The Problem Solver
I
imagine if you were to take a moment and rattle off your problems you would
have a rather lengthy list that included such highlights as health, wealth and
relationships. We all do. What if someone showed up today and
offered to “fix” all of your problems. They would pay your debts, generously
load your bank account, heal all your aches and pains, and make the difficult
people in your life either go away or become much more agreeable. Then they
leave never asking for anything, never hearing from them again. Would you take
that offer? Most of us would say yes. Would we then be happy? Maybe. But for
how long? Did they really solve your problem or just deal with the symptoms?
Matthew
9:1-8 “Jesus stepped into a boat,
crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed
man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take
heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”3 At this, some of the teachers of the law
said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 4 Knowing their thoughts,
Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is
easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I
want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then
the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with
awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.”
The Gospel of
Matthew focuses on the Kingdom of God and how Christ is the fulfillment of that
kingdom. In the previous chapter Jesus works many miracles. These miracles
escalate in both power and authority. It began with the Healing of leper by the
mere touch of His hand. He then healed Peter’s mother in law and the centurions
servant. He went beyond physical miracles and dealt with nature when He stilled
the winds and the waves. Finally he showed his power over supernatural forces,
when He cast out demons into a herd of swine. Yet, here in this passage, He
performs His greatest miracle yet.
What is source of
human suffering? What is the root of all evil? It’s not money, drugs,
politicians, alcohol, sexual immorality or any other of a host of things we
blame it on. All human misery stems from sin. Sin is the evil that separates us
from God.
What is the root of all evil? It’s
not money. All human misery stems from what? Sin. Sin is the evil that
separates us from God. Matthew 9 is going to focus on Christ and our sin.
Back to my first story of the guy
who “fixes” all your problems. What does he improve? Health, wealth and
relationships. There’s a lot of people these days who preach that Jesus. The
Jesus of healthy, wealth and happiness. Yet, if He can’t save us from our sins.
Then what good is He? What point and purpose to His mission?
So the friends of this paralytic
carry him to Jesus hoping that Jesus would deal with his paralysis and instead
he says your sins are forgiven? Why would he do that? Is that what they came
for? Yes and No. They brought their friend to Jesus because they knew He was
the only could help and help He did. Just not in the manner they expected.
Instead of giving them what they thought they wanted. He gives them what they
really wanted and what their friend really needed. Forgiveness. Why is this so
important?
Well it’s two fold. 1) Forgiveness
of sin is what we all really need regardless of our physical condition. 2) Jewish culture of the time taught that
that all sickness stems from sin, which is true in the sense if there was no
sin in the world there would be no sickness. Yet, they were of the stance that
the sicker you were the worst sinner you were, because all sickness was a
judgment from God on your sin. If this were true none of us would ever be
healthy again!
In forgiving sin Jesus claimed to be
God. This is why the Pharisees reacted such a way internally. They knew
forgiveness was from God alone. Jesus knew their thoughts though and addressed
that directly calling them out. The man was healed spiritually as well as
physically. Often times we take our problems to Christ wanting Him to resolve
them in a manner we think is best. By His Grace, He takes our problems and
resolve them in a manner that is best for us and glorifying to Him. He gives us
what we really need instead of the things we just think we need. When we keep
in mind that Jesus is the one who has already solved our greatest problem, our
sin, our temporary troubles really don’t seem like such a big deal.
Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us.
Glen
