Tag: Matthew 15:29-31
The Crowd Wondered!
Scripture reading for October 30: Matthew 15:29-31 “Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And He went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to Him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at His feet, and He healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.”
Jesus came to demonstrate the compassion of His Father for lost people. Everywhere He went, He preached the Good News of the Kingdom of heaven and performed signs and wonders. He did each miracle at the direction of His Father, not to bring Him glory, but to glorify His Father in heaven and draw lost people to open their hearts to the God of the kingdom. Because Jesus did what no one else could do, great crowds followed Him. Because of the wonders He performed, the people brought the sick and afflicted with them as they sought Him out for healing and deliverance. Faith was kindled in their hearts enabling them to receive the word of the kingdom.
This passage of Scripture states that the great crowds of people ‘wondered’ at the great miracles that they witnessed. As they pondered the miracles, they tried to figure out the implication of these miracles. Were they really seeing miracles? Was Jesus really God in human flesh? Could blind people really be made to see? How could a lame person suddenly run and leap with joy? How was it possible that mute tongues could not sing and shout? It states that the conclusion to their wonder for most of them was to give glory to the God of Israel! The religious leaders sought ways to discredit him for these same wonders.
As we ‘wonder’ about this passage, we also draw conclusions based either on faith or doubts and fear. Jesus came to sit among hurting people and walk in the world where they lived and died. He drew great crowds because of His love and compassion for them. He demonstrated His Father’s love through the ‘Good News’ of the kingdom of heaven and through signs and wonders. Each person is allowed to draw their own conclusion.
Prayer: Thank You Father for these ‘signs and wonders’ that draw me to have faith in the Son of God and give glory to my Father. Amen!