#DailyDevotion Jesus Brings Us Good News!
Matt. 418As He was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, also called Peter, and his brother Andrew (who were fishermen), casting a net into the lake. 19“Come, follow Me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 21He went on and saw two other brothers, James, Zebedee’s son, and his brother John. They were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him. 23 Then He went around everywhere in Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness among the people. 24 The news about Him spread all over Syria. And the people brought to Him all who were suffering from various diseases and were in great pain, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralyzed, and He made them well. 25Large crowds followed Him from Galilee, the Decapolis [Ten-Towns), Jerusalem, Judea, and the other side of the Jordan.
We now see in these verses the “Great Light” being shown in the darkness. First there is Jesus’ call to discipleship. We have the first four disciples Jesus calls, four fishermen who are partners in the fishing business, Simon, Andrew, James and John. When Jesus calls them they immediately leave family and business to follow Jesus. Jesus tells them he is going to make them fisher of men. The call to follow Jesus supersedes all worldly possessions, callings and relationships. When Jesus calls you, your life may never seem the same. People, places and things may have to change depending on what hold they have on you. The first commandment applies to Jesus; you shall have no other gods. If people, places and things get in the way of our relationship, our discipleship to following Jesus, those things must go.
So we see Jesus here at the great crossroads in the north. He is preaching the good news of the kingdom and backing it up with heaver every kind of disease and sickness among the people. The good news of the kingdom is its king is here. That king is Jesus. The Messiah has come. He has come to teach God’s people, to reach out to those who would believe in him through the message of his disciples, to proclaim the greatness of the LORD that there is forgiveness with him. Jesus himself pronounces absolution on sinners and the sick. He backs up that forgiveness, showing he has the authority to pronounce it by healing various diseases, casting out demons, restoring the epileptics and the paralyzed and making them all well.
As it is written Psalm 103 2”My soul, praise the LORD, and don’t forget all the good He does: 3 He forgives all my wrongs, heals all my sicknesses, 4saves my life from being destroyed, crowns me with kindness and mercy, 5and satisfies me with good things as long as I live so that like an eagle my youth is renewed. 6The LORD does what is right and just for all who are oppressed.” Jesus is this LORD. Jesus here comes to the poor and the oppressed. Jesus came to show God’s mercy and kindness by forgiving sins and then healing people. He even gave that authority to this disciples/apostles. While the physical healing he performs may only be perfected on the Last Day when he resurrects all flesh like his resurrection from the grave, he still through his messengers proclaims the forgiveness of sins and gives healing to our hearts and to our minds. He indeed does renew our strength and satisfies us with all good things.
Heavenly Father, you called us out of darkness into your Son’s marvelous light bring us into his kingdom through the forgiveness of our sins. Continually put his words in our lips that we may share this message of salvation to those still hurting. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.