In the early first century, the time when Jesus lived, everyone in Israel had expectations. They had expectations about the Messiah, the One who would come into the world. Some had a highly militant portrait in their minds. They expected a Caesar of sorts, someone who through military might and political revolution would bring a new exodus for God’s people from the bondage of Roman rule.
MATTHEW 9:35—11:1
VICTOR KULIGIN, one of my church’s missionaries, wrote a book provocatively entitled Ten Things / Wish Jesus Never Said. In his preface Kuligin writes:
Lesson 11: The Emblems
The Emblems are often called the Bread and the Wine. But the reality of the Emblems and what they mean is far from what people often think of. In fact even the symbols themselves are disputed in this lesson.
Fellowship – Changing Ecclesia
Lesson 10: Changing Ecclesia
I DON'T GET OUT MUCH. And when I do, I don’t go to electronics stores. I especially don’t go to electronics stores two days before Christmas. But there I was at 1:00 on December 23rd, along with the whole wide world. I was there to get a new car radio for my hip Dodge Caravan, as our radio had died a sudden death a few weeks prior.
IF YOU WERE TO RUN INTO ME at a restaurant, bookstore, football game, or dark alley at midnight and ask me, “Hey, why do you believe Jesus is the Messiah?” I would show you my right hand, spread wide my five fingers, and say, “There are five reasons.”
MATTHEW 9:18-26
ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009 I received a phone call from Randy Gruendyke, a longtime friend and mentor. Randy asked me if I could come to Taylor on Monday to give a talk. The reason for this last-minute invitation was because Kent Hughes, who was scheduled to speak, just moments before he boarded a plane from Spokane learned that his granddaughter, Caroline, had been tragically struck by a car. He naturally rushed from the airport to the hospital to see her before she died. She was nineteen years old.
There is no division whatsoever over the statement, “I believe... in the forgiveness of sins.” No Christian cringes at that because every Christian recognizes that this small affirmation is a large part of our Christian faith.
MATTHEW 9:1-8
“Forgiveness is man’s deepest need and God’s highest achievement.” That is not only a good summary of the effects of Jesus’ gospel, but it is also a good summary of what we read here in the first eight verses of the ninth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. For here we will indeed see both that forgiveness is man’s deepest need and also God's highest achievement.
