5. The Mercy of the King

Introduction

The intentional structure of the narrative (3-1, 3-1, 3-1) gives us a clue to properly understanding the stories. The three miracle stories are meant to be read through the lens of the discipleship teaching, and vice versa. And the whole unit is helping us understand, in some way, how we follow Jesus.

The Stories

Scene 1 (Matt 9:18-26): On his way to raise a dead girl back to life, Jesus is interrupted by a woman who’s been bleeding for twelve years. She is healed when she touches his robe, and then Jesus continues on and raises the girl from the dead.

Scene 2 (Matt 9:27-31): Two blind men cry out to Jesus, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” Jesus heals them according to their faith, and even though he tells them to keep it quiet, they spread his fame everywhere.

Scene 3 (Matt 9:32-34): Jesus frees a demon-oppressed man from the evil spirit. The crowds marvel but the Pharisees claim Jesus’s power over demons comes from the prince of demons.

The Big Idea

Two key verses that help us see these stories through the right lens: Matthew 9:27, 36.

Last week we saw “mercy” as hesed, loyal, faithful, God-centered community. This week, we see “mercy” as compassion.

What does Christian compassion look like?

Explanation: Jesus restores…

Community: Jesus restored the woman who was bleeding to her place in the community and her access to come into the temple and worship with her people.

Life: Jesus raised a little girl from the dead. Let us not forget that the kingdom life Jesus gives is also eternal life!

Dignity

The ruler knelt before the rabbi.

The woman who was defiled had her shame removed.

The two blind men were given sight, and the ability to work and earn a living, rather than rely on handouts.

Hope: The blind men called Jesus, “Son of David,” a title for the Messiah that reveals their hope that Jesus is the Messiah. See Isaiah 35:5-6.

Freedom: Jesus set free a man who was demon-oppressed.

Application: In summary, Jesus makes people whole. Matthew 5:48… “perfect” = whole. Christian compassion restores wholeness to broken people.

Illustration: https://wng.org/podcasts/hope-awards-for-effective-compassion-good-samaritan-rehabilitation-1658896795

How can we become like Jesus in our compassion?

Act like Jesus

Not act as in pretend but act as in do. Do what Jesus did.

Cheryl Gahan: “The mercy in these stories is mercy moved to action.” This is hesed, love in action.

There’s a difference between feeling sorry for someone and having mercy on that person (James 2:15-16).

There’s also a difference between virtue signaling and Christian compassion (1 John 3:18).

Live by the Spirit

In all these stories, the people came to Jesus seeking help. The women who was bleeding even interrupted him. But Jesus saw the interruption as an opportunity to show mercy and restore dignity. How do you respond to an interruption?

If we walk in step with the Spirit, and live in hesed with God and others, God will open doors of opportunity to put our love into action and impact people’s lives.

Three powerful quotes

Jim Elliot: “Wherever you are, be all there.”

Jesse Barriga: “Your life is a ministry.”

Lee Eclov: “The very idea of doing hesed does not even cross the minds of many church attenders who are more interested in having their own needs met.”

Trust the Father

Twice in these miracle stories, Jesus mentions faith—Matt 9:22, 29.

In some way that I don’t fully understand, God’s action sometimes corresponds to our faith.

If we are going to become like Jesus in our compassion, we must trust the Father and pray big prayers—we must be willing to risk disappointment in our prayers and in our actions.

Faith is not believing that God can or knowing that God will. Faith is praying big prayers and trusting God with the outcome—even if that outcome is not what we expected.

Expect resistance

Look at the reactions to Jesus’s miracles in Matt 9:33-34.

If you extend hesed to others and step into their lives to restore wholeness to them in Christ, you can expect resistance.

Remember the Sermon on the Mount, Matt 5:10-12. Resistance is evidence that you are following Jesus—not the other way around.

Conclusion

Christian compassion restores wholeness to broken people. So...

Act like Jesus

Live by the Spirit

Trust the Father

Expect resistance