Who influences you? Whose advice do you seek when making a decision or seeking an answer? Dear Abby was a generational favorite. Other writers still fulfill her column. Today, many people use social media to ask “the world” if they have made a wise decision or not or to seek advice about a tough problem or family situation. Those who reply to the question or problem will have influence in the decisions made. Others make a living telling us what to do on the internet as INFLUENCERS. The Kardashians were early influencers, though their following is greatly diminished today. There are new waves of influencers constantly seeking to have power over our lives and influence our decisions. Jesus influences the lives of three people in today’s scripture lesson. Let’s read it.
Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 NIV
The Calling of Matthew
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.
Jesus influences Matthew as he invites him to “Follow me.” (vs. 9). Jesus influences the woman by healing her. (vss. 18-23). The little girl received life after death from Jesus and everyone in the region is influenced. (vss. 23-26). Verse 13 grabs my attention though. “13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus called, healed, and resuscitated these three and he never asked for a reward. He simply showed mercy to them. The mercy of Jesus was the influence – not the specific act or response. This is at the heart of the Good News of Jesus.
Jesus does not demand a sacrifice – payment - from those called, healed, or revived. Jesus sees and hears the faith of all who seek him and responds with MERCY. Matthew suffered daily from people’s insults and complaints. He was well aware that he was a sinner in need of relief. He was seeking a SAVIOR. The woman had faith in Jesus as a healer, even though this is one of the first stories of Jesus healing in the gospels. Equally amazing is the faith of the synagogue leader to seek our Jesus to save his sick and dying daughter. The personal awareness and faith of those coming to Jesus in their desperate need opens the opportunity for Jesus to influence their lives.
Sadly, the Pharisees lack this awareness and faith experience because they assume they are spiritually healthy and righteous because they are following the law. They demand a sacrifice to receive. Mercy is beyond their grasp.
I invite us all to spend time each day seeking to be influenced by Jesus. Let’s practice verse 13 together.
“13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13).
Blessings, Pastor Tom