“The Ruler Who Worshipped” (Ready to Worship S12E11)

November 20, 2020

Ready to Worship Season 12, Episode 11 for Friday, November 20, 2020

This season on Ready to Worship we are examining worship in the gospel of Matthew. We are specifically focusing on the times that Jesus was worshipped in the book. In this study, we are examining the time when a ruler worshipped Jesus. Matthew records, “While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land. And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us” (Mt. 9:18-27). The thing that impresses me most about this ruler is the fact that he didn’t let anything deter him from his worship.

First, death didn’t deter him. Many came to Jesus requesting healing for those that they loved. They came because they were confident in His ability to heal. However, their faith faded fast when sickness became death. Even close disciples struggled to hold on to hope following the death of their loved ones (John 11:20-28). This ruler came and worshipped with his daughter already dead. He wasn’t coming for the restoration of her health, but for the restoration of her life. When his daughter died, he didn’t shake a fist in the face of God. He fell on his face and stretched out his arms in worship to God. Death didn’t deter him. How many far lesser things do we let deter us from worshipping and serving God today? Second, delay didn’t deter him. Eventually, the ruler got to Jesus and made his plea. Graciously, Jesus began following him to his house. Things were finally moving in the right direction. However, they were moving very slowly. A great crowd was in the way. Then, without warning, their progress came to a complete standstill because a woman with an issue of blood reached out and touched Jesus (Mt. 9:20-22). You might say that she broke in line. It was clearly the ruler’s turn, but she stepped in front of him. The woman’s actions delayed Jesus from reaching the ruler’s house. However, the delay didn’t deter the ruler. He remained steadfast in his commitment to Christ. Do we let the delays of life discourage and deter us from worshipping and serving God today? Third, derision didn’t deter him. When the ruler and Jesus finally reached his house, they found a crowd gathered to comfort and to cry with the family. There were even professional mourners in the number. When Jesus spoke of the girl as being asleep, they laughed Him to scorn (Mt. 9:23-24). They were convinced that Jesus didn’t know what he was talking about. After all, they were the professionals. In their minds, Jesus was just a pretender. They were laughing at Jesus and the ruler for having sought and brought Jesus. The derision could have deterred the ruler, but it didn’t. He would have the last laugh when his daughter was restored to life. Do we let the derision of the crowds deter us from worshipping and serving God today? If we aren’t careful they will cause us to miss out on the blessing! As we get ready to worship this week, let’s remember the ruler who worshipped Him. Let’s follow His lead and not let anything deter us!