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GREATER THAN HE

 

Matthew 11: As Jesus was continuing to teach and preach the good news of salvation, John the Baptist who was in prison, heard of Jesus and sent his people to investigate whether or not Jesus was the one prophesied to come. Jesus told them to report back to John the miracles that Jesus was performing. As they were leaving Jesus turned back to the crowd and questioned them about John, as to what they were expecting to see in John. He told them, more or less, that John was a common man and would certainly not be dressed in garments meant for the royalty of the day. He did stress, however a very profound bit of news about John in verse 11: “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” John was a very special Prophet; he represented the return of Elijah and was proclaiming the way of the Lord. As a matter of fact Jesus did say it was he in verse 14, “And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.” But He knew the crowd would not accept what He said. 

 

Jesus admonished the crowd and told them that wisdom would eventually prove His words. He proceeded to tell them that unrepentant cities will suffer, especially those that actually witnessed His miracles and still refused to believe in Him. Jesus then prayed a short prayer to His Father, thanking Him for opening the eyes of the unfortunate ones. Jesus then tells the crowd to come to Him and rest in His love, because His yoke is easy and the burden light; verse 30 says; “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Woe to the unbelieving world.

 

I would like to emphasize the words Jesus spoke about John. Can you just imagine the magnitude of the statement that, ‘the lowliest person in Heaven is greater than the greatest man ever born on the face of the earth.’ How does that make you feel?  It should make you feel very special to be a child of God, and at the same time we should not be arrogant or boast, rather we should humble ourselves to the poor unfortunate people who do not accept Jesus as we do. I pray that each and every one of you have already accepted Jesus into your life, if you haven’t please pray this simple prayer; ‘Jesus, I need you as my Lord and Savior, I am a sinner and I know that I am separated from you because of sin, I accept your death on the cross as payment for me, I confess my sins to you and ask you to come into my heart. Amen.’ If you have prayed that prayer, please let me know and I will pray for your growth in Him. It is indeed a wonderful and most revealing experience.

 

 

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THE JOURNEY

 

Matthew 10: Jesus called the twelve disciples together to give them instructions and send them out to evangelize. His instructions were for them to heal people, drive out evil spirits and proclaim the good news of salvation. In verses 5-6, He told them not to go to the Gentiles preaching, but to confine their areas to the Israeli’s: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.” The time of the Gentiles was not to be until the crucifixion. He also told them not to take any provisions for themselves because they would be provided for by the people in the towns they visited and if not, to leave those who would not provide for them. He warned them to be on guard against men for they would harm them, and if and when they were arrested not to worry about what to say for when the time comes for them to speak the Holy Spirit will give them the words to say.

 

In this chapter Jesus explains that family members will go against each other, even to the point of turning each other in to the authorities because of their belief in Him. He tells them not to be concerned because He is in complete control. He says in verse 28, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both body and soul in hell.” Jesus tells them that whoever acknowledges Him before men, He will do the same for them with His Father

 

Some who read this chapter might be confused about verses 34, 35 and 36 where it states that Jesus did not come into the world to bring peace; the actual meaning is that because of Him there would be turmoil; something I believe we can all understand. Telling a very religious person they don’t believe in the true God isn’t exactly a statement that will win friends and influence people. But this is exactly what Jesus and His disciples were up against every day. This problem still exists today and always will as some people look to their religious affiliations for comfort and salvation. Only Jesus can save you.

 

Jesus ends this chapter with the proclamation that any one receiving Him also receives the Father in verse 40: “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.” My friends, if there are any of you reading this letter that have yet to accept what Jesus says, I pray (daily) for you that you will see the light, that you will accept the fact that sin separates us from Him and that we are all sinners and only those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be united with Him in Heaven. I did a long time ago and all these years have provided me with the absolute assurance of my place in Heaven. Won’t you join me?

 

 

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THE OLD AND THE NEW

 

Matthew 9: When Jesus arrived in Capernaum a paralytic was brought to Him and because Jesus told him his sins were forgiven, the teachers of the law accused Him of blasphemy. Verse 2: “…Take heart, son; you sins are forgiven.” Jesus, knowing their hearts asked them if it would be easier to heal him instead. To prove to them that He had the authority to do anything He told the paralytic to get up and walk which he did.

 

As Jesus was walking He saw Matthew, a tax collector, and told him to follow Him and he did, immediately, and without question. When Jesus was seen eating with the tax collector friends of Matthew and sinners, the Pharisees questioned His actions and Jesus explained that He came for the sinners and not for the righteous; verse 12,  “…For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

 

Some of John’s disciples came and questioned Jesus as to why they fasted and His disciples did not.; Jesus used an analogy to explain the reason. Their time would come but not while Jesus was with them. He used another analogy to explain to them that he was brining a new era to replace the old. The two would not be compatible. A great lesson can be learned here as to why religions and God’s ways don’t mesh. Simply put, man’s ways do not conform to God’s ways. One fundamental difference is God’s way is forgiveness through the acceptance of Jesus as Savior, whereas man preaches the necessity of continual sacrifice or following man made rules and regulations. This is exactly why Jesus appeared on the scene and offered Himself as the sacrificial Lamb, because man failed miserably in his attempt to please God.

 

The balance of the chapter deals with the miracle of the little girl, bringing her back to life and the healing of the two blind men. These healings bring out a most important factor when we pray to the Lord. Faith; faith; faith; faith without doubt; faith without the tiniest seed of doubt. Jesus said to the blind man: “According to your faith will it be done to you.” ‘According to your faith’ is the key, it isn’t whether or not God wants to heal, no, it is according to one’s depth of faith. Remember when Jesus said ‘faith could move mountains’, well I believe He meant it. I wouldn’t know how to explain the depth of faith that Jesus was talking about, but I do know it has to be totally without condition or doubt.

 

Jesus continued to preach and heal the afflicted. He felt a great compassion for them and told the disciples to pray for workers to spread the message of salvation. To do the work of the Lord one must be born again and if you are not please pray and ask Jesus to come into your life. Tell Him that you are a sinner and lost and that you believe in what He died for on the cross and that you need Him and you have the utmost faith in His Word, that is, you believe without question that you need Him and only Him once and for all time.

 

 

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THE TOUCH

 

Matthew 8: When the man with leprosy approached Jesus he cried out to Him that if He were willing He could heal him. Jesus said in verse 3: “I am willing, be clean.” He was    instantly healed. When Jesus entered Capernaum a Centurion approached Him asking if He would be so kind as to heal one of his men who was at his house. Jesus was willing and ready to go but the Centurion told Him He didn’t have to go; all He had to do was to proclaim his servants healing. Jesus marveled at the man’s faith and said in verse 10: “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” He told him that it is as he wishes and his servant was healed at the same time.

 

Jesus continued to heal many people and when He went to Peter’s house He was told that his mother was sick. Again Jesus touched her and she was instantly healed. All the healing was a fulfillment of prophecy.

 

There are people who want to follow Jesus but are unwilling to bear the cost, which is really nothing more then accepting His free gift.

 

Jesus wanted to go to the other side of the lake and as they were traveling by boat Jesus fell asleep. A bad storm came about and the disciples became afraid and woke Jesus. He chastised them because of their lack of faith; “You of little faith why are you afraid?” (Verse 26) and then He calmed the storm, which amazed them. When they got to the other side two demon possessed men approached them and challenged Jesus as to His reason for being there, although they knew, and begged Him to send them into a herd of pigs that were nearby and He did and the pigs ran to a cliff and jumped to their death. The two men ran to town and told the people what had transpired and they went out to see Jesus. When they saw Him they asked Him to leave because they were concerned that He would hurt their business activities.

 

We see what the touch of Jesus can achieve in this chapter. There are so many ways Jesus touches our lives and yet so few make the choice of acceptance. You see, if those people didn’t have faith in the power of Jesus, they would not have been healed. Faith is the key ingredient for healing and for salvation. There isn’t a Christian alive today who isn’t absolutely convinced that Jesus is the Savior of those who truly accept Him. Friends, if you are among those who have yet to trust Jesus with your life, I pray that you will take a moment and make that life changing decision; tell Jesus that you realize you are lost and want to be found. Ask Him to come into your life and free you from the stranglehold of Satan, because if you don’t think that Satan is alive and well and very active in preventing the growth of God’s church, then my friend you are making a serious mistake.