Matthew 15:29-31…Ready

Matthew 15:29-31…Ready

15:29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. (Walked along the shoreline-(New) he went up on a mountainside and sat down (Displays how oftentimes ministry is going to take a while.-(New) 30 Great crowds came to him, (Suggests they were already familiar with Jesus’s miraculous powers, having healed Two Demonic men-(Matt. 8:28-34) bringing the lame the blind, the crippled, (2948-“Kullos”- bent, crooked, deformed, maimed in feet and hands.-(New) the mute and many others, and laid them (cast-K.J.V.-4496-“Rhipto”- Hurriedly flung, throw down in haste) at his feet and he healed them. (No matter what we throw at Jesus, He is not at all overwhelmed by it. Must have been 100s or 1000s of people, being that it took three straight days.-(V.32)-(New) 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. (May have seen this as fulfillment prophesized by Isaiah of the Messiah’s healing work.-(Is. 35:5)-(New). And they praised the God of Israel. (For more Expository Notes see Book)

Extended Sermon 

“Calls for bringing broken and hurting people to Jesus for healing. (Will you bring crushed and hurting souls to Jesus?)” ⇒ How are broken and hurting people going to get to Jesus if we don’t help.  Sometimes we are called to carry someone to Jesus who don’t have the strength to get to Him on their own. As we consider the call to bring broken and hurting people to Jesus for healing, let us recognize that this requires unwavering commitment and compassion. It is not simply about offering a helping hand, but about being willing to journey alongside others through their struggles, extending grace and hope even when the path is difficult or inconvenient. Each step we take to carry someone to Christ—whether through prayer, encouragement, or practical support. In doing so, we become vessels of Jesus’ mercy, helping others experience the restoration and peace only He can provide. Our willingness to go the extra mile for those in pain is a living testimony of faith, demonstrating that no burden is too great for the Savior and no soul is beyond the reach of His healing touch. Sometimes, people cannot reach out to Jesus on their own; they are burdened by the weight of their struggles, their fears, and their past. It is in these moments that we are called to be their strength, to carry them to Jesus. Will you take up this calling? Will you be the one to stand in the gap, to intercede, and to guide others to the Savior? It might require you to step out of your comfort zone, to extend a hand of friendship, to offer a word of encouragement, or to share your testimony of how Jesus transformed your life. Whatever it takes, let us be willing to do it, knowing that every effort made in love is never in vain.

“Teaches how if not for the grace and love of family and friends we would have never come to Jesus.” ⇒ We often owe it to the kindness of family and friends through whom God uses to bring us to Jesus. Was there not a relative or friend who encouraged us during our earlier days to join them in attending a preacher’s sermon or to change our ways? Often, it was a mother’s persistent prayers that had significant impacts. We owe much to such individuals for their efforts. We should extend the same support to others. Do we have relatives to consider in our thoughts? Could we send a letter or book to guide them? Can we invite them to attend an event at church? These acts of support strengthen the connections among community members.

“Teaches how we can lay all of our burdens, our worries, our fears, our guilt at Jesus’ feet and find peace and relief)”⇒  Whatever problems and issues you have you can lay them at Jesus’ feet without worry of being judged or rejected. There’s nothing too big or too difficult that He can’t handle and deal with. There is no struggle too overwhelming, no regret too heavy, and no pain too deep for Jesus to heal. When you lay everything at His feet, you don’t have to hide or pretend; you can trust that His grace covers all and His love restores you completely. He understands what you carry and invites you to surrender it, so that you may experience the comfort and relief only He can give. As you come before Him honestly, you’ll discover that the peace He provides is real and enduring, no matter the circumstances or the weight of your burdens. Let Him be your refuge and your source of hope; in Jesus, there is always a way forward, and you are never alone in your journey.

“Teaches the proper response to all God has done is one of worship & praise. (Will you give Jesus the awe due Him.) ” ⇒ Will you make much of Jesus Christ in all He has done for you. Those who have been restored by Jesus will find their satisfaction in Him. Do we glorify God for the wonder of His Salvation. Or have we lost our gratitude over His grace given us. May we never forget the blessings and good things God does for us. We shouldn’t take God’s healing for granted. We shouldn’t overlook His care for us. We shouldn’t forget all that God has done in our life’s. We should praise Jesus for His healings every day, that we would be forever doomed and lost without Him.

“Even today, we may not be able to heal anyone physically. But we heal them spiritually. We can bring those who are deaf and dumb to the mercies of God. We can open the eyes of those who are blind to their desperate need of God’s  forgiveness.  We can bring those who are paralyzed by the weight of guilt, shame, regret, and old wounds to Jesus for healing and relief.“⇒ If were to bring people to Jesus we need  to break down walls of ignorance, misunderstanding, pride, prejudice, and past hurts. Will you come along side those with disabilities signing for the deaf. Will you come alongside those who are hurting and need a sympathetic ear. Will you come along side those who are shut-ins, taking a meal to them. Or maybe you need help a brother or sister in Christ. Maybe their too timid in speaking up for Jesus and the truth. Maybe they need an accountability partner. Maybe they’re handicapped by some sin or addiction. Maybe they’re blinded by stubborn pride. Maybe they’re deaf to grieving the Holy Spirit. Maybe they’re shortsighted to things of God. Will you let them know that whatever it is your there for them and won’t judge them.

Additional Notes & Applications 

Calls for asking who do we turn to when we’re in need. Do we turn to God or are we afraid He may turn us away. That our sins are to great for God to forgive.

Teaches how true love and compassion is indiscriminate towards others, that all people need healing and help no matter who they are or what they’ve done.

Teaches true worship will give Jesus the honor and reverence due Him. Are we in awe of Jesus? Does He amaze us, do we find our satisfaction in Him.

Teaches how Christ’s glory and reputation is in our hands today.  (Our lack praise & gratitude reflects poorly upon the Lord)

According to Mark’s Gospel he has Jesus leaving the vicinity of Tyre and traveling up north going through “Sidon” and then down south into the region of the Decapolis.-(Mark 7:31) Some say Mark, out of ignorance of the geographical layout of the land was mistaken. Even so it isn’t a problem and doesn’t constrict the path. Others argue that the expression “through Sidon” is shorthand for “through the region of Sidon” and does not necessarily indicate that Jesus entered the city itself. Sidon’s territory probably extended at least twenty miles to the east of the city itself. We don’t know for sure why Jesus took this long way around, bypassing Galilee altogether. Jesus and the disciples may have taken the long way around to keep out of the territory controlled by Herod the tetrarch, which included Galilee and land to the east of the Jordan River. Perhaps they did so to avoid conflict with the religious leaders. Or maybe they were simply avoiding the ever-present crowds in Galilee.

Mark’s Gospel gives us more detail of how Jesus healed one particular man who was deaf and could hardly talk. And the usual method He used by putting His fingers into the man’ ears. Then spitting and touching the man’s tongue and saying Ephphatha-(Aramaic) be clean.-(Mark 7:32-35) Many resolve the discrepancy of the number of those healed by attributing to the fact that do to the unusual method used to heal this man had caused Mark to focus primarily on this one healing particular rather than all the others.

We don’t hear what the disciples are doing at this time. We can image Peter, James, and John were probably taking charge down at the bottom of the mountain, lining people up saying; ”When you get up to Jesus, drop your loved one and step to the right.