After healing the demonized men from chapter 8 and being thrust from the country of the Gergesenes by the towns people, Jesus got back in a boat and came to His home town. Jesus continues His healing spree, and many are astonished.
Forgiveness & Healing
A paraplegic man was brought to Jesus on a bed by people who had great faith to see him healed. Jesus first said to the man that His sins were forgiven, and some religious scholars who were present thought to themselves that He was committing blasphemy. Yet Jesus was given a word of knowledge about their thoughts and proclaimed before them that He as the Son of Man had authority to forgive sins and to heal. Its more convincing to see someone healed of a sickness than to see them forgiven of their sins. So as a confirmation to His authority to forgive sins, Jesus performs an undeniable miracle in their presence.
Jesus Calls Matthew to Follow Him
Matthew, the one who bears the name of this Gospel, is called from his tax-collecting booth to follow Jesus. He immediately, without question, does just that! Later Jesus shares a meal with Matthew in his own home, and many outcasts of the then known society were invited. Enter the Religious Pharisees with a word of rebuke about dining with sinners. Enter Jesus with a word of wisdom about how showing mercy towards others trumps being meticulous about maintaining religious piety and ritualism.
Jesus Brings a New Reality
Jesus refers to Himself as the Bridegroom when the disciples of John the Baptist ask Him why His disciples don’t fast. To everything there is a time and season. He goes on to speak many parables about how mixing the old with the new brings bad results.
Jesus Heals and Raises the Dead
Suddenly as He’s talking, a certain ruler comes in, lamenting about his daughter having just died! This man has such great faith that He tells Jesus to simply lay His hands on her so that she can live again! While Jesus was going to wake the dead, a woman who was suffering from an issue of bleeding was healed by her faith by only touching the edge of His garment! Faith is the root of every miracle, and faith is the theme of what this chapter is trying to drive home in our hearts.
Jesus Opens Blind Eyes
After bringing the dead back to life, Jesus is met by two blind men who have faith to believe they can see again. Jesus touches their eyes saying, “According to your faith be it unto you.”
Jesus Heals the Mute
While the restored blind men were leaving, a man who was demonized with a mute spirit was brought to Jesus. Jesus simply cast the demon out and the mute person could speak!
Sadly, the Religious Pharisees attributed these wonderful miraculous healings to the work of demons!
Workers for the Harvest
Jesus went to all the cities and villages, teaching and preaching the good news of the Kingdom and demonstrating the power of the Kingdom by healing every sickness and disease among the multitudes. But to Jesus, all the people were as sheep without a shepherd. There is a harvest of souls, but so few dedicated people to take the time to minister to them. Pray that more labours come to reap the harvest.
Summary
- Be direct when addressing sin
- Be true; Make sure your thoughts aline with your heart
- Faith is the root of healing
- Be ready to follow Jesus
- Being merciful is greater than being pious (religious pride)
- True healing comes from Jesus
- Are you scattered without a shepherd
- Pray that the heart of a labour be opened
- Teach and believe that healing is possible
