The God Who Makes All Things New
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” (Isaiah 35)
How significant is the message of Jesus Christ? How far-reaching is the impact of his work? How wide and how deep is his salvation? Our answer to those questions will have a profound effect for each one of us on how we respond to Jesus – on what we make of him. If you imagine that Jesus and his message are of no significance, you will, of course ignore him entirely. That will be more or less the only rational thing to do. If you imagine that Jesus is of some significance – an interesting figure of history or a charming teacher of benign wisdom – you might take a polite interest in him, but little more. If you sense that Jesus said and did quite meaningful things – kind and merciful words of some weight– you might feel inclined to incorporate some of his teaching (e.g. the Golden Rule) into your way of life.
In Matthew 15, Jesus sets out to show us that his word and his work are of profound and life-changing significance for every person in the world – and for the very creation itself. He sets out to demonstrate that the scope and impact of his salvation program is grander than anything we have ever before imagined. Consider these verses: “Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.” This is a very compact summary of some very marvellous events. But we must not be fooled by its brevity; this is one of the most comprehensive accounts anywhere of the sheer variety of Jesus’ healing miracles.
Consider this passage carefully. Great crowds of Gentiles come to Jesus with a plethora of needs. This hillside has now become the most busy emergency department in the whole of the Ancient Near East. There is hope of healing, word keeps spreading, hope is rising, and people are coming in their droves. It is the full litany of ailments: the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others. All these people are brought to Jesus – and put before him, at his feet.. What will he do with them? Will he help these people today – here in this desolate place? Will he extend his grace to these Gentiles – these non-Israelites – these outsiders? Or will he tell them that he came of the people of Israel, and that he can’t possibly take on all this international work? No. Jesus has compassion upon them and “he healed them”. That’s what he did, simply but wonderfully. He healed them. Lives were transformed. And, as the crowd was moved to wonder in amazement, they responded in the only way that made any sense: they “glorified the God of Israel” (v. 31).
The healing touch of Jesus knows no limit. He achieves a comprehensive restoration, and issues a comprehensive invitation. And he shows us these things in order that we might turn to him in complete trust – that we might live to bring him glory. He shows us these things, that we might find in him our everything, and give to him our all in all. What will your response be today?