Pick one of the following to focus on for today.
(1) vv. 1-7
When Jesus heals the paralytic he asks the scribes the question... "Which is easier to just say 'Your sins are forgiven' or to tell the guy to get up and walk?"
Obviously, it is the former... because anyone can say it.. and they were accusing Jesus of blasphemy for saying something only God should say..
And then to prove that they may know that Jesus does have the authority to say that - he makes the paralytic to walk.
It's kind of like an "in your face" kind of thing.
Jesus is not setting for us an example to be "in your face" Christians. Not the kind of Christians that act righteous and better than the rest of the world because it is obvious in the very next part, as Jesus was sitting with the tax collectors (remember these guys are traitors that are working for the Romans to cheat the Jews, their own people - so, yes the worst) and other sinners, Jesus is not interested in being self-righteous. Jesus attracts believers by his life. People want to follow him. People want to be around him.
How can we live that kind of life - of an attractive Christian? People look at us and wonder "Man, what's going on there? I want that."
(2) vv. 8-13
In v. 13 "I desire mercy and not sacrifice" comes from Hosea 6:6 which is in the context of how Israel doesn't seem to get it. They do all the rituals - the worship service, the offerings, coming and doing the "duty" but God wants something else. Another wording for "mercy" is "steadfast love". God wants to be in a love relationship with us and desires that for all of us. This is not a relationship of duty but of love - that comes from our willingness.
The contrast here is with the high religious leaders being criticized are the ones caught up in the work of religion - prayers, services, dressing a certain way- everything external and outwardly. They are compared and contrasted to the weak, sinners that have really messed up in life, those that have been deemed "unclean" because of their sickness and outcast in society, and the Gentiles.
And where does this love relationship begin? Verse 13 - Jesus says, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
We begin as sinners, recognizing our need for our Lord Jesus. Chasing after him, following him, going where he goes -- as these people are for the miracle in their lives. They are desperate for his saving power and love.
The question is - are you desperate? Or, is this just the convenient choice?
(3)vv. 20-22
Talk about desperation and faith. This woman in v. 20 was desperate. She had nothing left. During these times "bleeding" especially of the womanly kind made you unclean. No one could be near you, touch you, etc. So imagine if you had this for twelve years. Can you imagine twelve years of being completely alone because some religious law told you - you were unclean and so must be cast out of society?
Well, this woman was desperate. She managed to get near the crowds somehow. Probably she tried her best to conceal herself and keep herself under the radar - thus she did the least she could do -- not confront Jesus in front of everybody and gather attention to herself but just TOUCH THE FRINGE of his garment.
It's hard to relate to this kind of desperation that leads to this kind of faith in our society. We're comfortable. We have all we need so being "desperate" for Jesus kind of doesn't make sense. Think about it. What do these people have because they are desperate? What are we missing out on?
(4) vv. 35-38
The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
This is a perpetual truth the church is faced with. There is always more work to be done than workers to do them. Right now our church is in need of a shepherd, a pastor. And Jesus's command is simple: pray earnestly.
We must pray earnestly that a true shepherd who will protect, serve, nurture and guide his sheep will come to our church.
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