The Healer

Matthew 9:27-34

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 ²⁷ As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

 ²⁸ When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied.  ²⁹ Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; ³⁰ and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” ³¹ But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

 ³² While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. ³³ And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”  ³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%209:27%20-%2034&version=NIV1984)

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing these blogs.  It is so cool that I sit down and start writing, not knowing what I am going to write about and my fingers just start going! 

Today our scripture is talking about Jesus healing the blind and the mute.  As a child and I would read about the raising of the little girl and I used to ask God why He wouldn’t raise my sister.  I would plead with Him to just bring her back for just a little while so I could talk to her.  When we would study that scripture in Sunday school I would sit quietly and listen but I had so many questions, questions that no one could answer and I would dare not ask.

I would imagine those who are blind and/or mute or those with debilitating diseases have those same types of questions.  I am sure many of them have said, “Yes Lord, I believe” yet they were not healed.  My mother went to healing services and she did believe that Jesus could heal her yet she suffered with Parkinson’s disease for many years and got to the point where she could not swallow to even get her nutrition.  She was to the point that she could not verbally communicate with others, she could not walk independently because she would fall, and her public life that she once enjoyed was now in a state of being at home with very little contact with others.  Do you think she might have been saying, “Yes Lord, I believe” yet He chose to not heal her.  Have you ever wondered why He heals some and not others?  I don’t have the answer for you but I do know that He has the Master plan and His will is much better than what we could ever imagine.  I am sure my mother received the ultimate healing when He called her home and with that I am grateful.  Where are you today?  Are you saying, “Yes Lord, I believe”? 

In our scripture today I was a little perplexed as to why Jesus would sternly tell these two men not to go tell anyone about what He did for them.  Then I remembered another scripture where Jesus told His disciples not to tell others who He was.  Look at Luke 9:18-22 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984):

 ¹⁸ Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

 ¹⁹ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”
   ²⁰ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
   Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
 ²¹ Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. ²² And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%209:%2018%20-%2022&version=NIV1984)
Jesus did not come to just heal people but to save them.  He did not come to become the King over Israel and live in a lavish palace.  He came to be rejected, He came to be killed, and He came to rise again and conquer death so that each and everyone of those who believe could be free from the blindness of our souls. 
Jesus had a mission, He had a plan and if others proclaimed His healing power that is all that the people would seek Him out for.  Do you ever see that happening today?  Have you or do you know someone who has prayed a prayer of desperation to get what they wanted?  Lord, if you will just do . . . I will . . .  Those bargaining prayers are not the prayers that bring glory to God.  The disciples knew who He was because God had revealed it to them and they were warned by Jesus not to spread this news because He had a mission and if all of Israel would have believed He was the Messiah then He would have been a King of Israel but now He is my King, He is Your King, He is King to all of those who call upon His name. 
So many times we forget the reason Jesus came.  We get caught up in the stories of healing and forget that the healing that Jesus wants for each of us is the healing of our spirit.  He wants us to recognize Him not for what He can do for us but for whom He is.  Yes, He is the great healer but let’s not forget what His purpose on this Earth was.  Let’s not forget who He is and let’s remember to ask Him to guide us to seek Him, to know Him, and to share His love with others.  Unlike His request to the disciples prior to the fulfillment of His plan, we are to go and tell others of His great love, we need to show them His compassion, and we need to think of others before ourselves, just as Jesus did for all of us.  Seek Him, Know Him, and Introduce Him to others.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila