Jesus Heals in Response to Faith

Matthew 9:23-26

23 When Jesus arrived at the official's home, he noticed the noisy crowds and heard the funeral music. 24 He said, "Go away, for the girl isn't dead; she's only asleep." But the crowd laughed at him. 25 When the crowd was finally outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside. (NLT)

 

When Jesus came to the home of the official, what did He find? People were making all kinds of noise and playing music. But what did Jesus really see? He saw that the little girl’s parents had faith in Him and that the crowd was making so much noise they could not see what was really going on. The crowd laughed at Jesus when He made the statement “she’s only asleep.” The crowd had no faith in Christ -- they could only see what was in front of them. But Jesus could see beyond that for He could see the faith the parents had. So what did Jesus do? He put the crowd outside. Why? So that He could show the parents the result of their faith in Him and He raised up their daughter. We too sometimes allow the noise of the crowd or the noise of life or the busyness of life to drown out our faith in Christ. Put the crowd outside, find a quiet place to be with Jesus and spend time with Him that your faith can grow. See things the way Jesus sees them.

Jesus saw things differently.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

John 8:31-32

31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings.  32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  (NLT)

 

If Jesus had a motto I think it might be “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  Jesus came to tell us the truth and that truth will set you free from the bondage of sin and set you free to live the abundant life Christ has for you. Jesus came also to empower people to live and to live. He wants you to take a good look at yourself and ask questions like, “Who do you think I am? Who do you think you are? What do you want? Where is your heart?” You must know the truth about yourself as you walk with Jesus and learn about Him. He wants to lead you down a path of growth and this may entail trials and struggles, but, in the end, you will know who you are in Christ. Truth is not always easy to face, but face it you must if you want to know Christ deeper. Jesus has said (paraphrasing) love as I have loved you, forgive as I have forgiven you and come follow me in truth and freedom.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

John 4:18-22

18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers — Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew — fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen. 19 Jesus called out to them, "Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!"  20 And they left their nets at once and went with him.

21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. (NLT)

Luke 5:27-28

27 Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax-collection booth. "Come, be my disciple!" Jesus said to him. 28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. (NLT)

 

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he began putting together a group or a team of men to do ministry. He selected a diverse group of men with different backgrounds and different personalities. This group had their difficulties but their goal remained the same “the gospel of Jesus Christ.” When a Church is started or a ministry is started it is not based on all the work of one individual, but it is based on a group or a team. One person can only do so much but a group or a team can accomplish much. Church and ministry is to be done by groups or teams just as Jesus did in His ministry. Jesus picked men who were willing to be participants and servants in ministry. Jesus set the example for them as well as for us to follow. Jesus called all of us to be participants in His ministry for the furtherance of the Kingdom. You have been called to be part of a group or a team, so seek the Lord your God on where He wants you to be.

Jesus formed a team.

 

Are you part of a team?

 

Is there a ministry that could use you?

 

Are you willing to be a servant in a ministry?

 

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

John 5:16-17

16 So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. 17 But Jesus replied, "My Father never stops working, so why should I?" (NLT)

 

The Jewish leaders just did not get scripture. They thought they knew it better than Jesus did, but their man made traditions were more important than God’s actual word. Jesus had healed a man on the Sabbath and the Pharisees were angry over this. Jesus had told them before that man was not made for the Sabbath but that the Sabbath was made for man or better made for man to rest as God did from creating the world. Jesus wanted to do good things and to do good things even on the Sabbath.  Jesus loved people. Is it good to rest? Yes it is but we still need to do good deeds. Did Jesus rest? Yes, He did, or at least when He had the chance. Jesus did what He saw the Father do and He followed His lead and did the same, as the saying goes “See a need, fill a need.”

Jesus took action.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

Mark 14:32-38

32 And they came to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, "Sit here while I go and pray ."  33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be filled with horror and deep distress. 34 He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me." 

35 He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. 36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine." 

37 Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. "Simon!" he said to Peter. "Are you asleep? Couldn't you stay awake and watch with me even one hour?  38 Keep alert and pray . Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak."  (NLT)

 

Did Jesus have any fear? He was half human. Jesus being a man had all the same feelings and temptation as we do but He overcame all of them and He was without sin. In His prayer to the Father He asks for this cup to pass from Him, but He recognized that God’s will was more important than His. Jesus faced His fear. He faced death head on because He knew it was God’s will and He was going to accomplish God’s plan.

Jesus worked through His fears.

 

Q: What are the fears that are keeping you from God’s will?

 

Q: Assuming that your fears will never disappear, how long are you willing to wait to move forward or to wait for the right time?

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

Isaiah 32:8

8 But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands. (NIV)

 

Are you a noble person? Do you make noble plans? Do you pray for noble things? What does noble mean?

Noble: high and great in character, good, excellent, fine, splendid or magnificent.

Jesus made noble plans and He carried out those plans. Jesus put people first. He did not put Himself first or business first or any other thing first. Jesus was a person of high and great character. Jesus even prayed for noble things. He prayed for His disciples to follow Him and to preach the gospel so others would receive salvation. Abraham requested “Help me follow you,” Moses asked “Help me free your people,” David asked “Help me slay the giant threatening our people,” Isaiah’s request “Give me clean lips to speak your word” and Peter asked “Help me feed your sheep.” Jesus was a leader that requested noble things such as healing, forgiveness and love for others. Read 2 Peter 1:5-11.

Jesus asked for noble things.

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (NLT)

 

Q: What bad things in your life right now could be turned into something good?

 

Q: Do you believe that God can take a bad situation and make something good come from it?

 

Q: List any good things that have resulted from a bad situation in the past.

 

Bad things do happen to good people. For many of us, life seems to be a struggle of unfair things. Left on our own accord we can really make a mess of things but Jesus came along, forgave us of our sin, washed us clean, took the bad we created and made it new. Then He told us that He would never leave us or forsake us and that He would be right there with us to help us through every circumstance. He let us know that God is in control and not to worry. God can take any circumstance and bring something good from it. He does this to show us how good He is and how much He loves us. Even at the end of His life here on earth Jesus knew that all the things that were happening to Him where all part of His loving Father's plan.

Jesus saw God as His only source, and God’s love in control of the plan.

 

 

Engage the Present – Create the Future – With Jesus Christ