Kids Blog-Jesus Heals Many
As Jesus began His ministry, large crowds followed him and many who were sick and demon-possessed were brought to him. Jesus drove out the evil spirits with a Word and healed all the sick.
Bible Story: Jesus Heals Many, Matthew 8-9
Bible Verse: This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases." Matthew 8:17
While Jesus lived on earth, many came to Jesus seeking to get better from their sickness and to be set free from their disease and suffering. In Matthew 8, there was a man with leprosy. He came and knelt before Jesus and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. He said, "I am willing. Be clean!" Immediately, he was cleanses of his leprosy. When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. He said, "My serant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly." Jesus kindly asked him, "Shall I come and heal him?" But the centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed..." He said that just as his solider would follow his commander's order and do what he tells him to do, his servant would be healed if Jesus simply says the word. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed to find a man with such great faith. Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! Let it be done just as you believed itwould." And his servant was healed at that moment. Jesus also healed Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her. He also restored two demon-possessed men who were so violent. He said to the demons, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. In Matthew 9, some men brought to Jesus a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, "Take heart, son, your sins are forgiven." This time, it was different. Instead of performing a miracle of healing right away, Jesus said, "Your sins are forgiven." Some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!" They thought that only God can forgive sins and they did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. They were also jealous and upset. Jesus told them that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. He also said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, take your mat and go home." Then the man got up and went home! When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe and they praised God!
Jesus' healings show that He cares for those who are sick, demon-possessed, and suffering in pain. Jesus did not shun or avoid those who were 'contagious, sick, unclean, or evil.' He had compassion for them, loved them, and healed them. Jesus also did something greater than healing their diseases. He not only set them free from their physical suffering. Jesus forgave their sins, setting them free from the ultimate punishment of sin and death. Only Jesus has power and authority to forgive our sins and heals our sickness!
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