Matthew 4:23-25
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
These are just a few verses, tucked in between the more dramatic “call of the disciples” and the more famous “Sermon on the Mount.” Yet in these spare lines Matthew captures for us, in a nutshell, the ministry of Jesus. He heals and restores everyone with whom he comes into contact. Sick, in pain, possessed, troubled by afflictions of all manner – Jesus heals them all.
This can’t be disconnected from what he has just said, of course. In fact, the chief manifestation of the “kingdom of God” is that it represents a new way of being in the world, a way of being characterized by abundant life. And so Jesus comes and immediately stands against all that would keep the children of God from life, health, and happiness.
These verses – and all those like them scattered throughout the Scriptures – are encouraging, inspiring, and revealing. But they can also be quite painful for those who are suffering and do not experience healing. Why then and not now, we might ask. Or, more poignantly, why them and not us?
There is no adequate answer. Christians through the centuries have posed that the time of Jesus’ ministry represents a special time, a royal time when the kingdom was not just coming but actually breaking in, palpable in its very nearness. And this is indeed a feature of some of the gospel stories (especially Luke). Yet that doesn’t take away the hope for healing or disappointment when it doesn’t happen.
I must admit that I have no particularly good answer to such questions. But I do see in these verses the affirmation that Jesus comes to heal and from that discern and believe that God wants health and abundant life for all of God’s children. The gap between God’s intention and our reality can be painful, and so I both understand and sympathize with the solution of one like Rabbi Kushner who solves this dilemma by stressing the limitations of God, suggesting that in a free world God cannot always do as God wants and preserve our freedom. But I want here also to stress the invitation of God. That is, as disciples of Jesus we are invited not only to pray for healing and abundant life for ourselves and others, but also to work for it: caring and advocating for all in need.
This doesn’t solve the “problem of pain” either. But it does give us a response, something to do in the meantime, even as we wait and pray for abundant life for all.
Prayer: Dear God, use us to care for those in need…whoever they may be…wherever we may find them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
In the law of Moses, the kingdom of Israel was promised health and prosperity if it kept that law (for example, Deut. 6:1-3). Jesus’ healing came with no such conditions; he healed everyone here, even Gentiles from Syria and the Decapolis. But these crowds were not his disciples; they were more focused on his healing. Jesus himself was focused on calling certain disciples to leave their prospering businesses and follow this poor Messiah (king).
Jesus also focused on teaching his new kingdom, a kingdom of those (disciples) who repent and turn from their self-indulgent ways and follow him. Jesus’ healing revealed his awesome power (as the new king) and his widespread mercy; and he will teach his disciples (in Mt. 5:7) to also be merciful (toward others in need) so that in the future they will receive mercy (at the final judgment). This new gospel is more about giving (help to others) than receiving (help from others); it’s more about Jesus (and following him) than about us (and our health or prosperity).
It’s good to see you again, David. I was worried about you.
Sometimes I have seen God answer prayer in my family for healing of life threatening illness. Other times on some requests the answers were slower or we could be tempted to think that God doesn’t answer if we don’t see or experience healing, but, at least from my experience, it seems pain and suffering are part of our life’s journey and the test is whether or not we let it hurt our relationship with God. By that I mean it tests our relationship with God, whether we continue to trust and love Him and to believe beyond the present that He has a plan for all our lives and we’ll let Him work it out for good. Thanks for this post David I really like it.