Pentecost 3, 2011

“Need a Doctor?”

Matthew 9:9-13

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

            When I was in grade school my goal wasn’t to be the most popular student...but to be included. I must admit there were numerous years that I felt I was the one of the left out and made fun-of kids. The worst of times was when you would be either the child not invited to the birthday party or the child invited because the parents of the birthday child made them invite you. Being the outcast of your class wasn’t very fun…being the outcast of society is even worse.

            “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and ‘sinners’ came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?’” (Matthew 9:10-11)

            The Pharisees were the upper echelon of the Jewish people. They were popular, wealthy, influential, and vocal. They thought that God loved them the most because of their pious acts. They were the “look at me and all I do” people. The Pharisees were very upset with this Jesus. This popular man that some thought to be the Messiah and many thought to be a prophet ignored them and instead went to be with the outcasts of society. The Pharisees mockingly and indignantly questioned the disciples about their master’s character.

            Their point was that instead of eating with the religious and political leaders of Israel, Jesus sat down to eat and have fellowship with tax collectors and “sinners.” Tax collectors were despised by most people because they were cheats and thieves that answered only to the Romans. Because of this they were even worse than cheats and thieves…they were traitors. Jesus also ate with “sinners.” These “sinners” would be notorious for their sins of adultery, stealing, and getting drunk. They would have included thieves, prostitutes, drunks, adulterers, and others that were known publicly for their sins.

            But these were the people Jesus came for. These were the people Jesus was born for. These were the people Jesus would suffer and die for. “On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not just sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:12-13)

            The Pharisees would go on to reject Jesus as the Messiah. They would do this because of their lust for power and because they had no need for a Savior. They thought that God would grant them all of His blessings and their wants simply because of how good they were. They knew God wanted sacrifice and that is what they gave…their own sacrifice…but it was not done out of mercy or out of love for God.

            Jesus came into this world to die for sinners…not for the sinless. If we could live a perfect life there would be no need for Jesus to come and die. If we could decide to do what was right, decide to be good, decide to believe on our own…there would be no need for Jesus to come and die for us. “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” (Matthew 9:12)

            Believe it or not we are the sick. We are the tax collectors and “sinners.” We are the outcasts whom Jesus came to be with, serve, and die for. We have murdered with our thoughts and deeds, we have committed adultery in our hearts, we have stolen, lusted, coveted, hurt others, and sinned against God. Whether or not our loved ones, friends, or neighbors know us to be sinners of the worst kind God knows all the skeletons we are hiding in our closets. God knows each and every one of our sins.

            But there are still times we act like the Pharisees. There are times we do things, we sacrifice, for others to see. We like people to see what we have done, to look at how good we are. There are times we don’t feel like we need a Savior. It is like those that are stubborn about going to the Doctor. “It’s not bad enough.” “I’m not sick” “I don’t need anyone else’s help.” It may be even worse that; we think the Doctor cannot help or is incompetent at his practice.

            As sinful people we are in need of a cure and a cure is exactly what God has in mind. Our cure is Christ. Our cure is given to us in water, bread, and wine. Yet this miracle cure doesn’t seem so miraculous. Because of how ordinary and mundane this is many simply cannot believe they offer forgiveness and strength. The miracle cure that the Sacraments truly are seem to be no more a miracle cure than the many miracle drugs and elixirs society has seen throughout the years.

            Denying what God does through the means of grace we become more like Naaman of the Bible. “Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:1) Through a captured Israelite girl Naaman learned of a prophet in Israel that could cure him. Naaman received permission from his king and went to Israel.

             “So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed." But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage. Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.” (2 Kings 5:9-14)

             Jesus came to die and rise for you. Salvation has been won for you. God’s gifts of faith and forgiveness of sins are given to you in the simple water, bread, and wine combined with God’s Word. This miracle cure may seem ordinary and mundane but it is beyond comprehension. Do not think that God’s gifts of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are mundane for they are the miracle of God and we are in desperate need of them. Through these gifts we are able to offer God sacrifice and mercy; we are able to share the love of Jesus with all people. People like us that are in need of a miracle cure; in need of a Savior. Jesus came for all the sick!

             You have received the miracle of faith and forgiveness in Baptism…and I thank God that you share that with your children. You are no longer outcasts but children of God; heirs of life eternal. Receive the gift of forgiveness and strength through Jesus body and blood as often as you can for it is the miracle cure of God given especially for you. You have been healed. Your faith has made you well. Rejoice for the Kingdom of God; heaven itself is yours. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.