Crippled Climbers

Matthew 15:29–31 NKJV

Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them. So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

Matthew 15:29–31 (M:BCL)

After Jesus returned, he walked along Lake Galilee and then climbed a mountain and took his place, ready to receive visitors.

They came, tons of them, bringing along the paraplegic, the blind, the maimed, the mute—all sorts of people in need—and more or less threw them down at Jesus’ feet to see what he would do with them. He healed them.

When the people saw the mutes speaking, the maimed healthy, the paraplegics walking around, the blind looking around, they were astonished and let everyone know that God was blazingly alive among them.

Intro:

Crippled: to deprive of the use of a limb and especially a leg (Websters)

Synonyms: … LAME – DISABLED – HURT – IMPOTENT …

CRIPPLED usually means DIFFICULT TO GET AROUND …

WHAT WOULD BE ONLY A SMALL OBSTACLE TO ONE –

A GIGANTIC CHALLENGE FOR – CRIPPLED …

§ DEMONSTRATE – JUST WALKING – MUCH LESS A HILL § DEMONSTRATE - CLIMB ONTO PLATFORM …

But I find in this passage – people – crippled – blind – maimed – CLIMBING – LARGE HILL §BECAUSE THEY KNEW – IF I CAN JUST GET TO JESUS … § CLIMB UP – RUN DOWN I JUST WONDER IF THE TOP OF THAT HILL – DIDIN’T LOOK A LOT LIKE SUNDAY MORNING AROUND HERE …

PEOPLE WHO WERE ONCE CRIPPLES – LAME – WEAK – BLINDED SET FREE – DANCE – RUN – JUMP

THERE ARE STILL CRIPPLES CLIMBING THE HILL

THIS PASSAGE – DEMONSTRATIVE OF A MODERN DAY CLIMB – A HILL CALLED CALVARY

BUT IF YOU CAN GET THERE – YOU WON’T BE A CRIPPLE WHEN YOU LEAVE!!!

You may be a CRIPPLED CLIMBER ON THE WAY UP –

But you’ll be a LIBERTATED PRAISER ON THE WAY DOWN!!!

DANCE YOUR WAY DOWN ...

WHAT USED TO BE AN OBSTACLE – HOP OVER

WHEN THEY START TO ASK WHAT’S GOING ON? I MADE IT UP THE HILL ...

While the picture I’m painting this morning – physical impediment ØThe reality I’m describing – not so much physical as spiritual – emotional

There are people who are crippled – by life

– by sin in their life …

CRIPPLED – BY EVENTS – UNANTICIPATED – UNEXPECTED ..

CRIPPLED BY SINS – WISH THEY COULD FORGET

Everyday life is a torment…

EVERY OBSTACLE – EXAGGERATED …

a. Every attempt to get better – met with more hurt b. Every attempt to regain strength – met with a new drain .. c. Every dream of freedom – seems lost on the side of a hill – looks impossible to climb …

The days / nights – dream – freedom

Dream of movement w/out pain

Dream of jumping – instead of jostling

Dream of leaping instead of limping

Dream of running instead of crawling

Envision dancing – freed from the crippler

FREED FROM THE THIEF –

• Took their MOBILITY • Took their JOY • Took their LIBERTY • Took their FREEDOM

(2Co 3:17 KJVR) Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there isliberty.

(Joh 8:36 KJVR) If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

IT’S A CLIMB WORTH: THE EFFORT

EVERY OUNCE OF ENERGY

THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!!

KEEP CLIMBING …

MAYBE YOU’RE NOT WHERE YOU WANT TO BE YET – KEEP CLIMBING

MAYBE YOU’RE NOT AS CLOSE AS SOMEONE ELSE – KEEP CLIMBING …

KEEP CLIMBING …

IF YOU CAN EVER REACH THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD –

YOU’RE GOING TO FIND YOUR DANCING SHOES!!!

THERE’S A PICTURE THAT FORMS ON MY MIND …

IT’S OF JESUS LOOKING DOWN THE HILL …

ON THE SIDE OF THAT HILL – I SEE PEOPLE

HANDS AND KNEES…

SOME SLOWLY W/ A CAIN…

SOME CLAWING FINGERNAILS INTO DIRT…

– REACH …

I HEAR THE GROANS OF PAIN AS THEY CLIMB

I SEE THE AGONY ON THEIR FACE AS THEY FIGHT FOR ONE MORE FOOT

I SEE SLOW AND TORTUROUS PROGRESS

IT’S COSTING THEM

MAYBE HANDS – BLEEDING

SKIN THAT HAS BEEN SCRAPED OFF

PAINFUL INJURIES – AGGRAVATED AGAIN BY THEIR INCREDIBLE EFFORT – GET TO JESUS …

BUT I ALSO SEE JESUS – LOOKING DOWN

AND I SEE HIM SAYING:

COME ON YOU CAN MAKE IT …JUST A FEW MORE FEET …IT’S GOING TO BE WORTH IT …YOU’RE ALMOST THERE …

AND THEN I SEE SOMEONE WHO IS JUST A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY – FINALLY DROP THEIR HEAD – BREATHE OUT HEAVILY ONE LAST TIME AND GIVE UP…

BUT JESUS SAYS– “COME ON!!! YOU CAN’T QUIT – I’M RIGHT HERE …”

MAYBE THEY LOOK UP JUST IN TIME TO SEE THE NEXT ONE WHO REACHED HIM

– TOUCH HIM – SUDDENLY – THROW A CAIN AWAY THE CRUTCH THAT HAS BECOME PART OF THEIR LIFE – BROKEN OVER A FRESHLY HEALED KNEE THE SCAR THAT’S BEEN THERE LONGER THAN – REMEMBER – SUDDENLY GONE … THERE’S VALUE IN SOMEONE ELSE SEEING WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU

YOU DON’T KNOW – IF THEY HAVEN’T LAID – HEAD DOWN – LAST TIME EXPENDED THEIR LAST OUNCE OF ENERGY –

GIVEN UP ON REACHING HIM THEN YOU COME DANCING BY – SHOUTING – SINGING … I MADE IT – I MADE IT THAT ONE REGATHERS THEMSELVES – PRESSSES ON ONE MORE TIME AND SHORTLY – THEY’RE DANCING BECAUSE YOU DANCED I READ – PEOPLE WHO DANCED AFTER HEALING – SEVERAL PLACES … BUT WHAT YOU DON’T SEE IN THE DANCE IS THE FACT – ONE DAY A CRIPPLED CLIMBER A CRIPPLE WHO FINALLY REACHED JESUS!!! KEEP CLIMBING – I KNOW YOU’RE CRIPPLED BUT KEEP CLIMBING … Have you ever stopped to think – Jesus healed some by going to them … - others by letting them come to him?

Why would Jesus make these hurt people – climb that hill?

Why would He climb up the side of a mountain – catch me if you can

He knows – you’ve been told – you can’t make it …

He knows – told – it’s no use • There’s no way • You’re never going to gain freedom • It’s too hard • It’s too far away A LOT OF PEOPLE – NOT AS CRIPPLED AS THEY’VE BEEN MADE TO BELIEVE …

NOT AS HURT AS YOU THINK

NOT AS BAD OFF – AS YOU’VE BEEN TOLD …

NOT AS HELPLESS AS YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE … I KNOW – HOW DARE YOU TELL ME …HOW DARE …. ELABORATE …

I’M NOT TRYING TO MINIMIZE YOUR HURT

MINIMIZE YOUR PAIN

MINIMIZE YOUR AGONY

MINIMIZE THE FIGHT …

BUT I AM TRYING TO TELL YOU HOW CLOSE YOU ARE TO WHAT YOU NEED!!!

I WILL TELL YOU IT’S WORTH THE CLIMB … I WILL TELL YOU IT’S NOT TIME TO QUIT

THE DEVIL IS A LIAR HE’LL DO ANYTHING HE CAN – KEEP YOU AWAY, KEEP YOU DOWN TRICK YOU INTO GIVING UP – CALVARY IN SIGHT TELL YOU UNTIL YOU BELIEVE IT – YOU CAN’T MAKE IT BUT HE’S A LIAR!!! vClose …