Today’s Reading:
Matthew 9:2-13
“On hearing this, Jesus said, It is not the healthy who needs a doctor but the sick.” (Matthew 9:12)
A sick person can be defined as someone destitute of sound health. A sick person lacks the needed nutrients to do the daily activities expected of him or her. Invariably, the sick cannot be productive. He is seen as a dependent since he has no means of survival on his own without external help. It is a thing for someone to be sick and accept his predicament while it is another thing for one to be sick and refuses to accept his fate. Jesus in the passage above made mention of a powerful statement which can be seen as an analogy.
When the Pharisees saw Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, they challenged his disciples. The issue here is this: who are the Pharisees to call or designate someone as a sinner? What gave me the effrontery and the audacity to tag people as sinners? In that culture, tax collectors were seen as outcasts and a set of people that should not be seen with Jesus if indeed Jesus is righteous as he claimed to be to the Pharisees. When Jesus heard what they said, he declared that it is of no use or rather useless and a waste of time for a healthy person to visit or ask for the attention of a doctor but it is of utmost importance for a sick person to ask for the service of a doctor. Two lessons are paramount here for us to draw out. One, how are you relating with the sick (sinners) around you? Do you see them the way Jesus saw and related with them while walking through the earth or do you side-lined them? When last did you give gifts to an unbeliever just to show the love of Christ? It is so sad that even some so-called Christians still keep malice with the sinners. Who is now sick and needs a doctor? The sinner or the ‘saints’? Until the church approaches sinners and relates with them in Jesus' way we cannot win them over. Although care and caution must be taken too, so that we will not fall victim, we must do it the way Jesus did it.
Two, do you always sit in the position of a Pharisee? Mr. Pious and righteous. Always perfect and need not a physician. You need not be arrogant and think some people are candidates for hell. I know there will be surprises in heaven. Some people we expect to be in hell will be given a place in heaven while those in cassock and spiritual regalia if care is not taken, will be ushered straight to hell. One of the men who obtained great mercy in the Scripture was that thief who was with Jesus on the cross who accepted himself as a sinner and Jesus declared that, today, you will meet me in paradise while one of the most miserable men who had ever lived was the other thief who had one last and eleventh-hour opportunity but missed it. Who are the sick? If you have not given your life to Christ, you are sick. If you still go to church yet indulge in sin, you are sick. If you still doubt the death and resurrection of Jesus and his coming back definitely you are sick. The good news is that Jesus is the doctor who is always ready to heal you of your sickness if you are ready to accept your sickness. Come to Him now before it is too late. Your sickness can still be healed now. If you have never given your life to Jesus or you have backslidden come to Him now and tell Him, you have been sick, and you need his healing hands of salvation. Even if you are sick in your body, He is more than able to heal you.
JAMES ALADDE
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud: Father, thank you for Jesus Christ. Forgive my sins, take control of my heart and lead me in your righteous path by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Lord. If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
Lord, in any area l have put me in the seat of the Pharisee, have mercy on me
Stretch forth your hands of salvation upon the spiritually sick in Jesus' name
Restore everyone who has gone out of the fold in Jesus' name.
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