Demonstrated in Acts of Healing

January 17, 2010

Background Scripture: Matthew 9:27 – 34; 11:2 – 6
Lesson Passage: Matthew 9:27 – 34; 11:2 – 6

“Are you the one? Are you the “real deal”? After waiting for so long (hundreds of years), surely you won’t disappoint us as others have. If you are not the Messiah that we have been looking for, then simply tell us so that we can continue to seek for him.” The response was direct yet quite obscure at the same time. “Look at what I do and don’t be offended in me. Go tell John what you hear and what you see.” Jesus obviously had no identification card declaring him to be the long awaited Messiah of Israel. But how was Israel to know for sure if he was indeed the one? Sure, they had many prophesies but the very nature of prophesies make them dark and somewhat mysterious. How was Israel to know for sure that he was indeed the one? John the Baptist decided to take no chances and sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus directly if he was the one. Yes, the same John the Baptist who announced to Israel that Jesus was their God-sent deliverer. He even told them how God had given him instructions to start his ministry so that Jesus could be revealed to Israel. John went on to tell them the signs God had given him that would authenticate Jesus’ identity. Why then would John the Baptist be confused? What changed? John’s circumstances had changed. John was now in prison facing execution. It is strange how life and death matters seem to rattle the very foundation of our faith. This seems to have been the case with John. Jesus’ answer, nonetheless, was the same regardless of individual circumstances. The very works he did was a demonstration of his authenticity. This was not some mere prophet or healer. Jesus was the one and only. People flocked to him as they heard about him. No matter what their needs were, they believed that all they needed to do was to get to Jesus and he would make everything alright. Blind, mute, lepers, and all manner of diseased went, were carried, and some had the good fortune or blessing to be exactly where Jesus was already coming to. Nothing qualified them for the blessings other than their steadfast belief that Jesus was able to do it. Some even had dead love ones raised back to life. What manner of man was this? Some did not care what manner of man he was as long as he was who he was and he did what he did. One declared “Whether he is a sinner or not I don’t know, but whereas I was blind now I see.” Yet, those who should have been the most informed proved to be the least. Their misinterpretations and lack of understanding concerning the scriptures or the word of God made them spiritually blind to what the uninformed public was being allowed to see plainly. Jesus was truly sent from God and the poor were reaping the benefits. What does it take to believe that Jesus is the Messiah sent from God? The many acts of healing are evidence that he is the Messiah.


Robert C. Hudson
January 4, 2010

Strengthened in Temptation

January 10, 2010

Background Scripture: Matthew 4:1 – 11
Lesson Passage: Matthew 4:1 – 11

In our lesson today, we continue to examine evidence from the scriptures that shows Jesus as Messiah. Today’s passage presents the threefold temptation of Jesus after his water baptism. It is worth noting that this did not occur by happenstance or unexpectedly. The scriptures teach us that the Holy Ghost led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. This is a reminder that in the Lord’s model prayer, Jesus taught his followers to pray to God to not be led into temptation. Although Jesus is omniscient, he also had his wilderness experience to offer as justification for such a prayer. In other words, this temptation was not easy for Jesus to endure and he did not want his followers to be subjected to the same. Jesus fasted for forty days and nights which left his body weak and hungry while his Spirit remained strong. Again, the temptation was threefold in nature. First, the devil attacked Jesus’ physical weakness and tried to use it against him. He was weak and hungry but the devil reminded him that with his power he did not have to remain that way. He was being tempted to use his spiritual gift to satisfy his physical cravings. Jesus demonstrated that his spirituality was much more important than his physical wellbeing and would not yield to the temptation. If the devil could tell him what to do with his spiritual gift, then what else might he try? Jesus was very hungry yet his spiritual gifts would be totally yielded to the Father to do his will. Secondly, Jesus was tempted to use his spiritual position to exercise his own will. As God’s son, surely the Father would provide protection to keep him from harm. Again, Jesus knew this without needing the devil to cause him to act insecure and put God to the test just to be sure that his position was still intact. Finally, Satan tried to pull the biggest con job ever. He offered to give to Jesus what Jesus had come into the world to reclaim, that is, the kingdoms of this world. But the catch—and there is always a catch when the devil is involved—rather than reclaim those kingdoms for God, Jesus, if he accepted them as a gift from Satan, would be required to submit himself to Satan’s rule over him! Satan was offering to give Jesus what Jesus had come into the world to reclaim but in the end Satan would never lose control over it because Jesus would have to place himself under Satan’s dominion. The devil is crafty! There is no wonder that we are constantly finding ourselves tripped up by him when we don’t follow God’s guidance.

Jesus, as the Messiah, could face temptation and overcome it because he was totally submitted to the Father. This was indeed the failure in Adam. Adam was convinced by Satan that he could be equal with the Father. As soon as Adam stopped following the guidance of God, Adam had fallen into temptation and failed the crucial test of stewardship. It is required in a steward that a man be found faithful (to the owner that is). Jesus, rather than yielding and being weakened by temptation, remained in submission to the Father and as a result was strengthened by the temptation and totally prepared for his three year ministry.

Robert C. Hudson
January 2, 2010