The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few

Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute

27As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" 28When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied.

29Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; 30and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." 31But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

32While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."

34But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."

The Workers Are Few

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

I. Message:

Content:

1. Two blind men came to Jesus for help (v27)
2. Because of their faith, Jesus healed them and restored their sight (v28-30)
3. The two men whose sight was restored went out and spread the news of the healing all over the region. (v30)
4. Jesus healed the mute who was demon-possessed (v32-34)
5. Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness (v35)
6. Jesus had compassion on the harassed and the helpless, and he called his disciples to offer themselves up to serve the kingdom of God. (v.36-38)

Theme:

1. Lord! We believe.
2. According to your faith will it be done to you.
3. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few

II. Who is God? Who is Jesus Christ? Who is Holy Spirit?

1. Jesus Christ, son of David. (v27)
2. Jesus the Messiah and savior (v27)
3. Jesus Christ who has the authority to heal and to perform miracle (v29-30)
4. Jesus’ widespread reputation (v31)
5. Jesus Christ who has the authority to drive out demons (v32-33)
6. Jesus who is active and involved in the community (v35)
7. Jesus Christ who is compassionate towards men (v36)
8. Jesus Christ who calls out for workers for God’s kingdom (v37-38)

III. What is God teaching me (command, promise, model, rebuke, warning)?

1) Physically but not spiritually blind

These two men were physically blind, but when they found out that Jesus was passing by, they followed him closely and called out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" ‘Son of David’ represents Messiah or Savior. Obviously, they knew Jesus was their hope in regaining their sight. They desperately called out and begged for help, and ended up receiving! This proves that although these two men were physically blind, their spiritual sight was clear. Today, many people are the opposite of this. Although they have physical sight but they are spiritually blind.

Reflection: What kind of person am I, spiritually blind or perceiving?

2) Miracle by faith

This was a miracle of healing, the restoration of sight. If we pay closer attention to the scripture specifically the conversation between Jesus and the blind men, we can see that in fact ‘faith’ was the key to this miracle of healing. Because in the healing process, Jesus asked them first, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied. Thus, Lord Jesus touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” Their sight was restored. Evidently, the miracle was accomplished through faith.

Reflection: What kind of faith do I have in Jesus? What miracle have I experienced?

3) Recounting God’s wonderful deeds

After having been healed by Jesus, these two previously blind men went out and told many all over the region about what Jesus had done for them against the Lord’s stern command to “see that no one knows about this." (Performing miracle was not Jesus’ purpose on earth.) From their action, we see that the two men must have been overjoyed and unable to withhold their excitement, thus unceasingly spread the news of the miracle. In contrast, today, we too have experienced salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, and have even received healing and the direct command to spread the gospel and to be his witness. However, are we active or silent in our response? Considering the action of these two blind men, shouldn’t we be ashamed?

Reflection: Has the salvation through Jesus Christ been witnessed throughout my community and among my peers and colleagues?

4) Four different characters

In the scripture following the restoration of sight is the healing of the demon-possessed mute. In this event, we discover four different characters. a) the demon who possessed the man: demon oppress and bound people to cause the lost of identity, suffering and to abandon God. b) the demon possessed man: lost of the original identity, suffering gravely to the point of abandoning God. c) the one who led the mute, a nameless hero, not only received the gratitude of the mute but was also remembered forever. d) The Lord who heals: he is the source of life, full of power and authority, even overcoming the demon, the power of evil.

According to the analysis of the above four characters, we can know that a Christian should assume the third role, that is to lead others to Lord Jesus Christ, especially being mindful of those who are weak, in pain, poor, oppressed and in mourning.

Reflection: Between the demon-possessed and the one who led the mute, which of the two roles do I often play?

5) Divergent reactions

When the demon was driven out by Jesus, the mute began to speak, resulting in two different reactions among the crowd: a) witnesses who believed in Jesus said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." Amazed, excited and thankful! b) Pharisees who did not believe in Jesus, said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons." They were envious, anxious, and twisted the truth! Obviously, the crowd witnessed the amazing work of God whereas the Pharisees, not only did not see God’s work, they also offended Jesus, claiming that his work was done by the prince of demons.

Reflection: If I were present at the scene, what would have been my reaction, similar to the believers or the Pharisees?

6) Disease and spiritual bondage

According to our common sense and experience, being mute is a handicap and disease. However through the healing performed, we discover that the mute was not a real disease; it is not a physical ailment or damage to the vocal cord. The real cause is the bondage by the demon; as soon as the demon was driven out, the person was able to speak. Once again proving that in practical life, some disease is related to demons! Therefore, medical doctors can address physical ailment, but the disease caused by bondage of demon requires Jesus’ intervention and help!

Reflection: Do I believe in the relationship between physical disease and bondage by demon? Have I experienced it? Am I able to make the distinction?

7) Model for community involvement

The scripture said, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” In this we see that our Lord Jesus, while on earth, did not retreat to the temple, living a segregated life from the world. Instead, he was actively involved in the community caring for people, loving, supporting and satisfying them. This is the model set for us by Lord Jesus!

Reflection: Is our church open to the community, involved in it or closed to and segregated from it?

8) Jesus’ work

The scripture said, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” We learn from this passage that Jesus’ work on earth included three aspects: teaching the synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. This is an example set by Lord Jesus for us concerning the matter of our serving.

Reflection: Does today’s churches serve in these three capacities: teaching, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness (spiritual and physical)?

IV. Prayer/ Life Application