Being Healed and Being Saved

Okay, thanks Daniel. Folks, let's pray as we get into this passage together and ask for God's help.

Lord, we thank you that you are a God who has revealed yourself.

! Father, thank you that you speak through what you have spoken.

And as we turn to your word now, we pray that we would encounter you, the living God.

Father, be with us, we ask. Teach us what we know not.

Help us see what we see not. Help us hear what we hear not.

May we leave this morning changed because we've met with you.

And we pray all of these things in Jesus' worthy name. Amen.

Amen. Folks, Matthew chapter 4, verse 23. Have we got it there?

Matthew 4:23

Here's what I want us to see as we get into this passage together.

I want us to appreciate that this is bad news for all of us here today who work in the healthcare profession.

So doctors, GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists, midwives, pharmacists, speech therapists, take your pick.

What this is ultimately telling you is that Jesus has ultimately come to make you surplus two requirements.

Have you got the passage open in front of you?

Do you see this?

You're not going to want to miss this.

Because nothing like this has ever happened before.

If you grant me a little bit poetic license here.

Take this in.

That there once was a moment in history, as it were,

when the corridors of the Galilee Royal Infirmary were completely deserted.

A time when you could hear a pin drop in the A&E department.

A time when surgeons had no one on the operating table.

When puzzled nurses were shouting people's names into the corridors,

into the waiting rooms, and no one was there to respond.

When receptionists were scratching their heads because the phones weren't ringing.

When ambulance drivers were twiddling their thumbs,

opting for another round at Candy Crush on their phone because there was nothing to do.

And everybody's sitting there thinking to themselves,

what on earth is going on?

Do you see it?

Of course, what was going on?

Verse 17.

Was that the kingdom of God had come near.

Do you see it?

Verse 17.

And it had come near because the king of the kingdom

had rolled into town.

Now, if you've been here over the last number of weeks,

we've been tracking in Matthew's gospel this big theme

that Matthew's been driving home to his readers,

that Jesus, the king, is here.

Now, Jesus, verse 17, has announced, do you see it?

The presence of the kingdom.

Do you see it?

The kingdom of God is here.

What you have to say is a big claim.

It's how people talk in our world today, isn't it?

When people make big claims.

You're all talk, mate.

Right?

You're all talk.

You can't back it up.

Classic you, over-promising, under-delivering.

Put your money where your mouth is.

We've got tons of phrases like that in our culture, don't we,

where we say to people,

can you back this up?

And the question is, I think, in Matthew's gospel,

when Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is here,

can he back it up?

Well, what follows here,

Jesus announces the presence of the kingdom,

and here he is demonstrating the power of the kingdom.

Do you remember last week,

he was calling random fishermen to leave it behind

and be fishers of men?

Do you remember that, what he said?

Follow me, was his big claim.

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

And I imagine that Matthew's Jewish readers,

they make the link in their head.

They think, whoa, what did God say to Abraham

in Genesis 12, Genesis 15?

He said, go.

In other words, follow me.

And here is Jesus saying the exact same thing.

Follow me.

To put me first,

above family,

above career,

above fame,

to allow me to mould your life,

to learn from me,

to repent of your old ways,

and come out,

and follow me.

And Jesus doesn't do compartmentalisation.

It's a massive word for you this morning.

All of life,

we follow him.

It's the call he makes.

And you maybe hear that,

and you think,

goodness, that's a bit punchy, is it not?

It's a big ask.

I get the Sunday thing.

I get the songs of praise thing.

But actually following you with all of my life?

Well, if you're in any doubt about the credentials,

and the abilities of this king,

then see him in action this week.

This week,

diseases will flee,

and evil spirits will be banished,

as he bursts on the scene.

Now let's just track with the narrative here.

Do you see verse 23?

Remember, Jesus is in Galilee.

We thought a few weeks ago

about this land of Zebulun and Naphtali,

the land of great darkness.

Right?

And this is not Aberdeen,

21 days without the sun.

What is going on here

is spiritual,

and physical,

historical darkness.

Right?

Jesus has stepped into this place.

This is the place where God had said,

light would dawn.

In this place.

And see the two verbs that Matthew uses

to describe what Jesus is doing here.

Do you see he is preaching?

Do you see it?

And he is healing.

And then I want you to notice,

do you see the words there?

All and every.

Do you see it?

Verse 23.

Do you see it in the text?

Every disease.

All who were sick.

So that word,

those words,

all and every.

Just slip them in your back pocket.

We're going to come back to this

in about 20 minutes time.

All and every.

What is Matthew doing here?

He's showing us the completeness,

the wholeness

of Jesus' healing ministry.

Notice two quick things about it.

Notice, first of all,

the reach of the news.

Do you see how news about him spread?

Where did it spread?

Galilee.

This is the region.

Synagogues.

And all over the vast Roman province of Syria,

which is located in the map there

to the north of Galilee.

So here's the point.

This is not a news story

that's being picked up

by a local gazette.

Give it a single column.

How does something like this spread

in this day,

before X,

before Instagram,

how does it spread?

By word of mouth.

Right?

So what,

that tells you what Jesus is doing here.

Because people have never seen

anything like this before.

It is spreading all over the place.

And little wonder,

see verse 24,

Matthew tell us

how people responded

to that news.

I love what's recorded

at verse 24.

And take this in today.

And they brought to him.

Now,

Josie kind of stole my point

in the prayer

if you notice it

and picked it up.

What does Jesus do

with the power that he has?

In contrast to everything

that we're seeing

in our world just now

about what people do

with the power that they have,

what does Jesus do

with the power that he has?

He uses it to serve.

And they brought to him.

What does that tell us?

Do you not love

what that tells us

about Jesus?

That he came to earth

not intent on

retreating to some kind

of monastic existence?

This tells you

that Jesus made himself

available.

Do you love that?

Jesus made himself

available.

People were brought to him

and he healed them.

Not in some kind of

Dumbledore style

just casting a spell

and a big boom of light

goes everywhere

and everybody's healed.

The implication here,

I take it,

is that he does this

one by one.

And is that not so

incredible?

Are we not so used

to spending our lives

living them

like we do

listen to our podcasts

on 1.5 speed?

What do they call New York?

The city that never sleeps.

We are busy.

If there was one word

that you were using

to describe your life

right now

to the person next to you,

that would be it, right?

Busy?

Do you know

the word,

the adjective

that I love most

to describe Jesus?

Unhurried.

We were thinking

in growth groups

this week

about how that's

such a profound way

to love the people

that we rub shoulders

with every day

by taking the time

to learn names,

by taking the time

to learn about family,

about things that they love,

that they care about.

I take it that Jesus

sets us a wonderful

example here.

Notice the reach

of the news

but then secondly

notice the breadth

of the miracles.

Do you see verse 24?

This is what we need

to see.

I hadn't really seen

this before

until studying it

this week

because we're so used

to skimming over this.

Reading the Bible

at 1.5 speed

did this really

help me slow down?

I hadn't seen before

verse 24

that Matthew

doesn't settle

for generic descriptions.

Right?

Just in case anyone

is tempted

to do what

C.S. Lewis

famously called

chronological snobbery.

Popular my day

to think that

we're so much

more sophisticated

than people were

back then

and yeah sure

medicine has made

huge advances

but it's as if

Matthew says

at this point

chill out millennial.

We were perceptive

enough back in this day

to see the difference

between all these things

and I've written it down

so that you would know

because do you see

how he both details

and he differentiates?

Do you see the stuff there?

Just roll with the descriptions

those suffering

severe pain

and notice the compassion

that's contained

in that description.

The demon possessed

those having seizures

and the paralyzed

so this is both

physical

and demonic

and it's as if

pausing for breath

having given you

that list

Matthew summarizes

at the end of verse 24

and he bookends

this little bit

with that phrase

and he healed them

and he healed them

and so

the Galilean

royal infirmary

was completely deserted.

What a time

to be alive

and see

as true

as that is

this raises

all sorts of questions

and emotions

doesn't it

as we read it today?

Three Ps

I imagine

my question to you

is which P are you?

Right?

As we react to this

some of us

will be puzzled

this sounds like

hocus pocus

what on earth

is going on here?

Others of us

will be pained

why hasn't this

happened for me

or for that person

who I

I dearly loved

in my life?

Others of us

will be

pining

along

for

something like this

to be true

in my life.

Which one are you?

Puzzled

pained

pining

and I think

that's why

we need to get

our heads around

what this says

and what it isn't

and what Matthew

really wants us to see

is he portrays

Jesus here

so here's two things

that these miracles are

firstly

they are

tasters

they're tasters

right?

I remember being in

Kentucky in America

a few years ago

with a family

we went to Disney

afterwards

I kind of described

Disney as

plastic America

Kentucky was

proper America

sitting in the

back

porch

James Taylor

on in the

background

sipping a little

bit of bourbon

do you know what

made it for me

though?

Was watching

the fireflies

I'd never seen

a firefly before

they all laughed

at me

don't want to say

you've never seen

a midget before

and I laugh at them

but never seen

a firefly before

but what's going

on here

friends

is that

every single

one of these

miracles

is a firefly

in the night sky

just a brilliant

flash of the

light invading

the darkness

I guess this is a

bit like when you

go to an ice cream

shop and they

give you those

little spoons

do you know

and you just get

a little taster

of what the real

thing is going to

be like

these momentary

flashes as evil

and darkness

are dispelled

by the king

as he demonstrates

his lordship

over sin

over Satan

over death

as Jesus

as you

if you like

gives people

their lives back

this is tasters

of what Jesus

will do

fully and finally

one day

when he returns

you know

one person

I listened to

insightfully

referred to

these miracles

as an

eschatological

thunderbolt

get your head

around that

and here's

where our

biblical

worldview

comes in

here

how we

understand

this world

God created

a good

world

sin and

death

were not

a thing

mankind

created to

enjoy

and flourish

and worship

the God

our creator

who made

us

but because

of the

rebellion

that poison

of sin

and death

has affected

all things

all things

are experiencing

that sense

of deterioration

including

our bodies

we live

our lives

in this

broken

in this

fractured

in this

groaning

in this

dark world

carrying

that deep

sense within

us

that we

can't wait

to get

home

I always

loved

Jewel

the unicorn

in the

last battle

CS Lewis

I've come

home at

last

this is my

real country

I belong

here

this is the

land I've

been looking

for all

my life

though I

never knew

it until

now

maybe that's

you here

today

in particular

that longing

that you

have

friends

Christ meets

you in this

moment and

says those

longings

I've come

to make

a way

think about

that a bit

more in a

minute

here is

Jesus as it

were putting

the effects

of that fall

into

reverse

gear

can God

heal today

should we

pray for

healing today

I take it

that this is

a different

time as we

see in a

minute these

miracles the

all and the

every authenticates

Jesus as the

king of

heaven

but I take

it of course

God can

might not be

in the same

way it might

be miraculous

leaving surgeons

scratching their

head to a

friend of mine

really recently

down in

Bristol but

he may do

it through the

ordinary means

of grace

through the

wonderful health

care system

that we enjoy

in this

country which

means that

meds and

plans are

God's kindness

to us and

if you're in

the health care

profession doing

that know that

that's a

wonderful calling

that you have

but the thing

is in his

goodness that

we've been

singing about

earlier in his

kindness he

may not

but we trust

him and we

love him and

I take it like

Meshach,

Shadrach and

Abednego as

they were

remember that

story in

Daniel as

they're about

to get thrown

in the fire

our God will

deliver us but

even if he

doesn't

we'll still

praise him for

who he is

and I take

it as a

church in

these moments

in people's

lives because

we love one

another we

step up in

those moments

and we're

there for

each other

and you can

be an extension

of God's

mercy by

offering people

your ear and

praying Lord

help us all in

this moment to

know your heart

and your purposes

in a deeper

way.

Do you see how

we can be

people who

can as it

were spiritually

bring people

to him?

Do you see

that?

we can be

those who

bring to

him people

we can bring

to him

because he's

an available

savior.

Our cries

knowing that

our groans

they ring out

under the

banner of

a resurrected

king.

And here's

the pastoral

point.

You know

the miracles

of Jesus

are amazing

but they

are momentary

because everyone

even in this

scene

every one

of these

people healed

would at

some point

die again.

Now what

does that

tell you?

It tells you

that there's a

bigger game

that we're

playing in

here.

It tells you

that there's

something better

and more

permanent

and lasting

than being

healed in

this life.

What is going

on in our

understanding of

the world

according to

the Bible

is that we

know God's

intention is

to reclaim

and remake

this whole

world for

himself.

There is

coming a

time when

his dominion

will stretch

from shore

to shore

and the

knowledge of

God will

cover the

earth as

the waters

cover the

sea.

Do you see

how the

gospel doesn't

just give us

an ending?

the gospel

gives us a

purpose for

existence.

Why were we

made?

We were made

to worship

and know

and enjoy

our God

and give him

all the praise

and thanks.

And do you

see how Jesus

spiritually as it

were when we

come to follow

him he gives

us spiritually

speaking our

lives back.

We creates

us for the

very purpose

the very thing

that we were

designed to do.

there will be

no healings

in the new

heavens and

the new

earth.

Did you

pick it up

in the

reading?

Why?

Because there

will be

nothing left

to heal.

And this

is a little

taster of the

final kingdom

that Jesus

will fully

and finally

usher in

when he

returns.

When this

king returns

and he says

to evil

be gone

and to

tears and

groans

goodbye

and to

death

good riddance.

And how

will that

come about?

Well did

you catch

that in the

reading from

Isaiah 65?

The former

things will be

remembered no

more.

Did you pick

it up?

New heavens

and a new

earth.

But did you

catch how

right at the

end of Isaiah

65 there's

talk there

and blink

and you

might have

missed it

of the

dust being

the serpent's

food.

Now how

will that

come about?

How will

this come

about?

Through the

work of the

long promised

serpent crusher

that God

said he would

send way

back in

Genesis 3.

What was

he going to

do?

He was

going to

crush the

head of

the serpent.

He was

going to

triumph.

The suffering

servant.

He was

going to

triumph over

Satan.

And that's

what Jesus

in this

gospel is

going to

the cross

to do.

To pay

for our

sin.

To take

the curse

of darkness

on himself.

What is

one of the

things

Genesis 3

brings into

this world?

An existence

of thorns

and thistles.

What is the

crown that

Jesus wears

as he's led

to the cross?

It's a crown

of thorns.

What is Christ

doing in that

moment as he

goes to the

cross?

But bearing

the curse

that we

deserve

on himself.

Which means

if you're here

today and

you're asking

will God

completely heal

me?

If your

faith is in

this Christ

can I tell

you that the

answer is

wonderfully

yes?

It may

be not

just in

this life

but the

answer is

wonderfully

yes.

do you

see how

the end

of the

Bible

story

there is

an all

and an

every

for the

complete

people of

God

and you

can stake

everything

on it

being true

in the

next life

because of

the power

of this

king.

Can I

summarize?

It's good

to be healed.

It's better

to be saved.

It's good

to be healed

physically.

Do you know

it's better

to be healed

spiritually?

To know

sins forgiven.

To be granted

an identity

and experience

a love

the likes

of which

we will find

nowhere else.

To be given

a new family.

To be given

a new purpose.

To know

the reason

for our

existence.

this is

what Jesus

holds out

to us

today.

And that's

so important

because we've

got to see

the second

thing

these miracles

are.

They are

tasters.

Really

quickly,

secondly,

they are

pointers.

In other

words,

the healings

that we see

Jesus perform

here are

for a

purpose.

And what

is that

purpose?

Well,

the main

point of

his healing

ministry

is to

demonstrate

his

authority

over

all

things.

In other

words,

we're

meant not

to just

look at

but to

look

through

the

miracles.

Because what

is Matthew's

purpose for

all of this?

See verse 25.

Large crowds

from where?

Galilee.

Remember our

map?

The Decapolis,

the area just

to the

east,

is that right?

East Decapolis,

non-Jewish area.

Jerusalem,

Judea,

and the

area across

the Jordan.

So this is

a people

that Christ

is gathering

to himself,

following him.

What are they

doing?

Do you see

right at the

end there,

verse 25?

They followed

him.

Just as

Simon and

Andrew did

at verse 20

and James

and John

did at

verse 22.

Do you see

how Matthew

just stacks

them up?

They followed

him,

they followed

him,

they followed

him.

And that's

how Matthew

wants us

to respond

to this.

Not to

look at,

but to

look through.

Do you

not love

that Jesus

goes to

places that

we wouldn't

expect?

And he

picks people

that we

wouldn't

choose.

And he

says,

come follow

me.

You know,

just as we

close,

let me tell

you about

a pal of

mine,

who I

know through

my time at

Cornhill

in Glasgow,

his name

is Terry.

Terry is

the founder

of a charity

called Hope

for Glasgow,

working with

people who

have had

their lives

ruined because

of addiction.

And despite

being a

massive Celtic

fan,

he's the

perfect guy

for this

job.

Because before

becoming a

Christian,

this was his

story,

he lived

on the

streets,

substance

abuse,

and those

substances

had taken

his mind.

Just couldn't

think.

Couldn't

think straight.

And people

came and

they helped

him and

alongside

medical help,

he got free

of his

substance

abuse,

totally

clean,

totally

healed.

And as

amazing as

that is,

and if you

Google it,

you'll find

his testimony,

as amazing

as that is,

he says it

was just

wonderful,

it just

felt great.

He says

the good

news about

getting clean

is that I

got my

feelings back.

But he

said the

bad news

about getting

clean was

that I

got my

feelings back.

And all

of a sudden

it's a bit

like sand

evaporating and

just going

through what

I was left

with and

everything else

had gone.

I was left

with emptiness

and I was

left with

shame and I

was left

with guilt

and I

didn't know

what to do

with it.

And in one

sense I

had been

healed,

but what I

discovered in

this moment

is that I

was addicted

to all sorts

of other

stuff and

had no

answers to

it.

So he

goes to a

local church

and he

says this,

I had to

get clean

to see how

dirty I

really was.

Goes to a

local church

with this in

his mind

and he

hears for

the first

time the

gospel,

he hears

about Christ

Jesus,

he hears

about the

cross and

in this

moment he

hears about

how he

is a

great sinner,

Christ is

a great

saviour and

in that

moment he

says I

was converted

and he

now spends

his life

bringing that

same gospel

to folks

who were

just like

him.

But here's

the point,

here's Terry's

story,

it is good

to be healed

but it's

better to be

saved.

And the

king here

as he walks

on this

scene is

calling us

to repent

and follow

him.

Some of us

will remember

that song,

we'll close

with this,

the old

chorus.

Follow

him,

follow

him,

yield your

life to

him.

He's

conquered

death,

he is

king of

kings.

Accept

the joy

which he

gives to

those who

yield their

lives to

him.

Let me

pray.

And so

Father,

we think

of those

three Ps.

Lord,

some of us

will be

here,

we hear

this and

we're

puzzled.

Others of

us are

here,

we hear

this and

we're

pained.

Others of

us are

here,

we hear

this and

we're

pining.

Lord,

we thank

you that

we can

fully trust

our times

to the

warmest,

the kindest,

the most

strong and

powerful of

saviors.

Lord,

I pray that

wherever this

has landed

in our

lives today,

I pray that

you would

bring that

sense of

inner healing

through the

knowledge of

your son.

father,

thank you

that we

look at

Christ Jesus

here,

the one

who is

fully

available.

Thank you

that he

is not a

saviour who

came at

us,

as it

were,

at hand's

length.

Thank you

that here

he is

stepping into

the place

of darkness,

coming

alongside the

people who

know

darkness

to be

the light.

Father,

help us

as we

pray as we

finish our

time together

to fix our

eyes on

him,

we pray.

In

Jesus'

name we

ask.

Amen.