Everywhere Jesus went he drew a crowd. Hundreds – even thousands – gathered around him. What was the attraction – his personality, his message, his ideas? Or were the people first attracted by what he did for them; miraculously healing them, delivering them, restoring them to health even recovering life in them! The human condition then was much the same as now. People had back problems, arthritis, kidney stones, and heart problems as we do today. The came to Jesus for healing and found that he was much more. He has authority to forgive sins!
Matthew 8:2-3 – Leper – Jesus spoke his word “I am willing. Be cleansed.”
Matthew 8:8-13 – Centurion – Paralysed servant. Jesus spoke his word. “Let it be done to you as you have believed.”
Matthew 8:14-15 – Peter’s mother-in-law. Jesus touched her and the fever left.
Matthew 3:16 – Demon possessed – Jesus cast them out with a word.
Matthew 8:31-32 – Gadarene demons – Jesus cast them out with a word, “Be gone.”
Matthew 9:2 – Paralytic – Jesus spoke his word. “…your sins are forgiven.”
Matthew 9:20-22 – Woman – haemorrhage – Jesus spoke his word, “…your faith has made you well.”
Matthew 9:27 – Two blind men – Jesus spoke his word. “Be it done according to your faith.”
In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul states, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” An imitator is one who copies and performs the behaviour of another. This goes much greater though. We have been given the authority and power to imitate Jesus in his ministry. Luke 9:1, Mark 16:17-18. We have also been given gifts, 1 Corinthians 12:9-20, of healing and miracles, “as he wills.” God intends us to be conduits of prayer and intercession for others who are in need.
by Gordon Kler