Matthew
9 reminds me of watching football using a DVR. We can fast-forward
through the breaks and chatter in order to focus on the real action.
On any single play there are 22 men in seemingly chaotic motion; but
slowing down the critical activity allows us to see many individuals
working together. Today’s chapter includes a cluster of plays in
rapid succession. Let’s study the flow together. Jesus is on the
home field as He “came to His
own town“. Immediately “Some
men brought to Him a paralyzed man“.
Our attention is on the lame man, but “Jesus
saw their faith“. What words
of encouragement does He give? “Take
heart, son; your sins are forgiven“.
Before the other team can throw the challenge flag He audibled, “the
Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins… Get up, take
your mat and go home“.
Everyone was stunned, “When the
crowd saw this, they were filled
with awe; and they praised God“.
Let’s review; we are not sick because we have sinned, but our sin
separates us from God. God’s creation was perfect; Jesus came to
restore perfection by defeating sin. Next we advance past Matthew
the tax collector’s calling with a simple “Follow
Me“.
We
pause for a moment with an aerial view of “Jesus
was having dinner at Matthew’s house…
many tax collectors and sinners
came and ate with Him“. The
religious leaders stood on the sidelines without a mark on their
uniform, observing with distain as Jesus explained His purpose. “It
is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick… For I have not
come to call the righteous, but sinners“.
He even told them to go back and study their own Playbook, quoting
from the prophet Hosea, “I
desire mercy, not sacrifice“.
This criticism is directed at those only willing to pay to watch, but
not get onto the field. God does not need more spectators.
The
Jewish leaders even ridiculed the team photo because they looked like
they were having too much fun. Jesus explained, “How
can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them?”
He told them to get ready for something new. We pause again when
another Jewish leader asked Him to bring life back to his daughter.
All the mourners laughed when He told them, “Go
away. The girl is not dead but asleep… He went in and took the girl
by the hand, and she got up“.
This surely made the highlight reel as “News
of this spread through all that region“.
He can revive your spirit too. Two fans called Him by the Title of
God’s Messiah, “two blind men
followed him, calling out, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’”
He asked them only one question, “Do
you believe that I am able to do this?”
Their reply is one that I pray would be on all of our lips, “Yes,
Lord“. Zoom in closely, by
faith “their sight was
restored“. As we diagram the
play, we observe that they believed that Jesus was the Redeemer.
Nothing more was required to be fully restored. The chapter ends
with Jesus driving out a demon from a mute man. After this, the
Jewish leaders moved to the other side of the field deciding to play
against Him, saying “It is by
the prince of demons that He drives out demons“.
Jesus continued His march “teaching
in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and
healing every disease and sickness“.
He called all who were sick and “He
had compassion on them“. He
called all the “sheep without a
shepherd” and embraced them,
but there were many more. “The
harvest is plentiful but the workers are few“.
Friend, will you receive mercy and healing and get on the field? It
is time to get dirty.