Matthew 9         January 21, 2015

Wait...Jesus is going to forgive this man his sins, and leave him crippled on his mat!   In verse 6 He essentially says "I guess I need to prove to you that I have authority and power to forgive sins, so I'll heal this man's legs".    It worked, because no one is questioning Him after that.     To be forgiven is so much more important than able to walk, or see, or talk.   Better to be granted entrance into heaven as a mute quadriplegic than to be healthy and refused entrance.    Jesus had it right.   Keeping the main thing, the main thing.

When Matthew is called, Jesus offers a challenge to the people.   "go and learn what this means....I desire mercy not sacrifice".    I suspect that Jesus would rather that we were taking care of others (because He loves them) than He would prefer that we avoid others and bring gifts to Him.    The better gift offered to Christ is the one given to someone who is in need.   God values that.   As a church, we take the combined gifts of many people and use them to meet the needs (spiritual, educational, physical, social and emotional) of as many people as we can.   John Wesley said this "do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to as many people as you can as long as you possibly can"     That still holds true today.      By the way,  it's significant that Jesus has gone to sit with people who wouldn't be welcomed by the religious dead.  (people who attend church but have no life or understanding of God within them)

I often hear people talking about the "new things" that Jesus is doing.  Which if you think about it, is probably not true.   God hasn't changed ever, and sin is the same as it ever was.   I doubt we are creating any new sins...we're just finding new ways of violating the same commands.   In the same way, Jesus isn't doing anything that He hasn't been doing forever...except for his death on the cross.   That was new.    I don't think we can use this passage to draw the conclusion that the last generation cannot possibly accept or appreciate what God is doing now.   In fact, in another Gospel, Jesus says "anyone who has had the old wine knows that it is better".  so this isn't a rebuke of those who are fasting, suggesting that they can't possibly appreciate what God is up to now.    Rather, it seems to me to be a suggestion that everyone has to go through the discipleship process themselves.   The actions and thoughts of new disciples aren't suitable for those who have been serving the Lord for many years.   They are further down the road, and have different needs and challenges.        I don't know for sure, but it seems to me that Jesus is saying "cut them some slack, they're happy now because I'm here, and that's okay.   In time, they will become more like you, but it won't be until after I leave."

Verse 18.   If Jesus were on the way to my daughter's house and some woman who had been sick for 12 years showed up and delayed him I would be furious and impatient.   I think the girl was alive when the ruler left to find Jesus, but died while he was traveling back.   In fact, in another place in the Bible when the ruler gets the news, Jesus tells him not to be afraid, "just believe".
Perhaps Jesus wanted the girl to die first, so that He could reveal the power of God to resurrect from the dead.   We absolutely needed that lesson, and there isn't any better way that to do it in front of many witnesses.    In fact, Jesus doesn't view death as death, because to Him it isn't final.  In fact, we shouldn't view death as final either....it isn't.

Verse 27.  I have to laugh when I think of two blind men trying to go unnoticed once they are healed.   That's impossible.  What was Jesus thinking?  The people inside with the men had to notice..and everyone is going to know within two seconds that the guys who used to be stumbling around are now walking without assistance and making eye contact.   Come on.....don't tell anyone?   Really?
I'll bet when they left Jesus busted out laughing.
Here's a more serious note:  the two blind men don't have any demons cast out.   But the mute did.   Some illnesses aren't demon possession, but it would appear some are.   I'm not sure how you know the difference, unless God has given you the gift of discernment.   Jesus clearly had it.

Vers 35.   So Jesus is concerned for people.  That should be underlined.   And His solution to getting help for them is to send folks like you and I out into the community to share the good news.  To tell the story of Jesus, and the possibility of forgiveness.    Once they accept that, they can confess and receive the Holy Spirit, who is the real source of comfort.   And encouragement. and so much more.

PR