Have Power Over Spiritual and Physical Needs

Jesus taught his followers that they have power over spiritual and physical needs.

Matthew 10:1 35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." 10:1 Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that his followers have power over spiritual and physical problems?

Note: Jesus no sooner teaches his followers to pray that God will send workers to those in spiritual and physical need, when he tells them that they are the answer to their prayers - that God is sending them.  But he doesn't stop there.  Jesus gives them power over spiritual and physical needs.  Jesus' followers can change the world!

Be the answer to your prayers for those in need

Jesus makes his followers the answer to their prayer to be ministers to those in spiritual and physical need.

Matthew 10:1-4 35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." 10:1 Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we are the answer to our prayers for those in spiritual and physcial need?

Note: Jesus not only teaches his followers to pray that God will send helpers to those in spiritual and physical need, but then he tells them that they are the answer to their prayers - they are the ones God is sending.

Ask God to send workers to those in need

Jesus taught his followers to ask God to send workers to those in need

Matthew 9:35-38 35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to ask God to send workers to those in need?

Note: The Lord's Prayer is not the only time Jesus taught his followers to pray.  And yet, how often do we pray this prayer together?  Jesus had seen those in need and taught his followers to ask God (the Lord of the harvest) to send out laborers (in the sense of caregivers or helpers) to minister to those in spiritual and physical need. Perhaps we should pray: "There are many who are harassed and helpless, but there are few who will help them.  Send workers to those in need."

The "religious" discredit Jesus

Jesus was accused of being evil by the most religious people of his day.

Matthew 9:32-34 32 After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, "Never has anything like this been seen in Israel." 34 But the Pharisees said, "By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons."

Do we ignore Jesus' experience that the most religious people of his day explained away his power by saying he was evil?

Note:  The Pharisees were the most "religious" "denomination" of Jesus' day.  They are most commonly known for keeping a long list of rules meant to help them from straying from God's law.  But they also had a well developed theology... they believed that an afterlife existed where God would punished the wicked and rewarded the righteous.  They believed in a messiah that would herald an era of Jewish rule and world peace.  Jesus had problems with some of them because there is a difference between practicing religion (following a list of rules, believing a particular doctrine, performing a list of good works) and having a relationship with God.  And many of them didn't have the latter.  Jesus says they were more interested in what humans thought of them than God (Matt 23:28 and John 12:43).  Some Pharisees were followers of Jesus, but the ones in this story are so disturbed that Jesus has power apart from their religion that they can only explain it away if they believe that Jesus is evil.

Trust Jesus' power to heal.

Jesus teaches us to have faith that will seek out his power to heal.

Matthew 9:18-31

18 While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." 19 And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples.

20 Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, 21 for she said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well." 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well.

23 When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, "Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26 And the report of this spread throughout that district.

27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." 30 And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, "See that no one knows of this." 31 But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to have faith in his power to heal?

Note:  I think it is important to point out that these stories do not teach that if one is sick (or doesn't get healed) that there is a lack of faith.  But in the three stories here, their faith influences their healing. The leader of the synagogue has faith and his daughter is healed - after the unbelieving crowd is removed from his house.  The woman is healed because "your faith has made you well."  The blind men are healed "according to their faith let it be done to them."  It doesn't seem that it matters how much faith they had ( faith of a mustard seed can move mountains), but that with whatever faith they had, they turned to Jesus for help. 

Don't try to fit Jesus into religious structures

Jesus taught that his followers that their way of being doesn't fit into religious structures.
Matthew 9:14-17 14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?" 15 And Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that his way of being doesn't fit into religious structures?

Note: Jesus could not (and can not) be patched (or poured) into religious structures. Jesus was (is) inaugurating a new kingdom (an entirely new way of being); to try to incorporate him into religion only succeeds in ripping both apart.

Prioritize outcasts over worship rituals

Jesus teaches us that God prioritizes the befriending of outcasts over having nice worship services.

Matthew 9:12-13 9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. 10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that God wants us to prioritize demonstrating his loving kindness to outcasts rather than having nice worship services for ourselves?

Note: Jesus' quote 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice' is from Hosea where the Hebrew word for "mercy" (hesed) is associated with "covenant love" or the demonstration of God's loving kindness, which, according to Hosea, is more important than "sacrifice" or ritual.  So we could interpret it: "God's priority is that we worship him by demonstrating his loving kindness, rather than by participating in worship rituals."  In the original quote, Hosea comdemns the formal worship of his day, because it had lost its center (its demonstration of God's love to those in need). Now Jesus applies this to the Pharisees because they were more concerned about ceremonial purity, than about loving outcasts (tax collectors and sinners). Our ministry, like Jesus' ministry, should be characterized by loving kindness to those in spiritual and physical need - not having nice worship services.

Note: I don't really like the word "outcasts" and prefer "marginalized."

Invite outcasts to be your friends.

Jesus taught his followers to have genuine friendships with outcasts.

Matthew 9:9-11 9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. 10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to develop genuine friendships with those whom society sees as outcasts?

Note: Jesus' followers are often under the mistaken impression that they are to stay away from those society looks down on - especially those who are immoral.  But here Jesus teaches us that his followers are to be friends with people whom the world sees as outcasts - even the immoral (tax collectors and sinners).  Eating together represents friendship - not a relationship of superiority, but a friendship of love, respect, and humbleness on our part.

Note: I don't really like the word "outcasts" and prefer "marginalized."

Have faith that Jesus forgives sins

Jesus taught that he had the authority to forgive sins.

Matthew 9:1-8 And after getting into a boat he crossed the sea and came to his own town. 2 And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." 3 Then some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." 4 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-- he then said to the paralytic-- "Stand up, take your bed and go to your home." 7 And he stood up and went to his home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that he had the authority to forgive sins?

Thinking about... if Jesus could forgive sins prior to the crucifixion, then why was the crucifixion and ressurection necessary? 

Prioritize individual's needs ahead of the economy

Jesus put the individual's needs ahead of the economy.

Matthew 8:28-34 28 When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 Suddenly they shouted, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" 30 Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. 31 The demons begged him, "If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine." 32 And he said to them, "Go!" So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. 33 The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. 34 Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.

Do we ignore Jesus' example that ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of individuals is a higher priority than the economy?

Note: The economy of this Gentile town is based on the pig market. These two men (homeless, living in the tombs outside of the town) are possessed by demons. Demons apparently (Matt 12:43-45) want a host to inhabit. Jesus decides to free these men from being the host - which meant the men would be able to return to spiritual and physical health.  It would appear rather than allow the demons to go look for more human hosts, Jesus sends them into the pigs who drowned themselves. The people of the town didn’t like this – it affected their pocket books and they asked Jesus to leave. These Gentiles preferred a healthy economy to persons and to Jesus. A musing: As much as the gospels talk about Jesus giving his followers the power to cast out demons and heal the sick, how come there isn't a seminary course in that?  Instead we have courses focused on teaching us how to help people adjust to their circumstances.  Hmm...

Have Faith not Fear (symptom of too little faith)

Jesus teaches us that fear is a symptom of too little faith.

Matthew 8:23-27 23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him up, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" 26 And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. 27 They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that fear is a symptom of too little faith?

Following Jesus is costly (above family)

Jesus teaches that following him is costly - a higher priority than family.

Matthew 8:21-22 21 Another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that even closest family ties must not be set above following Jesus and the proclamation of the kingdom?

Note:  Reminded of when the Israelites in Numbers 14:3 ("Our wives and our little ones will become booty; would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?") are told to go in and inhabit the promised land.  They used their families as an excuse not to follow God instead of having faith that God would take care of them.  So God sent them into the desert for 40 years to reconsider. 

Following Jesus is costly (homelessness)

Jesus taught that following him is costly - and likened it to being homeless.

Matthew 8:18-20 18 Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 A scribe then approached and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." 20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that following him is costly?

Note: In the words of German Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer: "cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance* ... Cheap grace is grace without discipleship (following Jesus), grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ." The practice of filling churches with "followers" who are willing to "pray a prayer and feel some guilt", but are unaware that following Jesus is costly results in dead faith.  Jesus doesn't want our churches filled with dead faith, he seeks out followers who understand they will be following him to the homeless places. 

*The repentance that is required of Jesus' disciples is often reduced by our misguided culture to a list of rules to follow, but that would make Jesus' followers no better than Pharasees.  The repentance that Jesus is teaching is a turning from going one's own way (a way of self promotion) to following Jesus to the hard places (a way of self sacrifice - homelessness).

Miracles demonstrate Jesus is the Messiah

Jesus demonstrates that he is the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.

Matthew 8:16-17 16 That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, "He took our infirmities and bore our diseases."

Do we ignore that Jesus demonstrated he was the prophesied Messiah?

Heirs of God's kingdom failed (are failing)

Jesus teaches that some of those picked to establish his kingdom will not be (are not) part of it.

Matthew 8:5-12 5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him 6 and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress." 7 And he said to him, "I will come and cure him." 8 The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak 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 one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it." 10 When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, "Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that some of those picked to establish his kingdom have failed and are not part of his kingdom?

Note: The "prototype" of the kingdom of God was to be established way back in the book of Numbers, when the people of Israel were to take the land of Cannan.  There they were to live as holy people.  This kingdom was to be a open invitation for all races to come and join with them in being God's people.  But because the people had no faith, they didn't settle in the land.  And later, when they did, they had no heart for being God's community (To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God) taking the blessings of God and hoarding them instead of sharing them.  This is not just the story of the nation of Israel, but it is very much the story of the church today.  The church was also to be this community of people set aside to be Jesus' hands and feet - an open invitation to the world to come be God's people too.  But generally, we have hoarded God's abundance, ignoring the teachings of Jesus to seek out those in spiritual and physical need and offer ourselves to them.  I think what Jesus says of the nation of Israel then equally applies to much of what is loosely called "the church" today...  "the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth"   

Kingdom is for every race & socio-economic background

Jesus teaches that the kingdom is for those of every race and socio-economic background who have faith in him.

Matthew 8:5-12 5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him 6 and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress." 7 And he said to him, "I will come and cure him." 8 The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak 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 one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it." 10 When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, "Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that the Kingdom is open to every race and socio-economic background?

Note: Jesus' ministry was directed toward the poor and his peeps so much of the time, but here is an example that transcends - he confirms the faith of a rich, powerful, and important, Gentile.  Of course this isn't new news.  The prophets predicted that Gentiles would worship God from all parts of the earth (Isa 45:6; 59:19; Mal 1:11).  Here we also see that faith is the basic human response to God - way we enter into relationship with God.

Act on Jesus' words, don't just agree with them

Jesus taught that agreeing with his words is not substantial, we need to act on them.

Matthew 7:24-27 24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell-- and great was its fall!"

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to act on his words, not just agree with them?

Do Father's will, not random good works

Jesus taught that doing random good works (random acts of kindness) is not the job of his followers.  His follower's job is to do the Father's will (intentional good works that the Father has prepared for us to do).
Matthew 7:21-23 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' 23 Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to do intentional good works that the Father has prepared for us to do rather than random acts of kindness?

Note:  Jesus has just finished saying that we will know false teachers by their fruit.  And now drills even deeper to say even those who seem to have fruit, unless the fruit is born from the Father's will are false followers. 

Discern False Leaders by their fruit

Jesus taught his followers to recognize false prophets by whether they produce the fruits of the Kingdom.

Matthew 7:15-20 15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to recognize false leaders by whether they produce the fruits of the kingdom?

Note:  Jesus has just given his followers a picture of what the Kingdom of God should look like.  If leaders are focused on, teaching about, and producing something different than what Jesus has taught about God's Kingdom, they are not his prophets.

Few understand and follow Jesus' teachings.

Jesus teaches that few understand and follow the narrow, hard way he teaches.

Matthew 7:13-14 13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that few understand and follow his narrow, hard teachings?

Treat others the way you want to be treated

Jesus teaches us to treat others as we would have them treat us.

Matthew 7:12 12 "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to always treat others (no matter how they treat us) the way we want to be treated?

Diligently pursue God's kingdom together.

Jesus teaches us that our asking, searching, and knocking (together) will be rewarded.

Matthew 7:7-11 7 "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10 Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to sincerely and diligently pursue God's kingdom together?

Note: Followers of Jesus ask (through prayer), search (with earnest sincerity) and knock (diligently) on God's door (pursuing God's kingdom) .  The "you"s in this verse are plural and better translated as "you all"s.  This isn't so much a command for individuals, but for the collective of Jesus' followers to pursue the Kingdom of God together.  So many people have taken these verses as an invitation to ask for one's selfish gain.  But that is not at all what it is about.  It is about asking for the Kingdom that Jesus has described to his followers.

Don't teach people focused on personal gain.

Jesus teaches us not to waste time with people who want to take the truths of God and benefit personally from them.

Matthew 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that it is counterproductive to teach his truths to people interested in using them for their own personal gain?

Note:  Wild dog and pigs represent those who do not recognize the value of things of God (pearls) -- because they are  like wild beasts only focused on their own needs (food). You can give dogs and pigs the most sacred treasures of God, but if it won't make them rich or sucessful or powerful, they will turn on you.  Jesus teaches us to steer clear of these people because they will attack us when they realize Jesus' teachings aren't about them gaining personal prosperity, but about sharing God's abundance with everyone.