In Matthew 4, the Gospel writer summarized Jesus’ early ministry; “Jesus
Photo by James Ahlberg on Unsplash went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” Now he writes, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”
Between those two summaries, Jesus has done much. He provided the bulk of His teaching to the crowds, healed diseases, demonstrated sovereignty over the wind and waves, casted out the demonic, forgave sin, called Matthew into ministry, raised the dead and restored sight to the blind and speech to the mute. In short, between those two summaries Jesus has completely fulfilled Isaiah’s prophesy of Messiah.
For Isaiah had prophetically written, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.” Truly, chapters 5-7 of Matthew are good news, and all of it was preached to the poor! Every time Jesus saw a point of Law He saw something of the character of God. So all of Jesus’ teaching – whether beatitudes or greater explanation of the Law – points to a God who loves His created children and wants the very best for them. So much so, that He calls us to be His reflection for others.
Isaiah had written, “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.” So Jesus has ministered to those who were crushed in spirit. He healed the leper. He healed the centurion’s servant. He healed Peter’s mother-in-law. He healed the paralytic. He healed the woman who had almost lost hope on account of her persistent bleeding. He raised Jarius’ daughter – who was dead and beyond hope – to life.
Isaiah had written, “He has sent me to […] proclaim freedom for the captives.” So Jesus freed those who were captive to demonic oppression and possession. He ministered to the demon-possessed at the beginning of His teaching, and again at Peter’s house, “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word.” He cast out the demons from the two demon-possessed men in the Gadarenes, and also from the man who was mute.
Finally, Isaiah had written, “He has sent me to […] proclaim […] release from darkness for the prisoners.” To that point, Jesus restored sight to the blind and speech to the man who was mute. From the absence of sensory input to the absence of ability, Jesus has released, freed and restored.
Matthew is not even halfway done writing his Gospel, but already we can see how Jesus truly and fully fulfilled the prophetic mandate of Messiah!
Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.
Henri Nouwen
APPLICATION: Intentionality
We are Christians. The word means literally, ‘little Christs’. How are we fulfilling the Messianic agenda? Are we bringing the Kingdom of God to others today and celebrating that the Kingdom of God can come through us, or are we about our own agenda and still waiting till He appears in power?