What Three Things Did Jesus Do? Matthew 4:23-25

Jesus Heals the Sick

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 

Thus begins Jesus' public ministry.  After calling his disciples to follow him, Jesus ministry revolves around three key areas.

1. Teach in the synagogues.  Since there was not a temple, the Jews met in their local synagogue.  Different rabbi's were invited to speak on the Sabbath, and this gave Jesus a platform to teach. Rabbi's usually expounded on the Law (the Torah) and the prophets.

"The synagogues were places of assembly for public worship, where on Sabbaths and feast days (at a later period, also on the second and fifth days of the week, Jerusalem Megillah, f. 75. 1; Babylonian Bava Cama, f. 82. 1) the people met together for prayer, and to listen to the reading of portions of the Old Testament, which were translated and explained in the vernacular dialect. With the permission of the president, any one who was fitted might deliver addresses." (Meyer) 

2. Proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom - Proclaiming is the same word for "preaching". It means to announce or make known publically. What was the content of Jesus' preaching?   The Good News of the Kingdom. The kingdom meant where God rules or reigns.  Jesus would not only preach the good news but in the next verse but enacted it. 

3. Healing every disease and sickness among the people.  It is one thing to teach and preach something, it is quite another to live it out.  As we say, "the proof is in the pudding".  How did the people know the kingdom had come among them?  Every disease and sickness was healed among the people.  Not just SOME diseases and SOME sicknesses, but ALL of them.  Where God's kingdom is ruling or reigning, there is no disease of sickness.  

Teaching, preaching and healing are a potent combination of kingdom power.  They are the same three activities the church needs to be focused on today.  

24 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. 

Good news spreads quickly when it is accompanied with the powerful deeds Jesus performed.  Importantly it was the good news about Jesus and the kingdom he inaugurated.  All of Jesus' miracles were signs that pointed to who He was, the only Son of God. Note Syria was a pretty long way from Galilee, where there were not many Jews or even Samaritans. 

Notice the entirety of sicknesses and diseases which were healed.  They included mental, physical and spiritual maladies.  Jesus had compassion on all who were brought to them. 

25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Jesus fame spread quickly and the crowds swelled quickly.  Decapolis — A tract of land on the east side of the sea of Galilee, which had its name from δεκα, ten, and πολις, a city, because it contained only ten cities, which were situated near each other, and formed into a distinct district, the metropolis of which was Damascus. (Benson)

The crowds came not only from Palestine but all of the adjacent towns as well.  

In what area of ministry does the church need the most improvement teaching, preaching, or healing?  Why are all three important?  Why do you think healing ministry can be controversial in the church?  Why is a ministry of healing so important in the church today?