Reading With the People of God #12 - the Good Life预览

The healing power of Jesus

In the gospel of Matthew today, we see the immediate aftermath of Jesus’ delivery of the Sermon on the Mount. Multitudes had just heard the greatest sermon ever spoken, and many realized they had just heard from the Messiah. Jesus had barely finished speaking when he began ministering and healing as he went. The signs and wonders came fast and furious as He returned to Capernaum in Galilee. A leper, a Roman officer’s young servant, and Peter’s mother-in-law were all healed by Jesus in response to their faith in Christ and believing in their heart that Jesus is Lord. The faith lessons Jesus was teaching are exciting and far-reaching. In healing the leper, the Son of Man knew the stir this would cause among the religious leadership of the day. Although Jesus had been healing every kind of sickness and disease while he was in Galilee, now the synagogue leaders are directly put on notice that something must be done about this Jesus. The Roman officer’s young servant was healed to announce that the Kingdom of God has now been revealed also to the Gentiles, and saving faith can recognize the authority of the Son of God to heal. Not only were sickness and disease being healed, but the demon-possessed were brought to Jesus, and he literally cast out evil spirits with a command. All these signs were recorded by Matthew to draw our attention to the fulfillment of prophecy in Isaiah 53:4,

“He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.” NLT

Don’t mess with Elisha

In today’s OT reading, we see Elisha’s journey after Elijah was caught up to God in a whirlwind. In a cautionary tale, the Bible tells us that it may not be to one’s advantage to mock the prophet of the Most High; when a group of rowdy youths near Bethel began taunting him about his looks, Elisha uttered a curse on them in the name of the Lord, with devastating results.

* Primer contributed by Matt Harry, Elder Emeritus, Cornerstone Community Church of Chowchilla.