A Visit to the Doctor
Scripture
2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
The Calling of Matthew
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:2-13)
Reflection
Have you ever scheduled a doctor’s appointment that ended on a surprisingly good note? You might have been concerned about something you noticed on your skin that your doctor assured you wasn’t cancer. Good news—no intervention necessary! Your young child might have complained about throbbing leg pain, but when examined by a doctor, you were told they were simply experiencing growth pains. Great news—no need for treatment!
I remember a checkup I had with our dentist when I was a child. He didn’t find any cavities, but he told my mom that I needed a root canal treatment. Then, he confessed he was just kidding. The dentist couldn’t fix my teeth because there was nothing that needed to be fixed.
In Matthew 9:12–13, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” This was Jesus’ response when the Pharisees asked his disciples why he was eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus did not come to call the righteous, but sinners—those who were sick with sin and its consequences—who knew they needed to be made well.
If a person who is ill walks into a doctor’s office and refuses to receive treatment because he insists everything is fine, the doctor cannot help unless the patient admits to being sick and needing to be made well. It is only then that the doctor can intervene and the healing process can begin.
It’s a relief to find out in a doctor’s appointment that no further treatment is necessary. With Jesus, though, we never need an appointment; he has come for sinners, to heal them, and call them to follow him with hearts filled with truth and mercy.
Reflecting on the fact that Jesus said he came for sinners—which every one of us is—we realize that this is the greatest news of all from the greatest healer of all time! As we’re approaching the first Sunday of Lent, let us remember God’s healing and redemptive plan of salvation at work in our lives through Christ.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank you that you are our healer and great physician. You have saved us from our sin so we can be fully healed and live with you for eternity. Help us to always admit our brokenness and our need for you. Amen.
2024 Lenten Journey
Adrian Brown