We’ve been drawing from all four gospels to survey key events in Jesus’ life and essential elements of His ministry.
Matthew 4:23–25 summarizes two major components of Jesus’ early public ministry in Galilee:
It was both together—truth and power—that drew the crowds.
Last week, we explored an example of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5–7.
This week, we turn to examples of His healing miracles in Matthew 8–9.
Let’s start by reading the accounts. Each miracle could be explored in its own right, but let’s first reflect on them more generally by asking four key questions:
It’s not surprising that people find these miracles hard to believe.
These events were no more “normal” to Jesus’ original audience than they are to us—notice their amazed reactions (8:27; 9:8,33).
Some dismiss these accounts as myths or legends, but these are actually eyewitness reports, recorded by sane, intelligent, historically credible people—many of whom, like Matthew (9:9), suffered greatly for their testimony. As with any historical witness, unless they discredit themselves, their testimony deserves to be believed.
Even Jesus’ enemies didn’t deny the miracles.
Matthew 9:34 records them acknowledging His power but attributing it to Satan.
The Jewish Talmud refers to Jesus as a sorcerer who “led people astray”—a backhanded affirmation that He did, in fact, perform miracles.
Jesus demonstrates authority over many types of problems:
He heals all kinds of people:
Some people today are rightly skeptical of “healers” who exploit faith for money, fame, or power. Sadly, many false healers claim to act in Jesus’ name—but Jesus is nothing like them.
The Old Testament prophets predicted that the Messiah would have a unique healing ministry (Isaiah 35:5–6).
By healing the sick, Jesus validated His claim to be the promised Savior.
Jesus touched the leper (8:3), felt deep compassion for crowds (9:36), and showed real emotional care.
His healings were not only acts of power, but also acts of love. They revealed that God cares about our suffering and is able to do something about it. These miracles are previews of His future kingdom (see Rev. 21:4).
John calls Jesus’ miracles “signs”—not just amazing acts, but symbols that point to deeper truths (John 20:31).
Jesus’ healing of the paralytic (9:2–8) is a perfect example:
Read Matthew 9:35–38. Note the sequence of verbs in verse 36–37:
“Seeing,” “felt compassion,” “said.”
This progression models a vital pattern:
Seeing something ignited Jesus’ heart to feel something, which then led Him to do something.
He saw the people described in verse 35b—people like those in chapters 8 and 9: the sick, the demon-possessed, the desperate, and the helpless.
Jesus saw them as “sheep without a shepherd”—downcast and distressed, or bewildered and helpless.
They were not hardened by pride. Unlike the religious leaders, their suffering had awakened their need.
They knew they couldn’t fix themselves. They were ready for a Good Shepherd to lead and heal them.
Spiritual need is the mother of spiritual receptivity.
Because they were poor in spirit, Jesus describes them as a “plentiful harvest”—ready to receive redemption.
Because of what He saw, Jesus felt compassion.
This wasn’t cold analysis or detached sympathy.
He pitied their condition and deeply desired to relieve their suffering.
His heart was moved—He felt with them and for them.
He turned to His disciples and told them to pray.
“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
This is remarkable. Jesus didn’t say, “Go!”—at least not yet.
First, He said, “Pray.”
Why? Because Jesus always planned to work through His followers to reach the world.
So He asked them to pray for more workers—so the ripened harvest wouldn’t rot in the field.
And then, as they presumably obeyed and prayed, He sent them out (Matthew 10:1ff).
Many of us today are surrounded by the same kind of people Jesus saw:
They are messy, but they are also poor in spirit—and therefore spiritually ripe.
But do we see them?
Or do we avoid them—distracted by comfort, endless shows, house projects, vacations, or simply focused on people like us?
Maybe you’re hesitant to see because you’re afraid that seeing will lead to feeling overwhelmed.
But if you ask God to help you see the hurting,
He can also help you to feel compassion,
and then give you the desire and strength to serve them, not as projects, but as people made in God’s image.
If you’re willing to feel compassion,
you will also be moved to pray:
Over the past 8 years, many people in our community have been seeing, feeling, and praying.
And in response, God has raised up teams, ministries, and missionaries to many of these fields.
But there is more harvest, and we are praying—especially during our Prayer Concerts—for more workers.
Will you join us?
Will you ask God to help you see,
to help you feel,
and to send you?
