Today's lesson comes from Matthew 9: 18-34. To me, Matthew really provides a lot of healing examples. The first verse of the chapter records, "Jesus came into his own city," known as Capernaum. Physical healing was very important to the Jews. They believed that sin brought physical illness and that illness was a judgment from God for sin. That is why Jesus would forgive sin first, and then heal the body.
Verses 2-17 describe the healing of a man with palsy (a muscular condition that involves shaking of the body), the calling of Matthew as a disciple, having dinner with the tax collectors and sinners, and His explaining to the scribes about His mission to call sinners to repentance. I have always been impressed with Matthew answering the call to be a disciple. The disciples that were fishermen could always go back to their nets (some did after the resurrection). However, Matthew walked away from a profitable position that most likely he could not get back. He would have been replaced quickly. He was all in.
Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees because of their self righteous approach to the people. "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick...for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." These were words of rebuke to the Pharisees and they would clearly have received them as such. After a question on feasting, Jesus let the listeners know there was a time to rejoice and a time to mourn (fast).
The first section is A Dead Daughter." vv. 18, 19, 23-25 While Jesus was teaching about fasting to the disciples of John, "there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay they hand upon her, and she shall live." Whether the daughter was dead or near death depends on which account you read (Mark 5: 23 states, "little daughter lieth at the point of death." Luke 8: 42 says, "and she lay a dying." The point is that this is a serious situation and without a miracle (defined as God interrupting natural law), the girl will die.
When Jesus arrives at the house of Jairus, the mourners are already there crying and doing what they do, they are professional mourners. Jesus clears all the faithless ones out. There is a lesson for us here. When you need to move in faith, remove those who have none. Our Lord will use desperation to bring people to Himself. Jairus spoke words of faith, "...but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live." In crisis situations, when we don't know what to do, meditating (i.e. to mutter) and speaking what the Bible says will help our faith increase. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." As we stand on God's Word, we can be assured that God's Providential will be manifest.
While Jesus was accompanying Jairus to his house to raise his daughter up, another encounter transpired. In Mark and Luke, we are told that much people were pressing in to Jesus, and then there is an interruption.
The second section is "An Important Interruption." vv. 20-22 In this section we learn of a woman that had a bleeding disorder, who had spent all her money in failed efforts to be treated, who spoke faith to herself, and risking severe punishment, pressed through the crowd to touch the border of Jesus' garment. English translations don't allow the reader to get the complete picture. Jesus was a Jewish rabbi. The hem of His garment would have been in accordance with Numbers 15: 38-39. He would have had blue tassels at the corners of His garment. The woman was reaching for one of those tassels. The tassels were to remind the people of the commandments of the Lord. The woman was reaching out in hope to the commandments and word of God. Best of all, the robe was being worn by the Word of God Himself!
The woman said to herself, "For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole." When facing difficult times, it is far better to say what God says about the situation as opposed to what the world and faithless people say about the situation. This is not some magic formula, but rather speaking faith and following that faith with actions. She didn't just speak faith, she acted in faith and pressed into Jesus. Whatever our difficulty is, the best answer is to always press into Jesus.
Jairus must have been concerned about the interruption. We can learn from this. Regardless of what things look like, the interruptions and delays in receiving an answer (the woman waited 12 years), we can have confidence of God's timing. Life is filled with interruptions, but God is in charge of those interruptions. When Jesus arrives at the house, He dismisses all those with unbelief. Jesus restores the young girl to health immediately once the faithless ones were removed.
The third section is "The Blind Believed." vv. 27-31 The next two miracles are recorded by Matthew alone. This is the first mention in the Gospels that a blind person was healed. The two men had heard the reports of Jesus' healing power. They couldn't see Him, but they followed Him. When Jesus asked them want they wanted, they were clear, "thou Son of David, have mercy on us." Jesus asked them did they believe He was able to heal them. They had faith and Jesus said, "According to your faith be it unto you." Jesus charged them not tell anyone about what had happened to them. However, they could not be silenced in their joyful praise for what Jesus had done for them. Jesus understood His Father's Providential scheduling of events. Jesus would be killed on Passover Eve at 3pm, the time that the Passover lambs were being sacrificed. Jesus did not want the multitudes to crown Him king before His time. He did not want anything or anyone to interfere with the fulfillment of His ministry. In hindsight we can see that God's perfect plan came about and Jesus went to the cross and died at the exact moment that had been planned since the foundation of the world. What a comfort it is to serve a God like ours!
The fourth section is "The Devil Defeated." vv. 32-34 Matthew chapters 8 and 9 demonstrate the power of Jesus over sickness, disease, and demons. In response to the power of God being demonstrated through the Son, the Pharisees suggest that Jesus is casting out demons by the power of devils (Beelzebub). Since the Pharisees don't understand what is going on, they default to giving the devil glory. This demonstrates how far from the truth these religious people were. We see the same today when people deny the power of God to save and sanctify. People who reject Jesus Christ will twist truth in a way to justify their ungodliness. They will blame anyone except the one they should blame, themselves. Jesus has the power over disease, demons, and death.
The Golden Text is "Daughter, be of good comfort; they faith hath made thee whole." (Matthew 9:22) Our faith cooperates with the power and will of God to bring about miraculous results. Our faith comes from God. It is not worked up or created through some mystic manner, it is a gift from God. We read His Word and faith will arise. One year while pastoring, I preached a solid year on nothing but faith. The faith of the congregation grew and grew. We experienced many healings during that year, including healing from blood poisoning, high blood pressure, autism, and rebuilding arches. We need our faith to increase. Prayer and Bible study will assist that process.
My summary points:
1. Never despair no matter how hopeless a situation looks.
2. God allows interruptions and delays to test our faith.
3. Jesus has power over disease, demons and death.
Next week: "Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath." Matthew 12: 1-13
Read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration and encouragement.
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