Not every miracle was the same. Further, we are not called to a “miracle working ministry” as Christ was. His miracles authenticated His message. Our message is authenticated when we demonstrate that it is consistent with Scripture.
The message of Jesus (the gospel of the kingdom) was a fulfillment of Isaiah 9:1-7. Jesus had a special connection with the Galilee (Isa. 9:1-2). Note: He was preaching in all the synagogues of Galilee (1:39). His message, being the “gospel” (good news), brought joy to the people (Isa. 9:3-5). Why was there joy? Because the Son of God was to be their King (Isa. 1:6-7), and the Son of God had come!
As we have said, the believability of Jesus’ message was encouraged as He showed the people what life in His kingdom would be like. The healings and casting out demons gave glimpses of His kingdom. It is interesting that some of the rabbis believed there were three miracles that would be performed by the Messiah to prove His claim: healing a leper, casting a demon out of a dumb (mute) person, and giving sight to a man born blind. In today’s passage we see number one. Let me quote from John Philips’ Matthew Commentary (p142).
Among the Jews, leprosy was regarded as the stroke of God, and not without reason. The cases of Miriam, Gehazi and Uzziah gave weight to the view. Leprosy was incurable, ending in death. The disease began in a small way but spread inexorably, bringing rottenness to everything it touched. Victims were outcasts, the offscouring of the world.
What could Jesus do for a leper? The man was held in the grip of a terrible, loathsome disease that alienated him from all men, forced him outside the camp, and took away all hope of ever being able to draw near to the altars of God. The scribes and Pharisees had nothing to offer him. The priests and Levites could do nothing for him. Neither could the rabbis and rulers. The Sanhedrin and synagogues wanted no part of him. The temple was barred to him and the law legislated against him.
Jesus dealt with this man in a way others would never do: He touched the man! Jesus, as God, had a compassion for the man, and was willing to free him from his death sentence. The miracle itself was, again, an extension of His preaching. God in Christ is willing to free sinful men from the misery of their sin and their death sentence that they might have life. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 33:11); He does not afflict us willingly (Lam. 3:33), He desires all to be saved (2 Tim. 2:4) and to that end is longsuffering toward us (2 Pt. 3:9).
When, by God’s grace and Spirit, the life of Christ is being produced in us, there will be compassion for sinners. We will not be reluctant to have anything to do with them.
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