Everywhere a sign...Matthew 4:23-25

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 4:23-25 (ESV)
And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

BACKGROUND

When Jesus came to earth, He came as a humble child. Nothing special to show that He was the Son of God (unless you believe those apocryphal stories of turning mud pies into doves). When He was baptized by John, a limited few might have seen the dove ascend on Him and have heard the Father's voice. Others prior to Jesus also had proclaimed to be the Messiah. What would and could set Him apart? Miraculous signs. Like turning water to wine. Or healing the blind and lame. Especially when those signs could not be denied, like healing a man born blind.

But that is what they were, signs to reveal His divinity, to support His claims and give authority to His teaching. They were not miracles for the sake of performing miracles, or miracles to encourage people to follow Him for the sake of the miraculous (although that was the effect for some).

COMMENTS

It is a sad part of the human nature that we do not really seek after God on our own. (Romans 3:10,11) But seeking after stuff, whether it be healing, riches, relationships, etc. fits right into our nature, and Jesus knows this. That is why He would not entrust Himself to men (John 2:24). Unfortunately, Satan knows this about us to. Just listen to the false gospel being fed to so many by so many. Promises of health, wealth, and prosperity. As if that is the purpose of the miracles. 

We must make a choice. Either worship the miracles or the maker of the miracles. To worship the miracles is to not worship God for who He is. I see this mentality a lot. I recently purchased a car, and due to a mistake on the part of the dealership, bought a $10,000 car for $6,000. They had put the wrong price on their internet site, and were willing to stand by that price. What a break! Of course, I shared this with a few others, many of whom said, how blessed I was that day, how God was looking out for me. Really? I have a daughter with a rare disease. I would gladly change that $4,000 for her healing. God, if you are  listening...

Of course He is listening. And He is still God, whether my daughter is healed or whether I save $4,000 on a car. Point is, I do not worship God to get the best price on a car, perfect health for me and my family, and so on. It is not that I believe that God does not perform miracles today. I do. But I also believe that when He does, it is for the same purpose as Jesus' miracles. Not for us to chase the miracle, but for us to worship Him, the giver of the miracle. In fact, perhaps when we do not automatically receive a requested miracle, it is His way of loving us enough to keep us from worshiping the wrong things.