Compassionate Grace
Matthew 18:35-42 NKJ
35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”
42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Here we see Jesus on his way to Jerusalem, to have his triumphant entry and be proclaimed king. And then ultimately to be crucified by His own people. To say that Jesus had a lot on his mind, would be an understatement.
On the journey, He had an encounter with a notorious tax collector named Zacheous, that Ended up coming to repentance and salvation. He took the time to bless the little children.
He also took the time to give Council to the rich young ruler. And there are many more examples of Jesus Compassion, in scripture we could mention this morning!
All these things we know that He did, all the while with every step that he took, was one step closer to the cross.
Some people think that God is just too busy for their need, or to hear their problem. As we just read, God is never too busy to listen to the needs of his children. Never too busy to show compassion!
Text Illustration:
“A little lame boy was once hurrying to catch a train. In the press of the crowd he experienced real difficulty in manipulating his crutches, especially as he was carrying a basket full of fruit and candy. As the passengers rushed along, one hit the basket by mistake, knocking oranges, apples, and candy bars in all directions. The man who caused the accident paused only long enough to scold the cripple for getting in his way.
Another gentleman, seeing the boy’’ distress, went to his aid. Quickly he picked up the fruit and added a silver dollar to the collection, saying, ‘I’m sorry, Sonny! I hope this makes up a little!’” With a smile he was on his way. The young boy who had seldom been the recipient of such kindness called after the ‘good Samaritan’ in gratitude and awe, ‘Mister—please sir, are you Jesus?’ “No,’ replied his new-found friend, ‘I’m only one of His followers.’ (Our Daily Bread)
What the man did was show the boy Grace and compassion. If you're a follower of Jesus, you're supposed to be the same and have Christlike characteristics. Just as Jesus took time out of his busy schedule to help others, we are to do the same.
So often times we may come across different peoples needs, that are bigger than our parameter of faith. That's when we become guilty of focusing on our limited abilities instead of Gods Amazing ability. And as long as we focus on our ability we will only be intimidated by whatever it is that we're facing!
Jesus said with man's ability nothing is possible, but He also went on to say with God's ability there is nothing impossible!
How do we realize more of Gods ability in our lives? Grace is what makes it possible at all in the first place. And the way that we realize more of God's amazing ability and He wants to do in our lives, is by acknowledging more of his grace in our lives. And that Gift of Grace, is JESUS!
Gods Free Gift Of Grace;
It's been understated,
It's been abused some might say,
It's been underappreciated to say the least!
And yet it continues to give nonstop, to all who will accept it and believe
what it can do for them in their situation and life!
Grace: on the Internet there are many definitions, but the one I want to talk about is.
The free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.
G.R.A.C.E.
God's redemption at Christ's expense.
Mark 2:1-7 MSG
1-5 After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that he was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When they weren’t able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.”
6-7 Some religion scholars sitting there started whispering among themselves, “He can’t talk that way! That’s blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins.”
From the moment Grace walked on the scene, for those who believed and sought it they thought it was nothing short of spectacular, miraculous, more than amazing and more than wonderful!
For those Who are unwilling to believe and thought it was blasphemy, had a different opinion! The pharisee's from the church world felt threatened by it. It was scandalous, it threatened the very existence of the status quo. And it still does even to this day!
The way things had always been, was on its way out the door!
It not only rocked the boat, but it was capable of capsizing the boat!!
The church elders knew it and it made them fear for their future relevance!
Mark 2:8-12 MSG
8-12 Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, “Why are you so skeptical? Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or say, ‘Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both . . .” (he looked now at the paraplegic), “Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home.” And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then praised God, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this!”
And still to this day the whole world says the same thing, we have never seen anything like this! What Jesus did was scandalous and still is, if you dare to believe! He was on a mission, He never wavered from it either!
He was taking care of his Fathers business! He didn't care about how the way things had always been. His Father had sent Him to do a new thing and it terrified the religious leaders of the day!
Jesus came to introduce a new covenant of Grace, to replace the old worn out covenant of the impossible Law. God knew that it had never worked, because it had never been designed to work in the first place. It had been designed to point out all of man's Faults. That's why He introduced Grace, because unlike the law He knew that it would work.
He made it available to everyone and simple enough a child could even grasp a hold of it and that not only rocked the boat. It sent shockwaves around the world!
He shared it with anyone and everyone that would accept it. He never had to force it on anyone. It was so incredible that once a person realized what it was capable of, they would go to great length's to seek it out and Jesus never turned anyone away, who came looking for it, not even in the very last hours of his life!
He continually encouraged and still does to this day encourage, everyone to come.
Everyone is invited to participate, all are welcome!
Mark 2:13-17 MSG
13-14 Then Jesus went again to walk alongside the lake. Again a crowd came to him, and he taught them. Strolling along, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, at his work collecting taxes. Jesus said, “Come along with me.” He came.
15-16 Later Jesus and his disciples were at home having supper with a collection of disreputable guests. Unlikely as it seems, more than a few of them had become followers. The religion scholars and Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company and lit into his disciples: “What kind of example is this, acting cozy with the riffraff?”
17 Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit.”
In modern Language, the church nowadays in some regards is just as guilty as the Pharisees and the religious scholars of Jesus day were.
I didn't coin this phrase, but it has never been more relevant.
"The church is not a hotel for the Saints, it is a hospital from sinners" that is the what Jesus was saying. Far too often we get the notion that Jesus might not want the undesirables in the church, or that. He might not want us being seen befriending questionable people!
I mean what would people think of us?
Those people are dirty…
Those people are down and out...
Those people have a record...
Those people are sinners...
Those kind of people scare me…
Those people are exactly the kind of people Jesus was talking about and that's why the pharisee's and the church world today. Still think that Grace for "those people" is Scandalous!
I'll tell you what I think is both scandalous and amazing at the same time! A Grace that is large enough, to even forgive those who like to judge others!!
Grace is for us they think? Don't they know that you have to find grace, Grace doesn't find you! Unfortunately their are still those in the church world, who wear the same cape and the same mindset of those who ridiculed and questioned Jesus in His day.
Mark 3:1-6 MSG
3 1-3 Then he went back in the meeting place where he found a man with a crippled hand.
( I'm sorry...He did what? Did that say He found a man with a crippled hand? I believe it did! He found a man with a crippled hand. Imagine that? If you find something, that means you have to be looking for something, doesn't it??)
The Pharisees had their eyes on Jesus to see if he would heal him, hoping to catch him in a Sabbath infraction. He said to the man with the crippled hand, “Stand here where we can see you.” (I just love these moments. I'm thinking what He meant was, class is now in session, pay attention!)
4 Then he spoke to the people: “What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?” No one said a word.
5-6 He looked them in the eye, one after another, angry now, furious at their hard-nosed religion. He said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out—it was as good as new! The Pharisees got out as fast as they could, sputtering about how they would join forces with Herod’s followers and ruin him.
Grace was never intended to be hoarded! It was and has always been intended to be shared and extended to all. There are no exceptions! No matter what your social status is. No matter what your religious status is. No matter what your race, color, or creed is!
Grace was introduced to the world for you! An amazing gift, that there are no words generous to accurately describe! For one reason, so you could establish a relationship with God the Father, Through the Jesus, Gods one and only Son!
Gods Wonderful Grace?
Can you earn it?
Can you get too much of it?
Can you use too much of it?
Is there enough of it?
No..No..No...and Yes!
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJ
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Romans 5:15-17 MSG
15-17 Yet the rescuing gift is not exactly parallel to the death-dealing sin. If one man’s sin put crowds of people at the dead-end abyss of separation from God, just think what God’s gift poured through one man, Jesus Christ, will do! There’s no comparison between that death-dealing sin and this generous, life-giving gift. The verdict on that one sin was the death sentence; the verdict on the many sins that followed was this wonderful life sentence. If death got the upper hand through one man’s wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?
Gods gift of Grace is so much more than sufficient for any need it will ever come up against. It's there to draw you, to find you and to establish and give you what you need you're whole life long. It's merciful from beginning to end. It's exactly what the world needed when it arrived and it's exactly what the world still needs today!
Illus. By James Westervelt
His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of
college. He is intelligent. Kind of esoteric and very, very bright.
He became a Christian while attending college. Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about it.
One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair.The service has already started, so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can’t find a seat.
By now people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, this had never happened in this church before!)
By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.
About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit.
A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this young man, everyone is saying to themselves that you can’t blame him for what he’s going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?
It takes a long time for the deacon to reach the young man . The church is utterly silent, except for the clicking of the man’s cane. All eyes are focused on him. The minister can’t even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.
And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won’t feel alone.
Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control, he says,
"What I’m about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget.
Gods Grace, are we advancing it or hindering it?
I was reading “everything we are, do and become in the Christian walk comes by grace through faith”and I believe it! Everything we receive in our walk with God comes the same way, By Grace through Faith!!
We received our salvation by grace through faith and so does everyone else.
Sometimes we might not realize it, but with God everyone is on an equal playing field. No one is more saved than anyone else, no one is more holy than anyone else.
No one is more righteous than anyone else because everyone has the same holiness, the same righteousness, the same salvation. Everyone that receives anything from God is all received the same way. There are no exceptions, it's only by grace through faith.
The key is the pursuit of our relationship faith has given us. For Grace is there and has always been there to deliver however much you might need of it. But the question is not, how much of it is available. The question is, How much of Gods Grace
and Unmerited Favor DO YOU WANT?? Because His Grace will give you every opportunity to Receive however much it is that you need
Let's pray!
