Abide Together: Reflections on Matthew 9

In Matthew 9 Jesus heals many different kinds of diseases, gives sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, casts out a demon and even raises a girl from the dead.  He also does this for people who were outcasts and people who were in prominent positions. This shows that His ministry was to all types of people.  The fact that He heals all these people shows His power over the effects of sin in the world.   Yet, the most impressive and important thing is that He shows His power and authority to forgive sin.  The Pharisees did not like the fact that Jesus spent time with tax collectors and sinners.  Jesus lets them know that His ministry was to sinners.  Therefore, in chapter 9, Jesus shows that His mission was to deal with the effects of sin and more importantly to forgive sin.  Jesus, at the end of chapter 9, calls for His followers to be willing workers in calling people to come to Jesus for forgiveness of sin.  He also calls them to ask the Lord to send out many workers to spread the great news that Jesus saves from the penalty, power and presence of sin.  Lord, use me to spread your message of salvation from sin.

– Bryan McKenzie