s feet” is a posture of:

• Worship – acknowledging Jesus’s authority
• Humility – laying aside all pretense and pride
• Desperation – having nowhere else to turn
• Submission – yielding to Jesus’s power
• Supplication – earnest, urgent pleading

Mark 5:22 adds that he “fell at his feet and implored him earnestly.” This was intense, passionate begging. Not cool, composed, dignified—but desperate, urgent, pleading.

The Crisis: A Dying Daughter

Verse 42a: “For he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.”

The Details That Intensify the Desperation:

“An only daughter”

• Not one of several children, but his ONLY child
• The focus of all his parental love and hopes
• All his dreams centered on her
• If she died, his family line ended

“About twelve years of age”

• Just entering adulthood in Jewish culture
• On the threshold of her life
• All her potential unfulfilled
• The tragedy of a life cut short

“She was dying”

• Not sick—DYING
• Present tense: the process was happening now
• Time was running out
• This was a medical emergency
• Every minute counted

Mark 5:23 adds more detail: “My little daughter is at the point of death.” Matthew 9:18 records Jairus saying his daughter had “just died” (probably had died by the time he reached Jesus, or was at the very moment of death).

The point is clear: this was an emergency. There was no time to waste.

How many sleepless nights had Jairus and his wife endured? How many prayers had they prayed? How many remedies had they tried? Now, at the last possible moment, he came to Jesus.

Sometimes we wait until we’re desperate before we come to Jesus. Jairus had probably tried everything else first. But better late than never. And Jesus never turns away those who come to Him in genuine need.

The Request: “Come to My House”

Verse 41b: “He implored him to come to his house.”

Jairus wasn’t asking for distant prayer or general blessing. He was asking Jesus to:

• Come personally – not send someone else
• Come to his house – enter his private space
• Come immediately – there’s no time to waste
• Come and heal – exercise His power

This required faith:

• Faith that Jesus COULD heal
• Faith that Jesus WOULD respond
• Faith that Jesus cared about his crisis
• Faith to ask publicly despite the risks

Mark 5:23 records more of his plea: “Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” He had specific faith—faith that Jesus’s touch could heal, that Jesus’s power could save, that Jesus could snatch his daughter from death’s door.

Jesus’s Response

What did Jesus do?

Verse 42b: “As Jesus went, the crowds pressed around him.”

Jesus went.

Immediately. Without hesitation. Without conditions. Without questioning whether Jairus deserved it or had enough faith. Jesus simply responded to desperate need with compassionate action.

He started toward Jairus’s house. The crisis was urgent, time was short, and Jesus was on His way.

But then something happened that must have filled Jairus with alarm: Jesus stopped.

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PART TWO: A WOMAN’S DESPERATE TOUCH (Luke 8:42c-48)

The Interruption

Verse 42c: “As Jesus went, the crowds pressed around him.”

Picture the scene: Jesus is walking through the streets toward Jairus’s house. The crowd is crushing in from every side—pressing, pushing, jostling. Jairus is probably trying to clear a path, desperately thinking, “Hurry! My daughter is dying! We don’t have time for delays!”

And then, in that crowd, there’s a woman. A woman with a secret. A woman with a desperate need of her own. A woman who’s about to interrupt an urgent mission with what seems like a selfish act.

The Woman: Twelve Years of Suffering

Verse 43: “And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone.”

Her Condition: A Flow of Blood

This was likely a chronic menstrual hemorrhage—a condition that was:

Medically devastating:

• Constant bleeding for twelve years
• Chronic anemia causing weakness and fatigue
• Progressive deterioration of health
• Potentially life-threatening over time
• No known cure in ancient medicine

Socially isolating:

Under Jewish law (Leviticus 15:25-27), this condition made her:

• Ceremonially unclean – could not enter the temple or synagogue
• Socially untouchable – anyone she touched became unclean
• Relationally isolated – couldn’t participate in normal family or community life
• Religiously excluded – cut off from worship and festivals
• Potentially divorced – this condition could end a marriage

Economically ruinous:

Verse 43 tells us she had “spent all her living on physicians.” She had:

• Tried every doctor available
• Spent her entire fortune on treatments
• Gone from wealth to poverty
• Exhausted all financial resources
• And gotten NO better (Mark 5:26 adds “rather grew worse”)

Emotionally crushing:

Imagine twelve years of:

• Constant suffering and weakness
• Growing isolation and loneliness
• Repeated disappointments as treatments failed
• Watching her resources disappear
• Feeling hopeless and forgotten
• Being treated as unclean and untouchable
• Longing for normal life
• Wondering if it would ever end

Her Desperate Plan

Verse 44a: “She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment.”

Why Come From Behind?

She didn’t approach openly like Jairus did. She came from behind, secretly, hoping not to be noticed. Why?

Shame:

• Her condition was embarrassing and private
• She was ceremonially unclean
• Touching others was forbidden
• She felt unworthy to approach openly

Fear:

• She was breaking religious law by being in the crowd
• If discovered, she could be publicly rebuked
• She might make Jesus unclean by touching Him
• People might react with disgust or anger

Desperation:

• She had tried everything else
• This was her last hope
• She couldn’t let this opportunity pass
• It was now or never

Faith:

• She believed Jesus could heal her
• She believed even touching His garment would be enough
• She didn’t need Him to speak to her or lay hands on her
• His power was so great, even indirect contact would work

What She Touched: The Fringe

She touched “the fringe of his garment.” This refers to the tassels (tzitzit) that Jewish men wore on the corners of their outer garment as commanded in Numbers 15:38-40.

Her faith was remarkable:

• She didn’t need Jesus to see her
• She didn’t need Him to speak healing words
• She didn’t need Him to lay hands on her
• She believed His power was so great that even accidental, indirect contact would heal

Matthew 9:21 records her thought: “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.”

“If only” – That’s the language of desperate faith. “If only I can get close enough. If only I can touch His clothes. If only…”

The Immediate Healing

Verse 44b: “And immediately her discharge of blood ceased.”

Immediately. Instantly. No delay. No gradual improvement. No partial healing.

After twelve years of suffering, after countless failed treatments, after spending everything she had—one touch of Jesus’s garment and immediately she was completely healed.

She felt it in her body. Mark 5:29 says she “felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.” The constant flow stopped. The weakness lifted. The suffering ended. After twelve years of misery, in one moment, everything changed.

This is the power of Jesus. This is what happens when desperate faith meets divine power. This is why we come to Him when we have nowhere else to turn.

Jesus Stops and Asks

Now here’s what’s remarkable: Jesus stopped.

Verse 45: “And Jesus said, ‘Who was it that touched me?’ When all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!'”

The Question

Jesus asked, “Who touched me?”

This seems strange. Hundreds of people were pressing against Him, jostling, crowding. Peter essentially said, “What do you mean ‘who touched you’? EVERYONE is touching you!”

But Jesus knew. He felt power go out from Him (Luke 8:46). He knew this wasn’t just the casual contact of the crowd, but the deliberate touch of faith.

Why did Jesus ask?

Not because He didn’t know—He’s omniscient. He asked because:

1. To bring the woman forward

• She needed to come out of hiding
• Her healing shouldn’t be secret
• She needed to own her faith publicly
• Jesus wanted relationship, not just transaction

2. To teach about faith

• Her story would encourage others
• Her testimony would glorify God
• The crowd needed to hear about faith
• Jairus needed to see faith in action

3. To give her full healing

• Physical healing had occurred
• But she needed spiritual and emotional healing too
• She needed restoration to community
• She needed to know she was loved, not just fixed

4. To demonstrate that He wasn’t made unclean

• She feared she had defiled Him
• But Jesus’s holiness overcame her uncleanness
• The power flowed from Him to her, not vice versa
• Nothing could defile the Son of God

The Silence

“When all denied it” – everyone in the crowd said, “Not me!” They didn’t understand what Jesus was asking about. Only one person knew—the woman who had touched Him in faith.

Imagine her terror. She thought she could slip away unnoticed, healed but anonymous. Now Jesus was asking publicly who touched Him. She realized she’d been discovered.

The Woman’s Confession

Verse 47: “And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.”

Her Fear: “Came Trembling”

She was terrified. Why?

• She had violated religious law by being in the crowd while unclean
• She had touched a rabbi, potentially making Him unclean
• She had taken healing “without permission”
• She was about to be exposed publicly for her condition
• She feared Jesus’s reaction

But despite her fear, she came forward. She didn’t run away. She didn’t hide. When Jesus called, she responded.

Her Humility: “Falling Down Before Him”

Like Jairus, she fell at Jesus’s feet. Both the synagogue ruler and the unclean woman assumed the same posture before Jesus—complete humility, recognition of His authority, and desperate need.

Her Testimony: “Declared in the Presence of All”

This must have been excruciating. In front of everyone—the crowd, the disciples, Jairus and his companions—she had to:

• Explain her condition (shameful and private)
• Admit she had touched Jesus while unclean (breaking law)
• Confess she had tried to take healing secretly
• Tell the whole story publicly

But notice what she testified:

• WHY she touched Him – her desperate need
• HOW she was healed – immediately, completely

Her story was powerful. Her faith was commended. Her healing was confirmed. And her testimony would encourage countless others.

Jesus’s Response: Words of Peace

Verse 48: “And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.'”

“Daughter”

This is the only time in the Gospels that Jesus calls someone “daughter.” It’s deeply tender and personal:

• She was not just healed but adopted
• Not just fixed but loved
• Not just a patient but family
• Not unclean but beloved

After twelve years of isolation, rejection, and being treated as untouchable, Jesus called her “daughter.” Can you imagine what that did to her heart?

“Your Faith Has Made You Well”

Jesus credited her faith. Not His power (though that’s what actually healed her), but her faith.

What does this mean?

• Faith is the channel through which God’s power flows
• Faith is what connects us to Jesus’s healing
• Faith is what Jesus honors and commends
• Faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6)

Her faith was:

• Desperate – she had nowhere else to turn
• Persistent – she pushed through the crowd
• Specific – she believed touching His garment would heal
• Humble – she approached from behind, unworthy
• Effective – it connected her to His power

Jesus wasn’t saying her faith had magical power. He was saying her faith in HIM released His power to heal her.

“Go in Peace”

The Greek word is eirēnē (shalom in Hebrew)—comprehensive well-being:

• Peace with God (no longer unclean or excluded)
• Peace in body (healed completely)
• Peace in mind (no more fear or shame)
• Peace in community (restored to fellowship)
• Peace in soul (loved and accepted by Jesus)

She came in desperation and shame. She left in peace and wholeness. That’s what an encounter with Jesus does.

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PART THREE: FAITH TESTED BY DELAY AND BAD NEWS (Luke 8:49-50)

The Devastating Message

While Jesus was still speaking to the woman, imagine Jairus’s growing anxiety. Every moment counted. His daughter was dying. And Jesus had stopped to deal with someone else’s problem.

Then the worst possible news arrived.

Verse 49: “While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.'”

The Message: “Your daughter is dead”

Not “dying” anymore. Not “hurry.” DEAD.

It’s over. Too late. The delay has cost everything. There’s no point in continuing now.

Can you imagine Jairus’s emotions?

• Devastation – his worst fear realized
• Despair – his only child gone
• Anger – if Jesus hadn’t stopped…
• Confusion – why did God let this happen?
• Numbness – overwhelming grief

The messenger essentially said, “It’s over. Don’t bother Jesus anymore. There’s nothing He can do now. Go home and prepare for the funeral.”

This is where faith gets tested most severely:

• When circumstances seem to contradict God’s promises
• When delay appears to have cost everything
• When hope seems foolish
• When giving up seems reasonable
• When the situation appears irreversible

The Human Calculation

From a human perspective, this made sense:

• Death is final
• There’s no point in asking Jesus to heal a corpse
• It would be inappropriate to “trouble” Jesus further
• Time to shift from hope to grief
• Accept reality and move on

But human calculations don’t account for Jesus’s power over death.

Jesus’s Response: “Do Not Fear; Only Believe”

Before Jairus could respond, before despair could fully set in, Jesus spoke.

Verse 50: “But Jesus on hearing this answered him, ‘Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.'”

“Do Not Fear”

Jesus addressed the emotion that would naturally flood Jairus’s heart—fear.

Fear that it’s too late. Fear that his daughter is gone forever. Fear that hope is foolish. Fear that faith has failed.

“Do not fear” is one of the most common commands in Scripture (appears over 365 times—one for every day). Why? Because fear is faith’s greatest enemy. Fear paralyzes. Fear destroys hope. Fear whispers that God can’t or won’t help.

Jesus says, “Don’t give in to fear. Don’t let it control you. Don’t let circumstances dictate your emotions.”

“Only Believe”

This is the alternative to fear: faith.

“Only believe” means:

• Trust Me – even when circumstances look impossible
• Take Me at My word – I said she will be well
• Don’t give up – the situation isn’t hopeless
• Keep hoping – death isn’t the end
• Stay confident – I have power over this

“Only” – That’s all that’s required. Not perfect understanding. Not strong emotions. Not impressive prayers. Just believe. Trust. Have faith.

This is one of the most important moments in the passage. Faith is most genuine when circumstances seem most hopeless. Anyone can believe when everything looks good. Real faith believes even when everything looks terrible.

“She Will Be Well”

Jesus made a promise: “She will be well.”

Not “maybe.” Not “if you have enough faith.” Not “we’ll see what happens.” But a clear, definite promise: “She WILL be well.”

Application for us:

Sometimes God delays. Sometimes circumstances worsen. Sometimes bad news comes while we’re waiting. Sometimes it looks like we missed our opportunity.

That’s when faith must choose:

• Will we believe our circumstances or believe Jesus?
• Will we give in to fear or cling to faith?
• Will we trust what we see or trust what He says?
• Will we give up or keep believing?

Jairus had to make that choice. And so do we.

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PART FOUR: JESUS RAISES THE DEAD (Luke 8:51-56)

Arriving at the House

Verse 51: “And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child.”

The Inner Circle

Jesus limited who could enter to:

• Peter, John, and James – His closest disciples, who would later witness His transfiguration and His agony in Gethsemane
• The father and mother – Those most intimately affected

Why limit the crowd? Several reasons:

To protect sacred moments:

• This was holy ground
• Not a spectacle for gawkers
• Intimate moments should be private
• Some miracles are for specific witnesses

To remove unbelief:

• The crowd’s cynicism would hinder
• Mockery has no place in miracle moments
• Faith, not skepticism, should dominate
• Sometimes we need to remove negative influences

To teach the inner circle:

• These three disciples needed to see Jesus’s power over death
• They would later lead the church
• This would strengthen their faith for future trials
• Witnessing this would shape their ministries

To minister to the parents:

• Jairus and his wife needed Jesus’s undivided attention
• Their grief was personal and profound
• They needed intimate care, not public spectacle
• Jesus honored their pain with focused presence

The Scene of Mourning

Verse 52: “And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, ‘Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.'”

Jesus’s Strange Statement: “She Is Not Dead But Sleeping”

This doesn’t mean she wasn’t really dead (she was—v. 53 confirms this). Jesus was saying:

• From My perspective, death is like sleep
• I have power to wake her up
• This isn’t permanent
• Don’t mourn as though there’s no hope
• What you call “death,” I call “rest before waking”

Jesus uses “sleep” as a metaphor for death several times:

• Lazarus: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep” (John 11:11)
• Stephen: “He fell asleep” (Acts 7:60)
• Paul: “Those who have fallen asleep in Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:18)

For believers, death is sleep—temporary rest before resurrection morning. For Jesus, who has power over death, raising the dead is as simple as waking someone from sleep.

The Mockers

Verse 53: “And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.”

The Irony

They laughed—mocked, ridiculed, scoffed. How dare this rabbi suggest she’s only sleeping? They knew better. They had seen the body. They were professionals at death and mourning. This girl was clearly, obviously, undeniably dead.

Their laughter revealed:

• Unbelief – inability to imagine Jesus’s power
• Cynicism – trained skepticism about miracles
• Limited perspective – judging by human standards
• Mockery – scoffing at what they didn’t understand

The irony: Those who claimed to know death best completely missed the One who has power over death. They were “knowing” in their ignorance, confident in their limitations, certain of their doubts.

How often do we do the same?

• Laugh at promises that seem impossible
• Mock faith that seems naive
• Declare situations hopeless based on human knowledge
• Limit God to what makes sense to us

The mockers would soon be silenced. Their laughter would turn to amazement.

The Miracle: “Child, Arise”

Verse 54: “But taking her by the hand he called, saying, ‘Child, arise.'”

The Touch

Jesus “took her by the hand.” This was:

• Tender – gentle care for a young girl
• Bold – touching a corpse made one unclean (Numbers 19:11)
• Powerful – His touch brought life, not defilement
• Personal – not distant miracle, but intimate connection

Once again, Jesus demonstrates that His holiness overcomes uncleanness. He touched lepers (Luke 5:13), a bleeding woman touched Him (Luke 8:44), and now He touches a corpse—and instead of becoming unclean, He brings purity, healing, and life.

The Command

“Child, arise” – Simple, direct, authoritative.

The Response

Verse 55: “And her spirit returned, and she got up at once.”

“Her spirit returned” – confirms she was truly dead. Her spirit had departed; now it came back. This was genuine resurrection, not resuscitation from a coma.

“She got up at once” – Immediately. Completely. Fully restored. Not gradually recovering, but instantly alive and well.

No gradual healing. No rehabilitation needed. One moment dead, the next moment fully alive.

This is resurrection power. This is what Jesus can do. This is the power available to those who believe.

The Practical Care

Verse 55b: “And he directed that something should be given her to eat.”

Jesus’s Thoughtfulness

After performing one of the most spectacular miracles imaginable, Jesus’s next words were wonderfully practical: “Give her something to eat.”

This reveals Jesus’s character:

• Compassionate – thinking of her physical needs
• Practical – miracles don’t negate practical care
• Thorough – complete healing includes nourishment
• Human – understanding she’d be hungry after being dead
• Tender – caring for the little details

Application: Jesus cares about our physical needs as well as spiritual. He’s concerned with the whole person—body, soul, and spirit. Our everyday needs matter to Him.

The Parents’ Response

Verse 56: “And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.”

“They Were Amazed”

The Greek word is existēmi – to be astonished, astounded, beside oneself with wonder. They were overwhelmed, stunned, blown away by what they’d witnessed.

They had gone from:

• Hope → to despair → to hope again → to overwhelming joy
• Watching their daughter die → hearing she was dead → seeing her alive
• Grief → to shock → to amazement → to gratitude

This is what Jesus does: He turns mourning into dancing, grief into joy, death into life.

The Command to Silence

“He charged them to tell no one” – Why?

This is one of several times Jesus commanded silence after miracles (called the “Messianic Secret” by scholars). Reasons include:

Timing:

• His hour had not yet come
• He needed to complete His ministry before being arrested
• Premature publicity would bring opposition too soon
• He would be revealed as Messiah at the right time

Misunderstanding:

• People wanted a political/military Messiah
• Miracle-seeking crowds missed His true mission
• He came to die for sins, not just perform wonders
• His kingdom is spiritual, not earthly

Focus:

• Keep the focus on His teaching, not just miracles
• Prevent miracle-seeking rather than truth-seeking
• Avoid becoming merely a wonder-worker
• Maintain priority on the gospel message

Practical:

• The family needed time to process what happened
• The girl needed to readjust to life
• Unnecessary attention would be disruptive
• Let them return to normalcy

Of course, you can’t really keep a resurrection secret. Mark 5:42-43 notes the parents “were overcome with amazement.” How do you not tell people your dead daughter is alive? But Jesus wanted them to be thoughtful about how and when they shared, not turn it into a circus.

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THEOLOGICAL THEMES AND APPLICATIONS

The Nature of Faith

This passage gives us a masterclass on what genuine faith looks like:

Faith Comes in Different Forms:

Jairus’s Faith:

• Public and bold
• Confident initially
• Tested by delay and bad news
• Had to persist when circumstances worsened
• Trusted despite impossible odds

The Woman’s Faith:

• Secret and timid
• Desperate and hidden
• Simple but specific
• Humble and shameful
• Persistent through obstacles

Both were acceptable to Jesus. Faith doesn’t have to look a certain way. Some come boldly; others come trembling. Some ask openly; others reach out secretly. Some have strong confidence; others have desperate hope. Jesus honors all genuine faith, however it’s expressed.

Faith Believes Despite Circumstances:

Both Jairus and the woman faced impossible situations:

• The woman: twelve years of failure, all money spent, condition worsening
• Jairus: daughter dying, then dead, all hope seemingly gone

Real faith:

• Believes when circumstances say “impossible”
• Trusts when logic says “give up”
• Hopes when evidence says “too late”
• Persists when others say “stop bothering”

This is the essence of faith: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Faith Connects Us to Jesus’s Power:

Neither person had power in themselves:

• The woman couldn’t heal herself
• Jairus couldn’t raise his daughter
• Human solutions had completely failed

But their faith connected them to Jesus, and His power did what they couldn’t do.

Faith is the conduit through which God’s power flows into our lives. Not because faith itself has power, but because faith connects us to the One who has all power.

Faith Pleases God:

Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Jesus commended the woman: “Your faith has made you well.” He challenged Jairus: “Only believe.” Faith is what God honors, what He responds to, what pleases Him.

Faith Requires Action:

Both Jairus and the woman took action:

• Jairus: humbled himself publicly, fell at Jesus’s feet, asked for help
• Woman: pushed through the crowd, reached out her hand, touched His garment

Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Real faith does something. It moves. It acts. It takes risks. It reaches out.

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Pastor Jerome notes:

What is faith?

Faith: The Substance of Trust in God

Faith is more than belief—it is trust anchored in the unseen reality of God’s promises. Hebrews 11:1 defines it as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This moves faith beyond sentiment into confident assurance. It is the spiritual lens through which the believer perceives God’s faithfulness before the outcome is visible.

From Abel to Abraham, Scripture portrays faith as obedience rooted in trust. Abraham left his homeland not knowing where he was going, yet believed that God would keep His word. His faith was credited as righteousness (Genesis 15:6), showing that genuine belief produces reliance and movement, not mere assent.

In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly commends faith that acts. The woman who touched His garment, the centurion who trusted His command, and the blind who believed before seeing—all reveal that faith reaches toward Christ even when evidence seems absent.

James later clarifies that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). True faith manifests in deeds that align with God’s character. It stands firm in trials, finding hope in promises rather than circumstances.

Ultimately, faith centers on the person of Jesus Christ. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He becomes both the object and author of faith (Hebrews 12:2). The believer’s journey, then, is one of continual trust—learning day by day that God’s word is reliable, His grace sufficient, and His timing perfect.

Faith does not eliminate uncertainty but transforms it into opportunity for dependence. It is the steady confidence that, though unseen, God is working all things toward His good and eternal purpose.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21

Biblical faith shapes believers into people who trust, obey, and endure in dependence upon God. It is not passive belief but active confidence in His promises and character, guiding the heart toward patient endurance and joyful obedience even in uncertainty. True faith molds daily life around God’s will and eternal perspective, marked by visible fruit that reflects Christ’s nature.

Key Biblical Characteristics of Faith:

• Assurance in God’s promises (Hebrews 11:1) – Confidence in what is unseen but certain in God’s word.
• Trust rooted in obedience (Hebrews 11:8) – Acting upon God’s instructions even without full understanding.
• Perseverance in trials (James 1:2–4) – Standing firm with patience and joy amid difficulty.
• Courage and strength (Joshua 1:9) – Faith resists fear and relies on God’s presence.
• Eternal focus (2 Corinthians 4:18) – Valuing unseen, lasting rewards above temporary ones.
• Righteous action (James 2:26) – Faith produces fruit through deeds aligned with God’s truth.
• Peace and joy in believing (Romans 15:13) – Trust that overflows with hope empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Faith, therefore, is the believer’s continual response to the faithfulness of God—living proof that confidence in His unseen hand transforms both heart and conduct.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
1 Peter 1:6-8

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4

David: Faith characteristics:

• Imperishable
• Uncorrupted
• Unfading
• Valuable
• Revealing
• It is centered on our love for Christ

Imperishable

Unlike earthly treasures that decay, rust, or crumble with time, authentic faith possesses eternal durability. Peter describes it as imperishable seed—living and enduring—that survives beyond physical death into eternity. While our bodies age and worldly achievements fade into forgotten history, genuine faith transcends temporal boundaries. It cannot be destroyed by persecution, diminished by suffering, or erased by death. This imperishable quality means the faith we cultivate today determines our eternal destiny, making it infinitely more valuable than any perishable possession we might accumulate during our brief earthly existence.

Uncorrupted

True faith remains untainted by the moral decay surrounding it. In a world where compromise feels inevitable and cultural pressure constantly demands conformity, uncorrupted faith maintains its purity and integrity. It doesn’t blend with popular philosophies, syncretize with competing worldviews, or dilute truth for acceptance. Like gold that resists oxidation and tarnish, genuine faith in Christ withstands the corrupting influences of materialism, relativism, and self-worship. This unblemished quality reflects God’s own holy character and demonstrates that our allegiance belongs completely to Him, refusing to pollute devotion with divided loyalties or counterfeit spirituality.

Unfading

The Greek word for unfading originally described amaranth flowers that never wilt—a symbol of immortality. Our faith inheritance doesn’t lose its beauty, diminish in glory, or fade like morning mist. Earthly rewards tarnish, achievements become irrelevant, and human praise evaporates, but the glory awaiting faithful believers intensifies rather than diminishes. Where worldly hope disappoints and human promises fail, faith in Christ leads to ever-increasing glory. This unfading nature assures us that investing in God’s kingdom yields returns that grow richer throughout eternity, never depreciating or becoming obsolete.

Valuable

Peter declares tested faith “of greater worth than gold, which perishes.” This comparison staggers the imagination—faith surpasses humanity’s most prized metal in value. Why? Gold purchases temporary comfort; faith secures eternal salvation. Gold adorns the body; faith transforms the soul. Gold impresses others; faith pleases God. The marketplace assigns monetary value to precious metals, but faith’s worth transcends economic calculation. It’s the currency of heaven, the treasure God Himself esteems above all earthly riches. Recognizing faith’s supreme value reorients our priorities, investments, and pursuits toward what truly matters.

Revealing

Genuine faith doesn’t remain hidden—it reveals itself through trials, choices, and circumstances. Like fire that exposes gold’s true purity by burning away dross, life’s pressures reveal whether our professed faith is authentic or counterfeit. Difficulty doesn’t create faith; it reveals what already exists in our hearts. When comfort disappears, relationships fracture, or dreams collapse, our response unveils the reality of our trust in God. This revealing quality serves divine purposes—it shows us where our faith needs strengthening and demonstrates to watching world the transformative power of Christ working through surrendered believers.

Centered on Our Love for Christ

Peter addresses believers who “love him even though you have not seen him.” Authentic faith flows from affection, not mere intellectual agreement or religious duty. It’s relational devotion to a Person, not adherence to a system. This love-centered faith transforms obedience from burdensome obligation into joyful response. We trust Christ because we love Him; we sacrifice for Him because He first loved us. When faith is rooted in love rather than fear, guilt, or social pressure, it endures through doubt and disappointment. Our love for Christ—cultivated through His Word, sustained by His Spirit—becomes the unshakeable foundation ensuring our faith remains vibrant and resilient.

Illustration of the value of gold:

In Matthew 13:44, Jesus tells of a man who discovered treasure hidden in a field. Overwhelmed by its value, he sold everything he owned to purchase that field and claim the treasure as his own.

Like gold that must be extracted from ore, refined by fire, and tested for purity before revealing its true worth, the Kingdom of Heaven demands we recognize its supreme value above all earthly possessions. The man in Jesus’ parable understood something crucial: when you’ve found treasure of infinite worth, no sacrifice is too great to obtain it.

Gold’s value lies in its rarity, purity, and enduring nature—it doesn’t tarnish or decay. Similarly, what God offers us is incorruptible treasure “where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20).

The jeweler’s careful testing of gold mirrors how God refines our faith. Peter writes that our tested faith is “of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire” (1 Peter 1:7). Just as intense heat purifies gold by burning away impurities, trials reveal and strengthen the authenticity of our devotion to Christ.

As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:14-16

That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19
There are 3 kinds of faith:

• Confident – faith that moves us to action like the woman who approached Jesus
• Cautious – a trembling woman whose faith is not quite sure if it can believe God
• Critical – the doubters of God who do not believe He can do what He said

Confident Faith

The woman’s decisive action reveals faith that overcomes every obstacle. Despite twelve years of physical suffering, social isolation, and financial ruin from seeking cures, she pressed through the crowd with absolute conviction: “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Her confidence wasn’t arrogance but settled assurance in Jesus’ power. She didn’t wait for permission, seek an appointment, or doubt her welcome. Confident faith moves—it takes risks, pushes past barriers, and acts on belief. This woman’s determination teaches us that genuine faith doesn’t merely acknowledge God’s ability; it compels us toward Him, trusting that even the smallest connection with Christ releases His transformative power into our desperate circumstances.

Cautious Faith

After her healing, the woman “came trembling and fell at his feet.” Her trembling reveals the tension within cautious faith—believing enough to reach for Jesus, yet uncertain about the consequences. Perhaps she feared rebuke for touching Him while ceremonially unclean, or worried He might revoke the healing. Cautious faith is real faith, but it’s immature, fragile, marked by fear rather than freedom. Jesus didn’t condemn her trembling; instead, He called her “Daughter” and declared, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” His tenderness shows that God honors even hesitant faith, gently nurturing it toward greater confidence. He meets us where we are, transforming our trembling belief into unshakable trust.

Critical Faith

The crowd represents critical faith—or rather, faithlessness disguised as realism. When Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” the disciples responded with skeptical logic: “the people are crowding and pressing against you.” They witnessed the same scene but saw only natural explanations, dismissing the possibility of supernatural encounter. Critical faith questions God’s word, demands more evidence, and explains away miracles. It stands in Christ’s presence yet remains blind to His power. This skepticism doesn’t protect us from disappointment; it disqualifies us from experiencing divine intervention. Where confident faith receives healing and cautious faith finds encouragement, critical faith walks away empty-handed, having encountered Jesus but missed the miracle entirely.

In Closing…

So let us summarize what we learned this morning. First, the biblical definition of faith is a reliance upon and trust in God and a firm conviction or belief in God’s truth, combined with a deep trust and confidence in him that leads us to obey. And we saw that in Hebrews 11, verses one through three. And I think that’s up there.

Then we discovered there are three kinds of faith. Competent faith, a believing faith that moves us to action. Now this kind of faith is described by six characteristics which we went over. Imperishable, incorrupted, unfading, valuable, revealing, and centered on our love for Christ. The woman who was bleeding for 12 years exhibited this kind of competent faith.

Second faith was cautious faith. A faith that is not quite sure it can believe in God. Jairus was hesitant and fearful. He’d just been informed his daughter died. Don’t bother featuring her anymore. No need. She’s already dead. He was not quite sure that he could believe Jesus could do anything more. His faith did lead him to seek him out, believing initially that If I give Jesus and come to my house, he can heal my daughter. And now that she was dead, no more. When in front of a tragic news, he almost went back and said, what did you believe before? Jesus helped him put aside his fear and to move to having the confident faith.

And then there’s critical faith. A faith that doubts God and does not believe that he can do what he says he can. It believes that God is good even when life does… Oh, I’m sorry. Instead of believing Jesus and taking down his word, Jairus’ family laughed at him. Mocked him. Oh, get out of here. You can’t do anything more. She’s already dead. They lacked any kind of faith that he could… go one step further and raise her from the dead.

So, the kind of faith that we should have, trust God’s promises even when we cannot see it. Remember, evidence of faith or evidence of things unseen. The woman never did not, came to him in faith not knowing that If it was really true, but having a faith that it couldn’t happen. She put her trust in something that was unseen, and then when it was seen, she rejoiced. Same with parents. Rejoicing because of what they had just seen. Having put their faith and confidence in Jesus Christ that he could do what was necessary.

Faith is the attitude of our heart that says, Lord, I do not have all the answers, but I’m going to put my trust in you. So, what kind of faith do we have? Confident, cautious, or critical?