In the first 4 chapters of Matthew’s gospel, we read how Jesus began his ministry. His first big address or sermon in Matthew chapters 5-7 records Jesus preaching one of the finest sermons in history. People listening marveled as He did not teach like the scribes, but with authority. Never was there a man who spoke like Him! And this is true! Never has there been a teacher like Jesus! Not only was his teaching the unadulterated word of God, but there was such power in it that people were awe-struck by its profundity.
In the Sermon on the Mount, we read of the principles of the Kingdom of God – we read of those who are inside and those who are outside of this kingdom. We learn about the characteristics of those who are inside the kingdom. The whole book of Matthew deals with the King and His kingdom.
In chapters 8 and 9 we read about the wonderful acts of Christ – Christ’s compassion, His miracles and power on display. We should remind ourselves of the reason why Jesus came to this earth – it was to save His people from their sins (See Matthew 1:21-23). And that is exactly what we see here in chapters 8 and 9. We see Jesus Christ saving, healing and delivering many individuals. It is interesting to note how Matthew, the evangelist, builds his case to show why there has never been a man like Jesus Christ. He was not just a great teacher and preacher, He was the perfect man, a man in whom immense power and compassion came together in perfect harmony.
Some people on earth may have these qualities of power and compassion. But Jesus had both omnipotent power and immense compassion. No human being has done what He has done. And nobody on earth has shown to others such compassion and love as He has shown. People in the world display power – we think of martial artists, wrestlers, body builders and superheroes. We think of women who show immense love to others – those in relief organizations like the Red Cross, nurses and doctors in hospitals who devote their lives to alleviate suffering.
Jesus displayed more power and compassion and touched more lives in His three years of public ministry than all these do in their lifetimes. Jesus didn’t prescribe medicine and antibiotics. Jesus spoke a word or by one touch healed the sick, and by a word drove away devils. He did these things repeatedly. So what we see in the gospels is God doing his works through Jesus His Son.
Jesus performed his miracles, for at least three reasons:
❖To fulfil Old Testament prophecy; to attest to the fact that He was the long-awaited Messiah
❖ So that people would believe that He was the expected Messiah and be saved
❖ To show that the Kingdom of God and the King had come into the world and that He had complete authority over sin, sickness, evil and death
All the healings, miracles and exorcisms were done to bring the Jews, and later the Gentiles, to one conclusion: There is nobody as compassionate and powerful as Jesus Christ. There is nobody that can do what He did: He saves the sinner from sin and the effects of sin and makes him/her right with God.
INTERETHNICMISSIONS 