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9:1-8
Miracles in Capernaum
Jesus decided to go back to Capernaum, the town which he had now adopted
as his main base. His first home town had become too hostile for him to live
there (Luke 4:29-31) - they had even attempted to kill him! He had to have
somewhere reasonably safe, otherwise his mission would be distorted or
interrupted before it was properly finished.
So he turned his back on the people of the Gergesenes district, and left
them to mourn the loss of their pigs . . . he went back to the boat and directed
his men to sail it back across the lake. Subdued and silent, the men obeyed.
As soon as Jesus arrived on the opposite shore, the crowds parted,
allowing a paralysed man, carried in a dirty old blanket by his friends, to be
placed on the ground in front of him. Jesus immediately saw two things. He saw
the faith in the hearts of the people who had brought the sick man, and he saw
an opportunity to teach a profound truth.
"My son" said Jesus to the paralysed man, "Cheer up! Your
sins have been forgiven. You are now an innocent man!"
Jesus waited for the predictable response, because he knew there were
some religious people nearby, and he knew that his words were going into their
heads like sharp hooks. They took the bait like hungry fish.
"What!?" thought the scribes, "This is blasphemy! No mere
rabbi can go about forgiving sins!"
But they kept their mouths tightly shut, because the people around them
were in favour of Jesus. Their eyes however burned with anger. They were
surprised therefore when Jesus looked straight at them.
"I know what you are thinking" said Jesus, "Bad thoughts
about me - and I'll tell you why you are thinking that way : its because your
hearts are black with sin!"
"Let me ask you a question; of these two sentences, which one is the
easiest to say : Your sins are forgiven, or, Stand up and walk?"
The scribes were now cornered and confused. Both sentences were easy to
say. It wasn't just the saying of things that mattered - it was the authority
behind the words . . . it was a trick question, and it made them wonder where
they were going to end up if they answered it.
Jesus gave them a moment to think, then he went on : "I am the Son
of Man (= I am God's Man, the Perfect Adam, the Ultimate Human), with the
authority to forgive sins. It is just as easy for me to heal the sick as it is
to forgive sins!"
Jesus turned to the paralysed man and smiled.
"Stand up" he said, "Carry that bed of yours back
home!"
The paralysed man had a look of wonder on his face as he discovered new
strength flowing into his thin and withered arms and legs. He stood up,
carefully, testing the strength in his legs, and flexing his arms. One of his
friends rolled the blanket up, then he and his friends headed off home,
rejoicing and amazed.
The crowds were talking with astonishment about what they had just seen.
The scribes, on the other hand, were angry because the only logical solution to
the miracle was that Jesus and God were equal - an idea which they found
repugnant. Some of the people decided that Jesus was still a man, but that God
had given him a large amount of power. To most of the people it was unthinkable
that Jesus might actually BE God.
Jesus, unwilling to enter into a debate, moved on and left the people to
discuss the miracle amongst themselves.
9:9-13
My conversion
It was about this time that I decided to follow Jesus. My name, as you
know, is Matthew, and my trade used to be tax-collection, for the Romans. It was
not a pleasant job, because I had to take money from my own people, and give it
to the Roman authorities. The Romans thought little of me, because I was a
subservient Jew, and the Jews treated me with disdain and contempt because I was
working for the enemy.
It might have been tolerable if the taxation system had been fair, but I
was also expected to take far more off my fellow Jews than was reasonable. I was
part of the oppressive domination over my own people, cheating and hurting
people who should have been my friends.
I was working at my table on this particular day, when I heard that Jesus
was coming in my direction, along the street. I was already familiar with him -
word gets around - so I knew what he was doing and saying as he went around the
towns, and what he was doing had awakened a deep longing in my heart for
something more, and better, and deeper than what I was currently doing with my
life. As I sat there I saw the
crowd began to move towards me, and then I saw Jesus himself, walking along the
side of the street, coming up to my table. I must admit I was excited!
When he reached my table he stopped, and looked at me. His eyes were
honest, and full of understanding. I remember thinking "Just say the word -
ask me to follow you! Come on, I'm ready to go!"
And that is exactly what happened. Jesus smiled and said "Follow
me."
That's all he said, but it was enough. I stood up, gathered my things,
and dropped all the money, receipts and gear on the nearest Roman supervisor's
desk, then I went home and organised a meal. Jesus, of course, was invited, but
I also invited all my fellow tax-collectors, and anyone else who felt inclined
to come. I wanted everyone to be there, so they could meet Jesus.
It was a wonderful meal - the house was packed! Jesus came, with his
friends, and he brought his hand-picked disciples with him, and I had my
associates - some of them were a bit seedy - but it was good to have them there.
But hanging around outside my house were some Pharisees, with really
nasty expressions on their faces. They pulled a couple of Jesus' disciples
outside and gave them a dressing down.
"Is Jesus a tax-collector too?" they asked, "Is he a
boozer, and a prostitute, and a druggie? He seems to like being with low-life
doesn't he? He's not much of a prophet of God if he behaves like that!"
Jesus had very sharp ears, and when he heard this malicious stuff he
cleared his throat and waited for quiet.
"You Pharisees have a lot to learn" he said, "You think I
am a sick man because I keep the company of the sick? In that case, all doctors
must be sick too!
"Now listen, you men of the Bible, tell me this : what does God mean
when he says, in Hosea (6:6) ""Of the two things, ritualised
sacrifices for sin, and repentance with a changed heart, I much prefer the
changed heart."" Think about it. Does God need to draw people whose
hearts are open to Him, or people whose hearts are hard, and full of sin?"
What Jesus meant by these deadly questions was this. The Pharisees
thought they were near to God, and righteous, because they observed the rituals,
but they were not near to God at all. It was the people who were open to God,
and repentant, who were close to God. This is what stung the Pharisees, because
they put so much effort into their religious observances.
9:14-17
John, the Pharisees and Jesus
Soon after the great meal, in which quite a few of my friends were as
impressed by Jesus as I was, some of John the Baptist's followers came along.
They were concerned about the fact that John and Jesus had completely different
advice about fasting. John recommended it, while Jesus did not.
"Why is this?" they asked.
"Because John was my forerunner" said Jesus, "He came to
prepare the way for me, so fasting is good for you. It helps you to focus and
keeps your spirits disciplined. It prepares you for my calling, when you
transfer your allegiance from John to me.
"Not that there won't be a time when my own followers fast. That
will happen some time in the near future - but at the moment we are having a
wedding party. I am the bridegroom and these are my friends. Its celebration
time! Unfortunately this happy event will not last for long. Quite soon I will
have to go, and then the party will be over. My followers will be like you then,
fasting and praying, and keeping themselves disciplined until I return.
"Let me put it another way. John is the last of the Old testament
prophets. He points people at the Law, and calls for repentance and obedience.
John is like a piece of old, worn-out cloth. I, on the other hand, represent the
beginning of a New way to God. I am bringing the offer of over-flowing Grace. My
way is like a piece of brand new cloth.
"Now you know what happens if you try to sew a patch of new cloth to
a patch of old don't you? The two materials don't hang together. The new cloth
is stronger than the old, so when there is any stress placed on the two
materials, the new cloth rips away from the old.
"In the same way, you are either a follower of John or a follower of
me. You cannot combine the two, and you cannot have it both ways. You are either
saved by keeping the righteousness of the Law, or you are saved by trusting in
me alone.
"Another way of looking at this is in terms of wine and wine-skins.
If you pour new wine, fizzing and bubbling, into a dried, old, shrunken
wine-skin, what do you think will happen? Obviously, the wine will burst the old
skin with its pressure! In the same way, my New life is like new wine, full of
sparkle and energy, and John's ways are like the old wine-skin, hardened by
legalism and shrunken with rituals. You cannot combine the two."
(Sadly, this is exactly what the church has tried to do right down the
centuries. It has mixed grace with the Law, thus taking the teeth from the Law,
and it has mixed the Law with Grace, robbing Grace of its beauty.)
9:18-26
A girl is brought back to life
While Jesus was trying to explain the difference between himself and
John, a Jewish ruler interrupted him. He got Jesus' attention by falling to the
ground and worshipping him. Jesus left off his discussion with John's followers
and turned his attention to the man at his feet. He was impressed by the fact
that it was a Jewish ruler who was asking for help, because the man would be
inviting scorn and ridicule for doing this.
The man took his chance and began to plead his case.
"My daughter" he said, "She has just died, but I know you
can help. If you just come to her, and touch her, I believe you can bring her
back to life!"
This was the sort of faith Jesus loved to see! He stood up immediately
and left my house without a moment's hesitation, then he headed down the road
with the Jewish ruler leading the way, and most of us following as fast as we
could. We wanted to see what would happen too!
But on the way Jesus was interrupted yet again. This time it was by a
woman who had slipped into the crowd, with the intention of grabbing one of the
tassels on Jesus' tunic in the hope that some healing power might come from it.
She was desperate! She'd had a chronic illness, a haemorrhage, which had been
bleeding, on and off, for twelve years already, with no sign of abatement and
this was her last hope.
She pushed her way through the crowd and reached out, and her fingers
closed around the tassel . . . but what she was doing was no secret to Jesus. He
stopped in his tracks, turned, and looked at her. She trembled, not only because
she knew she was healed, but also because she had now become the centre of
attention!
"Woman" said Jesus, "I see you have faith in me.
You are well now because of this faith you have."
The woman was about to say something, but Jesus turned and started
walking again, leaving her alone in the street, shaking with joy.
When Jesus arrived at the Jewish ruler's house, he was met by the usual
scene - hired flute-players and other professionals, and relatives and friends,
wailing and crying - all making a
suitably mournful sound. Jesus waited for them to quieten down, then he
addressed the family.
"Please give me some room!"
Then he looked at the girl.
"She is not dead" said Jesus, "She is in a coma."
When the family and friends of the girl heard that they thought Jesus was
mad. Some of them even laughed. Others sniggered.
Frustrated by their ignorance and stupidity, Jesus asked them to leave
the room. They did so, with smirking faces, and mocking glances, but Jesus
ignored them and took the girl's hand in his. Healing power went into her and
she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the face of Jesus, then she
turned her head and saw the room, and the funeral decorations. Gradually it
dawned on her what had happened. Bewildered she walked to the door with Jesus
and showed herself to the dumbfounded people.
You can imagine the sort of reaction this miracle caused. People were
talking about it for miles around!
9:27-31
Two blind men
Not long after that, when Jesus had begun to walk to another area, he was
joined by two remarkable men. I say remarkable because, although they were
completely blind, they had very good vision - spiritual vision that is. They
hobbled along as fast as they could, keeping up with Jesus despite their
handicap, and calling to him : You are the Son of David! Have mercy on us!"
For a while Jesus did nothing for them, which rather puzzled me, but I
thought perhaps he was testing their determination, anyway, when he reached his
house, and went in for a rest, the blind men pushed their way through the door
and made their way to him.
"You want to be healed don't you?" said Jesus, "Do you
really believe I can do it?"
"Yes!" they said, "You are a great Master!"
You see, these men, despite their blindness, had worked out who Jesus
was. They called him the Son of David, because they knew he was the long-awaited
Messiah and the rightful King of Israel. They also knew that when the Messiah
came, one of the things he would do would be to heal blindness (Is.61:1), and
they knew already that Jesus had performed many miracles on blind people.
Jesus admired their faith. He reached out and touched their sunken
eye-sockets, and released his healing power.
"Lets see how much faith you have" he said.
The withered, empty eye-holes suddenly filled, and four bright, clear
eyes appeared. The men staggered back, stunned by the new sensation, and as they
turned their heads about, seeing everything, Jesus told them not to go
broadcasting the thing everywhere. He had had too much publicity as it was,
without adding more to it.
The men mumbled their consent and left the house, but they were hardly
conscious of what they had said. They started grabbing people, and telling
everyone they met about the amazing miracle which had occurred. This was, of
course, crass disobedience, and there was really no excuse for it.
While all these miracles were happening, there was always the terrible
possibility that the people who followed Jesus might suddenly decide to elect
him as king. If this happened, the Romans would treat it as an insurrection, and
come down with brutality on the Jewish people. So there was always a tension in
the air. Jesus had to work his miracles, to prove he was the Messiah, the people
had to be kept from starting a revolution, and the Romans had to be assured that
there was no threat to their authority. This is probably the main reason why
Jesus insisted that people who had been the recipients of miracles should keep
quiet about it.
9:32-34
The mute
After a quiet time in his house, Jesus got up and went back out to the
waiting crowds. The first person he met was a man who was both intellectually
disabled - he could not speak, but also demon-possessed. The man's friends
brought him to Jesus, determined to get some help for the poor wretch.
Jesus had no difficulty in dealing with the problem. He told the demon to
go away, and he healed the man's speech defect, all in one simple movement. It
was wonderful to see the man so changed, and to hear the words coming from his
mouth, bubbling with joy and gratitude.
The people who saw this miracle were very impressed. Some of them tried
to think of an Old testament example, but they couldn't remember one. It was
unprecedented.
The Pharisees however, in their usual twisted, sceptical, negative
manner, said that Jesus was actually the devil, and as such was his using
devil-power to order demons about. This, of course, was about the worst thing
you could say (Matt. 12:32) and Jesus roundly condemned
later on. How un-called for, to attribute the power of the Holy Spirit,
to Satan! Disgusting. But mind you, the Pharisees were as dead, and blind, and
as dumb as the mute they had just seen healed, so it was no wonder they spoke
like this!
9:35-38
The offer of a glorious kingdom
It was at this time that Jesus began a new phase of his work. He suddenly
set off on a tour of the Jewish-dominated districts, preaching a very political
message. He offered to all the Jewish people a chance to be the kingdom of God,
with Him as the king, but he made it clear that the only way this kingdom could
operate was if the subjects were repentant. It was all there - the people, the
land, the laws and the king - and all it required was repentance. The Jews could
have been the most healthy, happy, invincible, prosperous nation on earth, if
they had met the conditions.
Jesus worked hard, trying to encourage the Jews to accept his offer. He
healed, he taught, he preached. He went out of his way to demonstrate the sort
of blessings that would follow if the Jews would just humble themselves and give
up chasing sin.
But of course they wouldn't. They wanted the kingdom blessing and their
sin. The pleasures of rebellion were too attractive. God, they decided, would
have to indulge them.
The response from the people really weighed heavily on Jesus. He loved
them all so much, and his intentions were only for their blessing. Like a
shepherd, he wanted to gather them together and look after them, but they
preferred to be scattered. Like stupid sheep, they saw him coming and ran the
wrong way.
One day, Jesus wearily confided with his disciples. "Look at
them" he said, "They're everywhere, like a huge harvest waiting to be
brought in! But where are the labourers? I see a few of them, but we need many
more!
Ask me, the one in charge of the harvest, for more helpers. I will send
them, when I find people able to do the work."