Can't Keep Quiet

 Just Can’t Keep Quiet!

Matthew 9:27-31 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.  (28) And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.  (29) Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.  (30) And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.  (31) But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. 

For those that do not know me personally, I am 6 years Cancer FREE after being told that I had a 1% chance to survive my Stage 4 Cancer diagnosis.  One other point of interest in this story is that I refused the doctor’s recommendation of treatment and opted for “Alternative Treatments”.  Whenever I can, I tell others about the path I took.  I think my path of treatment was significant in my healing and want others to benefit as well.

In our text today, Jesus encounters two blind men.  Somehow, these men knew about Jesus and they were following him so that they might be healed.  After a brief exchange, Jesus fulfilled their request and restored their sight.  When their sight was restored, they went on their way telling everyone what had happened to them. They just could not keep their good news contained.

When ever I see an event like this recorded in the Bible, a sense of guilt wells up inside me.  For those of us that are Christians, we have had something even more spectacular happen to us by they hands of Jesus!  We have had our sins washed away by his blood of Jesus and now we have the hope of spending our eternities in the presence of God and Jesus.

Where’s our lack of containment?

Why are we more apt to give our recommendation of a favorable movie than about our Savior?  Why are we inclined to share with others our path of physical healing than our path of spiritual healing?  Why are we willing to recommend  a vacation spot that we spent a week at than to share with others where we will spend our eternity?

May we learn to develop the courage and lack-of-containment that these blind men had so that we can go everywhere telling about Jesus who made us to see!

Tell someone about Jesus Today...because you just cannot contain yourself!

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

www.vividesigngroup.com

Laughs Last

 He Who Laughs Last…

Matthew 9:23-26 And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,  (24) He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. (25) But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.  (26) And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land. 

 

It’s always easy to be a Monday Morning Quarterback.  Would YOU laugh at Jesus?  Absolutely NEVER!  But of course, we have the perspective of hindsight and the Inspired Word of God to help us with our confidence.

In our text today, we are told that Jesus was ‘laughed to scorn’.  That wording seems significant.  It indicates a particular motive.  They didn’t just laugh because they found something humorous, but instead they laughed for the purpose of showing their contempt.  What did Jesus do or say that would cause them to laugh at him to show distain?

Jesus comes onto the scene and quickly and SEEMINGLY without all of the knowledge that others have, and declares that this DEAD young girl that he came to heal was NOT in fact dead.  He declared her to be only sleeping. It would seem on face value that Jesus did not “read the room”.  The laughter by the crowd was due because they KNEW beyond the shadow of any doubt that the young girl WAS indeed dead.  The context proves this fact.  

During this time in history, when someone died, the family would come and wail outside the home to draw attention to the fact that the family is now in mourning.  Rich families, such as this one, could hire professional mourners and musicians to perform this task.  Obviously, it would take a bit of time to arrange this gathering, so the girl would have to have been dead long enough for this gathering to happen.  Certainly plenty of time to truly confirm the girl’s actual death.  So when Jesus makes this seemingly careless and possibly disrespectful statement, it was not careless!  It was not an accident.  He did not fail to read the room. He knew what he was doing and chose that that path to take.

So why did Jesus make this controversial statement that led to him being made fun of?  We are not specifically told but here are a couple of theories:

1.  He was Highlighting his Power over Death

What seems impossible for man, is a simple task for Jesus.  There was no experience in these people’s lives that would have prepared them for the POSSIBILITY of this girl ever being resurrected from the dead.  But just because it was out of the realm of possibility for them, it was not impossible for Jesus.  It was not even difficult!  With a simple voice command, Jesus speaks life into her lifeless body.  With his mere voice, Jesus stilled perilous storms, healed the lame, healed the blind and yes, even caused the dead to live once again.

2.  He was Making a Contrast between Physical Death and Spiritual Death

From a human perspective, death seems like forever.  But from the view of eternity, death is not any more permanent than life itself.  The total history of this planet is but a spec of time in the perspective of Eternity.  Jesus was able to demonstrate that by giving this young girl a preview to the resurrection.  Some day we will all be resurrected like was Jesus.

Death is temporary…But Jesus is forever!

Even though Jesus was laughed at, Jesus got the last laugh by showing his power over life and death.  And due to this event, his fame spread throughout the land and through all time.

Do you want Jesus to raise you from the dead some day so that you may be able to live Forever with Him?  If we fail to live with him after resurrection, we will die for all eternity!  If you want to live, you Must be a Seeker and Follower of Jesus!

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Great Physician

Jesus the Great Physician

Matthew 9:10-13 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  (11) When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”   (12) On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  (13) But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

In sales and marketing, understanding the concept of a “Target Market” is critical for success.  While many small businesses want to believe that “everyone” can use their product or service, there is ALWAYS an ideal customer.  Identifying that ideal customer allows the advertising to be tailored to attract that specific buyer for maximum effectiveness.

While the “product or service” that Jesus offers is certainly available and beneficial to every single person in the world, Jesus still has a “Target Market”.  And in our text today, He identifies them.  They are not who one would expect.  In fact, they are the exact opposite of the expected.

Who would you EXPECT to be the “target market” of Jesus?  The religious leaders of the day:  The Pharisees, Scribes, Priests and the like.  Obvious right?  So who does Jesus say is his “Target Market”? Tax Collectors and ‘Sinners’.  How does Jesus make sense of this?

Jesus describes two categories of people:  The Healthy and the Sick.  Being a Spiritual ‘Doctor’, it is only the sick that will have motivation to hear what he has to say and the courage to make the necessary adjustments in life to heed his words.

The real question is:  Which category do you see yourself in?  Are you healthy or sick?  The Great Physician can save you from what ails you…But you have to be willing to listen and then be willing to take the prescription that Jesus offers.

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Why Him?

But He’s...'One of Them'

Matthew 9:9  And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.  

In our text today, we find Jesus in his initial encounter with another one of his apostles.  From a worldly perspective, Jesus had terrible judgement in promoting followers to key positions.  Have you ever looked at the list of apostles?  

Matthew wasn’t like the others.  He wasn’t just an uneducated, unsophisticated, run-of-the-mill, blue collar type.  He was a tax collector!

In the Jewish society, in the days of Jesus, tax collectors were not just representatives of “The Man”.  They were viewed as full on traitors.  The land of Palestine was ruled by the Roman government at the time, so any taxes that were collected were gathered to support the Roman government.  The romans used Jews within their own country to collect the taxes from their own people.  Those Jewish taxes collectors were hated for being traitors and supporting their enemies!

And that is who Jesus chose to be one of the leaders of his movement!

While from a worldly standpoint, Jesus had rotten judgement, from a Godly perspective, Jesus knew exactly what he was doing!  This kind of choice is why I love serving Jesus!  He saw a broken man that wanted to change, and gave him the opportunity to change his life and the life of others.  Matthew took full advantage of his opportunity.

Jesus sees potential in you… regardless of how broken you think you are.  He has given you the same opportunity of redemption that Matthew had….  Will you Follow Him?

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Powerful Jesus!

 The All Powerful Jesus!

Matthew 9:2-7  And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. (3) And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. (4) And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?  (5) For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?  (6) But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.  (7) And he arose, and departed to his house.  (8) But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. 

Simply put, you cannot put Jesus into any little box.  The world wants to paint Jesus as a meek, passive, non-confrontational, hippiesque, love-above-all-else, one-demential religious leader.  Jesus is NOT that!  And our text today proves it.

It was probably a daily occurrence that Jesus is brought sick people to be healed.  We have many accounts in the Gospels where Jesus does exactly what is requested.  This day was a little different.  A crippled man, said to have palsy, is brought to him to be healed.  He is eventually healed as desired but first Jesus takes a detour.

Before healing this palsy stricken man, Jesus declares that his sins are forgiven.  Notice the reaction of the religious leaders.  They declared him to be a blasphemer!  Blasphemy is the act of showing contempt or lack of reverence for God and/or the act of claiming to have the attributes of God.

So why didn’t Jesus just mind his business and do what he always did, and JUST heal the guy?  Why did he step into that mind field of antagonizing the religious leaders of the day?  Did he not know who they were?  Did he not think about his actions before he did it?  Could he not have anticipated the fall-out that this detour would cause?  Was he just careless?  Jesus knew exactly what he was doing!  And he gives us the answer in verse 6:

Matthew 9:6  But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath POWER on earth to forgive sins!..

Because Jesus is ALL POWERFUL!  Not only did he have the Power to heal the sick, he had the Power to Forgive sins.

The real key to this passage is that not only did he have the power to forgive the sins of this man as well as others in his life… He also has the POWER to forgive sins today.  He did it.. He does it because of this death on the cross!

Jesus has the POWER to forgive ALL of your sins too!

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Who Can You Turn To?

Who Can You Turn To?

Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.  (24) And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.  (25) And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.  (26) And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.  (27) But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! 

Life has many frightening challenges. The world around us seems to be crumbling. What has always been wrong is now “right” and what has always been right is now “wrong”.  It seems that most everyone that we are supposed to trust is lying to us.  Crime is way up.  The prices of Basic necessities are way up. Depression and suicide are way up.

Who do we turn to?  In many respects, the very people that we have turned to in the past are the ones troubling us.

In our text today, Jesus and his disciples are on a ship.  While on their journey, they encountered a serious, dangerous storm.  Some of the disciples that were with him were experienced fisherman so storms had to be a fairly normal occurrence.  But it seems this storm was different!  They were so frightened by the effect of waves “covering” the ship that they ran to Jesus seeking Help.  We can know their state of mind by their frantic request:

“Lord, Save Us: We Perish”!

Fortunately, they came to the right person.  Not only that, they came to the ONLY person that could help.  With the Power of his voice and in a  simple statement Jesus brought “Great Calm” where there was enormous turmoil and fear.

Like the disciples, Jesus is the only person that can bring Calm to our chaotic lives!  Who do you turn to?  Most likely they are unqualified to bring real calm and solution.  Turn to the ONLY ONE that has the Power to Save!

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com