Matthew 4:23–25 (ESV) — 23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in
their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every
disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame
spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted
with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having
seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great
crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and
Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
NOTE: At this point,
Jesus is very popular with the masses. In all directions, people are coming to
him, and great crowds are following him. As far as we can tell, this all
happened in a little less than a year, during a time where there was no radio,
television, or internet. Word of him spread everywhere, why? There are clues in
the scriptures. One passage says that he spoke as one who had authority and not
like their teachers. Another passage says that the crowds were amazed because
he did everything well. Implied is that his life matched his words. He cared
for people, he taught the truth of God's word, and he lived a life rooted in
spiritual disciplines. He regularly got up early in the morning to pray. He
often slipped away to pray. His relationship with the Father was central to his
ministry. He is our example of how to live as God intends. How does my life
match his example to us? What can I do better? Where do I need to change? Where
do I need to grow? These are questions that we need to regularly ask ourselves.
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