Our scripture this morning is Matthew 4:23-25.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
Jesus travelled widely spreading the Good News, healing and teaching. This passage lists an area of diverse population, mostly Jewish but also containing a large number of Gentiles. It shows us that Jesus was was willing to go and do, not to sit and wait for people to come to Him as was common with teachers of that time.
Matthew focuses on some of the sickness that Jesus healed which would have been beyond any medical knowledge or procedure of that time. Jesus healed out of compassion for God’s people and made no distinction for race, religion or heritage. Healing was always done through God’s power and Jesus always connected it with faith in our Creator.
We hear that “large crowds” began to follow Him, including many He had healed (Mark 10:52). This indicates it was not just physical healing that people came for, but something deeper. Jesus healing our frail bodies can be important but nothing is more important than the forgiveness of sin and connection to God that He offers us.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Jesus, our Redeemer. Bless us to go in Your name as He did, sharing Your love with the world. Amen.
