This is Message #207 in the Restoration Series
Introduction: Restoration. Here in these verses we see such a contrast in attitudes. Displayed are the compassion of Jesus and the stupidity of religionist. Our desire today is to have the mind of Christ in both situations.
I. Jesus was doing two things in this event.
A. He was demonstrating compassion to all.
II. The people were hungry for spiritual food.
1. One. As always He was demonstrating His Messiahship.
2. Second. The most direct way to teach was by example.
a. The objective was to make His disciples more aware of the needs of others.
b. A need for a real change of heart toward all people.
a. They were to meet the needs of those in need.
B. Here Jesus demonstrated three great needs.
b. This time He was ministering to Gentiles. Matthew 15:21-22, 29
c. Remember the Jews considered the Gentiles to be heathen, lost and despised of God.
d. This prejudice ran very deep in the Jews.
e. Jesus came to save all men, not just the Jews.
f. The disciples desperately needed this truth, because they would soon minister to the world.
1. The need for spiritual food
2. The need for compassion
3. The need for evangelism
A. Note two facts here.
III. Six things compassion must demonstrate.
1. The crown was large, four thousand that ate.
a. This was the same place that Jesus had been rejected.
2. There was a great spiritual hunger among the people.
b. Here He had healed the demoniac.
c. What had brought the drastic change in the people?
d. One man�s evangelism. He told what God had done.
a. This need was greater than their physical hunger.
b. All they wanted was His words and miracles.
c. Matthew 5:6, 1 Peter 2:2-3, Acts 20:32, John 6:35
A. Jesus had to teach compassion because of the prejudice of His own disciples.
IV. Verse 10: The scene changes as He leaves Decapolis.
1. Compassion involves seeing the need.
a. Jesus saw the physical need and the spiritual need of the multitude.
2. Compassion involves the use of resources. Vs 4-5
b. Compassion is aroused by seeing and acting on the need of others.
c. Luke 10:2, Romans 10:1
a. Needs cannot be met without resources.
3. Compassion involves orderly arrangements. Vs 6
b. The disciples wondered about resources.
c. Lack of resources aroused many objections.
a. One must make necessary arrangements.
4. Compassion involves giving all, taking all and using all to meet the need.
a. Jesus took the seven loaves. He took all.
5. Jesus gives thanks. Vs 6
b. He used all seven.
c. Nothing held back � compassion always uses all.
a. As He gave thanks He also blessed the resources. Vs 7
6. Compassion never wastes. Vs 8
b. All that was given was so small, so little for so many.
c. In God�s hand, small became great.
a. Resources are to be handled carefully, none wasted.
b. As with finances, we are to be wise and not foolish.
A. Jesus and the disciples are met with much spiritual blindness.
V. The spiritually blind seek a sign. Vs 11
1. This is a problem now as it was then.
B. Four things Jesus discusses about the �sign seekers�.
2. Men are still blind to the signs, His presence, mercy, care and gifts of God to man.
3. There are signs all around us of His presence.
4. God is easy to see if we look. [Read �Where is God�]
5. So few look to God just to give thanks.
6. To really see God, it takes surrender.
7. Verse 11: Signs everywhere, but so blind to them.
1. They sought a sign
2. They grieved the Lord
3. They received no sign from the Lord
4. They were left behind by the Lord [when Jesus returns, many will be left behind]
A. There is a sharp difference between man�s natural and spiritual senses.
VI. Spiritual blindness grieved the Lord. Vs 12
1. Natural senses can be sharp and discerning.
B. Note this: The people of Jesus� day had signs.
2. In the spiritual one can be dead an undiscerning.
3. He doesn�t experience the spiritual world at all.
1. A critical time; times that foretold the coming Messiah.
C. Here are a few of the signs they had.
2. Same as Simeon and Anna when they saw and recognized the Messiah.
1. The scepter, the lawgiver had come from Judah.
D. Every generation, our generation have had and have signs.
2. The weeks or ages of Daniel were closing out.
3. John the Baptist had come and proclaimed Jesus as Messiah.
4. Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
5. Many godly Jews were looking for Messiah.
6. The works and message of Jesus were evident.
1. Signs in the natural world. [sunset and moon rise at the same time]
E. Wrong motives cause spiritual blindness. Vs 11b
2. We experience God�s mercy every day, yet some say it is a �natural happening�, �law of nature�, or �human ability�.
3. Men reject Old Testament prophetic promises.
4. Men deny sin.
5. Men deny Jesus and His moral way of life.
6. Many deny the resurrection from the grave.
7. Many reject the idea of the re-birth, born again, saved experience.
1. Their motives were wrong; they wanted to trick Jesus.
a. To discredit Him
2. Many today want to discredit the supernatural move of the Holy Spirit.
b. To make Him an impostor
3. Man does not always want the spiritual or supernatural.
a. It will cause a change in the life style.
4. Any person thinking on God will know when God touches and a sign come.
b. Even if God gives a sign, they ignore it.
a. That man recognizes God as the Supreme Designer, Supreme Intelligence and Force.
5. Natural man wants to justify his actions, prove himself and his thoughts are right.
b. An eternal purpose, a first cause
a. He doesn�t want God to correct, demand righteousness and love and total sacrifice.
b. He doesn�t want to depend on God to meet his need.
A. There is no excuse for spiritual blindness.
VII. The spiritual blind receive no sign from the Lord.
1. Evidence after evidence, sign after sign, work after work
a. All these signs seen by honest men.
2. The spiritual blind continues to deceive ones own heart.
3. In Jesus case, the spiritual blind were the religious.
A. Several reasons the Jews did not receive a sign from the Lord.
VIII. Jesus rejects the spiritual blind. Vs 13
1. Unjustified to receive, many were shown, but not received.
2. Jews did not believe
3. They did not understand the love and faith of God.
4. They wanted signs of their own choosing:
a. Something spectacular
5. Gods concern is not a sign from heaven, but what is in a man�s heart. John 7:37
b. A brilliant sight
c. some astonishing truth
d. Some miraculous experience
e. unbelievable deliverance
A. Jesus left these behind.
Conclusion: Restoration. When the church begins to have compassion beyond the walls of the church and spiritual eyes are opened to the need, restoration will come.
1. Another time coming when many will be left behind.
2. A sad note; He left them.
3. The big QUESTION. � WILL YOU BE LEFT?�
4. Matthew 10:33, 2 Timothy 2:12