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Learning the Right Lessons

Text: Matthew 8 : 14 - 17

Jesus spent much time instructing His disciples. It was important that they learned much and that they learned well too! There were “formal lessons” where Jesus would expound to them portions of Scripture. There were also “informal lessons” which the disciples were supposed to learn as they watched Jesus ministering to people. The big problem always is “What are the right lessons?”

What were the lessons they were supposed to learn as they saw Jesus healing people? What lessons were they supposed to learn from seeing Jesus healing the leper? What other lessons were they to learn from Jesus healing the centurion’s servant boy with just a word? He didn’t even have to go the quarters of the centurion to heal the young lad who was at death’s door!

Matthew went on to record a special miracle done with reference to the mother-in-law of a fellow disciple.

“Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house,
He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever.
So he touched her hand, and the fever left her.
And she arose and served them.”
Matthew 8:14-15

A third miracle! Three miracles performed successively. All differently performed! There must be more to these miracles than just the fact the people were healed!

UNDERSTANDING THE MINISTRY OF HEALING

Jesus was right when He instructed the leper not to publicize His healing ministry. Mark made a note of this in his Gospel concerning the response of the healed leper.

“And He strictly warned him and sent him away
at once, and said to him, ‘See that you say nothing
to anyone…’ However, he went out and began to
proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter…”
Mark 1:43-45

We can understand why the leper went out to tell others about how he was healed! He must have been so thrilled about how he was healed that he forgot the instructions of Jesus. His family and friends must have pressed him concerning how he was healed. Whatever the case, his lack of full understanding of the healing ministry of Jesus complicated things. Mark went on to record this fact.

“Jesus could no longer openly enter the city,
but was outside in deserted places; and they
came to Him from every direction.”
Mark 1:45

Matthew’s record of Jesus entering into the home of Peter’s mother-in-law does not contradict Mark’s text. The latter wrote about the final result of how misunderstanding the healing ministry of Jesus could result in hindrances to the real Mission of the Messiah. Let us ponder Matthew’s comprehension of the healing ministry of Jesus found in this important text.

“When evening had come, they brought to Him
Many who were demon-possessed. And He cast
out the spirits with a word, and healed all who
were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
‘He Himself took our infirmities,
and bore our sicknesses. ‘ ”
Matthew 8:16-17

1. The compassion of Jesus

How the heart of Jesus must have ached for the people who were brought to Him.

a) “Many were demon-possessed”

There was no power on earth that could combat the powers of the demons! Only God could effectively counter the power of the demons. Jesus drew on that power and with a word drove the demons out of their hosts.

b) “All who were sick”

There were many who were sick! They were more concerned about their physical well-being than they were about their spiritual health! It does not follow that those who are ill would naturally turn to Jesus for spiritual instruction!

Nevertheless, Jesus ministered to all who came to see Him. His heart was so full of compassion that He overlooked their focus and concentration on the physical.

2. The understanding of the Disciples

Did the followers of Jesus learn the right lessons? Matthew’s text would indicate that they had some level of comprehension and appreciation concerning the healing ministry of Jesus.

a) “That it might be fulfilled…”

Jesus’ healing ministry was a fulfillment of a prophecy of Isaiah! The context of Isaiah’s prophetic word was that of the Suffering Messiah. To those who were truly discerning (and there were not many), they would have recognized and appreciated the significance of Jesus stretching out His hands to heal. Did they recognize WHO Jesus really was? Or were they so caught up with their desire to be healed that they did not think about Jesus at all?

b) “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses…”

These words described the tender manner in which Jesus must have ministered to the sick. He was never brusque. He felt their sorrows. Then He healed them lovingly.