Gospel of the Kingdom: Two Daughters

3.16 Gospel of the Kingdom: Two Daughters

Scripture

Matthew 9:18-26, Acts 19:11-12

What to Believe:

• The character of Jesus is to make the unclean clean and bring the dead back to life. 

• The temple in Jesus’ day was unclean:

• The Greeks appointed Herod and his family to power and had them rebuild the temple.

•  The Romans had appointed Sadducees as Jewish religious leaders that they could control.

• The Pharisees and certain other rabbis followed God’s law in order to be admired by men. 

• God’s presence never came to rest in this temple after it was rebuilt. 

• Jesus demonstrated his displeasure with all of this in many ways, such as when he flipped the tables of the money changers in the temple courtyard

• The woman with the issue of blood was worse off than we realize because she was not allowed to worship in the temple for 12 years due to her condition.

• Without knowing why she knew that if she could just touch Jesus’ garment she would be made clean

• Jairus, a religious leader during the time of these unclean practices, knew that faith in Jesus could save his daughter, which led to her being raised from the dead.

• Even when we don’t understand how or why it works, if Jesus tells us to do something then we can expect to be benefited by it.

• Sometimes God works in mysterious ways, such as the woman touching Jesus’ garment or when people were healed by simply coming into contact with handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul’s skin.

• *this may not be the standard by which God makes things clean but it’s still evidence of his desire to cleanse us*

How to Obey:

Ask God what He's doing so you can partner with Him in that. 

How to Walk Intimately with God:

• When faced with an opportunity for someone to be healed (for example), ask God if He wants you to engage/pray for that person. Follow His leading, and let Him guide you through situations and decisions.    

• Have an open mind and heart regarding whatever it is God wants to do, by being open to the mysterious and unusual as a very real possibility, without having an unhealthy and unbiblical expectation for it. Be willing to try anything and everything you can think of to focus on and look to Jesus, even if it seems foolish to the world.

• Remember to follow God for the sake of loving obedience, rather than to be seen by men.

• Remember and don’t take for granted the miracle of Jesus cleansing us of our sin.