Jesus Helped Which encouraged Listening

23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,^g Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. (Matthew 4)

Thoughts: Jesus was a great teacher.  But his teaching became more than normal because of his healing powers.  He healed people who normally were not healed- the paralyzed, the diseased. Sometimes helping people gains a platform to hear the most important news ever given.  Is this wrong?  Is it wrong to attract people to hear great teaching by helping them?  Some have asked the same question of modern missionaries who feed the hungry and house the homeless but also encourage these same hungry and homeless to hear some hope.  For some this is manipulation.  But for Christians they go hand in hand.  We are called to care for the whole person- their physical needs- like sickness, hunger and sadness- by bringing not only food for the body but hope for the soul.  The best healing comes from having hope.  Chaplains in the army and the hospital bring courage to those who are afraid and hope to those who are discouraged.  There have been numerous studies about the positive effects faith (and chaplains) have on those with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).  My friend who teaches chaplain says that the military calls chaplains "Troop multipliers" because they deter people from suicide or giving up.   To say that Jesus was right is silly.  Who am I to judge the rightness of Jesus?  But to honor Jesus by following His example is important.  Christians are called not just to help others with their spiritual needs (like forgiveness, hope, encouragement), but such things interact with the physical (psychosomatically), and we are also to help people with their physical needs.  God did not just create us as spiritual beings, but He also created us as spiritual beings. 

Prayer: Lord, give me the eyes to see the hurting- both physically and spiritually.  Help me to honor and glorify you in every way I can, helping others out of love for them through your love.