35 Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. -- Matthew 9:35
Jesus' Threefold Ministry (Matthew 9:35)
This week, Mike continued our GAME CHANGERS series, where we investigated how to make a difference in our community and in the world for Christ.
Our scripture for today, Matthew 9:35, summarizes Jesus' threefold ministry! Jesus has been going to all the towns and villages doing 3 primary things:
- Teaching in their synagogues
- Preaching the good news of the Kingdom
- Healing every disease and sickness
This threefold ministry is almost stated verbatim in Matthew 4:23 states, "Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people"
The book of Matthew, one of the 4 gospels about the life and ministry of Jesus, uniquely focuses on Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. Therefore, Matthew is sure to emphasize that the "King of the Jews" did ministry among the Jews. Jesus went to Synagogues, the place of Jewish worship gatherings, to teach from the Old Testament.
Further, Jesus proclaims the good news of the kingdom. Good news or "gospel" of the Kingdom is the message that God would fulfill his promises and establish His kingdom on earth. Jesus' presence on earth inaugurated God's kingdom being established on earth.
And Jesus does not only teach and preach but he also acts. Verse 35 tells us that he healed every sickness and disease.
The works of Jesus are just as important as the words of Jesus.
This healing action was first an act of compassion but also an act of authentication. The divine healing served as evidence that Jesus is in fact, the Messiah who had come to bring the Kingdom of God to the world.
As Jesus' followers, we follow "in the dust" of Jesus. We are with Jesus, to become like Jesus, in order to do what Jesus did.
- Therefore, we are compelled to TEACH the word of God accurately and faithfully for the purpose of Christlikeness.
- Therefore, we are compelled to PREACH/PROCLAIM the good news of hte Kingdom, especially to those who have not heard it or entered it.
- Therefore, we are compelled to ACT with compassion. While we do not have the capacity to heal people like Jesus Christ, we are still called to live our compassion in such a way that it authenticates our faith.
May we get in the game by following the way Jesus lived out his ministry!
