Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will aslo do the works that I do...

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.   We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.”  (1 John 1:14)

“He (Jesus) taught in their meeting places, reporting kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives.   When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke.  So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd.  ‘What a huge harvest!’ he said to his disciples.  ‘How few workers!  On your knees and pray for harvest hands!’”  (Matthew 9:35-38)

“Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: ‘Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers.  And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy.  Go the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood.   Tell them that the kingdom is here.  Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead.  Touch the untouchables.  Kick out the demons.  You have been treated generously, so live generously.”

“I was hungry and you fed me,

I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

…Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me – you did it to me.”  (Matthew 25:26-40)

“…A religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus, “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?’  He answered, ‘What is written in God’s Law?  How do you interpret it?’  He said, ‘That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence – and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.’  ‘Good answer!’  said Jesus.  ‘Do it and you’ll live.’  Looking for a loophole, he asked, ‘And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?”  (Luke 10:25-29)

Jesus answered with a parable about a man that was injured and two religious men who passed by him.  It was a Samaritan who stopped and cared for the injured man who was his neighbor.   Jesus set a standard as stopping and reaching out to help with one’s own resources as what it looked like to be a considered a neighbor.

When the Word of God, Jesus, moved into the neighborhood, He brought the Kingdom of God with Him.   He wasn’t cordial with the neighbors around Him, He wasn’t fair or just polite.   Jesus was involved, engaged and generous from start to finish.  Each one of the lives He touched felt like they were the reason He was there and they mattered –not like they were an interruption.  And they mattered just as they were –not as they should be. 

Jesus saw the needs of others around Him and stopped and did whatever he could to help them. Jesus prayed, shared the word of God, brought hope, forgiveness, healing and even food to fill those who reached out.  He wasn't afraid of the needs.  He asks a blind man in Luke 18:41, “What do you want me to do for you?”

One author writes, “Wherever people gathered, he preached, taught, and healed, as there was need.  Each aspect of his ministry related to a central concern: the coming of God’s kingdom. [1]

He writes, “Even though Jesus’ ministry finds its central meaning in his cross and resurrection, we cannot ignore the significance of his healing miracles.  This is particularly true because Jesus sent out his disciples to heal, as well as to preach and teach (Matthew 10), although the disciples did all these things in Jesus’ name and by his authority and not their own. 

In the Gospels, the healing miracles of Jesus comprise a significant amount of material.  They are a primary source for us in understanding prayer and healing, and they teach many practical lessons to guide our own efforts to practice this ministry in Jesus’ name.”[2]

In this life so many are loaded down with heavy burdens it can seem overwhelming at times.  We close our eyes to needs and look to do what we can in our own strength.  Yet to truly follow Jesus, He is asking from us what we do not have the capability in ourselves to give to others in need around us -the kingdom of God. 

 

Lord, awaken our hearts to live by Your Spirit and power. Let us follow You and be with You where You are.  We long to be people of the kingdom who are unafraid of the deep needs around us, but meet them with Your resources.  You are more than enough to meet every need.  Help us to truly believe this.    

 

1-2.  Beckmen, Richard J.   Face to Face with God: Praying for Wholeness and Healing.  Augsberg Fortress, Minneapolis, MN. 1995.