The Solution

Matthew chapter 8:1-34 documents a veritable avalanche of miracles that resulted from Jesus' ministry to the Jewish people. 

Matthew 8 lists:

• the healing of a leper, 
• the healing of a paralyzed Gentile servant,  
• the healing of Peter's mother-in-law from a fever,
• the freeing of two men from demon possession,

and continues in chapter 9 with 

• the forgiving and healing of a paralytic man,
• the calling of Matthew to follow Jesus,
• the raising of a girl from the dead,
• the healing of a women from twelve years of illness,
• the restoration of sight for two blind, and 
• the restoration of a mute man's ability to speak again.

Then at the end of chapter 9, in verses 35-36, Matthew succinctly characterizes the key aspects of Jesus' ministry, their impact and what motivated Him:

35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

For two chapters Matthew describes what happens when the power of the kingdom of God is released to people who are weary and broken from years of religious oppression by the religious leaders and teachers of the Law. Further, because of Israel's past unfaithfulness, secular Rome now controlled Israel and their destiny was in the hands of a cruel King Herod appointed by Rome and an unfaithful High Priest. Jesus had grown up amongst all this and His ministry was about forgiveness, the love and mercy of God and freedom from sin and sickness despite the oppression of Rome and the religious leaders of the day. The four key aspects of His ministry were:

• Teaching in the synagogues; ministry to the faithful. Jewish life was built around the rituals and festivals of the Law. Many of these rituals were undertaken grudgingly by many but despite this there were many faithful Jews who carefully followed the Law but still yearned for a greater freedom as well. Jesus ministered in the synagogues to undo centuries of legalism and to reshape their thinking about the coming Kingdom of God. Jesus came to clarify what the Law truly said and undo the oppressive dogma that had been added by the scribes and priests.

• Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom; ministry to the burdened. Roman rule was a cruel experience and combined with a religious leadership who greedily added to to the cost of worship, it is of no surprise that the poor, sick and needy flourished in Israel. Galilee, where Jesus grew up, was regarded as the 'boon-docks' and He was extremely aware not only of the spiritual poverty of Israel but also He was aware of the day-to-day burden that the people endured under Rome's rule. The people yearned to be free of Rome (and Herod) and that is why many flocked to Jesus hoping for a Messianic kingdom. However more importantly Jesus came to liberate those who yearned to be free of the burden of sin and the shame of that sin. The fact that His kingdom was a spiritual kingdom was lost on many although they saw the impact of that kingdom at work in their midst. 

• Healing every sickness and disease; ministry to the sick.  Of the miracles cited above nearly all are for the healing of sickness or severe physical disability. We might be forgiven for thinking that physical healing was the center-piece of His ministry. However what Jesus showed was that sickness of the soul (sin) was a greater ailment than physical sickness. In the case of the paralytic man (Matthew 9:1-8) Jesus saw that this man was not only physically paralyzed but beset by sin as well. Jesus addressed his sin first which surprised all those gathered around. Jesus knew that both sickness and sin stops people from fulfilling what God wants for their lives and both were able to be subjugated by the power of God. Jesus showed that spiritual sickness was just as bad as physical sickness and both could be, and must be, addressed when He linked the paralytic man's forgiveness to his ability to walk: "But that you may know the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" He said to the paralytic "Arise take up your bed, and go home" and he arose and departed to his house. Matthew 9:6-7.

• Understanding the plight of the people; ministry to all. Jesus looked at the multitudes and saw that all of them (and all humankind) were burdened in some way. There was no-one exempt from His concern. Wherever He went people flocked to Him because they sensed that He was the solution to their plights and because He constantly expressed God's love for them:  

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17.

Notes:

Painting: Healing of the Blind Man
Artist: Carl Bloch 

Painted: 1871