The Compassion of Jesus

Intro

For our passage today, I want to zoom out rather than zoom in. Our passage has three distinct sections and we are going to tie each of those sections together by zooming out and focusing on what is common among them.

Up until now, we have zoomed in on each passage that we have gone through; focusing on the identity of Jesus in all those passages. We saw in all those miracles and teachings what Matthew wanted us to see about who Jesus is.

We saw that he has power over the brokenness that exists physically, spiritually, and in nature. We saw that he forgives sins, that he gives life, that he is enough, that he hangs with the worst.

Today, we are going to zoom out and focus on our response to Jesus.

Everyone has an opinion about Jesus. They did when he walked the earth and they do today. Some folks love him as a wise guy, some think he’s a mythical figure that can be a model for certain behaviors, some don’t like him, some hate him, and others are plain indifferent.

We get to see in our passage today multiple responses to Jesus and the response that Jesus desires.

No matter where you stand today in your faith journey, I hope you will be encouraged to take a step closer toward Jesus, and another step closer to helping others take their step toward Jesus.

Open your bible or your bible app to Matthew 9:27-38. We’ll read and ask for God’s blessing on the proclamation of His word.

Blind Men

Once Jesus wrapped up with bringing the little girl back to life, Matthew tells us that when he left, he was essentially chased down by two blind men. If they’re blind, it means they had helpers who were leading them toward Jesus. They heard Jesus was around the way, and they went after him. They called out to him, saying, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

They are asking Jesus for compassion. Not just compassion that stops at the emotions but compassion that moves into action. That’s what we call mercy. They want Jesus to show them kindness that goes beyond what justice demands. That’s what we call mercy. They know Jesus is not required to bring sight to their blind eyes. They know they have not done enough favor for Jesus to hold their request for healing over his head.

They’re not demanding that Jesus heal them. They are simply begging for his mercy.

There are two types of people in this world; those who need mercy and know it, and those who need mercy but don’t know that they do.

These two men belong in the first category. They sought mercy from Jesus because they believed he is the long-awaited messiah in the line of David. The Old Testament fore-tells the coming of a Messiah in the line of King David who would bring freedom and healing to the land of Israel.

The blind men didn’t merely see Jesus as their ticket to receiving their sight, they saw him as one who is to be worshipped.

They believed that Jesus could do what has never been recorded in human history. Jesus turned to them and asked a simple question. Do you believe that I have the power to do what you are asking me?

Their belief is evident in their affirmative response. No where has it been heard that a blind man was able to receive his sight without medical intervention. But they believed.

They wanted to experience the mercy of Jesus. Jesus commended them for their faith and healed them.

He gave them sight when they were once blind. He gave light to their body where darkness existed. No longer did they need help to find Jesus, now they were the ones offering help.

Jesus warned them sternly not to tell anyone but they did not listen. They went out and spread the news like wildfire.

They experienced the mercy of Jesus and their response was not to hold it in but to let it go. They shouted on the mountain top. They shared it in the streets. They wanted others to hear of the mercy they experienced so that they too may experience the same.

They didn’t receive their sight and went about their day, they received Jesus and wanted others to experience the same. It was not only their eyes that received sight, but also their hearts.

Jesus told them to tell no one but they told everyone. Jesus tells us to tell everyone but we tell no one.

When was the last time to told someone of the mercy that Jesus offers, of the compassion that Jesus has for them? Maybe we’re too ashamed. Maybe we’re too cool. Maybe we’re too smart for our own good.

The blind men weren’t ashamed, they didn’t think they were too cool, and they sure weren't too smart for their own good. Their experience was real. And it was too real to act like it didn’t happen. It was too real for people not to hear about it.

Mute Man

As Jesus got done in that area with the blind men, and perhaps some other things that Matthew does not tell us about, he encounters a mute man who is demon possessed.

We’ve already gone in-depth about demons and demon possession a few sermons back so we won’t do that again today. You can always find our past sermons on our YouTube and Spotify pages.

Jesus encounters this man who is mute. Matthew tells us a demon is the cause of his muteness. Jesus heals the man by casting out the demon and restoring his speech. We don’t get much details about this interaction. It is very different from the story of demon possession we saw few weeks ago.

I believe we don’t get many details here because the focus isn’t on the mute man but instead on the response to what Jesus did for the mute man.

The crowds who witnessed this miraculous intervention were amazed because nothing like that had even been seen before. Not only was a demon cast out of the man, but his closed vocal cords were now open.

The people were amazed but the pharisees were not.

They grumbled. They accused Jesus on using dark powers. If you’ve ever been slandered, remember Jesus feels your pain.

Rather than believe, they slandered and distorted. They witnessed the compassion and mercy of Jesus, but it did not lead them to belief but instead further rejection.

There are two types of people in this world; those who need mercy and know it, and those who need mercy but don’t know that they do

Where do you stand today? Do you reject Jesus for who he is, or do you embrace him?

Where do your loved ones stand today? Do they reject Jesus, or do they embrace him?

Where do you friends stand today? Do they reject Jesus, or do they embrace him? Not everyone will accept Jesus. Some will accept parts of him but reject the parts they don’t like, and others will accept none of him. The blind men experienced the mercy of Jesus and embraced all of who he is. The Pharisees experienced the mercy of Jesus in action and rejected him. We have before us two responses to the mercy and compassion of Jesus. Which would you choose?

The Harvest

Matthews moved to summarize the ministry of Jesus which included preaching, teaching, and healing. But the heart of Jesus’ ministry is not merely healing for the sake of healing. The heart of his ministry was to raise up a generation of people who would place their faith in him for freedom and hope that never ends.

When he saw crowds, what he saw was not an opportunity to make a few bucks by promising miracles and physical healing. What he saw was an ailment that is common to all people today. Jesus saw people who were like tired and hopeless. He saw people who were without guidance, protection, and provision.

They were like sheep without a shepherd. A shepherd is there to guide the sheep, protect the sheep, and provide for the sheep.

When we are without God, when we live lives that is not surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus, when our faith is not placed in the one who gave up his life for us, we are like sheep without a shepherd.

When Jesus saw this, he was filled with compassion. It is from this compassion that he extends mercy to the blind and mute men. And it is from this compassion that he tells his disciples that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers.

The church is the laborers and those who do not yet embrace Jesus are the harvest.

We are to do the work of laboring and pray for God to provide more laborers.

In short, we are to be like the blind men. This is why Restoration Church was started. This is why most churches if not all churches, are started. To reach those who are lost. To reach those who are like sheep without a shepherd. To reach those who are weary and hopeless. To reach those who desire to be loved. To reach those who need to experience forgiveness. To reach those longing for freedom. To reach those who recognize their need for help and those who desire mercy.

How are we doing as a church? How are we doing to praying for more laborers and in carrying out the task of laboring in the harvest?

I think we can all agree that there is room for growth. We are not supposed to keep the mercy that Jesus offers to ourselves. We are to go and share with others there is a God who wants to show them mercy. There is a compassionate Savior who wants the best for them. There is a loving Jesus who desires to restore all of what sin has broken in their life.

Practical

The question that remains is what do we do now? How can we do better both as individuals and as a church community?

Pray

Ready

To share with our words

To live lives that reflect the truth we proclaim

To use our hands to serve

Conclusion

Will you join me in the new coming year to resolve to be unashamed about sharing the good news of Jesus, will you join me to resolve to help others experience the mercy of God? God is ready. We just need to move. And I believe when we move, he will respond in ways that are beyond our imagination.

Let our response to the mercy of Jesus be to shout it and not hold it in or reject it.