Matthew 9:18-26
While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler 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 rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, 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 And when Jesus came to the ruler'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 arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.
19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, 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 And when Jesus came to the ruler'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 arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.
So many people say the Gospels were written in the 4th century by oral history. Which is in conflict with Paul writing of the Temple sacrifices being done as he wrote. The Christian bishop, Papias of Hierapolis, about 100–140 AD, wrote: "Matthew collected sayings of Jesus." Matthew identifies himself as a Tax Collector in this Chapter.
Jesus had 3 years to wow the crowd. When we get to the 9th Chapter of Matthew, Jesus had called the first set of disciples together, Matthew had not been part of the group called together in the 4th Chapter. The 8th Chapter lists 4 miracles. Jesus had been speaking with crowds of people who gathered to hear Him. This is the way Matthew arranges his introduction of Jesus ministry.
It would seem that Jesus, with His exact ideas of what is going to occur would have asked Matthew right away. Instead, Matthew is given time. Just like John the Baptist. John the Baptist tells us he did not know Jesus. He didn't grow up with his cousin. He had time to grow into understanding Jesus. In the middle of being given the idea Jesus did not march along with a perfect day planner, let's remember Jesus rowed back and forth over the Sea of Galilee sometimes several times in one day. If you were God, wouldn't you want to arrange people so you didn't have to row or sail back and forth?
It is another example of God making time for the give and take in life. Jesus has done 4 amazing miracles and, of course, everyone treats Him with respect. It makes sense. No, we are still the people God has to contend with. Still the grumblers in the desert asking for God to do more. People laughed at Jesus. Not with Him. Elijah would have called down fire. If you'll remember, the disciples asked Jesus to do this on one occasion. And Jesus, being God, said no, He had other plans.
Back to the Day Planner thought. In the middle of working with the ruler, Jesus heals. So. There is a 5th miracle and the people still don't like it. And don't trust Him.
How does Jesus feel being pressed in all the time? We see an example.
When Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away."
He is kind enough to give a reason. We don't know Jesus' tone. The people leave after being put out. We can assume the synagogue ruler was in charge of getting them out of the way. You can imagine the ruler wasn't too fussed about moving the laughers out of the way because he'd just seen Jesus heal. Not a huge decision of politically correct thought going on there.
Jesus deliberately chose to step away from being God. He was there in the spoken Word of creation and saw things we only hope to see in Heaven. He didn't say, "Let me chase the people and not let the sun go down on my anger." He allowed time for obedience and quiet. He saw order and privately settled the matter with the people.
We hold maxims because we remember them. We readily remember 'don't let the sun go down on your anger'. 'Turn the other cheek'. And we hold them to be the immediate Biblical answer. Yet sometimes turning the other cheek is exactly what the evil one would want. Sometimes we have to employ "Rebuke the devil and he will flee from you." Exactly like, if people are not going to reason with you, why provoke another fight by saying there is a time limit.
It doesn't mean that if you can peacefully settle something, not to do so. There is a Biblical thought saying do not with hold from your neighbor what you can do for him today.
Proverbs 3:28
Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you
We see people have different points of view. Jesus says she is sleeping. The people with the daughter - see death. They are really saying the same thing. Jesus is talking about the sleep of death, yet comforting the father - who is bursting with hope. Jesus is being honest, but He is being discrete. Jesus really is primarily interested in working with the people of hope.
We love the idea of a Loving God. Because it means - we get to do what we want and be forgiven. Here is another example of "Go away." The people laughing could have been allowed to stay and "Enjoy the Show." It even makes sense Jesus would have looked at His Day Planner and His wristwatch and said, "And now......" Instead, for the rest of their lives, they knew they'd been allowed, and even asked by Jesus, to step aside. Why?
Romans 4:20-25
No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Jesus told the scoffers to move out of His path.
He spoke on the subject another time as well.
Luke 17:17-19
Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Do you remember another commotion?
John 21:21-24
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
Luke stayed with Paul until the end. There was a huge blessing. Luke lived a fairly peaceful life and lived to be old. So did John. Both Luke and John saw 'commotion' but the blessing was, they wanted to be part of the healing instead of the drama.
I love the Zacchaeus story. It is ours, in the Beloved of Jesus Christ. Get out of the crowd to seek Jesus. Come down out of the tree - or ivory tower - because we are called to do so. Make the decision to be obedient to Jesus. And make sure our light does not embarrass Him.
Zacchaeus was embarrassed and pointed out, but his effort was for God.
Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?"
Luke 19:5
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”
2 Corinthians 12:2-4
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
To get into the Promised Land, Joshua had to decide.
Joshua 24:14-16
Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
The Scriptures are written for you. A message of Love explaining the nature of God.
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