Jesus Does Everything Well - February 5 Readings: Matthew 15:21-39, Mark 7:24-8:9

Today’s Readings

Context

Even as the storm clouds began to gather, as the religionists conspired against him and some disciples began to turn away, Jesus still did great miracles and served people. 

The story of the Canaanite, or Syro-Phoenician woman is significant, because it shows the heart of Jesus for the world, not just the nation Israel. 

Today's readings also tell of the feeding of the 4000. Some believe that this is the same story as the 5000, but with a few different facts. We who believe God's word know this to be false. Jesus healed more than once, exorcised more than one demon, raised more than one dead person, and fed more than one crowd. 

While Matthew simply summarizes the healing ministry of Jesus around the Galilee, Mark tells the story of one deaf man who was restored by Jesus' power. 

The significance here is that Jesus did not let criticism or betrayal hinder him from the work God set before him. 

Devotional - Jesus Does Everything Well 

My athletic career was marked by mediocrity. I was decent at a lot of sports, even good at a few. But I was never excellent. The NBA never came calling, nor MLB, or the NFL. I'm in nobody's Hall of Fame. I enjoyed participating, but I was so-so. I tended to come off the bench.

Not Jesus. Jesus is excellent!

Jesus was walking through the region to the east and south of Galilee, an area known as the Decapolis (Mark 7:31-37). That is Greek for "ten cities." These ten cities were primarily Greek and Roman populations, not Jewish. That is why there were pigs there when Jesus cast the demons out of the Gerasene demoniac in that region. Jews would never have accepted pigs in their cities.

But as Jesus walked through these Gentile areas, he encountered a man who was deaf and had great difficulty speaking. The group of people accompanying the man begged Jesus to lay hands on him and heal him. Jesus took him off by himself, away from the crowds, and he touched his ears. He called out to heaven, asking God to open the man's ears. Immediately, the man was completely healed - now able to both hear and speak. Jesus ordered the people not to say anything about what he had done, but that command was almost universally ignored in the gospel of Mark. People began to talk about Jesus. And what they said is a reminder to us all.

“He has done all things well! He even makes the deaf hear, and and the mute speak!”

He does everything well, they said. How right they were! Our Savior is not only good, he is good at everything. He is a good Savior, who did everything exactly the right way so that he could be our Redeemer. He is a good friend, who is there for us when life batters us. He is a good sustainer, who lifts us up when we fall and strengthens us when we are weak. He is a good leader, a good shepherd, who guides us to green pastures and still waters. 

He is just plain good at everything he does.

So why am I often so reluctant to trust him? Why do I fear the future? Why do I shy away from God's will, even when it is hard? Why? He has demonstrated that he does everything well and I have no reason to distrust him or to fear when I am in his hands. He is 100% trustworthy. 

I've made a lot of mistakes in my life and I have sometimes struggled with fear, insecurity and doubt. But one thing I can say for certain. Any time that I put my trust in Jesus Christ and walked in obedience to him, he has demonstrated the absolute truth of what the people of the Decapolis said. 

"He has done all things well!"

Father, I thank you for your Son, who does everything well. I trust him to lead and guide me. I know that when I cast myself upon him in faith, I will never be disappointed.  

Think and Pray

 Do you believe that your life will be best if given over completely to the will of God, or do you still try to make your own decisions and run your own life? 

Do you completely trust Jesus to "do all things well" in your life?