Matthew 9:18-34

Intro:

A Motorcyclist was taking a ride and decided to stop by the side of the road

While he was resting God spoke to him

God said, “Because you have been faithful I will grant you one wish.”

The Bike said, “Make a bridge over to Hawaii

God replied, “Do you realize the time, manpower, and resources it would take to do that?

The Biker said, “I thought you said I could wish for anything?”

God said, “That bridge would use up all of the resources on earth. Is there anything else you can wish for?”

Bike said, “Okay, I want my wife to understand me and I want to know what she is thinking and how she is feeling so she can be happy.”

God replied, “Do you want that bridge two lanes or four?”

One of the hardest things to explain to people is why some people get healed and others don’t

Understanding God’s sovereignty is difficult

Today we see four people who sought Jesus for prayer and He healed them

In the process we see four principles for seeking God’s Touch

Read Matthew 9:18-22

Transition

All of Jesus’ healings were increasing his fame

People were coming from all over Israel to be touched

Crowds were desperate to get near him wherever he went

I. Press In vs. 20-22

The first principle for seeking God’s touch is that you have to press in

This lady with the issue of blood teaches us a valuable lesson

She pushes through the crowds to get to Jesus

Luke 8:42–44 (ESV)

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.

And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone.

She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.

This woman’s sickness was reckoned as if she had a menstrual period all month long; it made her continually unclean under the law (Lev 15:19–33)—a social and religious problem in addition to the physical one.

If she touched anyone or anyone’s clothes, she rendered that person ceremonially unclean for the rest of the day

Because she rendered unclean anyone she touched, she should not have even been in this heavy crowd.

Thus she could not touch or be touched, she had probably never married or was now divorced, and she was marginal to Jewish society.

In an act of scandalous faith, she touches Jesus’ garment’s “fringe”

Jesus senses the power go out from him and wants to know who touched him

His disciples are incredulous when they see the crowd

The woman comes and kneels and Jesus tells her faith has made her well

Against all of the obstacles she pressed in

At the risk of being ostracized, she pressed in

She had no other option, so she pressed in

If you are seeking the Lord’s touch you need to push through and press in

Jesus rewards those efforts and you overcome the thoughts that limit you

II. Humble Yourself vs. 19-20, 23-26

The second principle for seeking God’s touch is to humble yourself

Jairus was the local leader

“Rulers of the synagogue” were the chief officials in synagogues and were prominent members of their communities.

This is no small gesture for him to come and bow at Jesus feet

He risked his reputation and livelihood by coming to Jesus

Even more so he bowed to him which means he humbled himself

One would fall at the feet of someone of much greater status (like a king) or prostrate oneself before God; thus for this prominent man to humble himself in this way before Jesus was to recognize Jesus’ power in a serious way

He begged Jesus to come and touch his daughter who had just died

Some people contrast Jairus with the Centurion

I don’t like that because the cultures were different

Jesus didn’t hesitate to go with him

When he got there the professional mourners were already there

vs. 23 Flute players were there to lead the crowd in mourning.

Several professional women mourners were required even at the funeral of the poorest person; the funeral of a member of a prominent family like this one would have many mourners.

The cathartic release of mourning included shrieking and beating of breasts.

Jesus tells them to go away because she wasn’t dead

They laughed and ridiculed him

Part of this was because they got paid to do what they were doing

Jesus puts the crowds outside and took the girl by her hand and she arose

This never would’ve happened if her dad wouldn’t have humbled himself

No one in that town had more to lose than Jairus, yet he went to Jesus and humbled himself

If you are seeking God’s touch you need to humble yourself

Too many people stop at this point because of their perception of what others might say

Don’t worry about what people will think, just come before Jesus and seek Him

III. Believe It’s Possible vs. 27-31

The third principle for seeking God’s touch is to believe that it is possible

If you are going to seek God’s touch you have to move from wanting it to believing He can do it

As Jesus leaves Jairus’ house two blind men follow him

They have heard that Jesus heals people and they want to see

As they follow him they cry out “Have mercy on us.”

Jesus, this blindness makes us miserable. Can you do something?

They wanted to see, to have their problems taken care of

They even called him the Messiah

“Son of David” was the title of the Messiah, but in most expectations the Messiah was a political or military figure rather than a healer.

But these blind men understand a connection between healing and Jesus’ identity that was not part of Jewish tradition.

God ruled over blindness and sight

Notice how Jesus doesn’t stop what he is doing and minister to them

He continues on to a house, we can assume that it’s Peter’s

The blind men approach Jesus in the home and Jesus asks them a question

Do you believe?

This seems a mere formality but Jesus is more interested in your belief than he is your wants

The blind men wanted to see, but did they believe in Jesus?

Many want the touch of Jesus, whether it be healing or anything else, but don’t necessarily believe that Jesus is the Son of God

The Blind men say yes and he heals them according to their faith

Seeking the Lord’s touch involves faith in a God you can’t see and belief in who He says He is

After they are healed Jesus tells them not to tell anyone about it

They spread his fame throughout

How do you expect a former blind person not to say anything

Their life has been changed

People who knew them as blind want to know

Jesus told them this so that people wouldn’t come to him just for what they want

IV. Ignore the Critics vs. 32-34

The final principle for seeking God’s touch is to ignore the critics

As you draw closer to Jesus you are going to hear snide remarks from people in your life

They are going to cast doubt on your faith

Instead of trying to understand their motives, just ignore the criticism

Jesus encounters a demon possessed man who was mute

Jesus casts out the demon and the man is able to speak

The crowd declares “Never was anything like this seen”

What was the response of the super spiritual people?

He casts out demons by Satan

Basically, Jesus can do this because he is working with the devil

They were jealous of Jesus and could not deny his miracles so they had to accuse him of using the devil