Jesus – What a Friend!

by Pastor Edwin Lehmann on October 5, 2024 in Matthew 9:1-8

Sermon for the 19th Sunday after Trinity October 6, 2024

Text: Matthew 9:1-8 Historic series 24:2465

Theme: Jesus – What a Friend!

What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Ev’rything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Ev’rything to God in prayer. For many that is a hymn among hymns. It brings the Savior’s peace, comfort, and relief to the heart. Jesus – What a Friend He is to us!

If you agree with those words, then let me ask: “What is a ‘friend’? And why is Jesus our best ‘friend’?”

My dictionary defines a friend as: a person who one knows well and is fond of; a close acquaintance; a person on the same side in a struggle; a supporter; an ally. Good definitions! But they seem a little stiff – wooden. How about this definition for a friend?

A teacher once led her class in a study of personal relationships like uncle, aunt, cousin, neighbor, etc. The students did well in defining each one until she came to a little boy who hesitated and fumbled at defining the word “friend.” Finally, he blurted out: “A friend is someone who likes you, even though he knows you.”

That definition won’t ever get into a dictionary. But it holds a child’s deeper insight that dictionaries can’t capture. The essence of friendship is that a person likes us in spite of our faults and shortcomings. “He likes you, even though he knows you.”

How true that is of the “friendship” that exists in the heart of God towards fallen creatures. He knows me for what I am. Yet, He loves me. If that is true, What A Friend We Have in Jesus!

I. He comforts troubled hearts.

Oh, how this man rejoiced to know that truth the day Jesus came to town! Some had that same faith in Jesus. Others came to see Jesus out of curiosity. And the scribes came to gather damning evidence against Jesus in order to accuse Him of wrong and do away with Him. People are drawn to Jesus for different reasons.

He was in a house so crowded with people that it was impossible for any more to squeeze through the doorway. Then, four men came, bearing a paralyzed man on a pallet. Because of the great crowd they could not place their friend at Jesus’ feet. The Evangelists Mark (2:1f) and Luke (5:17f) tell us that when they saw that they couldn’t get into the house since it was so packed with people, they carried their friend to the roof, pulled out the tiles, and by means of ropes let the sufferer down on a pallet. Four strong hands let a swaying couch down to Jesus’ feet. It was more than friendship that motivated them. Matthew says that Jesus saw their faith. Their faith in Him was certainly persistent and resourceful. Faith, not just of the four but of five – including the paralyzed man for he was certainly not brought against his will. It was a faith that trusted Jesus to be a friend to him.

Down through the opened roof came the swaying pallet until it reached the floor. Not a word was spoken by the paralytic or his friends. A hush fell over the crowd. Silently Jesus glanced upward into the faces of the four; then down upon the prostrate sufferer who had reached Him in such an odd way. There was no need to say anything to Jesus. Everything is plain to Him, perfectly known in His omniscience so that Jesus first dealt with the sufferer’s primary ailment – and it wasn’t physical; it was spiritual. “Take heart, son (tekna)! Your sins are forgiven.” This man needed forgiveness more than healing. Indeed, he longed for forgiveness. Jesus saw it and healed the main ailment first.

Dear friends, note this first thing that was said. When we stand at the bedside of a friend or relative who is quite ill, what do we say? We tend to talk about a lot of other things first, don’t we? We talk about our love for them; we talk about the family; we talk about the weather; we talk about how things are going without them; we talk about a lot of matters. If the sick is a Christian, we talk about them in their sickness, lying in the hands of God. And that is good, as we seek to cheer and encourage our friends. But Jesus goes two steps further. We should learn from Him the first thing to say. He doesn’t even make note of the illness or how it is affecting the man. It is man’s greater need within that Jesus addresses first – sin. We ought to learn from Him.

There is nothing so essential to us as utter certainty regarding the forgiveness of our sins. Many live from day to day, year to year, piling up more and more sins and care nothing about it, even laughing over it. But that is folly. On the Last Day or when the Judge of all the earth comes calling for my life to end in the present, nothing less than the certainty of forgiveness will suffice.

When my body grows old and feels more pain, my mind loses strength and ability, my health suffers, I ought to confess that the Lord is bowing me down and reminding me of all my sins, for such are sin’s consequences with me. In every illness I ought to be humbled and realize with renewed force that there is one hope, one help that is needed most – forgiveness of my sin. I want at all costs to get to the feet of Jesus that He may also look through my eyes into my troubled heart to comfort it by tenderly saying: “Take heart, son! Your sins are forgiven.”

Forgiven; dismissed! Literally, “sent away!” In Jesus, Our Friend, sin and guilt are sent so far away and in such a manner that they shall never again be found, not even on Judgment Day. Christ is the only one able to separate sin from a sinner, for “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Ro.5:8). “This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” “His blood cleanses from all sin.” (1Jn.4:10; 1:7). “Greater love has none than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends,” Jesus said (Jn.15:13).

Only His blood can cover sin; only His blood can pay the price for disobedience; only by His wounds are we healed (Is.53:5). When the hurt is felt and there is no place to turn, how comforting to hear Him say, “Dear Child, your sins are forgiven.” What medicine that is to the heart of the sinner who looks to Jesus in faith! I imagine a sigh and looks of eternal relief spreading over the faces of the 5 – 4 friends and the 1 on the pallet before Jesus.

Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our Refuge; Take it to the Lord in prayer. In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.

Jesus – What a Friend! He comforts troubled hearts.

II. He helps us in all our needs.

And with that assurance of forgiveness comforting the heart, the Lord Jesus showed the paralytic more. Indeed, Jesus showed the scoffers that He has the authority to do this and can help us in all our needs.

When the scribes heard Jesus talk about forgiveness, they silently accused him of blasphemy because they did not believe in Him. Although they saw Him frequently display authority that only God has over illness, they refused to believe what their eyes and their ears told them – that Jesus was from God and indeed is the cause of our forgiveness. They doubted His divine authority.

Sometimes, we can do the same, only in a reverse fashion from theirs. They doubted that Jesus had authority to forgive. We can doubt that Jesus has authority to help us in all our other needs as well. Concerning either limitation placed on Him, Jesus says in our text, “Why are you thinking evil in your heart? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Get up and walk’?”

Which is easier to say? We may tell someone who has sinned that we forgive them, as we should, from our heart to theirs. But only God can truly take away sin and make the payment required.

Doctors can do marvelous work in helping patients through illness and in performing surgeries that are truly astounding. But without the authority of the Creator, who made all things, behind them, no sickness could ever be healed.

The psalmist sings, “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases; He redeems my life from the pit and crowns me with love and compassion” (Ps.103:1f). Only God can pay for sin. Only He can heal with divine authority. Without Him we are helpless.

Can you take your terminally ill soul and with the balm of grace heal it of sin and give it eternal life? No. But Christ can and does.

Can you take a shriveled hand or a diseased lung and without the surgical or therapeutic knowledge that He gives make it whole again? No. But Christ can and does.

Can you take any situation in life and find the complete answer that makes the problem go away? No. But Christ can for He is the mighty God who helps in every need.

We may not know how long the Lord wants us to bear a burden or illness. We may not know if He will deliver us from it in this life or the next. But we know that He loves us even though He knows us. He died to forgive our sin. And He doesn’t want us to give up when the door is blocked, but rather would have us climb onto the roof and dig a hole in it, if we have to, to get to Him. For only He can comfort troubled hearts and help in all our needs.

Can we find a Friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our ev’ry weakness – Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Jesus – What a Friend! Our eternal Friend! God grant it to us in faith, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Zion Lutheran Church of Springfield

4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue)

Church phone: 417.887.0886 Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244

www.zionluthchurch.com

You can also find us on Facebook

The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity October 6, 2024

“Take heart, son. Your sins are forgiven.” Matthew 9:2

Welcome: The family of Zion welcomes you as we worship the Lord today. We encourage children to worship with us. However, if you need to leave with your child, there is a nursery room to the right as you exit the sanctuary. The rest rooms are located in the hallway between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. Visitors, please sign our guest book to the right, just outside the sanctuary. We’re glad that you are here and pray that through our worship the Lord grants you peace.

U p o n E n t e r i n g G o d’ s H o u s e

“LORD, say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation.’ The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears. From all their distress, He delivers them.

For this God is our God forever and ever. He will guide us beyond death” (Pss. 35, 34 & 48).

W h a t T h i s S u n d a y i s A b o u t

The Saved Face the End – Forgiven and Renewed. With this Sunday we enter the final cycle of lessons for the Church Year. Having been instructed in the saving work of Christ during the first half of the year, and then in the Christian life over the weeks of summer, our thoughts are now turned to the fulfillment of all things in the last times.

All of the remaining Sundays in the Church Year make up the eschatological section (study of the last things) and have as their general theme: The Saved Face the End – Prepared. Only the last three Sundays’ lessons in November are strictly eschatological, presenting what actually happens at the end. Before that, our lessons in October treat of our preparation for the end. For example, forgiveness and renewal are prominent in our lessons today. None of the Saved would for one moment face the end and the last judgment without Christ’s forgiveness. Jesus demonstrates today that He has the power to forgive.

To that end we pray: Almighty God, in Your bountiful goodness, keep us safe from every evil of body and soul. Make us ready, with cheerful hearts, to do whatever pleases You, for Jesus’ sake we pray. Amen.

T h e W o r d o f G o d f o r T o d a y

(The Lessons of the Day are from the Historic Pericope Series of the Christian Church.)

The Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 28:10-17

Alone and running for his life, Jacob flees from the wrath of his brother, Esau. He stops for the night near Bethel (“House of God”). The Lord gives him the dream of a ladder, or stairway, extending from heaven to earth. It assured Jacob of God’s forgiving presence for him and renewed his spirits for the journey that lay ahead of him.

The Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 4:22-28

Paul admonishes Christians not to live as people of the world, in a life of sin, hardened towards God. Instead, be renewed in faith, putting off the old, sinful flesh with its corruption, and putting on the “new man” created in Christ to walk in ways pleasing to God.

The Gospel Lesson: Matthew 9:1-8

Jesus renews the life of a paralytic man, first by assuring him of the forgiveness of his sins, and then by revealing his authority to do that as the Son of God by healing the man’s crippled body. In both acts Jesus divine, gracious, and saving authority was revealed.

O u r P r a c t i c e o f H o l y C o m m u n i o n

Out of deep love for the truth of God’s Word and precious souls, we follow the practice of Close Communion in our congregation. This has been the practice of Christians for centuries and reflects the Bible’s teaching on unity of faith in the reception of the Supper (1 Cor.10:17). It does not judge a person’s heart but anticipates agreement in that which God says. Since we do not wish to put anyone in the position of declaring such agreement with us before study in the Word is possible, we ask that only those who are communicant members of this or another Wisconsin Synod or ELS congregation come to receive the Sacrament.

The Organist: Jane Rips The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann

Point to Ponder: Is it possible to rub off a tattoo? In Isaiah 49:16 God tells us, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” It is as impossible for God to rub you out of His hands as it would be for you to rub a tattoo off your arm. In another place He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:15). Friends and relatives sometimes let us down. They may go away and leave us. But God never will. His promise is sure. We can depend on it. In His mercy God cannot forget you. In Christ you are forgiven. In faith you are His.

Outline of Our Worship

The Preparation

Opening thoughts on the Service.

The Entrance Hymn: #541

Order of Worship: The Service: Setting One with Holy Communion: page 154-160

Prayer of the Day

The Ministry of the Word

Genesis 28:10-17

Ephesians 4:22-28

Gospel Acclamation: God’s Love pg.161

Matthew 9:1-8

Sermon Hymn: #721

Sermon Text: Matthew 9:1-8 Jesus – What a Friend!

The Nicene Creed pg.162

Our Response to the Word

Prayer of the Church: pg.164

The Offering

The Lord Blesses Us

Preparation for Holy Communion Hymnal page 165-169

(Visitors: Please read the above regarding Holy Communion)

Consecration and Distribution

Distribution Hymn: #509 & 798

Thanksgiving & Blessing Hymnal page 170

Closing Hymn: #710 st.1&3

Silent Prayer

The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity – Historic Series

Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 28:10-17 – The Stairway to Heaven.

¹⁰Jacob set out from Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. ¹¹He came to a certain place and decided to spend the night there, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from that place, put it under his head, and lay down to sleep in that place. ¹²He had a dream in which he saw a stairway set up on the earth with its top reaching to heaven. There were angels of God ascending and descending on it. ¹³There at the top stood the Lord, who said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. The land on which you are lying, I give to you and to your descendants. ¹⁴Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your seed all the families of the earth will be blessed. ¹⁵Now, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back again into this land. Indeed, I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised to you.”

¹⁶Jacob woke up from his sleep, and he said, “Certainly the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” ¹⁷He was afraid, and he said, “How awe-inspiring is this place! This is nothing other than the house of God, and this is the gate to heaven.”

Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 4:22-28 – Living Changed Lives.

²²As far as your former way of life is concerned, you were taught to take off the old self, which is corrupted by its deceitful desires, ²³and to be renewed continually in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴and to put on the new self, which has been created to be like God in righteousness and true holiness.

²⁵Therefore, after you put away lying, let each of you speak truthfully with your neighbor, because we are all members of one body. ²⁶“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. ²⁷Do not give the Devil an opportunity. ²⁸Let the one who has been stealing steal no longer. Instead, let him work hard doing what is good with his own hands, so that he has something to share with a person who is in need.

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 9:1-8 – Jesus Forgives Sins and Heals.

¹Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town. ²There, people brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Take heart, son! Your sins are forgiven.”

³Then some of the experts in the law said among themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

⁴Since Jesus knew their thoughts, he said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? ⁵Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ⁶But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” he then said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.”

⁷The man got up and went home. ⁸When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Calendar & Announcements for Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

Today

Oct.6

Mon.

Oct.7

Tues.

Oct.8

Wed.

Oct.9

Thurs.

Oct.10

Fri.

Oct.11

Sat.

Oct.12

Next Sun.

Oct.13

9:00 am

Divine Worship Service

with Holy Communion

online -Facebook

10:15 am

Fellowship & Bible Study

19^th Sunday after Trinity

9:30-11 am Visitation

11 am

Christian funeral service for Barbara Grant; both will be held at Peace LC Marshfield

No Midweek Bible Class

10am-2:30pm

LWMS Fall Rally at Peace, Marshfield

9:00 am

Divine Worship Service

online – Facebook

10:15 am

Fellowship & Bible Study

20^th Sunday after Trinity

A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today

In the Gospel appointed for this day, the teachers of the law are shocked that Jesus would be so presumptuous as to forgive someone’s sins. “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” they thought to themselves. Of course, Jesus is God, and He reveals His divinity by blotting out our sin. Only He could do that. As His followers, we forgive others just as in Christ God forgave us.

The Gospel Lesson: Matthew 9:1-8 (the answers are found below)

What problems did the man in the Gospel have?
How does Jesus solve his problem?
How does Jesus prove His authority to forgive sins?

Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Greg Miller; William & Laurie Moon; Libya, (Jodi Milam’s granddaughter); Barbara Long; Norine Richardson; Melissa Morlock-Jaeger; Liz Lisenby; Barbara Long; the family of Robbie Woessner (Bob and Geri’s son); Pastor Roger Neumann from Oskaloosa, IA; the family of Barbara Grant in Marshfield, whom the Lord drew to Himself in eternity this past Thursday.

Divine Call We do not yet have any further word on when our next Call Meeting will be, When the date is determined, we will let you know. Peace LC in Marshfield would be the next host for the Call Meeting. We are considering holding a joint worship service again with a Call Meeting following the service. It would be held towards mid or the end of October

Area Reformation Service From Beautiful Savior LC, Bella Vista, AR: “We are excited to host another area joint Reformation Service on Sunday, November 3rd at 5:00 pm. Pastor Ross Chartrand from the new mission in Bentonville, AR will be the guest preacher. A supper will follow the service. Your singers/choir are invited to be part of an area choir for this service, with a rehearsal at 4:30 pm. See your pastor for the hymns we will sing. Please respond by October 20^th to your pastor if you will be attending. We are looking forward to celebrating God’s Word and faithfulness with you on November 3^rd.”

Upcoming Services and Events

Saturday, October 12 – LWMS Fall Rally at Peace, Marshfield, registration starts at 9:30 am until 2:30 pm

Tuesday, October 15, 6 pm – Elders/Trustees and Monthly Church Council Meeting

Saturday, October 19, 2-6:30 pm – Renaissance/Reformation Festival at Faith LC, Carthage, MO (more information to follow)

End of October into November – Neighborhood Women’s Thursday Bible Study begins (see Barbara Breidel for more info)

Sunday, November 3, 5 pm – Area Joint Reformation Service at Beautiful Savior, Bella Vista, AR; with supper following

The Week in Review

Last Sunday Worship: 25; Bible Study: 11; Midweek Bible Class: no class this week; Offerings: $946

Next Sunday’s Lessons:

20th Sunday after Trinity: Proverbs 2:1-8; Ephesians 5:15-21; Matthew 22:1-14 (Historic Pericope Series)

Answer to Today’s Gospel Lesson Brief Study:

He was paralyzed, and when he came to Jesus for healing the house where Jesus was teaching was filled to capacity. The man’s friends eventually lowered him through the roof. Most of all, the man was a sinner in need of forgiveness.

2.Jesus solved the man’s greatest problem by saying, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” In their thoughts, the teachers of the law accused Jesus of blasphemy.

3 Jesus proved His authority to forgive sins, revealing Himself as the Savior by giving the paralyzed man the ability to walk.