“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.” — Matthew 4:23-25
What was unique about the ministry of Jesus Christ? When I say ministry I’m referring to how Jesus served God while He was on the earth. The ministry of Jesus, from the day he was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptizer, until He ascended into heaven after His resurrection, was distinguished by these three attributes:
• He was a teacher — first in the synagogues where the people came together and then along the way wherever he went. Open fields, down by the seashore, on a mountaintop, walking down a path — wherever He was Jesus was always teaching truth.
• He was a preacher — a “proclaimer” of the gospel of the kingdom of God. Gospel means “good news.” Jesus told the people about what God was like and what was to come and invited them to join Him.
• Jesus was a healer. He healed every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people and throughout the gospel accounts, there was not one disease that Jesus did not and could not heal (Matthew 9:35-36).
The writer to the Hebrews, gives us this additional insight about the ministry of Jesus as it applies to us today in Hebrews 13:7-8: “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Now I personally believe that Jesus gave us the pattern for ministry. It has not changed. We are to teach God’s Word, preach the gospel of the kingdom of God, and pray for the healing of the sick in the name of Jesus. That’s the ministry of the church and you don’t need a seminary degree or special title to do so. Let’s praise God for those who have followed in our Lord’s footsteps to teach us His word, tell us about His kingdom and pray for out sicknesses. May we follow their example and do the same for others. Maranatha!
Pastor Don
