The synagogue of Nazareth was filled with expectation. The son of Joseph had come home and was about to read from the Prophets. Word had spread of the wonderful and intriguing events which had taken place since He left the village. The people stood anxiously as He ascended the platform and unrolled the scroll. The words of Isaiah poured out of His mouth and flowed over the people like the Latter Rains on parched ground. Such a great promise of the Messiah! He would have God's Spirit on Him, bring good news, liberate the poor, set free the captives, give sight to the blind, and proclaim a year of Jubilee to God's people. Their hearts, heavy as the Roman rule over them, dared to dream that such a Messiah would come, but the hope of this promised Deliverer, could never be fully torn from them in spite of the Romans' persistent attempts to do so. They listened and watched Jesus, recognizing that there was something amazingly different about this Man, and not yet understanding what it was. Jesus completed the reading, rolled the scroll closed and took the Seat of Moses, the place where visiting rabbis would sit and teach. The room was quiet; not a soul dared to breath. "Today," Jesus said with authority, "this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (Lk. 4:16-21)
I'm sure we can imagine that a number of reactions were present that day when Jesus spoke those words. The hope for a Messiah had a lengthy history in the Jewish mind, beginning with the promise to Eve in Gen. 3:15, on through the calling of Abraham in Gen. 12:1-3, and through the lineage of Judah (Gen. 49:8-12). The identity and work of the Messiah took further shape and purpose in the words of the prophets, and while Matthew’s Gospel may not include that momentous day recorded by Luke in his, Matthew underscores Jesus’ fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Is. 61:1-2) by recording a lengthy description of Jesus’ healing ministry in the Galilee region (Mt. 8:1-9:35) and continues to make note of this aspect of the Messiah throughout the remainder of his Gospel (Mt. 12:9-14; 15:21-28; 17:14-20). Matthew will often write, “This happened in order to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet,” (Mt, 2;15, 23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17) but in these chapters he demonstrates to us that it did.
There are 30 specific prophecies concerning the first advent of the Messiah. Some of these prophecies include: that He would be born of a virgin (Is. 7:14), that He would be a descendant of Jesse (Is. 11:1-2), that He would be born in Bethlehem (Mi. 5:2), and that He would be God's Son (Ps. 2:7). When Jesus stood before the congregation in the synagogue that day, He claimed that He fulfilled these prophecies. But the fulfillment of Isaiah’s words concerning the healing ministry of the Messiah was perhaps the place where Jesus made the most impact during the initial days of His earthly ministry. From a man with leprosy, the sickness of Peter’s mother-in-law, demoniacs whose oppressors were cast into a herd of pigs, to the healing of a paralytic, the revival of a synagogue ruler’s daughter, the healing of a hemorrhaging woman, and the restoration of sight and voice to the blind and mute, Matthew proves time and again, Jesus was indeed, The Messiah.
Responses to this revelation were as varied as the healings Jesus performed. Some were eager to experience healing for themselves (Mt. 8:16-17). Some were amazed by His authority (8:27, 33). But others, doubted and criticized the miracles because their own power and authority were threatened by Jesus (9:3, 34). Jesus continued His ministry in spite of this (9:35) and demonstrated great compassion toward the crowds because He saw them as “sheep without a shepherd” (9:36). He then informed His disciples there was a large task set before them- a harvest that was plentiful, but a workforce that was few (v. 37). “Ask the Lord to send out workers,” Jesus compels His disciples. He is asking the same of you and me.
There are many roads to healing today. I have experienced both the advantages of modern medicine and the miracle of prayer as a survivor of one of the worst cases of Covid 19 in my county. And I can tell you this with no hesitation or doubt, Jesus the Messiah still heals today. Sometimes it is a physical ailment that He touches and cures, but at other times, He heals sorrow and heartbreak through workers like you and I, who speak love and compassion into the world of a lost and lonely sheep. Jesus is calling for workers and He is asking you to go into the field. Are you ready to respond with the words, “Here I am. Send me,”? (Is. 6:8; Mt. 9:38; Jn. 21:15-17)
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/
I'm sure we can imagine that a number of reactions were present that day when Jesus spoke those words. The hope for a Messiah had a lengthy history in the Jewish mind, beginning with the promise to Eve in Gen. 3:15, on through the calling of Abraham in Gen. 12:1-3, and through the lineage of Judah (Gen. 49:8-12). The identity and work of the Messiah took further shape and purpose in the words of the prophets, and while Matthew’s Gospel may not include that momentous day recorded by Luke in his, Matthew underscores Jesus’ fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Is. 61:1-2) by recording a lengthy description of Jesus’ healing ministry in the Galilee region (Mt. 8:1-9:35) and continues to make note of this aspect of the Messiah throughout the remainder of his Gospel (Mt. 12:9-14; 15:21-28; 17:14-20). Matthew will often write, “This happened in order to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet,” (Mt, 2;15, 23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17) but in these chapters he demonstrates to us that it did.
There are 30 specific prophecies concerning the first advent of the Messiah. Some of these prophecies include: that He would be born of a virgin (Is. 7:14), that He would be a descendant of Jesse (Is. 11:1-2), that He would be born in Bethlehem (Mi. 5:2), and that He would be God's Son (Ps. 2:7). When Jesus stood before the congregation in the synagogue that day, He claimed that He fulfilled these prophecies. But the fulfillment of Isaiah’s words concerning the healing ministry of the Messiah was perhaps the place where Jesus made the most impact during the initial days of His earthly ministry. From a man with leprosy, the sickness of Peter’s mother-in-law, demoniacs whose oppressors were cast into a herd of pigs, to the healing of a paralytic, the revival of a synagogue ruler’s daughter, the healing of a hemorrhaging woman, and the restoration of sight and voice to the blind and mute, Matthew proves time and again, Jesus was indeed, The Messiah.
Responses to this revelation were as varied as the healings Jesus performed. Some were eager to experience healing for themselves (Mt. 8:16-17). Some were amazed by His authority (8:27, 33). But others, doubted and criticized the miracles because their own power and authority were threatened by Jesus (9:3, 34). Jesus continued His ministry in spite of this (9:35) and demonstrated great compassion toward the crowds because He saw them as “sheep without a shepherd” (9:36). He then informed His disciples there was a large task set before them- a harvest that was plentiful, but a workforce that was few (v. 37). “Ask the Lord to send out workers,” Jesus compels His disciples. He is asking the same of you and me.
There are many roads to healing today. I have experienced both the advantages of modern medicine and the miracle of prayer as a survivor of one of the worst cases of Covid 19 in my county. And I can tell you this with no hesitation or doubt, Jesus the Messiah still heals today. Sometimes it is a physical ailment that He touches and cures, but at other times, He heals sorrow and heartbreak through workers like you and I, who speak love and compassion into the world of a lost and lonely sheep. Jesus is calling for workers and He is asking you to go into the field. Are you ready to respond with the words, “Here I am. Send me,”? (Is. 6:8; Mt. 9:38; Jn. 21:15-17)
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/
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