Follow Jesus Series #7

Faith In Jesus’ Ability

Text: Matthew 8:1-16

Introduction

Let me introduce you to a common prayer that was prayed by many of Pharisee. It goes something like this, “I give thanks that I am a man and not a woman, a Jew and not a Gentile, a free-man and not a slave.” This kind of prayer gives the message that the God they worship is one who only loves the free Jewish man who is very religious. My friends, I am happy to to tell you about a Jesus who is nothing like that description! All we have to do today is open up God’s Word and you will discover very quickly that Jesus is a loving and compassionate Savior to all who will call out to Him.

Now, what I want to do today is gain understand of some important truths about ourselves and Jesus by way of examining all three miraculous healings Jesus performed. First of all, we will look at the leper, then the Centurion and last but not least Peter’s mother-n-law.

It is my prayer today you won’t leave here rejecting the Jesus of Scripture. The worst decision of your life would be to do that very thing. Jesus is the only one who has the words of life, and “new life” is exactly what your greatest need is.

1) Jesus Turns None Away

A. Let examine this wide range of grace recipients

a. First Jesus is approached by a Leper

i. There are actually a number of illnesses that our Bible classifies as leprosy.

ii. They were forced to live a very lonely life.

iii. A very contagious disease; it would spread to your body upon contact.

iiii. The cloth wrapping their wounds would fill with puss and infection. They would eventually lose felling in their limbs, so much they would no feel the rats eating off their fingers and toes.

iiiii. They would have to cry out UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN when others would begin to approach him/her.

b. Next Jesus is contacted by a Centurion

i. Matthew 8:5–13 (BEC): A centurion was an officer over 100 men in the Roman army. Every centurion mentioned in the Gospels and Acts was a gentleman of high character and sense of duty, and this man was no exception. The fact that he was concerned about a lowly servant-boy indicates this.

ii. This Centurion’s servant had a type of paralysis.

iii. The background of the Centurion was far different from that of Jesus: Profession soldier/Jesus a man of peace, Gentile/Jew.

c. Finally we have Peter’s mother-n-law

i. She would not be considered of much worth to the culture.

ii. She was simply a mother and mother-n-law.

iii. She lived a simply life of servanthood

d. The only way these people could come to Christ was by faith while in the condition they were in. If Jesus would not receive them in that fashion, there would be no hope for them!

2) Jesus’ Ability Applies To All

A. Notice how Jesus responds to all these individuals.

a. The Leper

i. Jesus was not appalled and fearful of his disease.

ii. This disease was considered incurable. It was like being dead while you still live.

iii. Jesus never looked for an opportunity to avoid him or his need.

iiii. Jesus was willing to give this outcast disease stricken man a new life.

b. The paralytic servant

i. There was a great distance between Jesus and the servant.

ii. Jesus healed him by the power of His word.

c. The woman with a deadly fever

i. Jesus not only afforded her with healing of her fever, but the power to work in an instant.

ii. What he did for her would baffle any physician, yet He touched her, she arose and started serving.

B. When Jesus is your Savior, you have a Savior who has power over all things.

a. I am not saying Jesus owes you physical healing.

b. What I am saying is that Jesus is a Savior whom you can bring all your cares to.

c. Quote: “Behold here a broad foundation for the faith of a Christian! We are told in the gospel to come to Jesus, to believe on Jesus, to live the life of faith in Jesus; we are encouraged to lean on him, to cast all our care on him, to repose all the weight of our souls on him. We may do so without fear: he can bear all; he is strong rock: he is Almighty.” — J.C. Ryle

d. Quote: “He can give life to the dead; he can give power to the weak; he can increase strength to them that have no might.” — J.C. Ryle

e. What did Gabriel tell Mary? Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” What did God tell Abraham? Gen. 18:14 “Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” What did God tell Jeremiah? Jer. 32:27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”

C. Jesus will turn none away who come to him for salvation of their soul!

a. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

b. 1 John 2:2 “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

c. 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

3) Jesus Will Bless Your Faith

A. How was it that Jesus showed mercy and compassion to these three completely different circumstances?

a. They may have all been different in circumstance, yet not completely different in trusting Jesus’ ability.

b. Notice the faith of all three.

i. The Leper — The only thing in question for this man was the willingness of Jesus to heal him.

ii. The Centurion — This man was confident in the authority Jesus had over all things. Notice verse10!!!

iii. The woman — His disciples made a request of faith.

iiii. It was once said by an old saint, “My faith can sleep on no other pillow than Christ’s omnipotence.”

c. A reoccurring phrase from Jesus toward someone who has confessed their faith in Him is, “Thy faith hath made thee whole” or “The faith hath saved thee.”

B. God will bless the faith of the most vile and common of people!

a. Let’s examine the imagery of the Leper and parasitic servant.

i. The Leper

a) Matthew 8:1–4 (BEC): Leprosy is an illustration of sin (Isa. 1:5–6). The instructions given to the priests in Leviticus 13 help us understand the nature of sin: Sin is deeper than the skin (Lev. 13:3); it spreads (Lev. 13:8); it defiles and isolates (Lev. 13:45–46); and it is fit only for the fire (Lev. 13:52, 57).

b) Jesus contracted yet conquered his leprosy!

i) Did Jesus not do that very thing on the cross? 2 Cor. 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

ii) 1 Tim. 2:3-4 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

iii) As the priest was to declare this man clean, so does Jesus declare all clean who puts their faith in Him!!!

ii. The paralytic servant

a) There is not distance Jesus won’t reach to draw a lost sinner to Himself.

b) Jesus crosses every divide than humanity has put between themselves.

iii. The woman

a) She started serving after being healed! That was her greatest way of showing her love to Jesus. It is for you too!

C. Without faith in Christ you are without hope!

a. Quote: “Faith in Christ appears a small and simple thing to the children of this world. They see in it nothing great or grand. But faith in Christ is most precious in God’s sight, and, like most precious things, is rare. By it true Christians live; by it they stand; by it they overcome the world. Without faith no one can be saved.” — J.C. Ryle

Conclusion

The Jesus of Heaven has come with both the ability and willingness to save your soul. All that is required is a confession from your heart of turning from your unbelief and placing a depending faith in Him alone as Savior.