Scripture Reading: Matt. 9:10-13, 15; Rev. 19:7-9
Ⅰ
The Gospel of Matthew reveals that Christ is versus religion and that the things concerning Christ are outside of religion:
A
The birth of Christ, the finding of Christ, the recommending of Christ, and the following of Christ were all outside of religion—1:18-23; 2:1-12; 3:1-12; 4:12-22.
B
Any thought of doing things miraculously in religion is a temptation of the devil—vv. 5-7.
C
As the Physician and the Bridegroom, Christ is versus religion—9:12, 15.
D
The Lord Jesus does not care for religious tradition; He cares for inward reality—15:1-20.
Ⅱ
Matthew 9:10-13 indicates that we may experience and enjoy Christ as the Physician:
A
In calling people to follow Him for the kingdom, the Lord Jesus ministered as a Physician, not a Judge.
B
A judge‟s judgment is according to righteousness, whereas a physician‟s healing is according to mercy and grace.
C
Christ came to minister as a Physician, to heal, recover, enliven, and save us, so that we might be reconstituted to be His new and heavenly citizens, with whom He is establishing His heavenly kingdom on this corrupted earth.
D
“But go and learn what this means, „I desire mercy and not sacrifice‟”—v. 13:
１
The Lord Jesus heals our spiritual illness, the illness of sin.
２
Between sin and death there are all kinds of illnesses, diseases, and infirmities.
３
The Lord Jesus forgives our sins and also heals us in every way.
４
As sinners, we are sick absolutely, for we are sick physically, spiritually, morally, and mentally, but Jesus, the Forgiver and the Physician, is able to heal all our sicknesses.
５
As our Physician, the Lord heals us mainly in our spirit and in our soul, not mainly in our body.
６
Although the Lord may or may not heal us in our body, He is always ready to heal us in every part of our spirit and soul.
７
The healing of the Lord as our Physician is not mainly physical but spiritual; He is the One who heals our spiritual sicknesses.
E
Paul‟s experience in his later ministry helps us to have a proper appreciation of Christ as the believers‟ Physician:
１
In 2 Timothy 4:20b Paul says, “Trophimus I left at Miletus sick.”
２
The apostle Paul left such an intimate one in sickness without exercising healing prayer for him.
３
Paul also did not execute his healing gift (Acts 19:11-12) to cure Timothy of his stomach illness; rather, Paul instructed him to take the natural way for healing (1 Tim. 5:23).
４
Paul encouraged Timothy to take a little wine, and he left Trophimus in Miletus.
５
Paul cared for his co-workers in a very human way.
６
The reason Paul cared for them in this way is that, in a time of suffering, Paul and his co-workers were under the discipline of the inner life rather than under the power of the outward gift.
７
The former is of grace in life; the latter is of gift in power—miraculous power.
８
Paul‟s experience should help us to see that, for the most part, Christ‟s healing today is for the spirit and the soul.
９
If we see this vision, we will trust in Christ and experience Him as our Physician.
F
As our Physician, Christ has healing authority:
１
His healing is not simply a matter of power but also of authority.
２
There is no need for Him to touch us directly in order to heal us.
３
He needs only to speak a word, and His authority comes with His word to heal us— Matt. 8:8.
４
Our Physician heals us with His authority.
Ⅲ
In Matthew and Revelation Christ is revealed as the Bridegroom—Matt. 9:15; Rev. 19:7-9:
A
Matthew 25:1 is a further word concerning the Lord Jesus as the Bridegroom:
１
This verse reveals that the Lord will come back as the Bridegroom, as the most pleasant and attractive person.
２
The Bible reveals that Christ is God embodied to have the bride.
３
Therefore, Christ‟s status is that of the Bridegroom.
４
As the Bridegroom, He is the pleasant person for our enjoyment.
５
We should appreciate Christ not only as our Physician for the recovery of life but also as our Bridegroom for a living enjoyment in His presence.
B
Revelation 19:7-9 unveils Christ as the Bridegroom:
１
These verses reveal that the Lord Jesus is the Lamb as the Bridegroom.
２
Christ is presented both as the Lamb and as the Bridegroom.
３
In the Gospel of John, Christ is revealed both as the Lamb who came to take away sin and as the Bridegroom who came that He might have the bride.
４
The Lamb is for redemption, and the Bridegroom is for the wedding.
５
The redemption was accomplished by Christ as the Lamb of God, and the wedding will take place when Christ as the coming Bridegroom takes His bride.
６
As the Bridegroom, Christ must have a wedding; our position is that of the bride, and the position of the coming Christ is that of the Bridegroom.
７
We are on the earth being prepared to become the bride to meet Him, and He is on the throne in the third heaven prepared to come as the Bridegroom to meet us.
８
He is coming as the Bridegroom, and we are going as the bride—Matt. 25:1.