Sermon Notes

Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute

27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 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 will it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region. 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.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

The Workers Are Few

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching 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. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Amen.

This is the Word of God. Happy New Year. 

Let us give thanks to God for the New Year.

Bible says, “There is nothing new under the sun.” Yet also, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has come, the new has come.”

We remember Jesus’ first miracle – turning water into wine. After that miracle, the master of the banquet testified “Everyone else brings the cheaper wine out second – but you have saved the BEST wine until now!” What is the message we can get from this?

First, for wine: The older the better. 50-year-old wine is better than 20-year-old wine. How many years do you need to make the BEST wine in your lifetime? A: We cannot make the best wine in our lifetimes no matter how long or hard we try. We cannot make the best things no matter how hard we try.

Best joy, best peace, best freedom, best salvation – we cannot make these in our lifetimes. 

But, Jesus can make these things in the twinkling of an eye! 

He gives us the best salvation, the best joy, the best freedom.

John “Whoever hears my Word and believes in the One who sent me will not be condemned. He has crossed over from death to life.”

• From meaningless to meaningful.
• From purposeless to purposeful.
• From hell to heaven.
• From death to life.

• Without Jesus, life is flat, dull, uninteresting. 
• When Jesus comes, life is FULL – exhilarating, joyful, wonderful.
• The joy Jesus gives is ever-new, ever-satisfying – from eternity to eternity.

God bless us all in 2014 – this year to be MUCH BETTER than last year – every TODAY to be much better than yesterday – because IN CHRIST “the old has gone, the new has come.” 

Now, here, Jesus is healing – and he is looking for workers who will do what he has done. 

v. 27-31

“Yes, Lord!”
Let’s say it together. “Yes Lord you can!” “Yes Lord I believe!” “Amen” = very many meanings, including this “Yes, Lord!”

Last time, Jesus was at Jarius’ house to raise his daughter. Today, Jesus went on from THERE – from Jarius’ house and he was walking on the street when these two blind men followed him and called out to him “Take pity on us!”

Strangely, Jesus didn’t give them an immediate response on the street, until he got to the house at which he was staying. So, the two men had to follow him until he got to that house.

1. Jesus wanted to be sure that these two men sincerely, honestly wanted the healing he could give them.
2. They needed to be alone. All humans must go home and be alone at some point. And we must confront Jesus Christ alone at home.

It’s easy to make a decision for Christ in a spiritually-charged, emotional, passionate environment. The real test, what really matters is when we are alone. Not what we do in the crowd, in the multitude, but what we do when we are alone with Jesus Christ. 

Jesus faced these men alone and asked them only ONE question. 

The only one essential for a miracle = faith.

“Yes, Lord!”

Jesus touched their eyes and said, “According to YOUR faith, it will be done to you.” Immediately, their sight was restored. Blindness = a symbol of spiritual blindness. Even though they could not physically see, they COULD see who Jesus was. Sadly, there are many people around us today who can physically SEE, but cannot really see WHO JESUS IS.

1. Is Christ Savior? YES. 

Whether we agree or not, whether we accept it or not, He is.

2. Is Christ Lord? YES.

Whether we agree or not, whether we accept it or not, He is.

3. Is Christ YOUR personal Lord? Yes?

Is He? Is He Lord of EVERY area of your life?

• Time?
• Thoughts?
• Actions?
• Behavior?
• Feelings?
• Passion?
• Dreams?
• Purpose?
• Materials?
• Money?
• Talent?
• Treasure?
• Wallet?
• Credit Card?
• Eternity?

You don’t need to answer aloud for all to hear, but we must be very careful, sincere, honest, with Jesus Christ alone, in private, not in the crowd.

Is Jesus the Lord of every area of my life?

• Romans 9:10 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
• “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” 

LORD = personal Lord

This is not Savior here – but Lord.

Many people want to receive Christ as Savior, but NOT many people want to receive Christ as LORD. 

• We cannot receive what Jesus GIVES and refuse who He IS.
• We cannot receive His salvation and refuse His Lordship.
• We must confess his Lordship – it simplifies service.
• We cannot accept his Lordship and serve other masters. “No one can serve two masters.”

Did you choose/decide on Jesus Christ as Lord?

This is your LAST independent decision you ever made. If you say, “Yes, Lord! You are my Master!” you have no more personal choice. If you say, “Yes, you are my master!” then you also say, “Your will is my will! Your pleasure is my pleasure!”

v. 32-34

“It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” What a curse on them…

To this ONE event, there were two reactions:

1. The crowd: Amazed and shouted “Woah! Amazing!”
2. Pharisees: “He is a devil! A servant of devils!”

Can you say like that to Jesus? Never.

At least 3 times the Pharisees criticized Jesus in just this chapter Matthew 9.

1. When Jesus said to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven.” “Blasphemy!”
2. When he ate with sinners, “You are a sinner!”
3. When he cast out demons, “You are a devil!”

What a curse they were storing up against themselves. What more, we should not follow them, their example.

1. The Pharisees were too set in their own ways to change.

To them, all the great things belonged in the Past. To change anything was a great SIN. Anything NEW was wrong to their eyes. 

Jesus came with a new interpretation of what real religion was, they hated him as they hated the prophets long ago.

2. They were too proud and self-satisfied to submit.

If Jesus was right, they were wrong. They were so proud that they could not see. They saw no need to change, no need to repent.  

• Do you like change?
• Do you like repentance?

Jesus’ first message was “REPENT! For the kingdom of God is near!” 

• Repentance = change of mind, attitude, behavior, actions, belief.
• This is the first gate by which we enter heaven.
• This is the first step to salvation.
• We accept that we are wrong and we accept change. 

They hated anyone who wanted change. Jesus wants to change us. Will you hate him or love him?

3. They were too prejudiced to sin.

They were so blind that they could not see the truth in Jesus Christ. They could not see the power of God. 

If we accept change, we can see the wonders of God in our lives. 

Do you want to change? Do you accept change? This means spiritual growth. 

I cannot change you. You cannot change me. Husband cannot change wife. Wife cannot change husband. ONLY Jesus Christ can change. Why? Only Jesus is unchangeable, immutable in his power. 

• I cannot change you because you are changeable. 
• You cannot change me because I am changeable.

v. 35

Jesus did many things in his earthly ministry, but all can be summarized by:

1. Teaching
2. Preaching – commitment
3. Healing – wholeness

These prove that he is from God, he IS God.

v. 36

Even today, Jesus is filled with compassion (pity) for us – inner, deep mercy. He was moved to compassion by the world’s pain, sorrow. He was filled with a great desire to wipe every tear from our eyes. He was moved to compassion by our hunger – he fed 5000+ with his compassion.

No Christian can be satisfied to have TOO much while others have TOO little.

Jesus was moved to compassion by our bewilderment, confusion. 

So, even today, he is looking for workers to continue his job even today.

v. 37-38

Therefore = conclusion – because his heart is filled with compassion for the sinners outside.

Jesus = the Lord of the Harvest

John 3:16 “God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

If we open our spiritual eyes and look outside, this world is FILLED and RIPE with lost sinners who are wandering without rest, without peace, without joy – only with confusion, doubt, pain, suffering. That’s why Jesus is looking for workers.

At this moment, I’ll give you the SAME question. 

Is Jesus your PERSONAL Lord? 

Be very careful, very honest with Him.

IF he is not YET, you MUST accept him – NOW! Quickly! We have no time to lose!

But if He IS your personal Lord, there is no doubt, no question, the WORLD is your mission field. You are a missionary in the world and you are a minister in this church – in AICF!  

If he is my Master, I am his Servant.

Can you imagine a servant who is doing NOTHING for his Master? No, it is IMPOSSIBLE. 

• So, we must be able to see what Jesus has seen.
• We must feel what he has felt.
• We must do what he has done for world salvation.

If you are DOING something in AICF (the body of Jesus Christ) – outside, inside – do not think you are doing it for me as pastor – No, you are doing it for your Lord, for your Master. We are merely co-workers for HIM.

God bless us all to be faithful, diligent, honest workers.

Let’s pray.