First Baptist Church Litchfield
october 27, 2024

      • Psalm 16:10–11ESV

  • I'll Fly Away
  • When We All Get To Heaven
  • On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand

      • Colossians 3:1–7ESV

  • I Stand In Awe

      • 1 Timothy 2:5ESV

  • Before The Throne Of God Above

      • Matthew 8:14–17ESV

  • A beautiful Portrait

    In chapter eight of Matthew’s Gospel, the author depicts Jesus as our Savior, whose healing love can cleanse and fully restore us for both the present and eternity. This healing love extends beyond the Jewish community; it is for all nations and will reach as far as He wills.‌
    His healing love is also not limited to the religious, the pious, and those who do not need a physician. He has come for the outcast. He heals lepers, Roman soldiers, and women. As Douglas O’Donnel notes, “Jesus has come, in the words of Psalm 147:2, to gather “the outcasts of Israel” (a leper and a woman) and of the world (a Roman slave) to the true Israel, Jesus…Jesus’ first three recorded miracles in Matthew are of three groups of religious outcasts. In other words, Jesus is letting outsiders in the kingdom…with Jesus the gates to the kingdom of heaven are open to all who believe, to all who will call him Lord and get up and serve him.”
    Matthew adds to the portrait of Jesus’ healing love this morning, his identity as the Suffering Servant.
    Jesus is the Suffering Servant, and the prophet Isaiah prophesied that he would come to heal his people’s iniquities. We know this because Matthew interprets the miracles through the lens of Isaiah 53 when he quotes Isaiah 53:4,
    Isaiah 53:4 CSB
    4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.
    Matthew 8:17 CSB
    17 so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: He himself took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.
    Isaiah describes the Suffering Servant;
    Isaiah 53:3–6 CSB
    3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. 4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all.
    There are four truths to consider about the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53:3–6.

    The Suffering Servant is a Savior who is Rejected

    Isaiah 53:3 CSB
    3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him.
    The Suffering Servant is viewed as worthless, not relevant, not worthy of anyones attention. Coupled with verse 2, just like a withered plant is uprooted and thrown away, so the suffering servant was rejected by men.

    The Suffering Servant Shoulders our Sorrows

    Isaiah 53:4 CSB
    4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.
    The term “sicknesses” can also be understood as “griefs.” This encompasses a range of experiences from personal tragedies to various illnesses. (Doriani, Daniel M). Griefs and diseases are intertwined, and we should interpret them together within Matthew’s gospel. This is reflected in Jesus's experience when the crowds brought their sick and demon-possessed individuals to him. As we discussed last week, living in a world marked by Genesis 3 means that sin, disease, and death impact us all.
    Occasionally, illness and death strike unexpectedly. We may lead prudent lives by eating well and exercising consistently, yet heart attacks and terminal cancer can still occur. Conversely, certain diseases and grief result from sinful behavior, such as alcoholics developing cirrhosis or sexually promiscuous individuals contracting the AIDS virus. These represent our griefs and diseases, which the Suffering Servant embodied, taking on our pains as well as our iniquities.

    The Suffering Servant Sacrifices for Our Healing

    Isaiah 53:5 ESV
    5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
    Isaiah depicts the Suffering Servant as the scapegoat who carries Israel's sins, mirroring the sacrificial lamb in the new exodus. In verse 5, and subsequently in verses 8-9, Isaiah indicates that the death of the Suffering Servant would bring healing to the nation from Israel’s transgressions.
    Through making an atoning sacrifice for his people, the Suffering Servant would purify them from sin. His atonement would offer the most profound and essential healing that humanity can attain.

    The Suffering Servant Seeks the Straying to Save

    Isaiah 53:6 ESV
    6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
    Everyone has sinned and falls short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). We all merit God’s condemnation for rebelling against His holiness (Romans 6:23). We instinctively distance ourselves from God, finding temporary pleasure in the kingdom of darkness, despite the overwhelming grief and sorrow it brings into our lives.
    In the Gospel of John, Jesus is referred to as the Great Shepherd (John 10). The Great Shepherd actively seeks and saves His wandering sheep, just as the Suffering Servant does the same.
    Throughout the Bible, the Suffering Servant foreshadows Christ's ultimate sacrifice. Jesus fulfills this prophecy by becoming the Lamb of God, bearing the burden of our sins and offering healing and reconciliation with God. This reflects the unbroken continuity of God's redemptive plan from the Old Testament into the New. Jesus not only shares in our suffering but also offers a path to redemption, healing, and wholeness through faith in Him. Therefore,

    Jesus is the Suffering Servant who gives the world hope by taking on our weaknesses and bearing our disease

    Jesus embodies our hope, as he can fully heal our weaknesses and ailments. The healing miracles detailed in Matthew 8 illustrate Jesus' nature (Son of God, Suffering Servant) and his redemptive mission: to restore those who are broken, grieving, afflicted, and sinful.
    In Matthew's Gospel, like the other evangelists, Jesus affirms his role as the Suffering Servant who seeks and rescues lost souls through miracles. Daniel Doriani describes a miracle as “a direct act of God in the external world, whereby He operates outside (yet not against) the usual course of events to reveal Himself, validate His messengers, and express His nature and redemptive aims.” He embraces our frailties and carries our illnesses.
    When Jesus cleansed the leper, he accepted the leper’s weakness and bore his ailment, granting him full restorative healing. Similarly, when he healed the centurion's servant, he took on that weakness and bore the sickness to fulfill his mission to the Gentiles—those willing to embrace him through faith. Now, in the passage before us, Jesus replicates this act with Peter’s mother-in-law and the multitude of suffering individuals who are ill and possessed by demons.
    From this truth, I offer two application points. Matthew reveals these through Jesus’ encounters with Peter’s mother-in-law and the crowd of hurting individuals.

    Jesus, the Suffering Servant, offers you personal hope

    Matthew 8:14–15 CSB
    14 Jesus went into Peter’s house and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 So he touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began to serve him.
    One might be tempted to think that If Jesus walked among us today in the flesh, one might think of him as a well-known influencer; he might opt to heal publicly, seeking attention for his YouTube channel. Alternatively, maybe we could assume Jesus feels inconvenienced having to visit a friend's house after a long day of healing. It's uncertain how we categorize Jesus. However, his healing of Peter’s mother-in-law reveals a different aspect of his concern for us.
    Naturally, Jesus approached the sick woman. He does not seek clicks or likes. He wasn't looking to impress a large audience, nor was he too important to humble himself and assist one woman privately. His priority is the wholeness of his people.
    What I find wonderful is that Christ is not only aware of your struggles but is also willing to compassionately and authoritatively engage with your personal story. Peter’s mother-in-law did not inconvenience Jesus; he was moved with compassion. As we've seen, he possesses the authority over illness to provide healing. His healing empowers you to approach the stories of others in pain with compassion and authority.
    Notice how swift and complete the woman’s healing was. She was restored to perfect health and immediately began to serve her guests. Her response reflects a genuine reaction to receiving Jesus’ healing. He did not instruct her to serve him; rather, he served her by healing her, prompting her to feel inspired to serve others. This is a true mark of healing from Christ: those who experience his healing are overwhelmed with joy at the chance to help others as they were healed. Darrell Bock is right to say to us,
    To love God means to show mercy to those in need. An authentic life is found in serving God and caring for others.
    Darrell L. Bock
    Just as Jesus is deeply involved in your personal story, bringing healing and restoration to your life as he did for Peter’s mother-in-law, you can extend that healing to your lost neighbors, friends, and family. Love God by showing mercy to those in need. Serve the Lord and care for the broken. Be willing to engage the gospel in someones personal story of suffering and grief. You will bring the hope of our Suffering Servant to their brokenness.
    Jesus' healing is not merely personal; it symbolizes collective hope for the world.

    Jesus, the Suffering Servant, offers us Collective Hope

    Matthew 8:16 CSB
    16 When evening came, they brought to him many who were demon-possessed. He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick,
    News spread that Jesus could heal the sick and free captives. While enjoying an evening with Peter’s family, a crowd began to gather outside Peter’s door. Those who were tired, broken, outcast, or hopeless came to Jesus seeking miracles. Though burdened by our griefs and diseases, Jesus, filled with compassion, possesses the authority to heal the sick and expel demons. When the sick and demon-possessed showed up at his door, Jesus illuminated their darkness, brought life to their death, and restored their bodies. He was not overwhelmed by the throngs; instead, he welcomed each one as they arrived.
    This exemplifies Jesus’ omnipotence; He is all-powerful. His healing touch is ongoing and extends as far as He wills. No disease is beyond His capability to heal, as every rogue cell remains under His command. Jesus extends His healing love to everyone worldwide.
    Central to the Great Commission is Jesus’ mission to heal the nations. In turn, these nations heal others, ensuring that the broken in distant lands also find restoration. Every church should embody the Great Commission, as Jesus has chosen to heal the nations through His disciples.
    Our mission is to joyfully advance the kingdom of God by making much of Jesus in the church, community, and home. To glorify Jesus means to possess a single-minded heart united, loyal love for Him, demonstrated through obedience. We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our mind, heart, soul, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. One implication of our mission and devotion to Jesus and our neighbors is to share in our community’s grief and bear their illnesses. The challenges our community faces are our own. Litchfield’s griefs and sorrows must become our own. Engaging with our community in its suffering allows us to bring the hope and healing of Jesus to them.
    We have identified our community’s griefs and challenges. Our community struggles with poverty, addiction, fractured family dynamics, learning disabilities, and a lack of church engagement. Our school and biblical counseling ministry serve as a fantastic starting point for FBCL to bring Jesus’ healing to families in Litchfield and the surrounding areas. What more can we do?
    God has bestowed upon each of you gifts—perhaps several—to serve the church, community, and home. How can you utilize your gifts? What actions can you take to spread the healing love of Christ to your lost family, friends, and neighbors?

    Jesus is the Promised Messiah (Matthew 5:17)

    The final thing I want to address in our text is the prophetic fulfillment seen in verse 17
    Matthew 8:17 ESV
    17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”
    Jesus' healings fulfill Old Testament prophecies, particularly Isaiah's portrayal of Jesus as the Suffering Servant. Jesus was willing to take on our infirmities because He knew He was the promised Messiah who was to bring complete restoration.
    Matthew makes it clear to his readers that Jesus is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. On the cross, Jesus was “despised” and “held . . . in low esteem” (Isaiah 53:3). He was “pierced” (verse 5) and “oppressed and afflicted” (verse 7). He died with thieves yet was buried in a rich man’s tomb (verse 9; cf. Mark 15:27; Matthew 27:57–60). After His suffering and death, Jesus the Messiah was resurrected (Isaiah 53:11; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:4) and glorified (Isaiah 53:12). Isaiah 53 is one of the clearest prophecies identifying Jesus as the Messiah; it is the very passage that the Ethiopian eunuch was reading when Philip met him and explained to him about Jesus (Acts 8:26–35).

    Jesus is the Suffering Servant who gives the world hope by taking on our weaknesses and bearing our disease

    To receive his healing you must come to him by faith. You must repent of your sin and embrace him as Lord. All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Then heal will heal you of your greatest disease, sin. He will reconcile you to God and restore you broken soul. He will empower you with his Spirit, and His light will overcome your darkness.
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      • Matthew 8:14–17ESV

      • Isaiah 53:4ESV

      • Matthew 8:17ESV

      • Isaiah 53:3–6ESV

      • Isaiah 53:3ESV

      • Isaiah 53:4ESV

      • Isaiah 53:5ESV

      • Isaiah 53:6ESV

      • Matthew 8:14–15ESV

      • Matthew 8:16ESV

      • Matthew 8:17ESV

      • John 14:19ESV

      • Hebrews 7:24–25ESV

  • Because He Lives (Amen)
First Baptist Church Litchfield
pastorjason.fbcl@gmail.com
217-324-4232
http://www.firstbaptistlitchfield.org/
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