Matthew 9:1-38; Mark 2:1-22; Luke 8:40-56, 10:2-3

Summary: Jesus continues to show His compassion, love, and mercy by restoring sight to the blind, healing a paralyzed man, and giving life back to those who seemed to have lost all hope.

Verses 1-8:

The Lord left Gadara and sailed back to Galilee and Capernaum. Upon His return, a group of men bring another man to Him who has been struck by paralysis. They believed, by faith, that Jesus could heal him. We do not know what was going on in the mind of the paralyzed man. It was perhaps a mix of desperation and fear.

Jesus gave him comfort by telling him to be of good cheer because his sins had been forgiven, a statement that did not sit well with the scribes who were in the crowd. They said among themselves that this statement was blasphemous. Jesus, however, knew what they were thinking. To forgive sin is strictly within the prerogative of God. By saying what He said to the man, Jesus was publicly proclaiming Himself to be God. He used the situation to present a question designed for interpretation and to demonstrate His Divine authority.

What would have given this man true peace and happiness? Wouldn’t the knowledge of God’s forgiveness and grace upon this man supersede anything else? This would be of greater worth than just the healing of his physical body. Jesus healed this man both body and soul. The man then arose, took up his pallet, and went home praising God. The crowds, in turn, were amazed and also gave God glory for what they had seen and heard.

Verses 9-13:

The power of Jesus to forgive and restore people to the Father is again demonstrated as He walked by the tax office where Matthew was working. Matthew got up and left everything behind in order to follow the Master. Out of a grateful and thankful heart, Matthew hosted a dinner for his friends and others who were not part of what would be defined as “polite society.” Matthew not only wanted to thank Jesus but also wanted his friends and colleagues to meet the Lord.

The Pharisees witnessed this and were curious as to why Jesus would associate Himself with people of questionable reputation. Jesus replied by saying that it is those who are sick who need the attention of the physician, not the healthy. He was tending to those who knew that they were sick with sin. He was doing the job that the Pharisees should have been doing for the people of Israel but weren’t. Everyone is sick with sin (Isaiah 53:4-6, 64:6; Romans 3:23). It is the proud and vain who would say otherwise, yet their own words and actions are evidence to the contrary. They are also poisoned with the disease that leads to eternal death, and only Jesus has the cure.

Verses 14-17:

Fasting, or going without food for a period of time, was (and still is) a spiritual discipline designed to focus less upon the body and more upon seeking the will of God as well as answers to prayer. Moses (Exodus 34:28), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), Ezra (Ezra 10:6), and Daniel (Daniel 10:3) each practiced fasting in order to gain an understanding of God’s plans and decrees. Some of them also fasted out of sorrow for sins, both personal and national.

Jesus fasted during His time in the wilderness. He resisted Satan’s temptations during that time, His face toward the Father, and the inevitable journey toward the cross. He had been questioned by the disciples of John the Baptist as to why He and His disciples did not fast like they and the Pharisees did. Jesus replied that it was not the time in His ministry to mourn. He quoted a prophecy where the time would come when the bridegroom would be taken away, and then there would be a time of fasting. By stating this, He anticipated His own death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.

To attempt to apply the standards of the Pharisees to the new age Jesus was introducing was like placing new wine into old wineskins or putting a new piece of cloth on an old, worn-out garment. The old ways would not work anymore. When Jesus gives us new life, our old ways should depart as well (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Verses 18-26:

Jesus’ next encounter was with a man named Jairus, who served as the “ruler” of the local synagogue. His job was to see to the upkeep and proper order of worship within the house of God. His daughter had just died, and he approached Jesus with an attitude of respect and worship, believing that Jesus could bring her back from the dead.

Jesus and the disciples went over to Jairus’ house. While heading there, a woman was in the crowd who had been suffering from abnormal menstrual bleeding for twelve years, leaving her physically sick, emotionally drained, and ceremonially unclean. This woman had either seen or heard of Jesus and His ability to heal the sick. She took the risk of venturing out to find Him, believing that if she could just touch the hem of His garment, she would be made well.

This was a bold demonstration of faith, and she was made well instantly. In turn, Jesus gave the woman praise for her faith and called her the tender name of “daughter.” This was a restoration of physical and spiritual health and a term of endearment, showing that His love and care extend to anyone who will call on Him.

Jesus turned His attention to Jairus’ daughter as He entered the house. Upon entering, He encountered professional mourners and musicians who were playing a funeral dirge. He told them to leave the room or back off because the girl was not dead, but in His words, “asleep.” The formality of death would not be an issue for the LORD. Jesus is the LORD of life, and this enemy would not have the last word (Revelation 20:14). He took the girl’s hand, and she was immediately restored to life. This miracle got the attention of everyone and gave further proof of Jesus’ power and authority over all things (John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:16-17).

Verses 27-38:

After leaving Jairus’ house, Jesus heard the cries of two blind men who had probably been in the crowd. They had heard Jesus teach and what people had said about what they had witnessed. These men called out for mercy from the LORD, referring to Him as the “son of David,” a title that affirmed royalty. Arriving in Capernaum, Jesus then asked if they truly believed that He was able to heal them. They both replied, “Yes, LORD.” He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith, let it be to you.” Then their eyes were opened.

Jesus told them to keep this private so as not to proclaim Jesus as merely a “healer.” He was the Promised Messiah who had come to deliver His people from the tyranny of sin and death, a far more powerful force than the iron heel of Rome, and to give us a glorious eternity that will be far better than having a healing done in this present world.

The men, like most people whom Jesus healed, didn’t keep this to themselves, and the news spread throughout the regions.

Matthew also tells us of a man who was mute and demon-possessed. Jesus cast out the demons, and the man’s voice was restored. The Pharisees who witnessed this deliverance then made the outrageous and blasphemous charge that what Jesus was doing was by the power of the ruler of the demons. These words condemned them eternally for attributing the devil to the works of God. This was the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, for which there was no forgiveness. The Pharisees and scribes who saw what Jesus did yet blatantly attributed it to the work of Satan was an act of sacrilege that God would never overlook. That is a terrifying thing to ponder.

Matthew wrote that Jesus then went about all of the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing people of their sicknesses. His work was intertwined with the visible and open compassion He had upon the people. They were spiritually hungry and thirsty, weary, and in need of the care of a loving shepherd (Psalm 23; John 10). He told His disciples that there was a great harvest of souls but few laborers. He asked them to pray that the LORD would send more laborers into the field.

This was the precursor to the Great Commission (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8). This is the call He gives to each of us who have been set free from the power of sin and death by His act of compassion and redemption upon the cross on our behalf. We have the honor and responsibility to go out into the world and tell as many people as possible about the Savior.

Do you know Him? Has what you read so far spoken to your heart and mind? Repent of your sins (Isaiah 1:18) and turn to Jesus for salvation (Romans 10:9-10, 13) today. His mercy and love wait for you.

donaldwhitchard@outlook.com

www.realitycityreverend.com

Oklahoma Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists:

https://ocosbe.org/donald-whitchard/

 

 

 

Up until just about 40 years ago, if I had taken my last breath on this earth, right now I would be waiting for my place at the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15. That Judgment isn’t to see if we’re going to Heaven or the lake of fire, but to determine the degree of punishment each soul there will endure in hell forever. (ESV – all emphasis is mine)

All who have passed from this earth who were in the will of the Father, and those from Calvary on who had received and accepted Jesus, are at peace waiting for the Judgment Seat of Christ found in 2 Corinthians 5:10. This Judgment is to find out what rewards have been gained or lost, but the outcome is still eternity in Heaven with our Lord and Savior.

Psalm 103:11-12 states, “for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; for as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.” Please note that “fear” here is not to be terrified but to respect God’s will.

Our Heavenly Father does not take delight in preparing eternal punishment for all who pass from this life without being in His will, or without having received and accepted His Son, Jesus the Christ. He knows that no human has ever lived a sinless life on this earth except for His Son. That is why He has given all believers a pathway to forgiveness, found in 1 John 1:8-10.

And for all the false prophets and antichrists that are saying that there are many ways to Heaven without Jesus, they need to check several verses from our Father’s “love letter” to us known as the Bible. John 3:18, John 3:36, John 14:6, 1 John 2:23, and 1 John 5:10-12 all state that if we have the Son, we have the Father. Simply put, no Jesus – no Heavenly Father.

Probably the best parable that Jesus gave about this is found in Luke 16: 19-31. This is the one about the rich man and Lazarus. Jesus made it clear that Lazarus had died in the will of God and was comfortable in “Abraham’s Bosom.” The rich man was already in agony, waiting for his final judgment.

In Philippians 1:21-23, Paul tells us, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet, which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard-pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ.”

Paul, who had been a major persecutor of Christians, turned out to be one of the Savior’s most zealous disciples. Even through all the persecutions that were put on him, once converted, he never turned back to his old ways. He was telling us that when he would take his last breath here, his next instant would be with the Savior. That should be a trait for each of us to follow.

From the encounter on the road to Damascus to the end of Paul’s life, he belonged to Jesus. Everyone who receives and accepts Jesus as their Savior, Redeemer, Shepherd, and absolute Best Friend can also declare, “Now I Belong To Jesus!”

This happens to be the title of a song written by Norman J. Clayton (1903-1992) in 1943.

1.) Jesus, my Lord will love me forever; from Him no power of evil can sever. He gave His life to ransom my soul; Now I Belong To Him.

Ref.) Now I belong to Jesus; Jesus belongs to me; not for the years of time alone but for eternity.

2.) Once I was lost in sin’s degradation; Jesus came down to bring me Salvation. Lifted me up from sorrow and shame; Now I Belong To Him. (ref)

3.) Joy floods my soul, for Jesus has saved me. Freed me from sin that long had enslaved me; His precious blood He came to redeem; Now I Belong To Him.

We do not know the day or hour that our Savior will come to take all believers up to meet Him in the air, just as He stated in Matthew 24:36. “But concerning that day and hour, no one knows; not even the angels or Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

Some have used this verse to say that if Jesus were God, He would’ve known the day and hour. Hebrews 2:7-8 states, “You made Him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned Him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under His feet.”

When our Savior came to this earth to be our perfect blood sacrifice, He willingly became fully human. In order for the sacrifice to be accepted by the Father, Jesus did not sin even once, no matter what false prophets are saying.

Hebrews 10:4, “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” As long as the sacrifices were made in accordance with God’s will prior to Calvary, He allowed sins to be forgiven. However, the sacrifices had to be made on a regular basis.

When our Savior stated, “It Is Finished!” in John 19:30, He was declaring that the ultimate sacrifice that would take away the sins of all who would receive and accept Him was fully completed. His blood that was shed at Calvary reached back to those who had been in the will of the Father prior to Calvary. No longer would there be any sacrifice of animals for sins that the Father would accept. One very special sacrifice fulfilled the Father’s need for perfection.

The instant our Savior took His last breath as a human, He was immediately back as fully God. His statement to the repentant thief was evidence of this. Luke 23:43, “And He said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” Jesus was telling the thief that from that moment on, the thief belonged to the Savior.

The hardest part about being a Christian is believing it’s actually true. Some people believe they must do work or figure out a way to pay their way into Heaven. This is covered completely by Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.”

Many so-called man-made religions have so many rules, regulations, and requirements that no one ever fully knows if they’re going to paradise or not.

Romans 10:9-13 gives the ABCs of Salvation, which are: Admit we’re all sinners and cannot save ourselves; Believe Jesus is the Son of God who is the only way to Salvation; and Call on the name of the Lord to be saved. Anyone who believes there’s more than this needs to reread Ephesians 2:8-9.

When a person receives and accepts Jesus as their eternal Savior, they receive the Holy Spirit to live within them while they are on this earth. Yes, we will still fall short and sin, but that’s what 1 John 1:8-10 covers. For all who have left this earth and were in Christ when they died, when the Rapture takes place, all will receive a forever body and the mindset of our Savior, which will be immune from any further temptations from Satan and his demons.

The key phrase in Romans 10:13 is “ALL who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” It doesn’t matter what a person’s background has been as long as they truly call on Jesus to be their Savior. The timing is critical. This must be done before the Rapture to avoid the 7-year tribulation that will take place. People will still be able to be saved during that terrible time, but the cost will most likely be martyrdom.

Today, right now would not be too early to call on Jesus to be your forever Savior. He is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Also, this choice is absolutely yours, as the Father will force no one to accept His Son. Hope to see you at Jesus’ feet!

huebshman46@gmail.com