Great Reasons to Rejoice in the Lord
The Gospel of Matthew
Matthew 12:22-29
Sermon by Rick Crandall
(Prepared April 6, 2022)
BACKGROUND:
*Remember that here in Matthew 12, Jesus was in the second year of His ministry. This chapter reveals the vicious hatred that had poisoned the minds of the Christ-rejecting Pharisees. They started stalking Jesus, looking for any opportunity to accuse Him of doing wrong. (1)
*In vs. 9-14, the Lord went into a synagogue and healed a man with a withered hand. After that, the Pharisees went out and took counsel against Him, how they might destroy Him." Luke 6:11 tells us that the Pharisees were filled with rage to the point of madness that day. And all of that anger flowed out of their hardhearted rejection of Christ. They rejected the Lord in spite of countless proofs that He was the promised Messiah. That unbridled hatred would lead some of the Pharisees to commit the only unpardonable sin.
*Today's Scripture shows us another amazing miracle. It also reports on the Pharisees' unforgivable sin. But our focus is on three great reasons why Christians can rejoice in the Lord. Please think about this as we read Matthew 12:22-29.
MESSAGE:
*Are you rejoicing in the Lord today? In Philippians 4:4, Paul tells Christians to "rejoice in the Lord always," There he reminds us that Jesus should be our constant source of joy. And Paul stressed rejoicing 7 times in that short letter! (Scriptures listed below.) (2)
*Church: We can't always rejoice in our health or our looks. We can't always rejoice in our finances, our family, our jobs, or our grades. We can't always rejoice in our houses, our cars, our toys, or our accomplishments. But we can always rejoice in the Lord!
*It's important to remember that when Paul wrote those words he had been a prisoner of Rome, bound in chains, possibly as long as 4 years. Paul's only crime was telling the truth about Jesus Christ. And in Philippians 2:27, Paul told us that he almost had sorrow on top of sorrow.
*Paul could have been filled with bitterness, but he overflowed with the joy of the Lord. And we can too! Our hands are not in chains today, and we are tremendously blessed. But if all of that was taken away, we would still have God's grace, we would still have Heaven, and we would still have Jesus Christ!
*I like this story about Professor William Phelps. He taught English Literature at Yale from 1892-1933. One year, Dr. Phelps was grading tests shortly before Christmas, and he saw a note that a student had written next to a tough question on the test.
*The student had said, "Only God knows the answer to this question. Merry Christmas." The professor returned the test with his own note under the student's comment. Dr. Phelps wrote, "God gets an A. You get an F. Happy New Year." (3)
*Great statement! "God gets an A." When our world is falling apart, and nothing seems to be going our way, God gets an A! Forever and always, God gets an A! He is wonderful all the time, so we can rejoice in Him all the time. And today's Scripture gives us three great reasons why.
1. FIRST: WE CAN REJOICE IN THE STRENGTH OF OUR SAVIOR.
*God gives us a small sample of the Lord's unlimited strength these verses. In vs. 22, "One was brought to (Jesus) who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
*It's shocking to realize that a demon could cause that much physical damage to a person. But no demon is stronger than Jesus Christ! The Lord can heal any disease, no matter how terrible, and no matter the cause. That's exactly what Jesus did here. And in vs. 23, "All the multitudes were amazed and said, 'Could this be the Son of David?'''
*In other words: "Could this be the promised Messiah? Could this be the eternal King of all kings?" The answer of course is "Yes!" Jesus was able to heal that blind and mute man, because He IS the promised Messiah.
*Jesus has the infinite power of Almighty God, because He is more than a son of David. Jesus is the Son of God. He is infinitely stronger than any demon, including the devil himself. The Lord tried to reveal this truth to the Pharisees later in this Scripture They had accused Jesus of casting out demons by the ruler of the demons. But in vs. 29 Jesus asked them, "How can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house."
*Do you think we could bind the devil in our own strength? Never. But Jesus can do things that no one else can. Jesus can do things for us that we could never do for ourselves, and He already has!
*Hebrews 2:14-15 explains that "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
*We could never defeat the devil in our own strength, but through the power of His cross and resurrection, Jesus already has!
*John Gullick saw an illustration of this truth in the story of an 8-year-old boy from Brazil. His name was Matheus Pereira. In September 2007, Matheus was playing with friends near a creek on his grandfather's farm. Suddenly, he was attacked by a 15-foot long, 77-pound anaconda snake. It happened very fast. Matheus didn't have time to do anything.
*But by the grace of God, Matheus' 66-year-old grandfather, Joaquim happened to drive by. Joaquim heard his grandson screaming, and he jumped into the ravine and started wrestling with the snake. Joaquim wrestled with the anaconda for nearly half an hour before he could free his grandson from the snake's crushing death grip. Then he was finally able to kill the snake with stones and a machete.
*Grandson Matheus later said, "My grandfather is a hero! I was so afraid of dying." Of course, Joaquim was a hero. He later said, "It was the most terrible scene that I've seen in my life. It was totally coiled around him while he was screaming that he was dying." (4)
*Church: There was no way that little boy could save himself from the death grip of that snake. And there is no way that we can save ourselves from the death grip of Satan. The only one with the strength to save us is Jesus Christ! And Jesus will save you, if you will receive Him as your Lord and Savior.
*On top of that, God gives Christians all the strength we will ever need in life. We know this because God's Holy Spirit has come to live in us. And 1 John 4:4 says, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." James 4:7 also tells us to "resist the devil and he will flee from you," so rejoice Christians!
2. REJOICE IN THE STRENGTH OF OUR SAVIOR. AND REJOICE IN THE MIND OF CHRIST.
*What a mind Jesus Christ must have! -- Infinite beyond our wildest imagination. We get a glimpse of the Lord's great mind in vs. 23-27.
*After Jesus miraculously healed that blind and mute man:
23. . . all the multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?''
24. But when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.''
25. But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
26. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
27. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges."
*Those Pharisees were accusing Jesus of being horribly wicked, and through this attack they committed the unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Lord willing, we will go into detail next time about this one and only unforgivable sin. But right now, let's focus on the Lord's amazing mind.
[1] FIRST NOTICE THAT JESUS CAN SEE EVERYTHING.
*Verse 25 tells us that Jesus "knew their thoughts," And this was not the first time He did. Matthew 9:2-6 gives this miraculous report:
2. And behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.''
3. And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!''
4. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5. For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'?
6. But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins'' then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.''
*Jesus knew their thoughts, and He knows our thoughts too! There is nothing about us that the Lord doesn't know, past, present, and future. As Hebrews 4:13 says, "There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."
*Jesus knows me! That should fill us with reverent fear. But that fear should also lead us to faith, as we get to know the merciful Son of God who loves us and died for us.
[2] BECAUSE OF HIS INFINITE MIND, JESUS SEES EVERYTHING, AND HE ALWAYS SAYS THE RIGHT THING.
*The Lord will win any and every debate. I don't recommend it, but some day you might want to get into a debate with Jesus like the Pharisees did here. That is a debate you are going to lose.
*No one can win an argument with the Lord Jesus Christ! He is always right, and He always knows the right thing to say, so you can always trust in the Lord, and rejoice in the mind of Christ.
*Let me also say that if you have believed in our crucified and risen Savior, then you are born again by the Holy Spirit of God. And 1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us that "we have the mind of Christ." -- Not that we know everything like Jesus knows, but we certainly know things that lost people can't know. And we can see truth that lost people can't see. Why? Because we really do have the mind of Christ. So, rejoice Christians!
3. REJOICE IN THE MIND OF CHRIST. AND REJOICE IN THE WORK OF GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT.
*How was Jesus able to perform those amazing miracles? In vs. 28 the Lord points us to the role of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."
*John Gill tells us that "all the three persons in the Godhead had a part in the miracles of the Messiah. They were done by Christ, in His Father's name, and by the power of the Spirit of God." (5)
*God's Holy Spirit has always been at work in His world, and He was surely at work in the life of Jesus Christ. God's Spirit had an important part in every significant event of the Lord's life.
[1] FIRST: THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS THERE FOR CHRIST'S CONCEPTION.
*God's Spirit was responsible for the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. Matthew 1:18 says, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
*Luke 1:30-37 gives us Mary's side of the story. There the angel Gabriel said this to the Virgin Mary:
30. . . "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
32. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
34. Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
35. And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
36. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
37. For with God nothing will be impossible."
*God's Holy Spirit miraculously conceived Jesus just as the angel had told Mary. The Holy Spirit was there for Christ's conception.
[2] HE WAS ALSO THERE FOR THE LORD'S IDENTIFICATION.
*We see the identifying work of the Holy Spirit at the baptism of Jesus. And all 4 Gospels record this part of the story. For example, John 1:29-34 says:
29. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
30. This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.'
31. I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water."
32. And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
33. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'
34. And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."
*In that day, there were many imposters pretending to be the Messiah. How would John the Baptist know the real Christ? The Holy Spirit of God took care of that crucial task. The Holy Spirit was there for Christ's identification.
[3] HE WAS ALSO THERE TO GIVE THE LORD DIRECTION.
*Luke 4:1 tells us something important that happened after Jesus was baptized: "Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness." Matthew 4:1 explains that "Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."
*In these verses, the Holy Spirit guided our Lord into the wilderness. One reason why was to prove that Jesus would never give in to sin. At the same time, Jesus was there to help us see how to resist temptation. But the Holy Spirit was there to give the Lord direction.
[4] HE WAS ALSO THERE FOR THE LORD'S MIRACULOUS ACTIONS.
*The Holy Spirit certainly had a key role in the mighty miracles of Jesus Christ. The Lord wanted the hateful Pharisees to know this truth. So again in vs. 28 Jesus said, "If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."
*The Apostle Peter summed this up in Acts 10:38 by saying that "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." God's Spirit was there for the Lord's miraculous actions.
[5] HE WAS ALSO THERE FOR CHRIST'S DECLARATIONS.
*We can see this truth above in Matthew 12:18. There God's Word records the fulfillment of a prophecy from Isaiah 42. God the Father spoke about the coming Messiah and said, "Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles." The Holy Spirit was there for Christ's declarations.
[6] AND HE WAS THERE FOR CHRIST'S CRUCIFIXION.
*We read this truth in Hebrews 9:12-14, where the Bible says:
12. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
14. how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
*How did Jesus Christ offer Himself to God the Father? "Through the eternal Spirit."
*Yes, God the Son poured out His blood in sacrifice for us when He died on the cross for our sins. Christians: We are saved by the blood of the Lamb! And no one can ever get saved, except by the precious blood of the Lamb! He willingly poured out His blood, so that we might have everlasting life. But how did Jesus do that? "Through the eternal Spirit" of God. God's Holy Spirit was there for Christ's crucifixion.
[7] AND HE WAS THERE FOR CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
*1 Peter 3:18 explains that "Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit." Our dead and buried Savior was "made alive" by the Holy Spirit of God. (6)
*From Christ's conception to His resurrection and every step along the way, the Holy Spirit was fully involved in the life of Jesus Christ. And God's Holy Spirit is certainly at work in our lives today.
*But think of the boundless joy that overflowed on that first resurrection Sunday. Matthew 28:1-9 tells the story this way:
1. Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
2. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
3. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5. But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
6. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."
8. So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
9. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.
CONCLUSION:
*Christians: This same joy belongs to you and me! So, put your trust in Jesus Christ, and "rejoice in the Lord always!" Rejoice in the Lord, as we go back to God in prayer.
(1) Adapted from:
-BELIEVER'S BIBLE COMMENTARY by William MacDonald - Edited by Arthur Farstad - Thomas Nelson Publishers - Nashville - Copyright 1995 - "Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath" - Matthew 12:1-8 - Downloaded to e-Sword by Rick Meyers - Copyright 2021
-BARCLAY'S DAILY BIBLE STUDY SERIES (NT) by William Barclay, Revised Edition (C) Copyright 1975 William Barclay - First published by the Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh, Scotland - The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Introduction to Matthew 12 - "Crisis" - https://bibleportal.com/commentary/chapter/william-barclay/matthew/12
(2) Paul stressed rejoicing 7 times in his short letter to the Philippians:
-Philippians 1:18 - What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
-Philippians 2:17 - Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
-Philippians 2:18 - For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
-Philippians 2:28 - Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.
-Philippians 3:1 - Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
-Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
-Philippians 4:10 - But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
(3) "Today in the Word," October 1990, p. 10. *MODIFIED* - Source: SermonCentral sermon "What Must I Do to Be Saved" by John Baggett - Acts 16:27-34
(4) SermonCentral sermon "Amazing, Amazing Grace" by John Gullick - John 3:1-21
(5) JOHN GILL'S EXPOSITION OF THE BIBLE by Dr. John Gill, D. D. - 1697-1771 - Published in 1746-1766, 1816 - Matthew 12:28 - Downloaded to e-Sword by Rick Meyers - Copyright 2021
(6) Resource for Scriptures: The Christian Life - MASTER OUTLINES & STUDY NOTES - Compiled by Porter Barrington - 4. The Holy Spirit - https://www.christianwitnessingtools.com/uploads/3/4/0/0/3400790/porter_barrington_-_bible_study_outlines.pdf
