Sunday 10th November 2024. Trinity 24.

Pastor Pete Myers explains Matthew 9:18-26.

Is following Jesus laughable?

Is following Jesus laughable?

Is following Jesus laughable?

It could be family, it could be friends, it could be colleagues, …all of us know people for whom the idea of following Jesus seems laughable.

And people in church have often said to me that it feels like the attitudes of people in modern times are so different to people in the Bible that they can’t see how the Bible can be relevant to their family, friends and colleagues.

Even 100 years ago, many of us imagine, people were more willing to talk about religious things. But, we now live in a time and place where these conversations seem impossible.

Our Gospel passage today addresses this exact concern, just look at v. 24,

[Jesus] said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him.

Jesus’ claims, his words, just seem ridiculous to these people. Outlandish. Silly. Not serious.

The idea that following Jesus is laughable is not new… …it’s right here in the Bible.

And this passage gives us three reasons why it’s not:

  • Jesus gives hope to those who are desperate
  • Jesus gives understanding to those with faith
  • Jesus gives life to those who are dead

Jesus gives hope to those who are desperate

So, Jesus gives hope to those who are desperate.

Look again at vv. 18-19:

While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples.

We’re given the context right at the beginning:

While he was saying these things to them…

In vv. 15-17 Jesus has been explaining the new teaching he is bringing, the Gospel, and how it completely eclipses the old, the Law.

It’s a message of good news, a message of hope. And it’s while explaining this message that this ruler comes and kneels before Jesus, and asks for Jesus to raise his daughter to life. See in v. 18 how Matthew brings these two things together:

Jesus’ Word of the Gospel:

While he was saying these things to them…

And this man’s desperation:

“My daughter has just died…”

Jesus’ message is laughable when we think we don’t need anything from him.

But while hearing the Gospel, this man saw his desperation.

There’s every indication that for most of this man’s life, he hasn’t seen any need for Jesus. He is a ruler. He’s a successful man. A man that people look up to. So it’s a massive climb down for him, to get on his knees before Jesus.

He only does it because he is desperate. His desperation is obvious, and it’s a desperation we should all share: Because no matter if you are a ruler, or a major shareholder, or a senior manager… …death will come to you and yours.

This ruler is facing death in the face, right now. And none of us can escape that reality—all of us will die.

And throughout life, many of us wrestle with the foreshadow of death: a life changing diagnosis, a withering disability, a sudden hit on our bank balance.

This man, as we all do, has a reason to be desperate, but he doesn’t see, he doesn’t feel his desperation, until he hears the word of the Gospel: This is the context that brings the man to his knees:

While he was saying these things to them…

Everyone today is desperate, we just don’t see it until we hear the Gospel. And Jesus gives hope to those who are desperate

Jesus gives understanding to those with faith

Secondly, Jesus gives understanding to those with faith.

Look again at vv. 20-21:

And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.”

Here we have a woman who is also desperate, and from what she’s heard she trusts Jesus. She trusts he has power to help her. And she trusts he is willing to help her. But she lacks understanding.

Having a discharge of blood, she is ceremonially unclean. She was required by culture and law to stay away from crowds of people.

It must have been difficult to get opportunities to hear clearly what Jesus was teaching. And so, she has this strange idea that touching his clothes will make her well. She trusts Jesus, but does not understand him. Then, v. 22,

Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

Jesus is kind to the woman. He affirms her faith, and he teaches her. He deals carefully and gently with her to correct her misunderstanding.

And do you see the order in which things happen here? The woman does not understand, but she trusts Jesus. And Jesus affirms her faith to lead her to understand.

Think of those friends, family and colleagues we talk to about Jesus… So often we approach talking to them with this assumption: that we have to first help them understand, and then only once they’ve understood will they have faith.

But that is not the order of events here: First the woman has faith, then she understands. And that is the order in which God deals with us.

The Bible tells us this in many places.

Proverbs 1:7:

The fear of the LORD—that’s faith—is the beginning of knowledge;

Colossians 1:3-4:

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus… [and then v. 9] And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

We so often assume that understanding is necessary for faith, but not only is that not true, it’s actually impossible.

The Bible also tells us in many places, that a lack of faith prevents understanding.

1 Corinthians 2:14:

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

God tells Isaiah in chapter 6 verses 9-10 that a failure to understand is part of his judgement on unbelieving people:

“‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

As Jesus says in Mark 4:25:

For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

The way Jesus cares for this woman in Matthew 9 shows us that Jesus gives understanding to those with faith.

So: share Jesus’ Word! You don’t need to have an answer to every question. You don’t need a clever response to every objection. The Spirit gives faith through the Word: and faith leads to understanding.

Jesus gives life to those who are dead

Finally, Jesus gives life to those who are dead.

Yes, there are people who laugh at Jesus’ Word, vv. 23-24:

And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him.

These people are not friends and relatives, but professional mourners: Flute players and a crowd purposely gathered to make a fuss.

Jesus tells them to go away, because the girl is a picture of their spiritual state. She is physically dead, but they are spiritually dead. Her spirit is only sleeping, but theirs will not wake up.

With the crowd gone, we see the final picture of faith in this passage, v. 25:

But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.

This is what happens when people become Christians.

And take note of two things. They’re both fairly obvious:

First, the girl was in no way prepared. She was dead! She understood nothing. She made no decision. She said no prayer. She undertook no investigation. She was simply dead.

Do your friends, family and colleagues consider following Jesus laughable? Of course they do: they’re spiritually dead. There is nothing you or they can do to prepare themselves to come to him.

No amount of conversation, no amount of prayer, no amount of persuading, can make a dead person rise.

But, second, Jesus Word brings her new life. Jesus speaks and she hears. Jesus touches her and she rises. Jesus does the impossible, and brings her back to life.

This is what happens when we speak the Word of Christ… …when we gossip the Gospel …when we preach and teach the good news.

And with her new life, she went out and shared the good news with others, v. 26,

And the report of this went through all that district.

Jesus gives life to those who are dead.

Is following Jesus laughable?

Is following Jesus laughable?

It certainly feels that way to many, many people. To our friends, our family and our colleagues. Because they don’t see that because of death they’re desperate. Because they don’t have faith and so don’t understand. Because they don’t have spiritual life to believe.

And so… share Jesus’ Word. And you don’t need to be an expert in persuasion. You don’t need to be skilled in every argument.

Share Jesus Word, not because you and I have any power, but because: Jesus gives hope to those who are desperate. Jesus gives understanding to those with faith. Jesus gives life to those who are dead.

Because we know there are some whom God has chosen, to whom the Gospel will come as Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 1:5:

not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

People found Jesus laughable 2,000 years ago. People find him laughable now.

Jesus’ Word did the impossible and brought life to a girl 2,000 years ago. Jesus’ Word does the impossible and brings spiritual life to people now.

Who might you share the Word with this week, whom Jesus takes by the hand, and arises from the dead?

Just one girl, perhaps? Because from just one girl, v. 26

the report of this went through all that district.

Jesus will bring new life through his Word.

Don’t laugh at that.