Sunday, June 07, 2026
Scriptures: Hosea 5:15-6:6, Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
Sermon title: “Jesus saves desperate people”
- Jesus calls Matthew
Jesus had crossed the Sea of Galilee and returned to Capernaum. There, some men brought Him a paralyzed man lying on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2 NIV). As Jesus continued on His way, He met Matthew, a tax collector. Tax collectors worked for the Roman Empire, collecting taxes from the Jewish people, and were often associated with dishonesty and greed. They were viewed as sinners and social outcasts. Yet Jesus said, “Follow me.” He did not focus on Matthew’s past or reputation but saw his potential and called him to a new life.
Why does God extend His grace to us, despite our sins? As Romans 5:8 reminds us, Christ died for us while we were still sinners. God’s love meets us in our brokenness, offers us hope, and calls us into a restored relationship with Him. Jesus does not call us because we have it all together; He calls us because He can transform our lives.
Matthew was amazed that Jesus would call him, and he responded immediately, leaving behind his job, financial security, and comfortable life to follow Christ. His response teaches us that following Jesus often requires us to let go of something valuable in our lives. Discipleship often requires sacrifice and trust. Jesus calls each of us today to follow him not because life will be free from trials, but so that we may grow in a deeper relationship with Him and experience His presence through every challenge we face.
- Grace at the table
Jesus later shared a meal with tax collectors and sinners, likely at Matthew (Levi)’s house during a banquet held in Jesus’ honor (Luke 5:29). The Pharisees were offended because, in Jewish culture, eating with someone signified acceptance and relationship. They believed a holy person should avoid those with a sinful reputation, but Jesus compared Himself to a physician, explaining that the sick, not the healthy, need a doctor. He came to call sinners who recognize their need for God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
While He never excuses sin, He sees beyond a person’s past and offers the opportunity for transformation and a new beginning. By saying, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” Jesus challenged the Pharisees, who considered themselves righteous but failed to recognize their own need for God’s mercy.
- Jesus’s healing power
While Jesus is speaking with the Pharisees, Jairus, a synagogue leader, approaches Him in desperate faith, seeking healing for his dying daughter. Although leaders like him often opposed Jesus’s ministry, his grief moves him beyond religious and social barriers. It reminds us of the story of Nicodemus, who came to Jesus at night, in secret, to avoid judgment. Jairus now openly seeks help in broad daylight, no longer concerned with his reputation or what might happen because of his visit, but focused on finding hope and life in Christ.
And what does he do? “He knelt before him. He believed that even death could not stop Jesus from healing his daughter. Jesus responds by going with him. Along the way, they encounter another desperate situation: a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years and lived in isolation because of her condition. Notably, both her illness and the age of Jairus’s daughter are connected by twelve years. The woman with the flow of blood believes that even touching Jesus’ cloak will bring healing, and she is immediately restored. Jesus not only heals her body but also restores her dignity and welcomes her back into the community.
When Jesus arrives at Jairus’s house, the situation appears hopeless as mourners gather and death seems final. But Jesus declares the girl is only sleeping, is mocked by the crowd, and then raises her by taking her hand. This miracle reveals Jesus’ authority over death and points to His ultimate victory and power to bring life where all hope seems lost.
- Jesus saves desperate people.
These three stories reveal Christ’s power to save, heal, and restore. They remind us that we are all, in one way or another, desperate people in need of a Savior. Perhaps some of us here have carried burdens for years, grief, disappointment, broken relationships, and illness. Every day, we continue to cry out to God for healing, peace, and strength for each new day.
When healing does not come as expected, it is easy for Christians to feel discouraged and forgotten. However, God desires wholeness for His people, and through Christ’s suffering and sacrifice, He offers hope and healing, as Scripture says, “By His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5 NIV).
Both Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood came to Jesus in humility and faith, recognizing their need and bringing their struggles to the One who alone could help them. Their example echoes James 5:13 NIV: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” When we are in distress, we are invited to bring our needs directly to Jesus in prayer rather than relying only on others. God sees our pain, and He responds to the prayers of His people.
- Conclusion
Do not stop believing in Jesus Christ. These stories remind us that Jesus came for the sick, the broken, and the weary. Whatever burden you carry, grief, fear, or sickness, bring it to Him. Trust Him even when things seem hopeless, keep following Him, and continue to bring your needs to Him. Our hope is in Christ alone, who saves us both now and for eternity. Amen.