need in a broken world

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…

Matthew 15:29-30a

Everywhere that Jesus went, the great need of the great crowd followed Him. He went into primarily Gentile territory (Tyre and Sidon) and had ministry to an insistent Canaanite woman who had heard of Him, believed He could heal, and begged Him to heal her sick daughter (Matthew 15:21-28). Jesus gave grace to her.

Jesus traveled back into Galilee, the tone of the text reading like He really needs some restorative rest… walking along the lakeshore, hiking into the hills… and even there the crowds found Him. He climbed to the top of the mountain. The determined crowds sat down with Him, desperate as they brought along the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, the hurting, the helpless, and the oppressed. And every one of the broken people were healed by a weary Jesus. The result was that worship erupted as God displayed His love and power in His Son (Matthew 15:31).

There is always need in a broken world. It was all around Jesus, anywhere that He went. It is all around us today at any place we may go. And that need will only be met in Christ. It will only end when He ends it through healing souls and lives by His gospel. It will FINALLY end when He Who has defeated death and sin returns to rule this world, judge the living and the dead, and recreate this broken universe in a new heavens and a new earth. Healing sick people on a hillside was just a fraction of the wonder of my God! He will remake an entire universe again! He makes all things new and whole! He is actively restoring broken things… even me. I can’t wait to see what will come!