October 23, 2021 -- Matthew 9:12-13 -- The Great Physician Addressing the Sickness

But when he [Jesus] heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:12-13 ESV

Permit me to begin with an apology. I was listening to one preacher who gave a clip of this other preacher and the illustration came from the preacher in the clip. I can’t remember enough to track down the source, but perhaps one of you, readers, will identify it. So, I am using someone else’s awesome illustration to illuminate this text, though I have significantly adapted the illustration.

A man went to his church and heard the preacher speak of propitiation and sanctification. He turned and squirmed wearily in the pew. As he left the sanctuary, the minister went to shake his hand.

The man complained, “Rev, you speak using such big words. Five syllable words like propitiation. It is all too much for me.”

Replied the minister, “Sir, you are suffering from a sickness of the soul. The Bible offers to you the cure for your sickness. Learn of these terms and find the Great Physician Who would heal you.”

As he turned away from the minister, the man gave a half-smile, but did not give any further reply.

A few days later the man saw his physician. The doctor, after a long examination and a series of questions, noted the man likely had polymyalgia rheumatica. One of the medications required is an immuno-suppressant along with cortico-steroids.

The man, in view of his changing health status, called his minister, requesting an urgent visit. The minister visited that same day.

The man reported, “I have received a tentative diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica and will likely need a course of medicines including immuno-suppressants and cortico-steroids.”

Quietly the minister listened to the man’s breathless account of his health status, noticing his use of six syllable words which described his condition and the treatment. An immediate course of treatment for a condition which has no known cure.

Then the minister, kindly spoke. “Sir, you have just learned of your condition. You investigated and in very short order you have learned multi-syllabic terms which are completely new to you. Yet, this past Sunday, you could not retain the big words related to”

The man broke into the minister’s sentence, exclaiming, “But Reverend, this is about my health.”

Sighing, the minister patiently replied, “Sir, what you speak of now is your physical health. Last Sunday, I spoke to you of your spiritual health. Your spiritual health is of far greater importance and will affect you now and for all eternity. Jesus Himself is the cure. I urge you, learn of Him, understand the big words of salvation.”

Father in heaven, healer of the fatally sin-sickened soul, apply the cleansing balm of Jesus Christ so that in the power of the Spirit we shall from our soul’s deathbed rise in new life enabled to serve You. Amen

https://youtu.be/DveYBno-pmQ