Matthew 4:23-25 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel 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 acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed—and He healed them. The large crowds that followed Him came from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.”
Jesus has just started his ministry, teaching in synagogues and preaching. If we overlook that simple statement, we miss a great deal. Heads of synagogues don’t let any old person barge in and teach-what if they teach heresy? Obviously, at this point, Jesus has impressed a number of religious leaders and those listening are perking up. Much later in Jesus’ ministry, soldiers sent to arrest him refuse to do so, stating “No man has ever spoken like this before.”
Now the word about Jesus is spreading, and huge crowds are gathering wherever he goes. Some of these people are spiritually hungry, some of them are simply curious, and some of them are desperate for healing for themselves or for family members. The first time Jesus casts out a demon, the first time he heals epilepsy, the first time a stroke victim walks off waving his hands in the air, some of the crowd gasp in surprise while others run off to tell their neighbors. “Avram! Quick, take your son who keeps throwing himself into the fire and get over to that new preacher. People are getting healed and delivered!” “Hannah, get some men to help you carry your paralyzed husband to that carpenter who’s preaching down on the seashore! Remember Isaac, the cripple from the next village? That carpenter has laid hands on him and he is running around praising God!”
Before you know it, the crowd has ballooned to five times the size it was in the morning, and more people keep coming. Word of the miracles and healings begins spreading, carried by itinerant tradesmen and merchants at caravansaries. In a time when many people never leave their home towns except for attending the feasts in Jerusalem, people are streaming from everywhere, including the land beyond the Jordan River. Jesus is rapidly becoming what we in our time would call a mass media event with the news spread only by word of mouth.
At this point, Jesus might be excused if he decides to simply settle for a ministry of miracles and healings. Why not? Things are going swimmingly, and even the local religious authorities are praising him for the incisive teachings he is bringing in the synagogues. All Jesus has to do is to remain in the villages, going up to Jerusalem only for the feasts like all other Jewish believers, and he can have a long and happy life. But….
But Jesus has already faced the three major temptations regarding ministry out there in the wilderness-the temptation to be his own amateur providence, to tempt God’s watch-care, and to enjoy unparalleled earthly success-and has settled the matter in his heart. Jesus knows his main purpose in life is to be born as a man, to make disciples and teach, and to eventually die for the sins of the world. No matter how successful Jesus becomes, he keeps those purposes in mind.
Many years ago, a wise Bible teacher taught us that one of the keys in ministry is to “Keep the main thing the main thing,” that is, not to become distracted and to begin pursuing side-paths when you need to focus on your original calling. William Carey, one of the first missionaries to India, had an incredibly successful career as a minister and Bible translator; however, he also founded schools, was a social reformer and a cultural anthropologist. For part of his career, Carey supported himself by managing an indigo plant and later managed a large botanical garden. Despite all temptations to enrich himself, Carey persisted in using these various opportunities to spread the Gospel. Carey’s first wife suffered a complete nervous breakdown and required constant care. Somehow, Carey was able to combine seeing to his wife with all his other activities. Throughout Carey’s career, his focus remained on evangelism by any means possible.
Centuries before Jesus appears, the prophet Isaiah foretells the single-mindedness of the Messiah in Isaiah 50:7 “The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, So I know how to encourage tired people. He wakes me up in the morning, Wakes me up, opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders. The Master, God, opened my ears, and I didn’t go back to sleep, didn’t pull the covers back over my head. I followed orders, stood there and took it while they beat me, held steady while they pulled out my beard, Didn’t dodge their insults, faced them as they spit in my face. And the Master, God, stays right there and helps me, so I’m not disgraced. Therefore I set my face like flint, confident that I’ll never regret this. My champion is right here. Let’s take our stand together! Who dares bring suit against me? Let him try! Look! the Master, God, is right here. Who would dare call me guilty? Look! My accusers are a clothes bin of threadbare socks and shirts, fodder for moths! “ (The Message Translation)
Jesus does not allow early success to dissuade him from his main purposes but keeps moving steadily. If we are to be true Jesus-followers, we too must keep the main thing the main thing, not becoming legends in our own minds.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives, not becoming distracted if we briefly enjoy earthly success. Thank You for calling each one of us to new opportunities to serve You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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