relationships (Matthew 4:18-25) Our Need To Be Healed

(Matthew 4:18-25)

18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets; and He called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

23 Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.

24 And the news about Him spread throughout Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and severe pain, demon-possessed, people with epilepsy, and people who were paralyzed; and He healed them. 25 Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

We see here two different types of people following Jesus.  The second group was made up of those who were suffering in some way.  When they heard the news that there was someone healing everything and anything, they flocked to Jesus.  It was their physical suffering that brought them to Him, and perhaps curiosity that kept them seeking after Him.  Some would have genuinely loved Him.  We don't know their hearts or their intentions.  I'm sure some of the people were only interested in receiving other possible physical blessings.  But there would have been some who were hopeful that this was Israel's long anticipated Messiah.  

According to the prophet Daniel (chapter 9), the timeline was correct.  But what most Jews expected of Jesus was incorrect.  It even states in Daniel's prophecy that there would be a cut off point, so if they were truly wanting to understand God, His plans and purpose, they would have understood that Jesus was first going to bring spiritual deliverance and peace for the entire world, through His work on the cross.  Their rejection of Him was the cut off point!  He will come again at the end of the Jewish Age (their remaining seven years, which is the Tribulation).  This is when Jesus will bring physical deliverance, peace and blessings to the entire world, as well as spiritual deliverance, peace and blessings!

Now let's look at the first group of people in these verses.  Jesus called these four men to follow Him, and without hesitation, they dropped everything, and left behind all that they had!  When one's spiritual eyes and ears are opened, we will recognize the Lord God!  And to understand who it is that is calling us to a greater purpose, we should be humbly honored to serve.  Jesus wasn't and isn't just the rightful earthly king of Israel, He is the King of kings.  Jesus is God!!!  Part of the Trinity!!!  And He wants us to join Him, in a personal relationship, to do His work.

This is probably difficult to understand, since we can be so self-absorbed.  It isn't about having God join us in our personal desires and pursuits, which are feeble and shortsighted.  Even when we have good intentions, it is still so arrogant of us to think that God should just get on board with our ideas and help us out with that.  This would be like if Peter, Andrew, James and John would have said to Jesus, "Well, why don't You follow us, instead!  You can then help us build up a grand fishing empire, so we can all all get rich, and maybe we can help out a few people along the way."

Even when we do make the decision to follow the Lord and join Him in His will, plans and purpose, we will still often think that we know better and want God to bless us in our efforts and endeavors.  Let's put it another way, and imagine that we are living in a country with a perfect king, who knows everything, is extremely powerful, so that the land has perfect peace, and all of the people are happy and thriving!  And when he sees us "nobodies" at our regular jobs, and asks us to work with him, are we going to dare tell him that we can improve on his perfection?!

Don't fix what ain't broke!  Except the key issue here is that we are all very broken, and it is only in the Lord Jesus Christ that we can be fixed!  And once we have gone to Him for spiritual healing and accept Him as our Lord, Savior and King, He wants us to join Him in His endeavors.  He is all-knowing and all-powerful, and He is love, so therefore, His way is always best, for us, and everyone else!

Not only do we have the great honor to have a personal relationship with Him, and the honor to serve Him, He wants to continually change us from the inside out, working for us, in us, and through us, to equip us, with His righteousness, love, strength and wisdom, in order to help accomplish the great things that He has purposed!  Are we willing to drop everything and follow Him and His will!?