Jesus Matters (Matthew 12:22-28)
Gary McManus, 02/15/2015Part of the Words that Divide, Words that Unite series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
So far this season we have covered:
--Words that divide and unite
--The Lord said that we can only serve
one Master; one Lord.
--Even love divides.
(It IS hard to love the enemy and Jesus knew it.)
--There is only one pathway to life.
--Even the works of Jesus divide. [Today’s verses]
Jesus winds up having a confrontation/disagreement
with some Pharisees brought on by a healing.
Healing / exorcism of a demon; sight and speech
restored.
The book of Acts mentions Jewish exorcists.
(Acts 8:4-13, Acts 13:4-12, Acts 19:13-16)
These practitioners don’t seem to have been
opposed but Jesus was!
Verse 23 is key, “son of David”; it is a Messiah title.
(Matthew 1:1, 20, 25; 9:27, 15:22, 20:31, 21:9, 22:42)
Jesus’ healing AND teaching amazed people
(Matthew 7:28, 22:33)
Jesus saw a teaching moment.
Jesus raised the stakes on this healing. . .
it is the Spirit of God IN Jesus!
(See Matthew 3:16)
Jesus is son of God: Matthew 16:16
Matthew 14:33. Even the demons will declare it
(Matthew 8:29)
Notice that no one disputes the healing!
So where is Jesus’ power from?
Who do you say Jesus is?
If Jesus IS the Messiah, then our lives are changed.
. . .just like the healed man’s life changed.
If the Kingdom has come near, are you in or out?
No one can have it BOTH ways.
No one can enter the narrow gate and the wide gate.
.Jesus doesn’t say, “Join my fan club.”
Jesus says, “ FOLLOW me.”
Did all who were healed become followers?
The Bible doesn’t’ tell us.
If Jesus healed you—you remain healed.
But if you do not become a follower of Jesus,
you are on the path of destruction.
(Matthew 7:13-14)
Jesus on “doors” (Matthew 25:10, Luke 13:25)
Jesus points to the Heavenly Father.
With Jesus you and I and all have decisions to make.
The testimony of Matthew Neeham. . .
Follow Jesus and you are on your way to life. It is a new life.
Amen.
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