Forty Things That Jesus Did For You and Me: 15 ~ 17

15. Jesus healed disease and sickness. He brought the dead back to life. Matthew 4:23 and Matthew  9: 23-26

Start reading the chapters in the gospels of Jesus’ ministry and accounts of healing flow from the pages. There was sickness, deafness, blindness, paralysis, crippled appendages, leprosy, bleeding. There were also accounts of Jesus bringing the dead to life. For those who had complete faith, the savior brought completion.

The Dake Bible lists the following as part of its commentary on healing:

* It is always the will of God
* It proves the resurrection of Christ
* It proved the coming of the Holy Spirit
* It proves that God’s promises are true.

I like to say that Jesus healed before he saved. Why is it that we can believe that the blood of Jesus will give us eternal life, yet, we cannot believe that the same blood will bring healing?

Mark’s account of the blind Bartimaeus has this blind beggar sitting beside the road. As Jesus was nearby, Bartimaeus yells out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus calls for him to come to his side and asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” “My rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”

The NLT(1) goes on to say, “And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly, the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.”

The scriptures reveal the healing power of Jesus. He healed then and He continues to heal today… Like the blind Bartimaeus, call upon him because…

Jesus did and continues to do this for you and me.

(1) The Transformation Study Bible NLT

16. Jesus called the twelve disciples to follow him and he would make them fishers of men. Matthew 4:19

Peter and Andrew the fishermen

James, John, and Simon also fishermen

Matthew the tax collector

Phillip and Nathaniel

Thomas, James, Judas

and Judas Iscariot who sold Jesus for thirty silver shekels

Jesus called these men to be fishers of men. They alone would be sent out by the Son of God to present the message of the Good News. Their task was a daunting one, yet they were successful because they were empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus calls us to spread the gospel. We are to carry the light of his love and the truth of his word to a lost, hurting, and needy world.

“When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.” Mark 16: 19-20

Just as Jesus called the twelve, he calls you and me. We are to be his hands, his feet, his voice, and his heart. We are to be fishers of men. Jesus called them then in order that we now will hear his call.

Jesus did this thing for you and for me.

17. Jesus turned water into wine. John 2:9

Jesus performed this first miracle at the request of his mother, Mary. The wine had run out at a wedding celebration so Mary came to her son to remedy the problem. How many times do we too wait until the situation is unfixable to come to Jesus?

Jesus not only turned the water to wine, but it was far superior to the wine that had been being served to the guests. The Master of ceremonies attested to that when he called the bridegroom over and pronounced, “A host always serves the best wine first. Then when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!’

Jesus turns our trials and troubles with the BEST solutions. What others have meant for bad, God turns to good. One of the admonitions here is not to wait for problems to arise, instead, call upon Jesus each and every day in order that your life is not constantly in need of repair. Another lesson here is to make sure Jesus is on the guest list for every occasion of your life whether that be attending your child’s ball game, a trip to the grocery store, or, as in this case, a wedding ceremony.

The miracles Jesus performed gave witness to his deity. They provided concrete confirmation that he truly is the Son of God and all praise and glory is given to His name.

Jesus did these things so that others would know who he was. He did these things to glorify his father. He did these things

for you and for me.