Jesus the God who Heals
SERMON PREACHED JUNE 7, 2026 – SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
MATTHEW 9:9-13, 18-26
From the Gospel: Jesus said, “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
During our book study, we encountered this saying from Matthew, which on the face of it is puzzling. What did Jesus mean by telling the disciples that he doesn’t desire sacrifice? When he called each disciple, it was clear that following that call meant sacrificing their ordinary lives, to take up an unknown journey. It is the same for us. When Jesus calls any one of us, he demands that we forswear aspects of our lives that are ungodly. He demands that we make sacrifices.
So what does Jesus mean when he says he doesn’t want sacrifice? All becomes clear when we realize that this saying comes from Hosea. This prophet speaks for God when he says, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” When Matthew reports that Jesus doesn’t want sacrifice, he refers to the habit of making offerings to God by burning them in fire. Everyone listening to him understands this.
When the animal was burned, it was burned completely to cinders, with nothing remaining to eat. This kind of sacrifice was considered complete surrender and dedication to God. Usually the animal sacrificed was a bull, or a sheep or a goat, or for poorer people a pigeon or dove. Jesus rejects animal sacrifice because such a gesture is worthless without mercy — in other words steadfast love. What God wants instead of burnt offerings is for all people to come to know God.
So when Jesus says he has come to call not the righteous, he means those Israelites who try to cultivate righteousness by strictly observing Judaical laws — such as the laws concerning animal sacrifice. Jesus is not going to support that supposed kind of righteousness. But, according to a parallel passage in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus makes clear that he is “come to call…sinners to repentance.”
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus is at table fellowship with a motley crew of social outcasts. Tax collectors represented the occupying Roman government. These officials were considered traitors by the Israeli people. They oppressed the people by charging taxes and fines on anything they could get away with, rendering a portion of their gains to the government and keeping the rest.
There is irony in Matthew’s gospel account, because Matthew himself is a tax collector! Jesus calls him directly from his tax booth! Matthew abandons the booth and falls in with Jesus’ disciples. Not only tax collectors, but also others who fail to observe the law and the prophets were called sinners. The sick were also considered sinners, because sickness was obviously punishment for sin.
Now table fellowship in the Greco-Roman world signaled acceptance, solidarity and social belonging. Jesus’ willingness to share meals with the morally suspect or socially excluded was therefore deeply controversial. The Pharisees, especially, teachers and keepers of the law, objected to Jesus breaking bread with unacceptable folks.
Another striking thing in today’s Gospel is the second part. Immediately – suddenly! – while Jesus is still speaking, a leader of the synagogue – the group of people who have just been heavily criticizing Jesus – kneels before Jesus, and says, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Immediately, Jesus gets up and leaves the meal. He follows the man to his house.
Meanwhile, a crowd crushes in on Jesus as he goes. In a holy moment, Jesus does not see but feels that someone touches him. In a crowd, many are touching him. But Jesus feels power going out from him, and he knows that it was a healing touch. The touch came from a woman who has been suffering hemorrhages for twelve years. So deep is her faith that she believes Jesus will heal her if she only manages just to touch his cloak. Jesus turns around and sees her. He says, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman is made well. She, a sick person, was the kind of rejected individual considered a sinner, and Jesus heals her.
Walking further along, he arrives at the house of the leader of the Synagogue, whose daughter has just died. He is seized with panic and grief! Flute players and mourners fill the house. Jesus tells them to leave, because, he says, the girl is not dead – she is only sleeping. They laugh at him. After all, this is a house where Jesus is poorly regarded. He eats with tax collectors and sinners. Only the child and her parents remain in the house. Jesus takes the girl’s hand, and life flows into her. She gets out of bed and stands, healthy again. We can imagine the joy and relief the parents feel. Jesus has just called to him the kind of sinner who considers himself righteous.
I don’t need to ask if you are a sinner. That goes without saying. We all are! The question is, how do we feel about Jesus healing the sick. Do you believe this? Many times, I have the opportunity to lay on hands for healing. Sometimes, I feel power flowing out of me. This sometimes happens if the sick person believes that Jesus heals.
Let me tell you about a miracle of healing. My grandson, Kipling – a fourteen-year-old redhead! – contracted the flu – and then the virulent disease became encephalitis. He was put in the intensive care unit and given various medical treatments, but the child was near death. Then family and friends closed in on him with a circle of intense prayer. And, wonder of wonders, two days later he walked smiling out the hospital and went home to his parents and little sister. We give full credit to Jesus, who heard our prayers and understood our faith.
So, with God all things are possible. Not all healings are as complete or as recognizable as Kip’s. But all the prayers of faithful Christians are heard by God. And healing is a mysterious thing. Sometimes healing takes an unexpected turn.
For example, last April my brother-in-law, Eric, was diagnosed with metastatic cancer. The disease failed to respond to medical treatment and his remaining lifespan was expected to be very short. Nonetheless, we prayed. I helped my sister-in-law, Sandy, lay on hands for Eric over the phone. Then followed a sweet and unexpected period of borrowed time, in which Eric’s energy returned sufficiently for the couple to enjoy golden memories of their life together. Their family includes two grown children and a grandchild. Eric died, but he and Sandy experienced healing. Prayer brought them a crown of blessing.
Jesus desires mercy not sacrifice, and he calls not the righteous but sinners. He calls all people to himself, to be healed. May our faith in Jesus make us whole.
THANKS BE TO GOD. Amen.