PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 8:1-4
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“See that you don’t tell anyone.” (Matthew 8:4)
Why did Jesus silence people, wouldn’t it be good advertising?
I suspect that Jesus did not want to become a travelling healing circus.
On the one hand, miracles served as signs to confirm he was God’s messiah.
On the other hand, they distracted people from his message and mission.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and people get lost in crowds.
People also get confused by the power of mobs, using it against others.
He came to love people, and to equip people to love other people.
Jesus works one on one and two by two, and gathers with the two or three.
Seeking crowds can actually get in the way of doing the Lord’s work.
Crowd control, organizational systems, the institution… displace personal impact.
Too many in big crowd churches remain disconnected, disengaged and disempowered.
Instead of being equipped, disciples become consumers of the weekly ‘miracle show’.
And big names with big crowds and big impacts also have big falls with big damage.
Maybe I should focus one on one and two by two, and gathers with the two or three.
PRAYER
Lord, I think my focus is too big. I need to narrow my focus on the few who can then focus on a few others, and trust your Spirit to spread the flame of love.
The man in this healing trusted that Jesus could heal him if Jesus was willing. He was and then the man was healed. Interesting, Jesus says don’t go telling everyone but go to the priest and show them “as a testimony to them.” It is a testimony of this man’s faith – it is a testimony of this man’s faith – he bears witness to the priest – and I am sure the man told the priest what happened – so the priest learns of Jesus’ healing – it is this man’s testimony to him as well. The Apostle Peter says that we should always be ready to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” A lot of healing goes on – but it is not meant to be ‘showcased’. Help me Lord to bear testimony to the hope I have – I have been cleansed of the leprosy of sin!
What a miracle!
I too would like to tell the whole world about the great happening. The man probably went on his way praising God for what had happened almost not believing his good fortune. Made whole. The disease gone. I’m clean.
Jesus did not desire that the miracles would get in the way of the message. People needed to hear that Jesus saves. And those seeing the healed man, they would certainly desire to see/hear more. Jesus is the Healer Who gives Life, true LIFE to all who come to Him. He heals. He saves.
We have heard the joyful sound:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to ev’ry land,
Climb the steeps and cross the waves;
Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command;
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!