Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

Matthew 9:35

Jesus confused people. I think it’s safe to say as much. Everywhere He walked, He left behind people scratching their heads and wondering about this man who was the carpenter’s son.

He came preaching a message quite different from what people anticipated, even those who were well versed in the writings of the Old Testament prophets. He healed the sick on the Sabbath, and He delivered people from the torment of Satan, both of which served to demonstrate His message, which was just this: “The kingdom of God is here and now.”

He didn’t come to overthrow the Roman Empire or abolish taxes. He came to right what had been wronged in the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve had been given a kingdom to exercise authority upon and they chose instead to believe the lies of the serpent and rebel against the God who created them. Before we throw stones at them, we should ask ourselves if we have believed the lies of the devil. Have we believed that God is holding out on us, that His best is not enough for us, that we would rather do things our way then His? Have we believed that we are worthless, we can never do anything good enough, we are not worthy of love? Have we accepted the doctor’s diagnosis to the point of believing this condition is not curable, that we will never be well?

If so, then I hope we can look at what Jesus said and demonstrated about the kingdom he was setting aright. He healed the sick, he delivered people from satanic attacks, and he preached a message of repentance and forgiveness. Why? Because simply overthrowing the Roman Empire might temporarily set captives free, but only Jesus could permanently bring freedom.

Why would setting captives free matter so much to Jesus? Because it matters so much to our Father in heaven. Jesus came to do the will of His Father. Jesus came in love and because of love—all He did demonstrated the Father’s love to a hurting and broken world.

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to show us Your heart. What love You have demonstrated in making a way for us to be set free. When the thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, remind us of Your love for us. Whisper Your truth in our hearts so that we may be set free to love You in return. Let Your kingdom come, let Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, in Jesus’ name, amen. 

I would love to hear from you. Please let me know if I can be praying for you as well.

pic credit: itisbygrace.com