The Great Physician and Prescription

Great Physician and Prescription

September 24, 2013

Misc Sermon

Great Physician and Prescription

Mt. 9:12

(Advance Slide #1)

Introduction

I think that we all feel the pressure and pain of a having a loved one who is sick.

• When this happens we are desperately interested in a cure…aren't we?
• • We will wait and watch them as their illness progresses.

(Advance Slide #2)

• We will spare no time (i.e. appointments, procedures, long days and long nights)
• We spare no trouble (i.e. travel to this expert and that expert, make physical changes if needed)
• We spare no cost (i.e. sell prized possessions, miss bills)

(Advance Slide #3)

But would we…

• Do the same to save the soul of a stranger?
• • Now here is the rub…right?
  • • Maybe the soul is less valuable, but we know thats not true.
• Well, what did Jesus say?

(Advance Slide #4)

• • "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" Mt. 16:26
  • • Jesus seems to infer that it would be awful for this to happen.
• Yet, in the text we will read, some Pharisees grumble and growl at the efforts to save the soul.

The apostle Luke was a doctor.

• It is easy for us to forget that the medical profession has been around for a long time.
• • Jesus in our text today says, "Those that are well have no need of a physician"
  • This seems to indicate that there were physicians in the area of Galilee.
  • • The woman that had the issue of blood had gone and seen a physician…they had received fees but without result.

Most doctors have a fair amour of compassion

• If you ask, most enter this profession to help others.
• It is with this compassion in mind I want us to examine the life and practice of Jesus the Great Physician.

(Advance Slide #5)

Text

"But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick." Matthew 9:12

(Advance Slide #6)

In this text we find Jesus speaking to some grumbling Pharisees who are trying to put on a front like they a healthy and whole.

• By their estimation they did not need anything that Jesus claimed to have.
• This text hit them hard…they knew that sick people needed a physician.
• What Jesus was doing was taking this principle from the physical to the spiritual.
• • They considered themselves healthy.
  • They defined righteousness by their strict observation to their interpretation of the law…this was their sacrifice!

Jesus and the Pharisees had different definitions…

(Advance Slide #7)

• To the Pharisees - a sinner was who violates their interpretation of the law
• To Jesus - a sinner was someone that violated God's will

Lesson

(Advance Slide #8)

Jesus, the Great Physician

He knows…knows our dire condition and our desperate need.

• As His patients we can have confidence in Him.
• We can have FAITH that HE doesn't lose patients.

When sick we want a specialist…right?

• One that knows their stuff…went to a good school.
• One that knows our suffering, knows how we feel, but more importantly knows the cure.
• Jesus is this Great Physician!

(Advance TEXT on Slide #8)

Our Spiritual Diagnosis

Our Great Physician chose 12 men.

• To these men He gave the prescription for the soul.
• • Also, He sent them to preach repentance and baptism in the name of the Great Physician.
  • We find them doing this. throughout the NT

In Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost Peter pronounced their problem:

• He said you are wicked and you murdered the Messiah.
• • Scripture says that their reaction was this, "when they heard this they were cut to the heart" - vs. 37
• For you to get well…take the Great Physician's medicine!
• • "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - vs. 38

(Advance TEXT on Slide #8)

The Prescription

They took the prescription, and we can too

• They took the pills of faith, repentance, and baptism
• • And they were cured of their spiritual ills.

vs. 41 stays that, "those who received the words were baptized"

• The original language adds a little here, it says that they "gladly received the words"
• They did not change it one bit…they had full faith and confidence in the Great Physician!

Taking the divine treat kills the sin "germs" but what is next?

• They continued in faith…to build strength and to grow spiritually.

(Advance Slide #9)

• Peter describes it this way: (2 Pt. 1:5-9)
• • ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Conclusion

What happens if we do not follow through with the prescription for the Great Physician?

• What was the matter with Simon in Acts 8?

(Advance  Slide #10)

• • "…your heart is not right before God." vs 21
  • He is diagnosed further, "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity." - vs. 23
• But what is the prescription?
• • He was told in vs. 22, "Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may forgive you."