And He Healed Them

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them (Matthew 21:14).

Sometimes the Scriptures are so full of irony. Get the picture here. Jesus had gone to the Temple to teach and minister. He found the courtyard of the Gentiles filled with noisy animals and yelling stockmen, stock pens of lambs, goats, calves, and cages of doves, etc. manned by traders who were haggling with customers over the price of an animal to be sold and sacrificed, rows and rows of tables of loud people arguing for the best deal on exchanging their money for coins used to pay the temple tithe and tax, tradesmen plying their wares to weary travelers who had made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival - food, medicine, clothing, drink. The bazaars were filled with people, shoulder to shoulder, yelling, chanting, singing, haggling. Sorry Neil Diamond, it wasn’t A Beautiful Noise, to say the least.

The Temple was the place built and dedicated to God for worship and prayer. It had become everything but that. The people were there to do their religious duty according to Mosaic Law. It was an obligation. It was expected. It was a hassle. The priests were there to do their religious duty according to Mosaic Law. It was an opportunity to line their pockets with coin. All eyes were on merchandise and those buying and selling it. Few, if any minds were on God. They were spiritually blind and lame. Jesus had come to help them see and walk. They weren’t interested.

There were, however, in the midst of the chaos, those to whom Jesus could minister. The blind, mute, deaf, diseased, and crippled were there begging, hoping at least for a few coins to get them through the day. These were the despised and rejected of Israel. They were ignored, cursed, alienated, disenfranchised by everyone, including the priests. But not by Jesus. They heard He was in town. He was at the Temple. They came to Him, and He healed them.

Scripture tells us when Jesus returns the world will be busy with the affairs of life. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:37-39). No regard for the signs of the times. No thought of coming judgment. No concern for the things of God.

Beloved, Jesus is here with us today in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He is seeking us out, ministering to us, calling us out of the chaos and clamor of a world that has little or no interest in the things of God. He is calling the spiritually blind and lame, the sin sick soul, the dazed and confused mind, the broken spirit, the empty heart, and He’s saying, Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

“Lord Jesus, compel us to bring the spiritually blind and lame to You that they may be healed and You glorified. Amen”

Pastor