Sermons

Summary: This passage is a "sandwich," which leads to some significant parallels and contrasts.

THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THIS PASSAGE: This story is a sandwich.

- What does that mean? This is one of the multiple places in the Bible where a story is begun, then interrupted by another story, and then the first story is revisited and concluded. When that happens, there is always a great interaction between the two stories. They were put together for a reason.

- The structure is kind of like a sandwich. You have bread, then meat, then bread. Here, you have story #1, then story #2, then back to story #1.

CONTRASTS:

1. Twelve years of joy; twelve years of pain.

- Mark 5:42 vs. Matthew 9:20.

2. One comes boldly to Jesus; one sneaks up from behind.

- Matthew 9:18 vs. Matthew 9:20.

3. One is highly respectable; one is ceremonially unclean.

- Matthew 9:18 vs. Matthew 9:20.

- Other contrasts that are not in the sermon outline:

a. One has to wait for the miracle; one gets it at once.

b. One is healed publicly; one is healed behind closed doors.

PARALLELS:

1. Both come with confidence.

- Matthew 9:18 vs. Matthew 9:21.

- I mean that they come with confidence in what Jesus can do.

2. Both need what only Jesus can provide.

- Matthew 9:18 vs. Matthew 9:21.

THE TRUTH FOR THOSE AT THE TOP: Don’t think that your prosperity or popularity excludes you from needing Jesus.

- There are some things you cannot fix yourself.

THE TRUTH FOR THOSE AT THE BOTTOM: Don’t think that your desperation or depravity excludes you from reaching Jesus.

- Ask even though you feel unworthy.

CONCLUSION:

- Whatever your problem, wherever you are in life, take your problem to Jesus. He will meet you there.

- Jesus will be there for any who ask.

- The highs are not too high; the lows are not too low.

Copy Sermon to Clipboard with PRO

Talk about it...

Nobody has commented yet. Be the first!

Join the discussion
;