Deeper Christian Life Ministry – Search The Scripture 20 March 2022 (Volume One Lesson Twelve)

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Topic: Jesus, The Healer (STS 20 March 2022)

MEMORY VERSE: “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (Matthew 8:16,17)

TEXT: Matthew 8:1-17,23-34; 9:1-38

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ engaged in a threefold ministry of preaching, teaching and healing when He was on earth. When people encountered Him during His many but, inspired outreaches, He identified with them and satisfied their needs. Though He came to seek and save those who were lost, He did not fail to give comfort to the bereaved, heal the sick, feed the hungry and deliver the oppressed. His ministry of healing drew multitudes of people to Him wherever He went and complemented His, mission. Christ’s preaching was designed to call sinners to repentance and salvation of their souls. He went about proclaiming to the people, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Those who responded and received Him became His disciples whom He taught and commissioned to follow Him. “Follow me, [He said,] and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). A threefold ministry is needed to meet the people’s physical, spiritual and material needs and every minister or ministry that would fulfil heaven’s mandate must mirror this (Christ’s) model of evangelisation.

The chapters under consideration enumerate our Lord’s many healing exploits which established the people’s faith in Him as the expected Messiah helped to bring multitudes of people into the kingdom of God. “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (Matthew 8:17).

CATALOGUE OF HEALINGS BY CHRIST (Matthew 8:1-17; 9:1-8, 18-34; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:28-34; 12:10-13; 15:28; 17:.14-18; Mark 1:40; Luke 8:26-35; John 5:1-9; 20:30).

There were innumerable miracles of healing Jesus performed as evident in all the gospels; some of them were not even recorded (John 21:25). But Matthew records many of them for our admonition, possession and fulfilment of prophecy (Matthew 8:17). Christ’s ministry of healing cured both common and severe ailments. “And, behold there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean” (Matthew 8:2). Our Lord’s response to this request shows that He is willing to heal those who come to Him for help no matter how serious their case may be. Jesus also healed a centurion’s servant who was sick of the palsy (paralysis) and grievously tormented. This is a lesson for believers on the power of faith.

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The centurion had demanded that Christ should speak the word of power to effect the healing of his servant (Matthew 8:8). “And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour” (Matthew 8: 13). Distance is no barrier to the word of faith for a believing heart. God knows our problems and challenges; He expects His people to ask by faith. Recognition of God’s presence everywhere strengthens believers’ faith, prevents them from running helter-skelter during trials and makes them remain focused. Then there was the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law who was sick of fever (Matthew 8: 14, 15). Other miracles of healing include the sick of palsy (Matthew 9:2); the woman with the issue of blood for twelve years, “For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole” (Matthew 9:21); the daughter of a ruler that was sick and died but was later brought back to life (Matthew 9:23-26); the healing of the two blind men (Matthew 9:27-31); a dumb man possessed with the devil; the lame of Bethsaida and many more. All these happened to fulfil Isaiah’s prophecy. “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4,5). The case of demon-possession is an extreme form of sickness that requires divine intervention (Matthew 8:28-34; Luke 8:26-35). Unlike some sicknesses that have medical remedies, only a spiritual solution can permanently cure it. Most often, victims are insane, uncoordinated, aggressive and extremely violent. “And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way” (Matthew 8:28). With the authority and power of the Son of God, the demons were sent out. The Lord has given the same power to His disciples to deal with such extreme cases (Mark 16:17). Sickness is as old as sin and if Christ could remove sin, He is willing and able to take away our sicknesses as well.

There are, however, other reasons an individual could be sick and they include lack of adequate rest, stress-induced weakness, unbalanced diet, unclean lifestyle, environmental factors, etc. Apart from living a holy life, believers are also enjoined to take preventive measures against sickness by observing healthy lifestyles. It suffices to note that none of the people that came to Jesus for healing left without solution to their problems. This should allay the fear of the sick and those who are being tormented by Satan and his cohorts that there is hope in Christ the moment the conditions, which include repentance and faith, are met. Jesus is the greatest, true and compassionate Healer. He will heal whoever comes to Him in faith.

CHRIST CALMS THE STORMY SEA (Matthew 8:23-27; 14:22-33; Mark 4:35-41; Psalm 65:7; 89:9; 107:29,30)

With a mission to reach all creatures with the gospel and goodness of God, Christ took sail on His way to Magdala where He delivered the demon-possessed, and His disciples followed Him. It is a mark of true discipleship to follow the Lord wherever He goes or leads. As they sailed, “behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered With the waves: but he was asleep” (Matthew 8:24). Perhaps, the tempest was designed to hinder the Lord from proceeding on His mission and denying the demon-possessed the needed deliverance. Paul the apostle said he was determined to go to Thessalonica to minister to the brethren but was hindered (1 Thessalonians 2:18).

From Christ and the disciples’ experience here, we learn the following: one, there could be an unseen resistance to a missionary outreach and the preaching of the gospel of Christ, but we must persevere until the work is done. Two, in spite of the Lord being on the same boat with His disciples, there was still a storm. Three, though they were on their way to do the will of God, they still encountered a challenge. Believers should not expect that there would be no problem when they are in the centre of the will of God. It is reassuring, however, that we have nothing to fear when we sail with the Lord in life’s boat. His promise is, “Fear thou not…When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isaiah 41:10; 43:2). Like the Lord, believers can be unperturbed in the midst of challenges. Without current experience of salvation, unceasing prayer of faith and constant reading of God’s word, many years in the fellowship and intimacy with the church leadership offer no remedy to challenges. We should be grounded in faith, God’s word and prayer to remain steadfast in every situation. Christ rebuked His disciples for being fearful and men of little faith (Matthew 8:26).

COMPASSION ON THE MULTITUDE AND CALL FOR LABOURERS (Matthew 9:35-38; Mark 1:41; 8:34; Matthew 14:14; 15:32; Luke John 34-38)

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people” (Matthew 9:35). It was divine compassion that drew salvation’s plan and brought it down to humanity. Therefore, when the Lord came and saw multitude of people roam aimlessly without knowing the fate that awaits those who die without in sin, “he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

Compassion moved Christ to defy all odds to traverse cities and villages in search of the lost sheep of Israel. He associated with sinners and the sick in a bid to bring them out of misery. While the Pharisees were interested in outward cleansing of washing of hands and other religious activities, He was preoccupied with helping people and saving souls. To be like our Master, we must arise and do the same things. Christians’ concerns for sinners should supersede their craving for worldly applause, political involvement, academic pursuit and determination to be rich in this world. The task of soul-seeking and gathering is enormous, and there is so much to do in the kingdom of God; hence the call for more labourers. All hands must be involved in this urgent commission. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38). God has raised an army of committed, consecrated saints endued with power from above to confront the horde of demons inspiring men and women to commit gross idolatry, immorality and hauling them into perdition.

We need to be moved with compassion and arise with passion to seek and save as many as possible before it is too late souls are crying for help. Christ, the greatest depends on believers to heal the sick, deliver the oppressed and prepare the Bride for the soon-coming Bridegroom

Questions for review: