Sermon on Matthew 9:27–34
Monday in the Week of the Fourth Sunday in Lent
Kramer Chapel March 20, 2023
Text: “And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.””
Intro: The early days of the ministry of Jesus in Galilee were exciting. He announced that the Kingdom of the Heavens had come. He preached, taught, healed all manner of diseases. He was very different. He taught with authority, he forgave sins and cast out demons — even in the synagogue! The lame walked, lepers are cleansed and the deaf heard, and the dead are raised up. And now the blind would see and the mute speak! The people who had walked in the darkness, Galilee of the gentiles, had seen a great light! All these signs did their work — the blind men knew the Son of David when they saw him — and they as yet couldn’t see! Even we can’t miss the side point:
I. God hates sickness and death. — and he intends to do something about it!
a. He made a world without illness.
b. God suffers with us when we suffer.
c. The day will come when we will be completely whole.
II. Sickness is a result of sin and a sign that we will die.
a. Yet all people – including Christians – remain under the sentence of death
b. We try to avoid and recover from suffering, but only works for awhile.
c. We are attracted to promises of health and healing
d. Yet these are often frauds.
III. Jesus is the source of life and healing.
a. He was born into the midst of this suffering.
b. He died to bring an end to death, grief and pain.
c. He now brings healing in its time and place.
d. He brings resurrection at the end of our time or the end of time itself.
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, Indiana
©2023 Robert E. Smith. All rights reserved. Permission granted to copy, share and display freely for non-commercial purposes. Direct all other rights and permissions inquiries to cosmithb@gmail.com
