Devotionals: Jesus Heals (June 5th)

We apologize for the lateness of this post. Each week in June we will be posting short devotionals designed to go with the message taught on Sunday morning. This post goes with the message taught on Sunday June 5^th.

Restore: Jesus Heals

Sunday June 5, 2011

Helpful Readings for the Week

• Read Matthew 7:24-29
  
• Read Matthew 8:1-17
  
• Read Matthew 8:24-9:8
  
• Read Matthew 9:18-34
  
• Read Matthew 9:35-38
  

Devotional Thoughts

Hearers and doers (Matthew 7:24-29)

This is the end of the Sermon on the Mount. It is the final point of application that Jesus makes. He uses two examples. The first is labeled wise because he builds his life on the teachings of Jesus. In fact, the wise man actually does what Jesus taught him to do. The second is labeled foolish because he hears the teaching of Jesus but does not put it into practice. The wise man endures the storms of life while the foolish man is destroyed by those same storms.

Jesus is a wise man. He does not just say these things and walk off. Jesus goes out and actually does what he was talking about. He becomes a healer. In this, he demonstrates the heart of God. Consider your life and your attitude towards God and others. Are you like the wise man or the foolish man? How does your life reflect the heart of God?

Jesus the Healer (Matthew 8:1-17)

In this passage Jesus heals a leper, a paralyzed servant of a roman centurion, Peter's mother-in-law, and all who came to Peter's house. Jesus heals the outcast, the foreigner, and a friend. He did not have to be physically present to heal. The faith of those seeking healing was vital to Jesus' healing work.

Who can Jesus heal? Everyone! Jesus does not have a method or a series of hoops to jump through. He doesn't charge a fee or put conditions on healing. Jesus sees people who need him and does something about it. What healing do you need? Do you believe Jesus can provide it? Seek out Jesus as the people in the scripture do. You may be surprised by what you find.

The Troubled Healer (Matthew 8:24-9:8)

Not everyone is happy with how Jesus is being a hearer and doer of God's word. Jesus heals two people in terrible trouble (possession) and the whole turn turned out to ask him to leave. Jesus heals a paralyzed man and is called a blasphemer by local scribes (religious leaders). Good deeds punished and rejected by those who refused to recognize the work of God.

With wise action comes the mockery of fools. When Jesus begins to work his healing in our lives there will be no shortage of people who doubt God's work. Being a hearer and a doer of God's work will sometimes be very uncomfortable. Let us press on and recognize that God's work is far greater and far more important than the approval of others.

The People Hear and are Amazed (Matthew 9:18-34)

Jesus heals a woman who touches his cloak, he raises to life the dead child of a synagogue leader, he causes two blind men to see, and he enables a mute to speak. After each action the word spread. Even when Jesus asked the two formerly blind men to stay quiet, they told everybody. Jesus was becoming a sensation. Crowds gathered and were amazed. Opponents tried to sway the crowd by suggesting the Jesus was a demon himself. In all that happened one thing was clear…what Jesus was doing was a Big Deal.

How often are we amazed by Jesus? How do we react to stories of God at work? I wonder sometimes how much glory we give God for his work in our lives and in our church. Have you ever had a hint of skepticism creep into your thoughts when you hear a testimony of healing (physical, mental, relational, or emotional)? I wonder where that comes from. Let us be more intentional in recognizing and celebrating God at work. Let us give him the glory openly and loudly. Let us stand amazed by the healing work of God. The work of God is a Big Deal. Let us do nothing to stand in His way.

Becoming a Laborer Like Jesus (Matthew 9:35-38)

Jesus did not stop his healing ministry. He continued travelling, teaching, and healing. Sick people of all types went or were brought to him. In every case Jesus cured those people. Imagine all that attention and work. Everywhere Jesus turned there were more sick, harassed, and helpless people. His compassion was for them. Jesus cared. He cared about the condition of all the people he met. He worked for the good of all the people he met. In this we have an example to follow. The condition of the world and the people in it today is not something to avoid or ignore. Recognizing need is an opportunity to take action as Jesus did. Through faith, the healing ministry of Jesus continues through us.

As Jesus worked he recognized the extent of the need. The phrase "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" is a reflection of the reality Jesus saw. Jesus began to ask God for more workers. Not long after this Jesus will send out his disciples to do the same work he is doing. Jesus is still sending out disciples. You and I are some of them. What will we do when we recognize the opportunity for God to work? How are we joining in the healing ministry of Jesus? Let's choose to be his disciples today.