Jesus Is Here! -- What Should We Do? Series

Jesus Is Here! -- What Should We Do?

The Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43

Sermon by Rick Crandall

(Prepared December 9, 2022)

BACKGROUND:

*Please open your Bibles to Matthew 20:29. Here Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem to die on the cross for our sins, and He had reached Jericho, only 15 miles from Jerusalem. As the Lord headed north out of Jericho, He miraculously healed two men who were blind.

*One of the healings is also reported in Mark 10 and Luke 18, but only Matthew tells us that there were two blind men healed that day. Mark and Luke both tell us that these pitiful men were sitting by the roadside begging. And Mark 10:46 tells us one of their names: It was Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus.

*Let me also mention that Matthew's Gospel and Mark 10:46 tell us that this happened as Jesus was leaving Jericho. But Luke 18:35 tells us that it happened as Jesus was coming near to Jericho. On the surface, this looks like a contradiction, but A. T. Robertson tells us that there were two towns called Jericho. And "it is probable that Mark and Matthew referred to the old Jericho, the ruins of which have been discovered, while Luke was talking about the new Roman Jericho." This makes good sense to me because our city of West Monroe is just across the river from Monroe. (1)

*And I point this out to say that there are some things in the Bible that we won't understand, but we can always trust in God's Word! As Psalm 119:89 says, "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven." Praise the Lord!

*The miracles in our Scripture today show us what we should do when we realize that Jesus is here. Please think about that as we read Matthew 20:29-34.

MESSAGE:

*I am very grateful for the parents and grandparents who faithfully bring their children to church. I am also grateful for all of the people who give their time to help our children know Jesus.

*King Duncan told the story of a little girl like that. This preschooler was blessed to have a family who brought her to church. One day she was sitting in her mother's lap as they looked at a magazine together. Then they came across a picture of Jesus, and her mother asked, "Do you know who that is?" "Yes," the little girl answered matter-of-factly, "He goes to our church." (2)

*That little girl was surely right about that! Jesus Christ does go to our church. In fact, Jesus is here right now, just as He promised in Matthew 18:20. There Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

*Jesus is with us by the Holy Spirit of God, and here's how it happened: After the Lord died on the cross, rose again from the dead, went back home to Heaven, and was glorified, He asked His Heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit in a brand new way. And that's exactly what God the Father did on the day of Pentecost.

*John Phillips explained that the Holy Spirit came to do something He had never done before. He came to baptize believers into the Church, the spiritual Body of Christ. He also came to live in everyone who receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. (3)

*Jesus is here right now by the Holy Spirit of God, and on the night before He died for us, the Lord went into detail about how this would happen. For example, in John 16:5-11 Jesus explained how the Holy Spirit would work in the world. There Jesus told His disciples:

5. "But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'

6. But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (or Comforter) will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

8. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9. of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

10. of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and you see Me no more;

11. of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."

*Earlier that same night, the Lord explained how the Holy Spirit would live in everyone who believes in Jesus. In John 14:15-23 our Savior said:

15. "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

16. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper (or Comforter), that He may abide with you forever,