Jesus’ Power and Human Need

GOLDEN TEXT: “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” —Matthew 8:17

MATTHEW 8:5-17

MATTHEW’S observation concerning the meaning of Jesus’ miracles, as recorded in our Golden Text, raises an interesting question. Did the few miracles performed by Jesus during the short period of his earthly ministry completely fulfill all the Old Testament promises concerning the world-wide blessings which were to benefit the people through the coming Messiah? Obviously they did not, for in one promise alone we are assured that all the blind eyes are to be opened, and that all the deaf ears are to be unstopped.—Isa. 35:5

The Apostle John gives us a further insight into the matter when, referring to the miracles of turning water into wine, he said, “This beginning of miracles did Jesus, … and manifested forth his [coming] glory.” (John 2:11) From this we get the thought that while the miracles performed by Jesus were a partial fulfillment of the prophecies concerning him, their main purpose was to illustrate the glory of his coming kingdom of blessing when all mankind would have an opportunity thus to be blessed.

The miracle-working power of Christ, as it will be manifested through his kingdom agencies during the Millennium, will vouch-safe health and everlasting life to all the willing and obedient of the human race. Yea, it will even awaken the dead and give them an opportunity to believe, obey, and live. The Prophet Isaiah said concerning this that Jesus “shall see his seed,” and shall be “satisfied” with “the travail of his soul.”—Isa. 53:10,11

Jesus’ “seed” will be the regenerated human race, those who originally, through father Adam, were brought forth in a dying condition. The thousand years of Christ’s reign is referred to by Jesus as a time of “regeneration.” (Matt. 19:28) Paul speaks of him as the “last” Adam, and in this role, having his church associated with him as his “bride,” he will give life to all the willing and obedient of the “first” Adam’s race. (I Cor. 15:45) No wonder Isaiah said of him that he “shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied.”

Coming more directly to the details of our lesson, we find that Jesus was greatly pleased with the implicit faith manifested by the centurion who requested that his servant be healed. He said that he had not found such faith, “no, not in all Israel.” The centurion was evidently not an Israelite, but, as in the case of the Syrophenician woman, Jesus granted him this “crumb” of favor and restored his servant to health.—Mark 7:25-30

At the same time, he used the occasion to point out what the “children of the kingdom,” the Israelites, were losing by their lack of faith. (Matt. 8:12) It was not only the temporary blessing of healing which might even then have been more generally administered throughout the nation. They were forfeiting also the great privilege of being co-workers with Christ in the future work of the kingdom. Of the individual Israelites who did accept Jesus, it is written that to them he gave “power to become the sons of God.” (John 1:11,12) These will be with him in the spiritual phase of the kingdom.

Concerning the earthly phase of the kingdom, Jesus said, “Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Another account enlarges upon this, saying that the people will come from the north and the south as well as from the east and the west, and that together with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, will be “all the prophets.” (Luke 13:28,29) This is the ancient worthy class described by the Apostle Paul in Hebrews 11, for whom the Lord has provided a “better resurrection.”—Heb. 11:35,39,40

Jesus speaks of the “children” who will be cast out of the kingdom when these ancient worthies are resurrected. These ancients were regarded as the “fathers” of Israel. But in the resurrection they will become the “children” of The Christ, and shall be made “princes in all the earth.” (Ps. 45:16) John the Baptist will be one of these. All of them will be restored to human perfection, and will be lower in nature and office than the “bride” class, who will reign with Christ. This is the reason we read concerning John that although there had been none greater born of women, “he that is least in the kingdom of heaven [the heavenly phase of God’s kingdom] is greater than he.”—Matt. 11:11

Many of the Israelites in Jesus’ day, even as John, could have been associated with the ancient worthies in their part of the kingdom work, had they had the faith and obedience displayed by him. But they did not. So Jesus said that in the resurrection they would find themselves “thrust out.” This does not mean that they will be denied the opportunity of accepting the Messiah at that time, and through faith in him and obedience to the kingdom laws, gain everlasting life. It simply means that they will not be recognized as having any official part in administering kingdom blessings.

Naturally there will then be great disappointment on their part, much chagrin, as indicated by the expression, “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This was a saying of that day, not denoting a state of eternal torment, but simply of great disappointment. We can assume that this disappointment will soon give way to joy under the warming and healing rays of the “Sun of Righteousness,” when all mankind will be receiving the life-giving blessings of the kingdom.

QUESTIONS

Are we to assume that the few miracles of healing performed by Jesus entirely fulfilled all the Old Testament promises concerning the life-giving blessings to be made available by the Messiah?

In what way will Jesus see “the travail of his soul and be satisfied”?

What did Jesus mean by saying that the people would see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom, and that the “children” of the kingdom would be cast out?

What is meant by “weeping and gnashing of teeth”?

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