It seems like the action never stops here for Jesus. He just returns from dealing with the Geresene demoniac and he is met, seemingly at the dock, by a paralyzed man and his friends.
Tension with the religious leaders begins to show itself in chapter 9. The scribes are troubled by Jesus offering the paralyzed man forgiveness, and Jesus reads their discontent and confronts it.
Almost as an aside -- an after thought Matthew's call to discipleship is inserted here. It would seem that the salvation and call of the author might merit more than a sentence, but that is about all Matthew dedicates to Jesus invitation to him to follow. Again, this fraternizing with the least, last and lost causes dissension in the religious leaders, this time with the Pharisees. We would do well to internalize Jesus response to them, "But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." Matthew 9:12&13 NRSV.
Even John the Baptists disciples criticize the seeming laxness of Jesus disciples. Jesus response about the new cloth being used to patch and old garment or new wine not being poured into old wine skins speaks of the new thing that Jesus is offering here. This is of primary importance to me friends, Jesus comes to offer relationship with the living God of all, not the dead religion that is being offered all around him and all around us!
The ministry of interruption is demonstrated by the next 2 miracles being wrapped together in time. As Jesus travels to the bedside of the little girl of a synagogue leader, a woman reaches and touches him seeking healing. The woman, who was unclean and should have made Jesus unclean with her touch, is healed and Jesus goes in to raise the young girl up from the dead!
The chapter ends wit more healing and more controversy with the Pharisees. I want to reiterate the call that Jesus makes to us today to walk in an intimate relationship with God. Do not settle for religion friend. Press in and know Jesus, crucified and yet alive and calling us still! "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Matthew 9:37b-38 NRSV.
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4 comments:
Very often I complain that the media is so one sided, only showing what is wrong in the world, rarely showing the good. But as I read this verse: "The harvest is great...", I come to realize that the media does have it right. The state of our world, our nation, our state and even our community is pretty much as the media portrays it: a world comsumed with greed, lust and indifference, controlled by satan himself. Now if only the media would use the headline--"The Harvest Is Great, But The Laborers Are Few!!!", maybe some of us would realize that we can make a difference, that we can be a laborer for God. But the media is not likely to do that and therefore we should heed the rest on the verse--"...therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Brothers and sisters, join with me in this prayer and let's not let a day go by without this prayer.
Amen and Amen my brother Lynn.
If everyone did a little, we would see the world turn towards the cross. We are still a huge army of believers, but we are asleep in the light.
Pray the Lord of the harvest and invite, push, encourage, whatever it takes the army of faith into the fields!
Bill
What an interesting chapter. I liked what you were saying Lynn and Bill. I bet Bill that you feel like that many times in the church - pastors are always so overworked, aren't they? Where's the volunteers to help with all the jobs that need to be done, and the people that need to be saved. We can make a difference in this world, and we are - maybe it's only one person at a time, but it's a difference, and that's a great start.
It amazes me every time that Jesus was so bold and honest about his intentions in the world. I can imagine that if I were a follower back then, I would have really wanted to meet this Jesus guy, and may have been dissapointed if he didn't want to see me first. Maybe that's why those people were so quick to be angry, they were jealous!
No matter how dead a church may be, no matter how lame the congregation seems - the Jesus is still NEW and exciting and amazing. Don't grow tired and weary of religion, because the love of Jesus is always incredible.
I always love the part about him healing someone on the way to heal someone else. It goes to show us that we always have the attention of Jesus - he's not going to put something else between us. How great our God is.
What a chapter.
Marshall
The people want wonder/miracles from Jesus rather than forgiveness. Which do we want?
Mercy not sacrifice. My favorite verse in this chapter. I think of Psalm 51.
I think maybe Bishop Craig preached on this chapter about being interrupted? Can't remember for sure - but the sense of being interrupt-able!
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