Matthew 15:30-31
A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all. 31 The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn’t been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel. |
What a beautiful picture of the body of Christ at work!. A vast crowd, which would be the equivalent of the modern day church, brought people to Jesus! They brought the lame, blind, sick, and hurting! The sick and hurting doesn't just apply to those with physical ailments, it also applies to those who were suffering relational and emotional wounds (Mathew 4:23).
The Church was on the move! They were gatherers! They were a living and loving example of what it truly looks like to be "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19).. They cast their nets into their communities, into their homes, and into the areas where they worked. As they reached those around them, they "laid them before Jesus", meaning many of those they brought wouldn't have made it on their own. They were literally carried by the hands, and on the backs, of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! They truly were laboring in the fields (Luke 10:2). No wonder there was a 30, 60, and 100 fold harvest! (Mark 4:20) Jesus "healed them all" (Matthew 12:15). Every sickness! Every disease! Every virus! Every cancer! Every disorder! Not one person left that day the same as they came! Even the believers in the "crowd [were] amazed... and praised the God of Israel" (Matthew 15:31). Everyone grew that day. The body of Christ grew in number, and those that knew Christ grew in their faith. Times have changed, but God's power hasn't! He is waiting on His Church to, once again, cast their nets and usher the lost into His presence. When we do, we too, will see others healed by His power as we stand amazed and sing His praise!
Father, thank You for sending Your one and only son, Jesus! Jesus, thank You for giving Your life so we could have life. Thank You for conquering death, destruction and the grave! Lord, help us and empower to cast our nets into the fields of harvest. Help us to become fishers of men. May we guide them into the promise land of Your presence! In Jesus mighty and holy name we pray! Amen.
The Church was on the move! They were gatherers! They were a living and loving example of what it truly looks like to be "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19).. They cast their nets into their communities, into their homes, and into the areas where they worked. As they reached those around them, they "laid them before Jesus", meaning many of those they brought wouldn't have made it on their own. They were literally carried by the hands, and on the backs, of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! They truly were laboring in the fields (Luke 10:2). No wonder there was a 30, 60, and 100 fold harvest! (Mark 4:20) Jesus "healed them all" (Matthew 12:15). Every sickness! Every disease! Every virus! Every cancer! Every disorder! Not one person left that day the same as they came! Even the believers in the "crowd [were] amazed... and praised the God of Israel" (Matthew 15:31). Everyone grew that day. The body of Christ grew in number, and those that knew Christ grew in their faith. Times have changed, but God's power hasn't! He is waiting on His Church to, once again, cast their nets and usher the lost into His presence. When we do, we too, will see others healed by His power as we stand amazed and sing His praise!
Father, thank You for sending Your one and only son, Jesus! Jesus, thank You for giving Your life so we could have life. Thank You for conquering death, destruction and the grave! Lord, help us and empower to cast our nets into the fields of harvest. Help us to become fishers of men. May we guide them into the promise land of Your presence! In Jesus mighty and holy name we pray! Amen.