JESUS RESTORES NEEDY PEOPLE
By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer jerry@schmoyer.net
http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/
MAIN IDEA: examples of Jesus gave honor took shame
MAGIC: shame to honor magic
INTRODUCTION
In India I see many people in shame, guilt, fear
Bowed down, broken, rejected, alone
My heart goes out to them
Know Jesus cares, can give honor for shame:
I. DEFILED WOMAN HEALED
Matthew 15:21-28 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
SHAME
Canaanite – not Jew
Under curse for rejecting God
Female – inferior to men
Daughter demonized – family looked down on by all
Ignored by Jesus, rejected by disciples
Before God – man created with honor, but sin brings shame
Ps 8:5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
FAITH
Came to Jesus, sought Him out
Calls Him “Lord, Son of David”
Asks for mercy
Knows she doesn’t deserve healing for daughter
Sees Him as MESSIAH: PLAN OF SALVATION
He took our shame on the cross
– gives us His honor!!!
When ignored, they told He didn’t come for Gentiles yet
She persisted in faith
28 Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
HONOR
“woman” term of respect, honor
‘great faith’ – verbally affirmed before all
Granted request
Daughter healed
-suffering ended
-shame gone for all
LESSONS
Take your shame to Jesus
Trust Him in faith
Persevere it seems He isn’t answering
No matter what others say, turn to Jesus
II. LEPERS CLEANSED
Luke 5:12-14 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.
SHAME
Leprosy = rejection, separation, appearance awful, death
Rejection by own family as well
When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
FAITH
Falls down before Jesus
Begs for mercy, healing
Recognized Jesus could miraculously cleanse him
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
HONOR
Jesus TOUCHED him – no one ever touched a leper
Jesus SPOKE to him – everyone ignored, rejected him
Jesus CLEANSED him – shame and guilt gone
Priest shown, officially cured, back in Judaism, to family
LESSONS
Jesus reaches out, touches those who humble self
Jesus will cleans your soul for sure (maybe body)
III. BLEEDING WOMAN HEALED
Mark 5:25-35
25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.
SHAME
Woman = inferior, not speak to or look at man in public
Bleeding = unclean, not into temple, touch others
12 years = long time no temple, touch
Suffering in pain, rejection, loneliness
Doctors couldn’t help = no hope
Poor, no money, resources left
27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”
FAITH
Came to Jesus, sought Him out
Touched Him in faith
Believed He could heal her
29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
HONOR # 1
Immediately stopped bleeding, cause of shame gone!
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?'”
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?”
HONOR # 2
Spoken to, in public, by man, important Rabbi
Sought her out to free her from shame and fear
Wanted her to know, accept His love
Honored by His attention, affirmation
Restored publically, in front of all who knew her
LESSONS
Seek Jesus out, no matter need
Trust, believe in Him
Accept His love, restoration
ME know Christians in shame, guilt, fear = defeated
CONCLUSION
YOU shame, guilt now – take it to Jesus, He’ll honor, restore
Rejected?
Lonely?
Illness or pain?
Female?
Lower cast?
Demonized