Matthew: Healing in His PresenceSample

Healing Brings Praise

Jesus had just been in the region of Tyre and Sidon and makes his way south to the Sea of Galilee. There He sits down on a mountainside. After all, He had just come from a long journey. He probably needed a break! It wasn't long before tons of people heard He was there and came looking for Him. They wanted to be healed or have their loved ones healed, and they heard He could do it.

For three days, people brought the lame, blind, mute and crippled with hopes of being healed. Scripture tells us that Jesus healed them all! Their sacrifice in making the long trek resulted in miracle upon miracle. Can you imagine the elated shouts of joy as a blind son could see his mother for the first time? Or the amazing sight of a crippled child with shriveled leg muscles begin walking! We can't comprehend the sounds of praise coming from that mountainside.

But wait - another miracle was yet to come! These people had not eaten in three days. Many stayed around because they wanted a chance to be healed by Jesus. Wouldn't you stay if you knew He could heal you? Instead of Jesus sending them home hungry, He had compassion on them. He asked his disciples what food they had available to them - seven loaves of bread and a few small fish.

Does this story sound familiar? It should because Jesus had previously fed 5,000+ people with five loaves of bread and two small fish. But this is a different group of people and another opportunity for a miracle. This time it's seven loaves and a few small fish.

What’s beautiful in this passage is that we never see the reproduction of the fish and loaves all in one place. Instead, Jesus breaks the loaves and passes them on to the disciples, who in turn, break their pieces and pass them on, and it continues until everyone is fed and seven basketfuls are left over. In the end, because a few people surrendered their last meal, 4,000 men plus women and children had their fill of food.

Notice they started with seven loaves and ended with seven basketfuls. Jesus used their offering and multiplied it beyond their need!

Questions:

1. What might this story teach us about offering Jesus the little we have, even when it doesn’t seem like enough?

2. How does Jesus’ compassion here challenge your own approach to people in need, especially when you feel tired or worn out?

3. Where in your life have you seen God multiply your obedience or sacrifice into blessings far greater than you imagined?