Friday, September 26, 2008
Matthew 9:12-13 Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
WANTED: SINNERS
When the holy God came to earth and began to round up sinners, one would have thought that it would be a bad day for those who lie, cheat, and steal -- for those who hurt and harm, lust and hate, neglect and defraud. But Jesus says He came for the purpose of healing sin-sick sinners by calling them to repentance -- that is, by leading them to turn from their sin and put their confidence in Him as their Savior.
In our day many people deny that there is such a thing as sin. They contend that those who persist in "anti-social" activity are "sick." Jesus agrees, but not as a way to condone or excuse sin, or to deny the reality of morality. He uses the picture of physical sickness to describe sin because sin is an affliction of creatures God originally created without any such problem. Furthermore, this sin problem which infects us all from birth is an affliction Jesus is able to treat.
Jesus calls sinners to treat them; to apply the one medication that can heal and cure: His forgiveness/righteousness. But non-sinners (you know who you are) need not make an appointment. And, of course, they won't. They see no symptoms and if there are nagging indications of sin they hide them under the bandages of their own "good works."
But the Great Physician sends those who think they are righteous and have no sin-sickness to the lab for tests. He says, "Go, get an x-ray," and writes an "order" such as the one He gave the Pharisees: ". . . go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'"
The Law of God scans our hearts and lives and reveals sinful human pride, conceit, and arrogance in startling relief. If we think we are a cut above other sinners because of what we do in connection with church, this prescription is for us too. But remember, Jesus uses the law to reveal our sin so that He may apply the healing of His blood-bought forgiveness.
