Title: Jesus looking and having compassion
Theme: To show that Jesus is always searching and looking for people to help and have compassion on.
Text: Matthew 9:35 - 36
Opening Verse
Matthew 9:35-36 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. (36) But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
Introduction
I want us to first notice how Jesus went “everywhere” teaching and sharing the kingdom news.
“b. Jesus’ place of ministry. Jesus literally went everywhere: in all the cities and villages (Mat_9:35), in the countryside (Mat_5:1), in the synagogues (Mat_9:35), on mountains (Mat_5:1), by the seashore (Mat_4:18), in boats (Mat_8:23f), by grave-yards (Mat_8:28f), and in homes (Mat_8:14; Mat_9:10). There was no place where Jesus did not go to minister.” From PSOB – NT on Matthew 9
Preaching, teaching and healing.
There is a difference.
Preaching – hitting the major points
Teaching – understanding and knowing how to “live it out”
Healing – letting it affect your life, to change us.
It is one thing to have knowledge and even understanding but if we don’t let the message of the kingdom, the gospel of Christ, the good news that Jesus has come to bring hope and forgiveness of sin, change us then we are most pitiable. The messages we hear are not doing us any good.
Kingdom of God
“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mar_1:14-15).
Notice Jesus reaction when He “went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”
Matthew 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
Description
Weary (confused, harassed)
Life happening, heaviness
“a. Jesus saw the crowds fainting. They were weighed down and ready to collapse.
1) Life weighed them down. Life was cruel, hard, impoverished, empty, and without real purpose. Life too often seemed hopeless and worthless.
2) Religion weighed them down.
a) Religion lay burden after burden, demand after demand upon them. It required endless rituals, ceremonies, and rules.
b) Religion also misled them into beliefs that really did not lead them to God. Therefore, they were not spiritually satisfied. They were dead to God.
3) Sin weighed them down. They were not taught the truth, but rather the ideas of religionists. Therefore, they were still dead in their sins (Eph_2:15). The weight of their sins still rested upon their hearts and preyed upon their minds, weakening whatever confidence and assurance they had. Their sins made them uncertain of the future.” PSOB – NT Matthew 9
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
Sin will weight us down but sin will also ensnare and trap us.
Thank the Lord Jesus has a solution. He died for us on the cross.
Scattered (helpless, )
Coming out of judgement, religious system. No one willing to lift a finger
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you 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."
Matthew 11:28-30 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. (29) Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. (30) Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Church basic purpose: Connecting People to God
But I will be honest with you. Even we get distracted. Even we can miss the point. We even get it wrong and think it is about a work or event but truthfully if you come this morning and we have “Connected you to God” then we have accomplished something.
Like sheep having no shepherd
He saw them as leaderless. Although there were many around them telling them what to do they were not leading the way. They were not living the way. They were telling without showing. Also they were not bringing life to the people.
Jesus answer
He saw them
Jesus sees us and knows where we are at. He will meet us there.
He had compassion on them. What does that mean? He is not willing to leave us in the same place He found us.
Conclusion
I don’t know what has made you weary today.
Maybe life has made you weary. Maybe what is happening in life. The stresses of life.
Maybe religion has made you weary. Not just the church but the world religions. Always fighting. Always trying to advance their cause.
Maybe sin has weighed you down.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you 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."
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. (29) Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. (30) Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
