This morning I felt like I should read from Matthew, chapter nine. This is one of several of my favorite chapters in Matthew's Gospel, there is so much to reflect upon, and Jesus is very active in healing several specific people. This morning I was struck by the different expressions of faith that are presented to us in this single chapter. Here are several verses, extracted from the text, that are dealing with faith - Matthew 9:2,18-22,28-30,32-33 NIV:
[2] "Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
Here it is the faith of the group of men, and Jesus responds to their faith.
[18] While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” [19] Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
Here we see the faith of the father, whose daughter has died. He has faith that if Jesus would just touch his dead daughter, she would live! Jesus is so stirred that He goes with the man.
[20] Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. [21] She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” [22] Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
This is such an interesting bit for Jesus says "Your faith has healed you", and He didn't do anything other than acknowledge her faith.
[28] When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
[29] Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; [30] and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”
Here the faith of the two blind men, becomes the reason behind their healing, but Jesus touches them. Their faith led them to Jesus, but He healed them.
[32] While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. [33] And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
In this set of verses there is no mention of faith, yet the mute man was brought to Jesus because someone had faith, and believed that Jesus could heal him. The man couldn't express with words his faith, but it was likely there as well.
One thing is clear in reading just these few verses, faith is important, however, its hard to nail down a specific faith/action/setting mix that is a prescription for healing, and I believe Jesus, by following the direction of the Father, was laying a broad foundation for faith and healing.
We can't guarantee each person had faith, for clearly the dead girl had none, we don't know if the man on the mat had any, but the others do.
We can't say that Jesus had to touch them, although many had that experience, the man on the mat just followed Jesus command to stand up, the woman with the flow of blood did the touching.
We can't say that faith was required, for there was no mention of faith for the mute man, and if it was a requirement, some mention would have been made, in my opinion.
We can't say they were all related to demonic activity, although for the mute man, that was the case.
We can't say that sin was in the mix for all of the people, although Jesus specifically mentions that with the man on the mat. We can't even say that sin caused his paralysis, for Jesus does not say that specifically, nor even infer that.
So what can we say?
Jesus wants to heal!
Jesus does heal!
Jesus responds to faith!
Jesus can raise the dead!
Jesus can heal paralysis!
Jesus can heal long-term disease and illness!
Jesus can heal blindness!
Jesus can cast out demons!
Jesus can heal the mute!
Jesus can forgive sins!
Jesus was exactly representing the Father in all He did (Heb 1:3) so we know if these are true of Jesus, they are true of the Father as well. If these are true when Jesus is representing the Father, they should be true for us when we are representing Him as well! We are all sent ones, sent to the world representing the Lord in our interactions and in our daily life.
Matthew closes the ninth chapter with the following set of verses - Matthew 9:35-38 NIV:
[35] "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. [38] Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
We are those workers in the harvest fields of the Lord of the Harvest. Lord, we know that You haven't changed, and we know that we are to represent You, so we must have the same abilities and gifts available to us, so that we can reach the lost, the harassed and helpless. Help us to step into faith, believing that You have given us the authority to fully walk in this, Your continuing ministry.
Amen! Help us Lord!
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