Access Granted
Website Editor • Jul 22, 2020
From Pastor Ky Martin's message on Matthew 8:1-17:
After Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, the crowds were ASTONISHED at his teaching — he was teaching as one who had *authority* and not as a scribe. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Matthew 8 shows Jesus using this authority to not only HEAL people but to give them ACCESS to God! The first three examples Matthew gives are accounts of the leper, a centurion, and Peter's mother-in-law:
The Leper
In Jesus’ day, the most despised and rejected people were those with leprosy. People with this infection were deemed unclean and untouchable. They were cast out of their homes and families to live in isolation.
In Matthew 8:2, a leper approaches Jesus KNOWING that He alone had the power to cure his incurable affliction.
Jesus, in response, stretched out His hand and *touched* the unclean man. Immediately, the leper was healed.
In touching the man, Jesus broke the Law of Moses (Lev. 13:45-46) — a taboo of taboos — but, instead of becoming unclean Himself, He took the man’s disease: abolished it, and released it. He healed the man and gave him (...an outcast among outcasts!) access to God Himself.
Jesus shows us that there’s no person beyond the reach of our God. He touches the untouchables; He heals the unhealables; He loves the unloveables.
The Centurion
The next appeal for miraculous help comes from a centurion, a Gentile. Matthew tells the story in a way which emphasizes the significance of an approach to a Jewish Messiah from a non-Jew.
The centurion comes to Jesus seeking healing for a servant lying paralyzed at his home. Jesus offered to come and heal the man, but the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word and my servant will be healed.”
Jesus MARVELED at this man’s faith and said, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you many will come from east and west recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”
The picture Jesus paints is one of Jews and Gentiles united together under His reign. ALL are welcome at this table.
Peter's Mother-In-Law
The account of Peter’s mother-in-law stands in contrast to that of the leper and the centurion, because of it’s simple-ness. It is simply the story of Jesus meeting with illness and responding with immediate healing power.
In this account, no one pleas for healing. Jesus simply sees her and goes to her.
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Through all of these examples, we see Jesus giving people access to Himself (God) in ways that wouldn't have been possible without Him.
From Moses' Tabernacle to Soloman's Temple, the only way for a person to come near God was to enter the "Holy of Holies". According to Jewish Law, only a high priest could enter this most sacred place, and only once a year at that. Surrounding the Holy of Holies were different levels of access at the temple in which your race, social status, and gender determined how close you could come to the most holy place.
In sharing the accounts of the leper (who wouldn't have been allowed anywhere near the temple), the centurion (who could have only entered the temple court), and Peter's mother-in-law (whose gender who have prohibited her from nearness to the Holy of Holies)
-- Jesus breaks this old covenant system and gives us something better.
Instead of having to go to the temple to be near to God, Jesus literally shows up at a woman's bedside. He met her where she was, just as He meets us where we are.
Jesus shows us that there’s no person beyond the reach of our God.
He touches the untouchables; He heals the unhealables; He loves the unloveables.
In coming to earth and dying for us on the cross, Jesus made a way for us ALL to have access to Him. That access -- nearness to Him -- is so much greater than any miracle or any healing we can imagine.
Want access? He already did the work. All you have to do is have faith, like the centurion, and believe.
Watch this sermon, here.
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:12-21 Adam ruined it for everyone —sin came into the world through Adam —death came into the world through sin —death spread to all men because all sinned “God has always dealt with mankind through a head and representative. The whole story of the human race can be summed up in terms of what has happened because of Adam, and what has happened and will yet happen because of Christ.” —Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Jesus is the true and better Adam “Cranfield explains, ‘That one single misdeed should be answered by judgment, this is perfectly understandable: that the accumulated sins and guilt of all the ages should be answered by God’s free gift, this is the miracle of miracles, utterly beyond human comprehension.’ The final word from God could have been “Condemned, on the basis of many trespasses.” Instead, it is “Justified, through the gift of Jesus’ righteousness.” That is why Paul declares that the gift is “much more” or “much better” than the result of Adam’s trespass.” —Daniel M. Doriani, Romans Through Jesus grace abounds and grace reigns Discipleship Questions: What are some reasons we might not like the idea that we all sinned when Adam sinned? What can help us embrace the idea that we all sinned when Adam sinned? How does that idea set us up for the good news about Jesus and what He accomplished? How does the truth from this passage build our assurance of our salvation? In what ways is what Jesus did much more powerful and better than what Adam brought us? How have you experienced the reign of grace in your life despite the reign of sin and death in the world? How can we experience the reign of grace through Jesus in everyday life?
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:6-11 God has already done the work needed to save us He took the initiative “God has addressed the cause of the offense… Although he is the offended party, God has removed the offense. God has extended “the olive branch.” -Jay Smith He justified us He reconciled us Reconciliation is an objective event that God accomplished by removing the barrier of sin that separated himself from humanity. This result is independent of humanity’s response although it formed the basis for an individual’s subjective appropriation.” Jay Smith Appropriate: “To set apart for or assign to a particular recipient.” Christians need not fear judgment day 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Discipleship Questions: How does it change your outlook on life to know that you have peace with God? In what ways have you experienced the greatness of access to God’s grace? How does future certainty bring us lasting hope? Describe a time when you experienced joy in the midst of suffering. How has God used suffering to grow your faith and mature you? What are some ways you have experienced God’s love being poured into your heart?
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:1-5 We find joy in the blessings brought by justification —peace with God —access to God’s grace Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. —hope of the glory of God “Christian hope is not uncertain, like our ordinary everyday hopes about the weather or our health; it is a joyful and confident expectation which rests on the promises of God, as we saw in the case of Abraham. And the object of our hope is the glory of God (2), namely his radiant splendor which will in the end be fully displayed. —John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans We can even find joy in our sufferings “Various kinds of sufferings will come to us, but we can rejoice in them when we recognize that they serve a purpose: to develop our Christian character. In verses 3b–4 Paul shows how a godly response to suffering can initiate a series of virtues, culminating, strikingly, in hope. Note, however, that Paul is not saying that we should rejoice because of suffering. Evil things are still just that—evil—and we never should be happy about them. But by looking beyond the suffering to its divinely intended end, we still can rejoice in the midst of them.” —Douglas J. Moo, Encountering the Book of Romans —suffering produces endurance “ We know this, especially from the experience of God’s people in every generation. Suffering produces perseverance ( hypomonē , endurance). We could not learn endurance without suffering, because without suffering there would be nothing to endure.” —John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans —endurance builds character —character gives us confident hope Discipleship Questions: How does it change your outlook on life to know that you have peace with God? In what ways have you experienced the greatness of access to God’s grace? How does future certainty bring us lasting hope? Describe a time when you experienced joy in the midst of suffering. How has God used suffering to grow your faith and mature you? What are some ways you have experienced God’s love being poured into your heart?
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