Tag: Matthew 11:4-5
Isaiah Sees Messiah’s Healing Grace
Scripture reading for October 1: Isaiah 35:4-6 “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert; . . “
Matthew 11:4-5 “And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have Good News preached to them.”
Isaiah the prophet of God was touched by coals from the altar and given a commission of preaching God’s Word to His people. He was told that they would stop their ears and close their eyes to his message. (Isaiah 6:9-10) If they would only listen, God would save them and heal them. Later in his ministry, today’s prophetic word came forth. The people who were anxious were told to stand up and be strong. “Fear not!” was a key command for their God would come with zeal and vengeance to save them. The signs that would mark His coming would be healing of the blind, restoration of hearing for the deaf, and the lame walking freely and mute tongues singing and shouting for joy. Isaiah likened it to streams breaking out in the desert quenching parched lips and dry bones.
Jesus Christ quoted from Isaiah’s passage when John the Baptist asked from prison if He was the One spoken of. Jesus noted that the blind received sight, the lepers were cleansed, the deaf could hear again, the dead were raised and Good News was preached of God’s coming and mercy to all who would freely come to Him. These were not only physical miracles, but spiritual eyes now could see God’s Salvation and ears could hear the Good News bringing eternal life out of darkness, stubbornness and death. Through the Gospel, these miracles are still happening today. Are you in need of healing?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending the prophetic answer to Isaiah’s prophesy to open my blind eyes and unstop my deaf ears and cleanse my leprous soul. My tongue shall sing for joy forever! Amen!
Christ’s main purpose
Scripture reading for March 8th: Luke 4
Key Scriptures: Luke 4:42-44 “And when it was day, He departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought Him and came to Him, and would have kept Him from leaving them, but He said to them, “I must preach the Good News of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.: And He was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.”
After returning from the 40 days of temptation by Satan, Jesus proclaimed the anointing of the Holy Spirit on His life in His home-town synagogue. He was to proclaim “Good News” to the poor, liberty to the captives and oppressed and recovery of sight to the blind, announcing the year of God’s favor. The people there tried to stone Him, but He passed by untouched. He went to Capernaum and began to teach and heal and cast out demons. He tried going to a deserted place to be alone with the Father, but the crowds found Him and pressed Him to stay. He then announced that He must go to other towns and preach the Good News. This was the purpose that God sent Him to earth for and He was set in His heart to fulfill God’s will. More preaching in other places followed!
Matthew 11:4-5 “And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John (the Baptist) what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the good news preached to them.””
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for doing God’s will and preaching the Good News to the poor like me. I have been given liberty and sight and walk with You in sharing the “Good News” of a merciful Savior Who cares!
Psalm 136:23-24 “It is He Who remembered us in our low estate, for His steadfast love endures forever; and rescued us from our foes, for His steadfast love endures forever; . .”