“Interruptions, Healings, and Accusations”
(Matthew 9:18-34)
Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]
Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD
First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida
May 5, 2019
The Passage
Matthew 9:18-34 (CSB)
18 As he was telling them these things, suddenly one of the leaders came and knelt down before him, saying, “My daughter just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 So Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him.
20 Just then, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years approached from behind and touched the end of his robe, 21 for she said to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I’ll be made well.”
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Have courage, daughter,” he said. “Your faith has saved you.” And the woman was made well from that moment.
23 When Jesus came to the leader’s house, he saw the flute players and a crowd lamenting loudly. 24 “Leave,” he said, “because the girl is not dead but asleep.” And they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26 Then news of this spread throughout that whole area.
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” 30 And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus warned them sternly, “Be sure that no one finds out.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that whole area.
32 Just as they were going out, a demon-possessed man who was unable to speak was brought to him. 33 When the demon had been driven out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
Introductory Comments:
Well, we’re still in our series from the book of Matthew. Jesus is ratcheting up His ministry more and more and more as we journey through Matthew’s Gospel.
In this passage, we see something quite miraculous: we see several miracles including a girl who is raised from the dead.
We’re going to cover a lot of ground today, so let’s ask God to guide us as we go.
Let’s pray together.
(Prayer)
Jesus continues to get more and more amazing with the works that He does!
In today’s passage, we’ll see that people start to understand more and more who He is and that He is able to change lives.
We’ll see three traits regarding the works of Jesus which will always be true.
First, . . .
I. The works of Jesus will always be available [on screen]
Illustration: Have you ever felt like you were doing something important and someone was bothering you? Perhaps it’s one of your children. Or, if you’re a child, perhaps it’s your sibling. Maybe a coworker keeps asking you simple questions. Maybe you’re watching a ball game and your wife wants to know what you want to do tomorrow. Maybe you’re trying to take a nap during church and the pastor is speaking too loudly.
Sometimes we feel like we have important stuff to do and we don’t have time for other people.
Maybe, we’re on the other end. Maybe we need something from someone but we’re afraid to bother them. We think, “They don’t have time for little ol’ me.”
Let me tell you something, church: Jesus always has time for you!
The works of Jesus will always be available for you!
In today’s passage, we see that Jesus is interrupted four different times by different people wanting to experience His miraculous power. Never once does He turn them away.
Let’s check out these four situations.
First, we have this ruler whose daughter has just died.
This is a very big deal for this man. His daughter is obviously very special to him.
He must have heard about all the great works of Jesus and he thought that it was possible for Jesus to bring his daughter back from the dead.
Verse 19 makes it clear that Jesus was available for this man. He and His disciples got up and followed after the man.
We’ll see what happens with the girl in just a minute.
It didn’t take long for the second situation to present itself.
We see in verse 20: Just then, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years approached from behind and touched the end of his robe.
Jesus noticed what happened. This was an interruption for Him. He was already on a mission, and a pretty important one at that. Yet, Jesus didn’t say, “Hey! What’s going on here?”
Jesus was available for her.
Not only did Jesus have time to minister to this woman, but He was willing to minister to her even though the nature of her condition would have made her ceremonially unclean. Jesus could have ceremonially defiled Himself just by allowing her to touch Him.
Yet, He was available.
We’ll see what happens with her in just a minute.
The third situation involved two blind men.
The situation with the little girl has been resolved and we see in verse 27: As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
Jesus just can’t take a break can He?
These blind men even followed Jesus into a house. Look at verse 28: When he entered the house, the blind men approached him.
They not only followed Him on the street, they followed Him right into the house!
However, the works of Jesus were available for the blind men.
Finally, we see this demon-possessed man who was unable to speak.
This man was brought to Jesus and Jesus was available for Him.
Notice when the demon-possessed man was brought to Jesus. Look at verse 32: Just as they were going out. That is, just as the blind men were going out, this mute demon-possessed man is brought in.
Jesus gives no indication at all that He is tired of people being brought to Him.
He continues to minister.
Listen, church: If you need Jesus (and you do), you can know with confidence that He is available for you!
This is good news for us! Jesus is always there for us!
The works of Jesus will always be available.
Second, . . .
II. The works of Jesus will always be miraculous [on screen]
In case you haven’t heard it before in the Gospel of Matthew, in case you haven’t seen it in your own life, I’m here to tell you that Jesus is a miracle worker!
He created everything on the earth! He works through the natural and the supernatural. He is all-powerful!
In this passage, Jesus is working miracle upon miracle.
First of all, we have the woman who was suffering from bleeding.
She simply wanted to touch Jesus’ clothes to be healed. Look at verses 21 and 22.
21 for she said to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I’ll be made well.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Have courage, daughter,” he said. “Your faith has saved you.” And the woman was made well from that moment.
Jesus said that her faith saved her. That is, her faith in Jesus. She had faith in Jesus that He could heal her. She had so much faith that she thought she could simply touch his clothes and be healed.
Her faith saved her. She was healed by the miraculous touch of Jesus.
Second, we see that Jesus makes it to the house of the leader with the daughter who had died.
Look at verses 23 through 25.
23 When Jesus came to the leader’s house, he saw the flute players and a crowd lamenting loudly. 24 “Leave,” he said, “because the girl is not dead but asleep.” And they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.
We know that the girl’s father had faith in Jesus. He said in verse 18: “My daughter just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
Jesus does a miracle here which we have not yet seen in the Gospel of Matthew: He brings this little girl back to life from the dead.
Jesus said that the little girl was sleeping, but she wasn’t really sleeping. The flute player and mourners were there as part of a funeral. Jesus’ point was that she was dead only temporarily. He would work a miracle.
In essence, Jesus was saying, “Watch this! Awake! Arise! Receive life!” The little girl responded and her life, as well as the life of her father, was changed forever.
The works of Jesus are always miraculous!
Third, He miraculously heals the blind men.
They call out to Him in verse 27, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” They’re pointing to the fact that Jesus is the promised Messiah! He is the Son of David! He is promised one! He is the one of whom it was foretold that He would bring sight to the blind.
These men had faith in the miraculous power of Jesus, and He healed them!
Finally, He heals this demon-possessed man.
This man was unable to speak. He was mute. This particular physical issue was the result of a demon, and we already know that Jesus has power over demons! Whoever brought this man to Jesus presumably knew that Jesus had power over demons as well.
We see in verse 33 that Jesus indeed drives this demon out and the man is able to speak.
He is healed.
If your situation seems desperate, or without hope, or depressing, or unclear, or dark, remember that Jesus is a miracle worker! He is the Son of David! He is God!
Finally, . . .
III. The works of Jesus will always be questioned [on screen]
In case you didn’t know it, the works of Jesus are not always warmly received.
Jesus will say elsewhere that it will cost us acceptance and relationships in order to follow Him.
This passage indicates that Jesus is questioned.
Let’s look in this passage at some of the reactions of the work of Jesus.
Look at verse 26 after the healing of the girl: Then news of this spread throughout that whole area.
Look at verses 30 and 31 after the healing of the blind men: Then Jesus warned them sternly, “Be sure that no one finds out.” But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that whole area.
Look at verse 33 with the man who had the demon: When the demon had been driven out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”
Finally, look at verse 34 at the reactions of the Pharisees: But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
We read of so much amazement about the works of Jesus and we see the news of Jesus continuing to spread. Yet, the Pharisees question the work of Jesus.
Jesus knew that the popularity of His work would continue to spread, which is why He sometimes instructed people to tell no one. He didn’t want to get sidetracked from why He really came.
The Pharisees could not dispute the fact that He was healing people. Everyone could see it! The evidence was right there! A person rose from the dead for crying out loud!
However, the Pharisees could question whether Jesus really is the Messiah. They could question whether He was really sent by God and really works by the power of God.
So, they start to spread this message that Jesus is driving out demons by the ruler of demons. That is, He doesn’t have the power of God in Him, He has the power of the Devil in Him.
This questioning of Jesus has already happened in the Gospel of Matthew, and it will happen again. This questioning of Jesus and His works will eventually lead to His crucifixion.
The works of Jesus are still questioned today. Skeptics and naysayers still abound. People question the work of Jesus in the past and they question the work of Jesus today.
Someone this past week even said to me that we cannot prove that Jesus historically existed. That comment is so off base that the only reasonable conclusion to come to is that person simply has a spirit of skepticism which cannot be overcome except by the power of the Holy Spirit of God. There’s more evidence of the existence of Jesus than any other figure from the ancient era.
Yet, the works of Jesus will always be questioned.
He didn’t work by the power of the Devil. He worked but the power of God!
Dr. David Platt helpfully says, “Jesus casts out demons, not because He is of the Devil, but because He has overcome the Devil.” Amen to that!
Concluding Thoughts:
It’s becoming more and more clear from the works of Jesus that He is the one prophesied by the Old Testament prophets. He is God’s fulfilled promise. He is the Messiah. He is God.
The works of Jesus will always be available. The works of Jesus will always be miraculous. The works of Jesus will always be questioned.
Jesus does great things! He is worthy of our devotion and our worship.
That takes us to our bottom line:
Bottom Line: Continue to look to Jesus, who does great things. [on screen]
(repeat)
Look to Jesus, church! Be amazed at His greatness!
In fact, that’s part of your weekly challenge this week.
Weekly Challenge: [on screen]
- Be amazed at the work of Jesus. [on screen]
Jesus is a healer. He can heal us physically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, financially, socially, domestically, mentally, and so much more!
Be amazed at His great work. Reflect on what He’s done in your life. Reflect upon what He’s done through history. Reflect upon what He’s done in our church.
Be amazed.
- Be amazing by the work of Jesus. [on screen]
Did you know that Jesus is still working?
He’s not only still working, He’s working through us, by the power of His Holy Spirit.
Are you being amazing by the work of Jesus in you and through you?
Let’s continue to freely offer the power of God’s love to anyone who needs it. Let’s share the Gospel! Let’s pray for healing for others! Let’s show Jesus-filled love to others! Let’s not be too busy to show the love of Jesus!
Let the miraculous love of Jesus flow through your life and to others for the glory of His name!
Closing:
Jesus has power over all things, including death! He demonstrated that most vividly when He Himself rose from the dead.
His great work can save you from your sins and can change your life forever.
(Gospel Presentation)
(Closing Prayer)
Invitation Song – All to Thee
Benediction:
If you have any sort of spiritual decision that you would like to make, you can contact me or Pastor Richard and we would be glad to talk to you anytime.
Join us tonight at 5:30 as we continue our study in church history. We’ll meet right in this room and I hope you can join us.
Let’s dismiss by singing the Doxology.
(Sing Doxology)
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