The Healing Ministry
W.F. Adeney Matthew 15:29-31 And Jesus departed from there, and came near to the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.… After his retirement to the north, Jesus seems to have returned for a short time to the scenes of his earlier labours in Galilee. His open public ministry had almost ceased, and his miracles were now for the most part rare, and only performed in response to some special appeal. But we have here one last occasion of widespread healing, crowning the public beneficence of Christ's earthly life. I. OUR LORD'S PURPOSE. He went up the well known mountain where he had taught the people during his earlier ministry, and there he seated himself in preparation for further teaching. This was his aim, as the deliberate sitting down implied. But this was not what the people wanted; they were anxious for bodily healing. Now, we do not find that Jesus discouraged applications for the cure of sickness; he encouraged them by his generous response. Nevertheless, it must have been painful for him to see how much more anxious the people were to receive earthly blessings than to secure those higher spiritual blessings which it was the great end of his life work to bestow. He is always thinking first of the kingdom of God, and only adding the other things to it as secondary boons. His true disciples should learn a sense of proportion, and seek first what Christ is most anxious to bestow. II. THE PEOPLE'S TROUBLE. 1. Great bodily distress. It is noteworthy that all the cases here specified represent diseases or defects in some bodily organ. They are not like the instances of fever, leprosy, or general paralysis that we have met with earlier. It would seem that these cases would be difficult to treat. 2. Variety of need. Though a certain common character belongs to all these cases, they still differ from one another very considerably. Yet they are all brought to Christ. He is not a specialist able only to treat one class of complaints. He welcomes and helps people whose needs are infinitely various. 3. Brotherly sympathy. The people brought their afflicted friends, leading the blind and carrying the lame up the steep, broken mountain path. It was the Christ spirit that helped these poor sufferers to Christ. There is room for largo mutual helpfulness in the kingdom of heaven. If we cannot save our brothers, we can bring them to the Saviour. III. OUR LORD'S GRACE. The response was ready and sufficient. It is stated in few words, "And he healed them;" yet this is enough. The very laconic phrase shows that there were no qualifications, limitations, exceptions. 1. Healing. This was the chief miracle work of Christ. It was the symbol of his spiritual ministry (Luke 4:18). He comes to give eyes to the soul, and the hearing of Divine voices, and strength for the service of God. 2. Feeding. This is recorded in the following paragraph. Some needed healing; all needed feeding. Now, Christ, who cures sick souls, also nourishes healthy souls with the bread of life. They who bring others to Christ are themselves blessed by Christ. IV. THE PEOPLE'S JOY. It is occasioned by the wonderful sight of the results of Christ's miracle working. Christ is honoured by what he does in the world now. We can see his spiritual miracles, and they are his best credentials. The effect on the people was twofold. 1. Amazement. "The multitude wondered." Yet they had come to seek these very boons! The sight of the reality was greater than the previous hope. Christ is truly named "Wonderful" (Isaiah 9:6). 2. Praise. The people saw the hand of God in this, and a spontaneous outburst of praise followed. Thus the work of Christ glorifies the Name of God. - W.F.A. Parallel Verses KJV: And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. WEB: Jesus departed there, and came near to the sea of Galilee; and he went up into the mountain, and sat there.