The All-Inclusive Christ as Revealed in Matthew
Message Two
Christ as the Physician and the Bridegroom
THE EXTRACT OF THE OUTLINES
Scripture reading:
Matt. 9:12 Now when He heard this, He said, Those who are strong have no need of a physician, but those who are ill.
Matt. 9:15 And Jesus said to them, The sons of the bridechamber cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
I. The Gospel of Matthew reveals that Christ is versus religion and that the things concerning Christ are outside of religion: (Monday)
A. The birth of Christ, the finding of Christ, the recommending of Christ, and the following of Christ were all outside of religion—Matt. 1:18-23; 2:1-12; 3:1-12; 4:12-22.
B. As the Physician and the Bridegroom, Christ is versus religion—Matt. 9:12, 15.
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II. Matthew 9:10-13 indicates that we may experience and enjoy Christ as the Physician: (Tuesday)
A. In calling people to follow Him for the kingdom, the Lord Jesus ministered as a Physician, not a Judge.
B. 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.
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C. 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—Matt. 9:13. (Wednesday)
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D. Paul’s experience in his later ministry helps us to have a proper appreciation of Christ as the believers’ Physician: (Thursday)
1. 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—2 Tim. 4:20; 1 Tim. 5:23.
2. Paul’s experience should help us to see that, for the most part, Christ’s healing today is for the spirit and the soul.
E. As our Physician, Christ has healing authority.
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III. In Matthew and Revelation Christ is revealed as the Bridegroom—Matt. 9:15; Rev. 19:7-9: (Friday)
A. Matthew 25:1 is a further word concerning the Lord Jesus as the Bridegroom—Matt. 25:1:
1. The Bible reveals that Christ is God embodied to have the bride.
2. 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.
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B. Revelation 19:7-9 unveils Christ as the Bridegroom—Rev. 19:7-9: (Saturday)
1. The Lamb is for redemption, and the Bridegroom is for the wedding.
2. He is coming as the Bridegroom, and we are going as the bride—Matt. 25:1.
OPENING WORD OF THE PROPHESYING MEETING
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
Now when He heard this, He said, Those who are strong have no need of a physician, but those who are ill. But go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,” for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners—Matt. 9:12-13.
Let us rejoice and exult, and let us give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And it was given to her that she should be clothed in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints. And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they who are called to the marriage dinner of the Lamb—Rev. 19:7-9.
Word of Appetizer
In what main aspect does our Physician, the Lord Jesus, heal us?
The Lord’s word to the Pharisees [in Matthew 9:13] indicates that the Lord Jesus heals people of their spiritual sickness, the sickness of sin. Our Physician, the Lord Jesus, heals us mainly in our spirit and in our soul, not in our body. The tax collectors and sinners in verse 10 were not physically sick, but spiritually sick. When the Lord Jesus was feasting with them, He was healing them spiritually. Likewise, although the Lord may or may not heal our body, He is always willing to heal every part of our spirit and soul.
Spiritual Burden
Christ came to minister as the Physician to heal, recover, enliven, and save us so that we may be reconstituted to be His new, heavenly citizens for Him to establish His heavenly kingdom on this corrupt earth.
The Lord as our Physician heals us not mainly in our body but spiritually; He is the One who heals our spiritual sicknesses.
We should appreciate Christ not only as our Physician for the recovery of life but also as our Bridegroom for the living enjoyment of His presence.
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
The Gospel of Matthew reveals that Christ is in contrast to religion and that matters related to Christ are outside of religion. Christ’s birth, His being found, His recommendation, and His being followed were all outside of religion. As the Physician and the Bridegroom, Christ is in contrast to religion.
Matthew 9:10-13 indicates that we can experience and enjoy Christ as the Physician.
The Gospel of Matthew and the book of Revelation reveal that Christ is the Bridegroom.
The Experience of Life
The Lord Jesus forgives our sins and heals us in every respect. We are sinners, sick through and through, for we are sick physically, spiritually, morally, and psychologically, but Jesus, the sin-forgiver and Physician, can heal us of all our diseases.
The Lord as our Physician heals us not mainly in our body but spiritually. Paul’s experience should help us to see that Christ’s healing today is mainly for the spirit and the soul.
Practice and Application
As the Bridegroom, He is a pleasant person for our enjoyment. We should appreciate Christ not only as our Physician for the recovery of life but also as our Bridegroom for the living enjoyment of His presence.
Since Christ is the Bridegroom, there must be a wedding. Our standing is that of the bride, and the standing of the coming Christ is that of the Bridegroom. We are on earth preparing to be the bride to meet Him, and He is on the throne in the third heaven preparing to be the Bridegroom to receive us.
PROPHESYING TOPICS—TWELVE TOPICS PER WEEK
Day 1
T1 Christ Has Nothing to Do with Religion (Matt. 9:14-15)
(Please illustrate that according to the record in Matthew 1, the birth of Christ was completely unrelated to religion.)
T2 Jesus Was Introduced in a Way That Had Nothing to Do with Religion (Matt. 3:11)
(Please illustrate that the principle of introducing Christ presented to us in Matthew 3 is also completely outside of religion.)
Day 2
T1 Those Who Are Strong Have No Need of a Physician, but Those Who Are Ill (Matt. 9:12)
(Please illustrate that the Lord took the opportunity of the question raised by the Pharisees to reveal Himself very sweetly as the Physician.)
T2 I Desire Mercy and Not Sacrifice (Matt. 9:13)
(Please illustrate that self-righteous people would rather offer things to God than receive mercy or grace from God; this violates God’s principle.)
Day 3
T1 He Is the One Who Heals Our Spiritual Sicknesses (Matt. 9:12-13)
(Please illustrate that as our Physician, the Lord heals us not mainly physically but spiritually.)
T2 His Healing Is a Matter Not Only of Power but Also of Authority (Matt. 8:8)
(Using the case of the centurion’s servant being healed to explain that the Lord’s healing is a matter not of power but of authority.)
Day 4
T1 In the Degradation of the Church, Gifts of Power Are Not as Needed as the Grace in Life (1 Tim. 5:23; 2 Tim. 4:20)
(What was the reason Paul took care of his co-workers, Timothy and Trophimus, in a very human way?)
T2 The Lord Serves Us with His Forgiving Authority and Cleansing Power (Mark 1:30-31, 40-45; 2:1-12)
(Please illustrate which three cases in the Gospel of Mark reveal the Slave-Savior serving those with fever, the paralytic, and those with leprosy.)
Day 5
T1 In Dealing with the Fasting Disciples of John, Christ Revealed Himself as the Bridegroom Coming for His Bride (Matt. 25:1; John 3:29)
(Please illustrate that as the Bridegroom, Christ is a pleasant person for our enjoyment.)
T2 The Lord’s Disciples Were Full of Joy, in Stark Contrast to the Fasting of John’s Disciples and the Pharisees (Mark 2:19; John 3:29)
(Please illustrate that when the bridegroom is with the companions, if the companions fast, it is a dishonor to him.)
Day 6
T1 The Lord Jesus Is the Lamb as the Bridegroom (John 1:29, 3:29)
(Using the Scriptures to explain that in the Gospel of John, Christ is presented as the Lamb and also as the Bridegroom.)
T2 Christ’s Goal Is Not to Take Away Sin but to Gain the Bride (Rev. 19:7-9)
(Please illustrate that in Revelation, we see again that Christ our Redeemer is the Lamb and also the coming Bridegroom.)
