“Imperfect Faith”
Mark 5:21-34
Sermon Series: “Greater”
Introduction: On Sunday, we talked about having greater faith, but we often struggle with weak, imperfect, and maybe deficient faith. If that is where your faith is, I think this will be an encouraging word for you. We are looking at a woman with a horrible problem who went to Jesus but did so with an imperfect faith. However, she found that He met her where she was and did a mighty work in her life. We will experience the same thing when we go to Jesus because Jesus responds to faith, even imperfect faith.
1. A Horrible Problem (v. 21-26). A lot of the background for her situation is found in Leviticus 15, but this woman had a horrible problem. Her problem was embarrassing, inconvenient, defiling, separating, suffering, costly, and seemed to have no human solution. Her problem was horrible:
A. Physically-Suffering with no cure B. Financially-Bankrupting her
C. Emotionally-Hopeless
D. Spiritually-Unclean
E. Socially-Outcast, no touch at all
What are our problems? How can we relate to this lady?
2. An Imperfect Faith (v. 27-28). She had faith. She did what it took to get to Jesus, which is the heart of the matter. However, her faith was based on superstition and bad theology. We often have an imperfect faith; with fear, worry, doubt, questions, and sometimes bad theology. However, we can follow this lady’s example and
come to Jesus. We don’t have to have it all worked out to come to Jesus, but we can come to Him like we are and let Him work on us.
3. We have a powerful God who mercifully responds to even imperfect faith (v. 29-34). This is the main idea of the story. The key is the object of our faith. It is about the greatness of His love and power-not the greatness of our faith. He drew her out to share her story publicly for her to confess her faith publicly and to show everyone that she was now clean and no longer an outcast. He cleansed her without being defiled Himself. It is a picture of the gospel. Jesus is our propitiation and expiation (Leviticus 16). He removes the wrath of God and at the same time cleanses and forgives us. We are completely whole in Him. Jesus healed her physically, but He also worked in her internally and sent her away in peace. When we bring our needs to Jesus, He will work in our lives internally and externally. His ultimate concern is our hearts.
Conclusion: Come to Jesus, wherever you are in your faith! Bring your needs to Him. Find your identity in Him. We are clean and whole through His blood.
