Monsterlizard - Born Again

9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.  10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ’sinners’?”

 12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:9-13)

I think I have found my favorite verse But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’.  For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners (Matthew 9:13)  This really jumped out at me.  I found the corresponding verse that Jesus was talking about and it was Hosea 6:6. 
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
       and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

That got me reading Hosea 6, which I am sure was Jesus’ reason for citing it.  More to come on that book later.

Well I think we really need to remember “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” because sometimes I think we do things more as a sacrifice to God than as mercy to others which Jesus is commanding.  Are we going to church to show mercy to others who may need it that day, or are we sacrificing our Sunday for something we would rather be doing?

1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 
3At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 
4Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7And the man got up and went home. 8When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men. (Matthew 9:1-8)

I remember this story from RE (Religious Education) when I was growing up.  I remember hearing about this man’s friends lowering him from a hole in the roof.  This had to have been a rather difficult task.  First, they had to get him to the roof.  Then, I assume there wasn’t a crane or pulley system already in place, so I picture in my mind several men holding a rope on the roof and lowering the weight of a fully grown man to the ground.  They were so sure in their faith of Jesus and his ability to heal, they were willing to endure that hardship to see that the man met Jesus. 

However, Jesus does not simply heal the man and move on.  He says, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven”.  In Jesus’ eyes, the problem of sin trumped that of any physical ailments.  It isn’t until this that teachers of the law call Jesus out (without realizing that he hears them).  Then, in order to prove to men his authority, he physically heals the man.  This is because we cannot as men see the forgiveness of sin.

I think this passage is less about Jesus healing a paralyzed man, and more about leading people to Jesus so that their sins can be forgiven.  We as Christians are always trying to get people to Jesus, even through great difficulty that can be paralleled to the men lowering someone from a rooftop.  However, we have to remember that in doing so we shouldn’t be so focused on the fact that they have earthly problems that we know Jesus can heal.  We should be focused on the fact that Jesus will forgive their sins, which is a much greater concern than those short term problems people have on Earth.

Jesus Calms the Storm

23Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 
26He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 
27The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27)

The Healing of Two Demon-possessed Men

28When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 
30Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 
32He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. (Matthew 8:28-34)

These 2 sections show a strange parallel to me.  Matthew 8:23-27 shows men were traveling with Jesus, but didn’t beleive or understand that we was the Son of God.  Even when he commands the wind and waves they ask, “what kind of man is this?”  This in and of itself is not strange.  I think if some random man came around and was teaching what Jesus taught and then he mad the wind stop, I would wonder what kind of man he was too.

Matthew 8:28-34 shows deamons talking to Jesus who call him “Son of God”.  What better proof that he is God’s Son that for his enemies to call him that.

18When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 
20Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 
21Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 
22But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (Matthew 8:18-22)

Jesus knows that it takes effort to follow Him.  Anyone can say they know Him, but true followers have to sacrifice possessions (a place to lay his head) and (let the dead bury their own dead).  He is explaining that we do not need to worry about physical things.

14When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. 
 16When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
   ”He took up our infirmities
      and carried our diseases.” (Matthew 8:14-17)

The first thing that amazed me when reading this was that Peter’s mother-in-law after being healed “got up and began to wait on him.”  I know when I am sick and get better, the last thing I want to do is wait on someone.

Now verse 16 has me wondering what does it mean “daemon-possessed”.  Was it a scene from the Exorcist, or was it healing someone with a sickness?  I don’t think I will ever really know, but that is my new quest.  If anyone has an Old Testament reading they can lead me to, I would really appreciate it.

Finally, I looked up the passage in Isaiah that is referred to in verse 17, it comes from Isaiah 53.  This chapter fortells the coming of Jesus, and too the letter explains his life:

1 Who has believed our message
       and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 
 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
       and like a root out of dry ground.
       He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
       nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 
 3 He was despised and rejected by men,
       a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
       Like one from whom men hide their faces
       he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 
 4 Surely he took up our infirmities
       and carried our sorrows,
       yet we considered him stricken by God,
       smitten by him, and afflicted. 
 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
       he was crushed for our iniquities;
       the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
       and by his wounds we are healed. 
 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
       each of us has turned to his own way;
       and the LORD has laid on him
       the iniquity of us all. 
 7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
       yet he did not open his mouth;
       he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
       and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
       so he did not open his mouth. 
 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
       And who can speak of his descendants?
       For he was cut off from the land of the living;
       for the transgression of my people he was stricken.  
 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
       and with the rich in his death,
       though he had done no violence,
       nor was any deceit in his mouth. 
 10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
       and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
       he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
       and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 
 11 After the suffering of his soul,
       he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
       by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
       and he will bear their iniquities. 
 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,  
       and he will divide the spoils with the strong,  
       because he poured out his life unto death,
       and was numbered with the transgressors.
       For he bore the sin of many,
       and made intercession for the transgressors.
(Isaiah 53) 

5And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him,  
6and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” 
7Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 

8But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
9“For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

10Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. 
11“I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;
12but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

13And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.  (Matthew 8:5-13)

Two huge things happen here.  First, Jesus is showing that he has come to save everyone who believes in Him.  It is not longer the Jews against the world, but man with Jesus against sin.  And second, that to be saved requires no more than absolute faith in Christ.  The centurion knew that Jesus could heal his servant with having to be there and do some magic.  Because of that faith, his servant was healed.

1When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 3Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. 4Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” (Matthew 8:1-4)

Having leprosy in the times of Jesus was a big deal. You were outcast and forced to live outside of society. You couldn’t be around others, let alone be touched by them. But, Jesus was not only willing to heal this man, He touched him. This had to be a huge shock to those that were watching. After he heals the man, he tells him to go to the priests and make the offering from Leviticus 14:1-32. He doesn’t stop there though, I think it is significant that Jesus says “… as a testimony to them.” He is showing the priests that He has performed a miracle by healing someone, and made him accountable to the laws of Moses.

 24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. (Matthew 7:24-29)

There have been those that have said, “if all your sins are forgiven, why not enjoy life and ask for forgiveness at the end?”  This passage is the reason.

13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.  (Matthew 7:13-14)

This is really eye opening to me.  If we see the masses doing something, it is probably the wrong thing to do.

 15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.  (Matthew 7:15-20)

When ever I hear the word fruit used in the Bible, I think of the Garden of Eden.  I am not sure if I am supposed to or not, but that is the image that pops into my mind.  This passage really brought me there because it also talks about thornbushes and thistles: in Genesis 3 it says

17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’
       “Cursed is the ground because of you;
       through painful toil you will eat of it
       all the days of your life.

 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
       and you will eat the plants of the field.  (Genesis 3:17-18)

I think Jesus wanted us to think about Genesis here.  The serpent (Satan) offered bad fruit to Eve, just as he offers to us today.  The people he works through may sound godly, but if what they are asking goes against the teachings of God, then they are evil.

 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’  (Matthew 7:21-23)

This for me throws a wrench into many teachings of Christians today.  We are told that faith in Jesus will give us ever lasting life.  However, I think Jesus is telling us that there is another step we have to take.  Having and spreading faith in Jesus is not enough, we must obey the will of God.  If we are called to do something, and we ignore that calling, then we are heading toward that broad gate.

 7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

 9“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.  (Matthew 7:7-12)

 This is an assurance from Jesus that God is listening.  He is explaining that God will grant us mercy when asked, even when we are evil.  He also commands that as God will grant us mercy, we must grant mercy to others.  He goes as far as saying that the laws of Moses and the prophecies were commanding the same thing.

It is strange to me that the most simple of laws are the most difficult.  When things are well defined as eat this, wear that, sacrifice these you can rate your progress and know when you have failed.  But, giving grace to everyone always is hard to accomplish.  It requires complete priority change that I pray to obtain.