Jesus Heals Many

Introduction

Suppose you lived in Galilee during the time of Jesus. You have heard about the miracles Jesus has performed throughout the land. Perhaps you have not seen these miracles first hand. What would these miracles teach you? Now, you are back in 2023. You are far from Galilee and many years since these Biblical miracles have taken place. You come to a passage like Matthew 8:14-17

Matthew 8:14–17 NIV84

14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. 16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”

What do you do with this passage? How is it relevant to us as Christians today? There are four distinct traits we see about Jesus here today. If we fully understand one verse of the Bible, we will realize these traits. First though, let’s look at the one verse I am speaking of:

Hebrews 13:8 NIV84

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

If that is true, and I believe that to be true with all I am, then we will see more truths jumping out of this passage from Matthew that will help us understand Jesus even more today.

Notice first of all, the compassion of Jesus.

The Compassion of Jesus (vs. 14)

Matthew 8:14 NIV84

14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.

Jesus was always compassionate to those He in His path. He was always aware of their needs.

His Awareness

Jesus was aware of this lady being sick. We do not see anywhere in scripture where Peter comes to Jesus and says, “Master, come quickly! My mother-in-law is sick!” Nor do we see Mrs. Peter coming and telling Jesus her mother was sick. Jesue was aware of the need. I am reminded that Jesus is aware of my need way before I take it to Him! Multiple times in scripture we see His awareness.

Matthew 12:15 NIV84

15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick,

Matthew 16:8 NIV84

8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?

Matthew 26:10 NIV84

10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

Mark 8:17 NIV84

17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?

John 6:61 NIV84

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?

I encourage you to go back and study these passages to help you understand the awareness of Jesus and how that drives His compassion.

His awareness comes about because of His attitude.

His Attitude

What was the attitude of Jesus? Jesus had the attitude of being a servant. The Apostle Paul stated it best in Philippians 2:5-8

Philippians 2:5–8 NIV84

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

The attitude of Jesus always showed compassion. His compassion made Him available.

His Availability

The Prophet Isaiah stressed the importance of calling on the Lord.

Isaiah 55:6 NIV84

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

This is played out in the passage from Matthew. Jesus had compassion that made Him available. He did not have to go to Peter’s house. Yet He did. As I study this, I am reminded that I should also be a person of compassion. I need to be aware with an attitude of being available.

Notice also the care of Jesus.

The Care of Jesus (vs. 15)

Matthew 8:15 NIV84

15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

His Contact

I cannot get over the fact that Jesus took the time to touch this sick woman. Do you realize that at least two Jewish laws were broken when He did? The Jews prohibited anyone from touching someone that was sick. It also prevented a rabbi from touching a woman at all just in case she was on her menstrual cycle and proclaimed unclean. The word from which fever is translated implies a sickness and not just a symptom. The care of Jesus shows that He was not concerned with man-made law, but chose to make human contact. There are many scientific studies that show the benefits of touch. In fact, if you were to google that topic, you will get 455,000,000 hits where that is shown to be true. Jesus knew that way before google did!

The physical contact Jesus shared with this woman led to a communion of healing and wholeness.

His Communion

We can be certain that the fever left her because of her communion with Jesus. There is no word of healing described in this passage; Jesus simply touches. Interestingly, this is the only time in Matthew’s gospel where there was no request for healing. Yet, the healing was complete. It was instantaneous. Notice what happens when we commune with Jesus. We experience His companionship!

His Companionship

Immediately the woman got up and she began to serve. Jesus did not say, “I will make a deal with you. I will heal you if you get up and serve me and wait on me hand and foot.” No. I believe that this woman initiated serving her Lord because she was so grateful to be healed! The lesson from Peter’s mother-in-law is that when Jesus heals our response immediately and automatically be service out of gratitude!

The compassion and care of our Lord reveals to us much about His character.

The Character of Jesus (vs. 16)

Matthew 8:16 NIV84

16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.

We see three character traits here.

Curer

Jesus is the curer. By now, people heard of these miracles and they knew of Jesus being about to cure and heal. In this example, we see Jesus curing people two different ways. There were people that were possessed by demons. Jesus gave them a word, perhaps it was similar to what we saw in Luke 4:35

Luke 4:35 NIV84

35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

It is good to know by the way that there was not a demon so powerful that Jesus could not remove with a word!

We know that Peter’s mother-in-law had a fever and was physically sick. We also see in verse 16 the words “healed all the sick.” The word for sick can also mean “to have problems of the mind.” This tells me that Jesus healed that which was physical, that which was spiritual, and that which was psychological. Three difficult ailments are presented and all three are cured! Jesus was not only the curer, or healer, but He was the Counselor.

Counselor

Remember what Isaiah said Jesus would be?

Isaiah 9:6 NIV84

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Interestingly, we see Jesus with the character trait of authority and He is Commander.

Commander

Just by His word, He shows His commanding authority. Disease and demons try to battle Jesus, but we see His character trait as commander.

Revelation 17:14 NIV84

14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Revelation 19:16 NIV84

16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.

Are you catching what is being thrown down here? Waith there’s more! The compassion, care and character of Jesus ultimately show us something even greater. In fact, Matthew chooses to quote the Prophet Isaiah to emphasize the completion of Jesus.

The Completion of Jesus (vs. 17)

Matthew 8:17 NIV84

17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”

The addition of this Old Testament prophecy in this passage shows me some things that want to make me shout.

Fulfilled

First, prophecy is fulfilled. That tells me that the Word of God is dependable and trustworthy. God spoke this word to Isaiah 600 years before Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law and the other mentioned here. The purpose of Jesus was foretold and it was fulfilled! It was also finalized.

Finalized

Let me explain what I mean. Old Testament Scripture and Jewish tradition held that all sickness is caused directly or indirectly by sin. I do not get sick necessarily because I have sinned, but I get sick because sin entered mankind in the Garden of Eden when mankind chose to deliberately disobey God. In theological terms, it is called the depravity of man. It simply means that because of the fall of mankind, we are sinful, we live in a sinful world, and the punishment of sin is death. When we see the words from Isaiah in verse 17 here in Matthew’s Gospel, we see two verbs that stand out: TOOK and CARRIED. They indicate that the complete removal of the sickness in question. The carrying of disease is so that we see it no more. It is beyond bearing the burden of it and means it has been removed. Healing and forgiveness are tied together. The Psalmist understood it this way and can shout:

Psalm 103:1–5 NIV84

1 Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The healings of Jesus here and in other places, show us that prophecy was fulfilled, the fulfillment is final, and therefore we are completed in Christ and forever more are FREE!

Free

We may experience physical and psychological sicknesses, but the work of Christ has freed us!

Revelation 21:4 NIV84

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

There is one more thing you and I can do as a result of studying this passage. We can do what Jesus demonstrates here. You might say, “No I can’t because I am not Jesus.” True you are not. But as a follower of Jesus, we can show compassion. We can care as He cared. We can exhibit traits of His character. But most of all, we can be complete in fulfilled, finalized and free from the penalty of sin.

Have you decided to follow Jesus?