Matthew 4:23-25
23 Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 24 News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all. 25 Large crowds followed him wherever he went—people from Galilee, the Ten Towns,[h]Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.
Having called his first disciples to train under him, Jesus then goes across the region demonstrating what his ministry would look like. As he healed the sick and cast out demons, I wonder whether these young fishermen stood there wide eyed and jaws dropped. You expect us to learn how to do this?! You want us to live this kind of supernatural life? You really think that we can do what you do?
Jesus’ ministry had two parts. The first was to share the proclamation about the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven. The second was to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers and to cast out the demons. Interestingly, this was the pattern of the early church as well. They would travel to a new town and start to heal the sick. Then they would say, ‘I bet you are wondering what we did there.’ It is so much easier to share the Gospel when you have healed someone.
I was listening to Jonathan Conrathe tell a story last night about being on a ferry and receiving a word of knowledge about someone who needed healing. He prayed for them and they were healed, then the whole ferry gave their lives to God.
Jesus wanted people to hear and to experience the Good News. He did not just teach but demonstrated the Kingdom of God and what it would be like. As followers of him, filled with the Holy Spirit, we have access to the same power. The Holy Spirit loves to heal and to do miracles.
