Matthew 4

“Jesus was going all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness among the people.”  Matthew 4:23 (HCSB)

Before moving to California, my family and I lived in suburban Chicago, the #2 least-churched city in America. A person’s success in Chicago seems dependent upon their willingness to get up early and work late. In a word, it’s driven.

Soon after school began, it became apparent that our family needed to have a Bible study before school. We started in Matthew chapter 1, and each day I would teach something from the next chapter. Sound familiar?

When we got to Matthew Chapter 4, I asked, “What was the good news of the kingdom that Jesus was teaching and preaching?” My daughter Ruth answered quickly, “That Jesus died for us?” Nope. Jesus preached this message three years before He died.  

So, what was the “good news” Jesus was preaching?  

The good news that Jesus was preaching is straightforward: God can be trusted to fulfill His promises. Four hundred years had passed since Israel’s last prophet. Fourteen generations had passed since their exile to Babylon. Had God forsaken His promises and covenant with Israel? Not in the least.

Messiah was standing before Israel, accompanied by signs & wonders. Jesus came first to the Jew, then to the Gentile, because the promises were given to the Jew first.  The Jews who believed God’s promises of Messiah were looking & praying for the “deliverer.” Jesus came at the time that God appointed, and He didn’t just heal a few sick people. He healed every kind of sickness, including the root of all sickness, sin.

Are you searching for deliverance? Do you feel lonely, forsaken by God? I have GOOD NEWS for you: God CAN be trusted!‍

“For whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13 (NKJV)

God has promised never to leave or forsake His children. Because He was faithful to fulfill His promise concerning the atoning work of Messiah, we know that God’s yet-to-be-fulfilled promises to believers (including spending eternity with Him in Heaven because of our faith in Jesus) can be trusted, as well.