22 Matthew 8:14-17 - The Healer Behind The Healing Part 2

September 10, 2017

Christopher C. Freeman

Title: The Healer Behind the Healing Part 2 Text: Matthew 8:14-17 and Isaiah 53 FCF: We often seek healing and miracles and not the God of the healing. Prop: Jesus has power and authority over all that plagues humanity, so we must depend on Jesus – only Jesus. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Matthew chapter 8. I must confess to you that I was frustrated this week, preparing this sermon. First of all it was extremely short. Especially by comparison to the first part of this message. Secondly, the brunt of the really hard hitting and insightful parts of this message were again, in the first part of the sermon. So I was really melancholy about it until Thursday. It was then that I realized that last week, was a long and draining sermon… really a long and draining day for me and probably for you too. So having a shorter sermon, that rather than leave you with Questions to ask yourself, leave you instead with worship on your lips, perhaps that is exactly the sermon we need today. Now since this is a part 2, let’s review where we have been. If you remember, Jesus encountered two individuals in his travels around Galilee. A leper, whom Jesus healed by touching. And a centurion’s servant, who Jesus healed with a word. The leper who showed humility, faith, even surrender, after being healed he did not obey what Jesus had told him to do. The centurion also showed humility, faith and surrender, but obeyed what Jesus had commanded and trusted Christ to have healed his servant. What we really camped on last time, was the reason behind why these two individuals, among many others, came to Jesus. We saw how most of them, even those coming in faith, came to get something from Him. But what we were challenged with last time was to see the healer behind the healing. We saw how God uses our selfishness against us to draw us to Himself, but the more we see of His word and His glory the more we understand that all that he offers us pales in comparison to the true prize that awaits His followers, and that is His own glorious presence. We concluded by asking ourselves the question – if He gave you heaven, but wasn’t there, if He forgave your sin, but you would never see Him again, would you be ok with that? Or would you throw it aside and declare – I don’t want heaven if you aren’t there! Is your prayer give me Jesus and only Jesus? And today we will further explore this concept, and see that this is in fact, exactly what Matthew is driving at. He isn’t telling us a remarkable story, or showing us an example to follow – He is putting on display the Chosen Servant of God who came to bear our shame and disgrace, not as the endgame, but as a means to get to God being glorified. I’m in verse 14 of chapter 8 and I’ll be reading from the NET please follow along in whatever version you prefer. Sermon Intro: [Slide 2] Magic has a saying. “A magician never reveals the secret of his tricks.” I think I know the reason for that. You see I am a magician. Let me rephrase that I do magic. Let me be more specific – to my nephews, nieces, and daughters, I am the single greatest slight of hand magician that they have ever seen. Granted, I just may be the only slight of hand magician they have ever seen. But I am still the best. But someday, one of them is bound to figure out that I never put the object in the hand that it disappeared from. From there it is a short leap to figuring out that expanding my empty hand in front of their face to show that it had disappeared, is simply a ploy to distract them from me putting it in my pocket. When that day comes, it will be a little sad, because they’ll find out that I am just a huge fake. And I think that is why a magician never reveals his secrets. Because once they do, the magic stops. All that is left, is a clever, trick. Oftentimes when we see the man behind the curtain or the strings suspending the actor – it is a huge let down. Why? Because we came expecting to be dazzled. Amazed. Mystified. And we didn’t get what we wanted. [Slide 3 In a similar way, I fear that many who come to Christ for what they can get from him, will be sorely disappointed when they find who the healer is behind the healing. Where am I getting that from? Mainly, from the pages of the gospels. So many came to him for healing, for knowledge, vindication and even salvation, and what they found as they approached this meek and mild man, was that there was a Omnipotent God behind those eyes. That what He offered was hope – but not the way they wanted. And many went away, some got what they came for, others did not, but many went away without getting what He wanted them to have. [Slide 4] Today Matthew will make it clear that Christ performed these miracles for a reason. It wasn’t simply because He wanted to show them compassion. He was attempting to show them… Himself – The answer to the problem, they didn’t know they had. Transition: Look with me in verse 14. I.) Jesus has power and authority over disease regardless of the faith of the healed, so we must depend on Him. (14-15) a. [Slide 5] 14 – Now Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother in law lying down sick with a fever i. Mother-in-law – Very little is mentioned of the families of the disciples. Of course some of them were related to one another. However, although it is not mentioned anywhere else in scripture, we see here clearly that Peter currently was or at least had been married before. ii. Interestingly enough, the Catholic Church believes that Peter was their first Pope, and yet they maintain that clergy must be celibate. iii. Lying down – The word here, although translated similarly across most translations, does indicate something a bit more traumatic than simply lying down. It communicates the idea of something being thrown down violently. iv. So although it seems like she would be resting from a fever, it seems instead that this could be a life threatening illness. Some have suggested malaria. b. [Slide 6] 15 – He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began to serve them. i. Unlike the previous two examples, Jesus did not wait for an expression of faith or dependence on Him to act. Instead he simply touched her to heal her of the fever. 1. Common Grace – We see Christ choosing to show love and grace to those who may or may not depend on Him as their Lord. God also allows rain to fall on the crops of the unsaved and the saved. 2. Sovereignty - In this we see the sovereignty of Christ, in that He is not governed to act only by faith or dependence on Him. As we had seen from the Leper, who’s faith was suspect, the faith of the individual does not seem to matter. Only the will of Christ. 3. Lastly, this puts a good sized hole in the boat of the faith healing movement. They site that when someone is not healed of their malady it is due to their lack of faith. We have seen the leper, who’s faith was questionable, and now Peter’s mother in Law, who’s faith was unavailable. And yet, at the will of Christ, she was healed. God’s will is not inhibited nor is it provoked by man’s faith. ii. Another interesting tidbit here is so far Jesus has healed a leper (an outcast) a gentile’s servant (an outcast) and now, a woman (also an outcast). These three people groups were part of the lowest of the low in society. Transition: [Slide 7] Now we could stop here and apply this text to say that we too must go to the outcast in society. And that would be a perfectly legitimate application to make. However, I don’t think that is the application that Matthew intends us to arrive at. I think He has something else He would have us see. Let’s keep looking for it. II.) Jesus has power and authority over affliction from the spiritual realm, so we must depend on Him. (16-17) a. [Slide 8] 16 – When it was evening, many demon-possessed people were brought to him. He drove out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. i. Demonic possession is actually a poor way to understand exactly what this phrase means. I think when we hear demon possession, many images are conjured in our minds. Most of them include a person being 100% displaced and controlled by a demon. ii. The more accurate way to see demon possession is instead that a demon has taken up residence in the person. Now in the New Testament this produces a wide range of side effects. From insanity, deafness, blindness, muteness, incredible strength and physical affliction. iii. From each example of this occurring in scripture where it is demon possession and not simply demon oppression, it is clear that in each occasion the affected person is an unbeliever, or at least their spiritual status is not known to us. iv. He also heals those who are sick around him too. This paints an interesting dichotomy between physical ailments and demonic possession. At that time and even enduring to today, there was a philosophy that equated all physical ailments with demonic influence. 1. If you had an ear infection, then you had a demon in your ear. 2. If you had a fever, then you had a demon in your head. 3. Even to today, there are those who would say that a demon is responsible for the physical sicknesses we are enduring. Even going so far as to rebuke the demon for healing. 4. Matthew separates the effect of demon possession and sickness. v. Finally, as we alluded to before, Matthew has a point to get to. He is not giving us a bunch of wonderful healing stories just so we can see that Jesus was a pretty nice guy. vi. No, He healed spiritual ailments and physical ailments for a reason, but what was it? b. [Slide 9] 17 – In this way what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled. “He took our weaknesses and carried our diseases” i. Jesus fulfills – or makes complete the prophesy made by the prophet Isaiah. ii. In other words, Jesus healed these people out of compassion, but primarily to fulfill what was in Isaiah 53. iii. Let’s go there to find out why Jesus healed these people. Let’s start in chapter 52:13 and read and point out some things as we go about this text. 1. [Slide 10] 52:13 – Pretty self explanatory – but… 2. [Slide 11] 14-15 –That his exaltation would actually be something horrific as well as something excellent. And it will be something that the nations will only figure out after the fact. Next The prophet comments on his own conundrum 3. [Slide 12] 53:1 –With the supposed answer of – we can’t remember when? 4. [Slide 13] 2-3 –He would be despised and rejected, considered an undesirable. An outcast 5. [Slide 14] 4-5 – And yet he lifted illness, carried pain, This is the quote from Matthew by the way. Now the Hebrew is grief and anguish. From New Testament eyes we see that this is probably referring to sin and wrath – but Matthew uses the exact words to refer to Jesus’ healing ministry 6. What people thought was his punishment for his own sin, was actually his punishment for bearing ours. 7. [Slide 15] 6 – We… We dumb sheep that don’t even know how to protect ourselves. We wander from the safety of the shepherd. Our sin, has become the catalyst for all that befalls this promised servant of God. 8. [Slide 16-17] 7-9 - Amid his harsh treatment, he uttered no words, like a lamb himself led away for slaughter, he was silent, his trial was lacking justice, but no one called for a mistrial, he was killed, WHY? Because of the rebellion of the other sheep. His own people. Their betrayal led to his execution. They wanted to bury him as a criminal in a criminal’s grave, but instead a rich man’s tomb would be used. He did not earn a sentence of death, nor burial as a criminal. Why? Why would God allow such a fate to befall His servant? 9. [Slide 18] 10 – It was God who willed it to happen! God crushed His own servant. God made the servant sick with wrath. So something greater could come of it. And the next phrase is incredibly difficult to translate. Mainly because the way the Hebrew words are written, it leaves a great bit of ambiguity regarding the subject of all this. The NET actually translates it “once restitution is made” which keeps the subject unknown. But we could also be left with 3 legitimate translations for the next line [Slide 19] a. When You make His soul a guilt offering – The you would go back to God, and it is God who is making the very soul, not just the body and blood, but the very being of this servant an offering for personal sin. God makes the offering on our behalf. b. When His Soul makes a guilt offering – This emphasizes the very life of the servant becoming THE guilt offering of His people. In place of an offering they could not provide. c. When you make His soul a guilt offering – The you here, would address, not God, but the preacher, or all those in audience of this offering being made available. In other words, when you, sinner, take this soul that has been broken and apply it as your own guilt offering. d. But which one is it? Can I submit to you that Isaiah probably didn’t even know. Because it is all three. God using Hebrew language loopholes to maximize writing space and communicate three truths in one. God is the provider of the offering, The offering is the broken life of His servant, and that offering is applied by us for our sins. 10. [Slide 20] And when this offering is applied, the servant will see His descendants, live forever, and He will be raised up again by the Lord. 11. [Slide 21-22] 11 -12 – Summery statement – out of the anguish of the one servant of God, the servant will see what he has done and he will be satisfied. His work will acquit many of their sins because He bore them Himself. Because He did this, God will raise Him up. c. [Slide 23 (blank)[ Now I have a question. It is obvious that Matthew is identifying this suffering servant in Isaiah 53 as Jesus. That this servant is the Messiah that God has promised – of that, even Jews would have agreed, but specifically that this servant and Jesus are the same. He is Jesus Christ (the Greek word for Anointed one or Messiah – not his last name) So for those of you who thought the question was going to be who is the servant… my question is a little more challenging. d. What is also obvious is that Isaiah 53 was written to Israel, specifically Judah during a time of great difficulty and coming exile. That this chapter was written to give them hope and inform them of God’s redemptive plan for them and all mankind is not debated. But here is my question. e. [Slide 24] What is the significance of Jesus fulfilling this prophesy immediately after the Sermon on the Mount? f. Matthew is making it clear to every single Jewish reader, that Jesus is the one that they have been expecting. And His power over demons and disease is small compared to his power and authority over sin and death. g. And after the sermon on the mount, A sermon where the people should have been following Him and asking “Jesus! HOW CAN THIS BE?” A sermon He gave to draw them to Himself. To guide them to Him as the answer to the burning questions they SHOULD HAVE HAD! Now Matthew points out, that immediately after this, Jesus goes into His healing ministry. Why? Not to show us the grandness of the healing. It is not to give us the compassionate character of Christ or even to give us an example to follow. h. It is totally fine for us to conclude that we must be compassionate like Christ was. It is totally fine for us to marvel at the glory of Christ’s healings of these people. i. [Slide 25 (end)] But the primary purpose of Matthew writing what He just did, is because Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Who can command the forces of darkness to leave, and they leave, and rebuke sickness and certain death, and they obey. And the bearing of our illness was accomplished, so that He might show to all the world that He is the Suffering Servant that would come and die for all mankind to be set free from sin. j. He healed these men and women to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that He was the missing link between the perfect standard of God and their utter failure to be perfect. He was the guilt offering and worthy to be exalted! But… Transition: They missed it. And if we are not careful we will Miss it too! They had a 700 year old document telling them about His coming, and we have a 2000 year old one saying the same thing. Conclusion: For all those who are trying to earn your way to heaven through diligence and discipline. For all those who have decided that all roads lead to God and whether you are Buddhist or Baptist we will still find our way. For all who think that Jesus was a great prophet, a great teacher, a great example, and a great ticket to a painless heaven, I want you to listen to me. Jesus healed people with a word and a touch. If he can say to someone that their servant is healed and they are healed. If he can say to the demonized be emptied and the demon obeys. If he can touch incurable disease or life threatening maladies and cast them out. If the forces of nature physical and spiritual are under his control. Then, Jesus is this servant, prophesied about over 700 years prior to appearing, who will bear the sin and shame of all mankind. He isn’t just a great prophet. He isn’t just a wonderful teacher. He isn’t just a good example for us to follow. He isn’t a ticket to heaven. He is all of these things but also none of them if He is not first and primarily the second person of the Godhead, King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Why does that matter to you? Because if He is this servant, this exalted one of God – Then He is far more than society has made him out to be. He came in meekness already but soon He will come in judgment. And if He is all that He claimed to be, and that proved He was, then you will one day stand before Him. And if you have not made his soul a guilt offering for you, then you will be judged for the wicked heart you possess, because you will have only one offering to lay on the alter - yourself. And in that time there will be no mercy and no grace. In that time there will only be justice. In that time you will beg Him to send you to hell to get away from His Burning presence. Because in that day, make no mistake, though you have only seen Him meek and mild, you will see Him sitting at the right hand of God, adorned in glory and splendor, girded with power, and you will bow and confess that He is Lord of all as He says DEPART – YOU LAWLESS ONE. You say “well, what can I do about it?” Nothing. You are without hope in and of yourself. “No seriously, what can I do, change my ways, turn over a new leaf, start over?” Nope. None of that will matter. Putting aside the fact that no one can actually ever truly change to be perfect as God demands, all that is moot because your sin debt is too great to try to work it off now. You are in too deep. “Isn’t there a prayer I can pray or a list of facts I can believe?” No. None of that will save you. But there is someone who can. The healer behind the healing can save you. If you want Him… that is a good place to start. If you are seeking Him and only Him, regardless of the cost to you – find me after the service. We’ll talk! Now for those who are genuinely seeking Christ. Last week we talked about why we seek Him. We asked ourselves some hard questions about whether we’d still want heaven if he wasn’t there. Whether we’d still want forgiveness if it meant absence from His presence. Challenging questions to help us understand that Jesus is the good news. Not what we get from Him. So today we see this passage with a unique perspective. We see, not someone who we need proven to us that he is King, Messiah and Lord... but one that we have already given up our lives to follow. So we see our dynamic King displaying his authority and power. With spoken words and light touches he is able to chase away all that plagues mankind. And in doing this He proves over and over again to be the Suffering Servant from Isaiah. The servant that by laying His life down, he brought down our wickedness and by God raising Him to life, he raised us into a new life too. Because we are in Him. Our Hope is in Him. Our lives are in Him. Our existence is in Him. We, TRULY, depend on Him. Our response today then, is simply praise. I’d ask the praise team to come on up again. We are going to spend a little more time praising the power, majesty, glory and honor of our great King. How could this not be our response? How could we remain silent when His works are so vividly on display today? So we will praise Him! Let’s stand and praise Him!