Chapter 9 verses 1-8 Read the Bible verses
Jesus met a man who was paralyzed (could not walk or move part of his body).
Jesus said to the man, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The religious leaders thought that was blasphemy (speaking against God) for Jesus to say such a thing.
Jesus said that it was just as easy for him to say “Your sins are forgiven.” as it was for him to say, “Be healed.”
Jesus wanted to show them that he was God. Only God can heal people and only God can forgive sins. Either one takes the power of God.
The Jewish leaders didn’t like hearing Jesus say that he was God. They did not believe he was God.
Chapter 9 verses 9-13 Read the Bible verses
Jesus called Matthew to follow him. Matthew asked Jesus to come to a dinner to talk to his friends. His friends were other tax collectors and other sinners.
The Jewish leaders thought that if Jesus was a holy man he should not be with such sinners.
Jesus told the leaders—people who are healthy don’t need a doctor—only sick people need a doctor. So sinners need a saviour—that is why Jesus talked with them.
Chapter 9 verses 14-17 Read the Bible verses
John the Baptist’s followers asked Jesus why his disciples did not fast (go without eating).
Often the Jewish leaders made a big show to others that they were fasting. It made people think they were really holy.
Jesus told them that if you are at a wedding with the groom, you eat and are happy. That is not the time to fast. Jesus was the Messiah that had finally come. It was not the time for fasting. It was a time to be happy.
Jesus was trying to tell them that a new day had come. The Messiah they had looked for had come.
Understanding God’s plan for the world would be new to them.
Jesus had told them before that no more would the old understanding of the law be the way to think. No more “an eye for an eye”, but “go the extra mile”. The old law said doing adultery was sin, but now Jesus said if you look at a person you are not married to and have sexual desire for them it will be a sin.
Gentiles would believe in Jesus and be able to go to heaven.
This new understanding was like a new cloth. If you sew a new strong cloth into an old one as a patch–the new cloth is so strong it will tear the old cloth. The hole will be bigger than before.
Also, if you put new wine in an old wine skin bag, it will make it break open. They did not use glass bottles like now. They made leather bags out of animal skins. These bags were filled with wine.
The Jewish people needed to move from their old understanding to a new understanding of God’s plan.
Chapter 9 verses 18-26 Read the Bible verses
A leader or ruler came and asked Jesus to make his daughter come to life again.
Wow! The ruler was asking for a miracle! And not just healing—but a dead person to be brought to life!
Jesus told him to go home and she would be alive.
While Jesus was talking to this ruler, a woman came up to him and touched his robe. She had a bleeding problem (hemorrhage–bleeding that won’t stop). For 12 years she had gone to doctors and spent a lot of money. She knew if she just touched Jesus’ robe she would be healed. She pushed through the crowd and was healed.
When the ruler got home the girl was alive! The news went all over the country!
Chapter 9 verses 27-35 Read the Bible verses
Two blind men followed Jesus and wanted to be healed. Jesus healed them. Jesus said, “As your faith is —-be it unto you.”
A man was brought to Jesus who could not talk. The man was possessed (controlled) by a demon (evil spirit) and that was why he could not talk.
Jesus made the evil spirit leave.
The Jewish church leaders said that the reason Jesus could make the demon leave was because Jesus was the prince of devils.
In another place, Matthew 12:24-28, Jesus said, “If I were a devil myself, why would I want to make a devil leave someone? I would be going against myself? That would not make sense.
Chapter 9 verses 35-38 Read the Bible verses
Jesus said to pray that God will call people to go and tell others about Jesus.
Are you willing to be a worker for God?