Matthew 4:23-25 "Three-Part Ministry"

"Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news 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 severe pain, the demon-possessed, those
having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him." NIV

Jesus' three-part ministry -- teaching the people about God's love and how to live pleasing to Him, preaching the news of repentance and the hope it brings, and healing the sick. Jesus wanted to touch every part of their lives physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. People were drawn to Jesus' teaching, but they seem to be more drawn at this point in his ministry to the healing. I don't see that other rabbi's had the ability to heal so it is not surprising that the sick would flock to Him. Then after He had met their need, He shared the truth with them of God's love and redemption.

Here's the pattern established for our Christian churches to follow today. Meet people at the point of their need, share the good news of Jesus Christ and then train them up to live the Christian life and to go out to share with others. Sounds simple when placed in a single sentence. But much harder to carry out. And we, as the body of Christ, are all responsible to follow Jesus' example.

Lord, keep me focused on my ministry to others. Guide me to the hurting who I can help, the lost that need to be found, and the students of Your Word. I want to be about Your work each and every day.

Further Thoughts:

1. How did the early church follow Christ's example? (Read Acts 2:42-47.)
2. Jesus' ministry is all encompassed in love. What are other passages that speak of how to live in love? (See 1 John 3:11-24; Philippians 2:1-11, Colossians 3:12-17.)
3. In the last month, 6 months, or year, how has your life followed Jesus' example? Are you patterning your life after His or allowing other things to dictate? We all have seasons of life to live, but even in the season, we can live out at least one of the three parts of Jesus' life. (i.e. Helping a sick neighbor who can't care for him/herself; sharing with a co-worker about Jesus, teaching a Bible study class on how to have a strong, Christian marriage.)
   

Matthew 4:12-17 "The Main Message"

Read Matthew 4:12-17.

"From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.'" NIV

At first glance I thought I'd exhausted the subjects of this passage. Prophesy was on 6/28, repentance on 7/1, and the kingdom of heaven on 6/30. But then I realized I couldn't just pass by without acknowledging the very heart of Christ's message. Verse 17 is the bottom line sermon that Jesus preached. In everything He discussed, admonished, taught, and practiced his purpose was to get across this message, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Nothing, not even hanging on a cross, deterred him from his mission.

It started making me think about how distracted we can become from the main message. We can get so caught up in systems, rituals, procedures, and programs that we forget to stay focused on our purpose for being here. If I wasn't supposed to share the good news of Jesus Christ and help direct people toward repentance, then I would have just dropped dead when I received Christ. Zap! I'm in heaven with the Lord. But he left me here for a reason and that is that the body of Christ must carry on the main message.

The enemy will try to distract us from it through many avenues -- social controversies, building churches, legalistic blindness, liberal compromise, adding programs, designing clever evangelistic methods..... And some of these things can be from good intentions. Growing a church to be able to reach out to more people is a great goal. But they become ineffective and misguided when we lose the heart of the message - repentance.

Keep focused. Don't go off on tangents. Don't let the enemy distract you from our main message. He's coming, and we want to take as many with us as possible.

Further Thoughts:

1. Throughout Jesus' ministry, what are some examples to show that He did not lose sight of the main message? Support with Scripture. (i.e. John 5:1-15. Note vs. 14)
2. I mentioned that Jesus continued the message even on the cross. How? Who did he share the message with?
3. How did the early church continue to spread this main message? Site examples from Acts.
4. Is there anything in your life right now that is getting you off the main message? What are some ways to refocus? Ask the Lord to direct you to get back on track. Keep the message alive.