the untold sermon

the gospel is not about jesus. It is about the people he met.

jesus did not perform miracles. they did.

we do not need to be overwhelmed by the story of jesus because it is really a story about the people of his time, who were, like us weak, sinful, retrobate, but who followed him nonetheless, and asked to be healed.

these are the miracle children of God. they that asked to be healed. ‘

these are ther wonder workers of the gospel, those that had faith, “your faith has made you well” – how often are these words spoken? yor sins are forgiven you . go and sin no more, for by the very act of asking 
god to heal them, whom Jesus is, they must automatically have showed, no EXERCISED contrition for their sins.

this is why we can’t get healing today, when we know that Jesus christ is the same today, yesterday and forever, becasue we do not have the contriteness of heart to ask god for healing with sincerity of purpose, purity of intention and faith which comes from these two prime pre requisites.

again when Jesus fed the multitudes from a few loaves and fishes, it was in response to the pleading of his closest disciples that they had nothing to eat

when he turned the water into wine it was in response to his mothers plea that they had nothing to drink

when he healed the woman who had a flow of blood constantly, it was in response to her belief, “if I but touch the hem of his garment I will be healed” 

“Who was it that touched me asked Jesus” for I have felt the flow of grace leave me in response?

and on and on in the gospel we find the blind see the lepers are healed , the lame walk , the dead are raised, the dying revived even when the pleading is from the romans as with the roman commander who pleaded with him to heal his servant who was lying sick at a great distance (on foot)

what was god jesus our saviour’s response to all these requests 

there were three

1. healing

2. crediting their faith with doing the healing

3. forgivness of sin and admonishment to not sin again. this latter is very important because were they to fall into sin again after this greast miracle and absolution of their sins their subsequent state would be much worse than their former, for they have tasted of the fruits of the spirit of jesus, and saw that it was good.

there may also have been instances where this request was not recorded in the gospels or where jesus asked  if they wished to be healed, but even without these two prereuisites we may be sure that christ would not have healed anyone who did not have a repentant heart and a desire to be healed. god would never violate their free will.

thus we come back to the original point made at the beginning that the miracle workers were the people themselves. God is always available to heal us, to forgive us our sins, but he will not violate our free will.

I want to get back to the beginning of the gospel to when Jesus was twelve years old.

what do you propose he taught, from scripture as we are told, in the temple that so astounded the priests for his grasp of spititual matters and his knowledge of the scripture (thus confirming their authenticity and fidelity).

I believe I know the answer.

I believe he expounded to the priests and scribes the sections of the scripture which foretold his coming. 

would that not be the most appropriate teaching that he could give.? I think so.

and yet this did not take root amongst their class

twenty years later that group crucified him.

Do not be like the priests but surrender to god.

“give unto God what belongs to him.”

What does belong to him, that we possess?

Our souls, our being, everything .

This is what the sinners of the gospel did, and they were healed.