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I wanted to expand on a thought I had this past week while diving into Jesus feeding the 4,000. We read in Matthew 15:29, “Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them…”

I read that and thought to myself, “Jesus goes up on a mountain?” Given what is about to happen, this actually seems a little insensitive! The lame can’t walk! The blind can’t see! The deaf can’t hear! The mute can’t speak! Why in the world did Jesus do this?! Why would he put an obstacle between himself and those seeking him?

So, I read the passage again, and then it dawned on me. He didn’t. The passage says that these were brought to the feet of Jesus. They were carried to Christ!

In my study, I all but shouted, “Oh, they are being led to Jesus!” Some of them had to be carried up the hill. Others were led by the sound of a tender voice, and some guided by a gentle hand—all by people who love and care for them. It isn’t that Jesus is being insensitive at all. He’s exemplifying great faith displayed by the actions of those who see Christ for who he truly is.

What might we learn from this? This is an illustration of evangelism, is it not? We know this isn’t about physical healing. It is about God breathing life back into our dead souls. You and I know who Jesus is. We know that he has the answer to all of life’s greatest conundrums. We know that he is the only one with the power to heal. We know that he is the only one who can cause the lame to rise and walk in newness of life. We know that he is the only one who can make the spiritually blind see, the deaf hear, and the mute speak!

The question I wrestled with this week was rather convicting: “What am I doing to bring the otherwise untouchables to the feet of Jesus so that they can receive his healing? Have I fallen prey to the assumption that they already know?” The reality is yes, some have certainly turned their blind eye away and are content to go on without seeing. But are we to presume that this is the case for all, or is this a passage that reminds us of the mission? We were once far off, and Christ has come near, and this small mountain is nothing in comparison to his condescension to us!

I want you to see the fruit of simple obedience. Matthew 15:31 says, “…the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.”

Jesus exemplifies the Great Commission before he commands it. Let this serve as an encouragement this week to make the phone call, schedule the coffee appointment, or send the letter you’ve been mulling over. An old friend used to remind me often, “Ricky, your responsibility is simple obedience. God is responsible for the consequences of that.” We are commissioned to carry the lost to Christ!

Side-related note: the principle can apply to believers as well. Have someone on your heart who is in need of encouragment? We're in this together, reach out.

Simply obeying with you,

-Pastor Ricky