When all of life caves in, what then? Is God there? Does God care? Do you ever wonder?
Jesus’ life answers these questions and more. In his gospel, Matthew shows us people in dire need. One has leprosy, another has a paralyzed servant, Peter’s mother-in-law has a fever. Others have evil spirits. Jesus’ disciples get stuck in a storm. In the parallel passage, Mark 4:38 tells us they asked Jesus if he cared about them drowning.
Matthew shows us Jesus’ great compassion. He was willing to cleanse the leper (8:3). Jesus made house calls, offering to go to the Centurion’s home, and healing Peter’s mother-in-law. Matthew sees this as a fulfillment of Isaiah 53, “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
Jesus entered a broken world and set things right. Someday he will set the whole world right. But how will the world know his compassion until he returns? We follow his example and make house calls. Our ministry authenticates our message. Life sometimes caves in. What then? We show that we are Christ’s followers by our love for one another and for those around us. God is still right here, as close as a prayer, and he cares more than we know.
