Think for a moment about a time of crisis on your life—a time when something significant went wrong and you really didn’t know how you were going to come out of it whole. It might be violence, sickness, accident, financial burden, relationship gone very bad—something that tore a hole in your stomach and ripped sleep from your eyes. That’s the kind of situation people find themselves in here in chapter 9, and it gives Jesus an opportunity to call attention to the plight of mankind in general but also His desire to move deeply in the lives of those who shouldn’t have reached out to Him.
Matthew has been pointing out Jesus as Messiah and King. He showed us Jesus’ authority over creation and sickness. Last time we saw His authority over even the forgiveness of sin. Now Matthew takes it up yet another notch as we see Jesus’ authority over the biggest enemy of all: death.
18 – 26
Mark and Luke identify the man as Jairus, a synagogue ruler. (Mark 5:22, Luke 8:41). The synagogue ruler was a very important person in the community. They were a lay person, elected to run the synagogue including the school, arranging for rabbis to teach, finances, and keeping the congregation faithful to the law. They were extremely influential and here Jairus bows before Jesus, showing him deference and homage.
This is a shortened account. In other gospels we learn that his 12 year old only child was dying. As Jesus is on His way the man’s servants come and tell him “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the teacher anymore.” Jesus turns to him and says “Do not fear, only believe.” Here is a man who though he of great authority, in a time of deep crisis. In a time past hope he goes to anyone who can actually help.
In the midst of this is the woman who had suffered from a bleeding disorder touches Him. Luke tells us that she had spent all of her money with no cure. If it had been anyone else, touching would have made the man unclean (Lev 15:25-33). But when Jesus touches the unclean, they becomes clean (as he did with the leper).
She may have feared that if Jesus had known she was unclean He wouldn’t have touched her. Do we fear the same thing? There was a belief that even the clothes of a holy man could impart healing (Acts 19:11-12). We also find in the other accounts that Jesus did not know who touched Him. This is another sign that Jesus had given up His glory to become fully human and had only the things the Holy Spirit gave Him at the time—just like us.
So then he goes to the house and despite the scorning of the professional mourners, he raises the child from the dead. Touching a dead body also made someone unclean (Numbers 19:11). But not only does Jesus not become unclean and cleanses the unclean, He raises them from the dead.
We’ve seen Jesus’ authority over creation and sickness, but death? Oddly, He tells the parents to get their child something to eat and not to tell anyone (Mark 5:43) but what would you do?
27 – 31
The same thing happens in this story. Jesus tells the blind men not to tell anyone, but to no avail. This is one of the reasons Jesus could not go about openly. His primary mission was to die to save the world. He was not just a miracle worker. But His great compassion led Him to reach out to those who were downcast and downtrodden, like the next man. Notice these men use a Messianic title for Jesus “son of David” (Isaiah 9:7).
I love what Jesus asks them: “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Is that not the question that each of us must ask ourselves—do we believe that Jesus is able to not only open our eyes but forgive our sins and raise us to new life?
32 – 34
Matthew here focuses not on the exorcism itself but on two reactions to it: from the crowd and the Pharisees. The crowds recognize the uniqueness of Jesus, the Pharisees actually have the gall to attribute the miracle to Lucifer. They are on very dangerous ground. There is a position that suggests the only sin that will not be forgiven is blaspheme of the Holy Spirit. Jesus talks about it in chapter 12, but basically the same accusation is leveled against Him there.
He said in part: Matt 12:31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
This could mean that rejecting the work of Jesus Christ is basically attributing it to the god of this world—Satan. This isn’t ignorance but willful rejection.
35 – 38
Jesus taught from the Scriptures, proclaimed the good news about God’s kingdom, and healed. We do much the same thing as we go out and live our relationship with Jesus on the outside. We may not heal every physical affliction but we certainly see people’s lives healed as they come to know the Lord.
Notice what Matthew says about the people—harassed and helpless. Ever since the Garden of Eden, when we ceded authority over our lives to Lucifer, he has been harassing us, but we are helpless to get out from his grip. Sheep without a shepherd will wander aimlessly and fall into danger or fall prey to a predator. Jesus, the Great Shepherd, comes to lead us to life.
What He is looking for are those who will be willing to go along with Him and harvest souls, turning to another analogy, that are ready to be picked. It may not appear like it, but people for the most part are unhappy. Oh, they may fill their lives with activity or pleasure to keep them occupied, but it is only a temporary mask, like a sugar rush that must be constantly re-filled to keep the sugar crash from coming on. We would do well to realize that—in their heart of hearts; even the most avowed atheist is harassed and helpless and needs a shepherd.
Conclusions
Notice a couple of things here. First, Jesus was approached by people from both the top and the bottom of the social ladder. Jarius was clearly one of the most influential people in his community and should have no need to bow to anyone. The woman was an outcast—her issue of blood and the fact that she was a woman—would have made her an anathema to society. She had every need of someone but could reach out to no one.
Then along comes Jesus, who has compassion on both of them despite their social standing. Jesus knows that we too are harassed and helpless. The only difference here is that they reached out and Jesus met them and reached out to them.
Secondly, are you in a period of crisis right now? Do you feel reluctant to reach out to Jesus because you feel God doesn’t see, God doesn’t care, God can’t answer? Maybe you feel like you’ve blown it so much you don’t deserve to seek Jesus or maybe, just maybe, you feel you should be able to do it on your own without God’s help.
Jesus will say in chapter 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
But you’ve got to come. You’ve got to reach out. You’ve got to admit you need His help, humble yourself and stretch out. Jesus said “Do not fear, only believe.” Satan will use fear to keep you away and keep you from trusting God. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of the future. Trust yourself enough into Jesus hands to trust Him no matter what.
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