“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.”
Matthew 4:23-25 (KJV)
Jesus traveled around Galilee. Occasionally, he stopped and taught in Galilean synagogues. His usual message dealt with the gospel of the kingdom. In addition, he practiced what he preached by healing the people.
Who was this teaching preacher that healed people? What was this kingdom he taught? And what was its gospel? Matthew did not answer these questions because he was writing to a first century audience who would have known the answers.
In our time, it is still appropriate to ask who Jesus is. It is still appropriate to examine his message and ministry. Perhaps in doing so we may discover why his fame spread across Israel and into Syria. Perhaps we might discover why multitudes of people gathered around him and followed him. Most importantly, we might discover why similar reactions to his message are not common in our generation.
His teaching is with us in the Bible. His gospel of the kingdom has not changed. His example and model for ministry is still appropriate. He still heals and blesses those who seek him. What is the difference between his ministry and the Christian ministries of the 21st century? What is the difference between his life and the lives of his 21st century disciples? We can not change the lives and ministries of others. But we can conform our own to match his.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Forgive us our failures. Deliver us from our own kingdoms and empower us to renew our efforts as your Son’s disciples. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Be encouraged today in Jesus and his kingdom,