Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Show and tell
Matthew 8:4
And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
On the face of it, this is a very strange instruction given by Jesus to a man he just healed of leprosy, “see that you tell no one.” Jesus didn’t operate in secret and most of His miracles were done in full public view, yet, he wanted this man to remain quiet.
It turns out that Jesus, gave this instruction to others when he healed them on different occasions. On one occasion he healed two blind men at the same time and asked them to “see that no one knows about this.” Matthew 9:30. Still, on another occasion, it was a large group that got their healing and those too He warned “not to tell others about Him.” Matthew 12:16.
On most of these occasions, when Jesus asked for the information to be kept under wraps, those who were healed still went out and told others.
Jesus was clearly working through the Jewish idea of a Messiah who was going to turn the place upside down and lead a revolution and rebellion against the Roman empire. If everyone started running around town telling stories of the amazing miracle-working Rabbi they would soon be trying to make Him king. “Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.” John 6:15
Nevertheless, Jesus, while demanding confidentiality, requested that the healed person go to the temple and do what is required by law, practice, and culture.
It was necessary for Him to demonstrate that He was not a lawbreaker, it was necessary for there to be actual proof of the healing, it was necessary to testify to the religious authorities about the ministry of Jesus Himself.
This was also necessary in the case of the leper for him to be reintegrated into society at the time. A leper was sent out of the city away from everyone, and had to shout “leper, leper” if he was near to others so that they would keep away from him. The regulations outlined in Leviticus made all of these requirements clear, “And the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall examine him; and indeed, if the leprosy is healed in the leper, then the priest shall command to take for him who is to be cleansed two living and clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop.” Leviticus 14:3,4.
A miracle, especially a miracle of healing, is not for publicity for the person through whom the person received the healing. Ministers with the gift or ministry of healing should be focused on the wellbeing of the person in need of healing. Even if the healing becomes known, it should not be the primary focus of the ministry to the person or the prayer and interventions on behalf of the person.
Modern ministry, beginning with radio and then spreading to television, and now to social media, has made the broadcast of healing almost more important than the healing itself. And in many cases more important than the healed person them self. There is a common practice in ministries now to promote healing as a reason to come to an event in a style that is totally different to the approach of Jesus and later the apostles.
The second thing to note is that miracles, especially healing, should be verified and established both in the interest of the healed person and to authenticate ministry. The healed person must show themselves to medical authorities to verify their healing. Someone on medication or other medical intervention must know whether to stop or not based on the medical verification of the healing. There is no more powerful testimony than a verified healing of a sick person.
And then there is the testimony. God must be glorified by every miracle in a person’s life. The healed person is a testimony of God’s active intervention in our lives and circumstances, and He must be given the glory in every situation of healing or miraculous work. God’s glory also authenticates ministry and ministers must be careful to ensure that the glory is given.
Finally, the demonstration of God’s power is also a testimony to those who don’t know Him, primarily to give their lives to Him. Miracles and healing, performed for exhibition only, does not attract unbelievers to Jesus for salvation and relationship, rather it draws them into seeking healing without relationship, the same way that others go for help from those who are not in God’s service.
Show and tell is critical to a ministry where signs and wonders follow, not for promotion but for authentication of God call and activity in the ministry, not personal publicity but for God’s glory, not as an end in itself but as a testimony to those who don’t know God or haven’t trusted Him with their lives.
Signs follow authentic ministry. Signs must be established and authenticated. In the absence of clear and verifiable testimony people could be left at the mercy of charlatans who by gimmicks for fame and money shipwrecked the faith of the needy and vulnerable.
Jesus, although for strategic reasons requested confidentiality, did also request show and tell that established Him undeniably as God’s Messiah, working the works of His Father.
Think on these things:
- Have you ever received healing through ministry rather medicine?
- If you did, have you had your healing verified by competent authority?
- Do you see God being glorified through the healing that others are receiving or is the glory going to those whom God had gifted and used?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today that we would be deliberate in the pursuit of the signs following our Ministry and committed to ensuring that God and God alone is glorified through it.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex