Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Matthew 12:9-21.
But when
Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed
him, and he healed them all (Matthew 12:15).
After describing the plotting of the Pharisees “how they
might destroy him” (v. 14), Matthew begins, “But when Jesus knew it….” (v. 15).
This is an indication of the true deity, alongside the true humanity of our
Lord. He knows all things. In John 2, the apostle says, “he knew all men, and
needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man” (vv.
24-25).
Christ then withdrew himself from that place. At this point in his
ministry, he knew that his hour had not yet come.
Matthew adds, “and great multitudes followed him…” Throughout his
ministry, Christ was constantly being thronged by the weak, the sick, the
demon-possessed, the dying, the needy (cf. Matthew 4:24-25; 9:35-36).
In the last part of v. 15 Matthew adds, “and he healed them all.”
That is an amazing statement. The commentary in one study Bible notes, “In all
of OT history there was never a time or person who exhibited such extensive
healing power.”
Even today, Christ makes whole every single person who comes unto
him.
Matthew will proceed to declare that in these actions Christ
fulfilled the prophet Isaiah, citing Isaiah 42:1-3 (cf. Matthew 12:17-20). He
closes by saying, “And in his name shall the Gentiles trust” (v. 21). This
seems to indicate that among the multitudes that followed after Christ, there
were not only Jews in need of healing but also Gentiles, “and he healed them
all.”
This short verse provides a window into the breathtaking scope of
our Lord’s ministry. In the end we are left in awe not merely at the fact that
he healed all the multitude, or that he healed both Jews and Gentiles, but that
his mercy and compassion has extended even unto us.
Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle
No comments:
Post a Comment