What Will You Give Him?

Mark 1:27-32 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching – and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. 29 After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon’s and Andrew’s home. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.  
 
JESUS’ healings had stirred the people of Bethsaida, Capernaum, and Korazin along Galilee’s northern shore. They see evidence the Messiah has come! Perhaps the learned Jews thought of God’s miracles in Egypt or Elijah’s and Elisha’s life-giving power. What joy you would experience if God came to your home, church and neighborhood to release all from sickness.
   Yes, how powerful Jesus’ work was for so many to be healed! But did any go to Peter’s and Simon’s home to hear the good news of eternal healing? Did they go to commit their lives to the Living God? Or were they only expecting what he would give to them for their own benefit?
Physical healing was not Jesus’ primary purpose. Some accounts describe Jesus healing the lepers, the blind and the crippled, and then he commands them, “See that you do not tell anyone.” (Matthew 8:4) Jesus said this because he knew large crowds would press into him for his healing words and touch. But as wonderful as this was, it kept Jesus from the primary reason for his incarnation. His response to the crowds at Simon’s and Andrew’s home was, “Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” (Mark 1:38)
   Jesus came to preach the good news to heal our sin-torn souls, so we can celebrate forever with him in heaven. As much as we desire the healing miracles to transform our own or someone’s life, there is only one truth that transforms us forever:  Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
   The magnificent physical healings could not compare to Jesus’ preaching transforming and healing words: John 14:10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”
   How about you? Do you only go to Jesus when you want something from him? Certainly he wants you to come for restoration, renewal and strength. He also wants you and all to come to him for your salvation. Yes, go to Jesus and seek his transforming power. And go to Jesus to offer a heart to serve him for others’ good.