Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Think about the metro area you live in. We may hear of people who are ill, who suffer from extreme pain, who are paralyzed, who are likely possessed by demons, because they are not in control of their actions.

I once knew a lady who suffered such chronic pain, she had a hard time even functioning. Another young woman I know is a childhood survivor of brain cancer. I worked with a man whose daughter was a quadriplegic. At a camp one time, I counseled with inner city kids and I could sense the presence of evil close by.

Now imagine all of these people being taken to a healer. Imagine the whole area of Boise Metro or Kansas City Metro or Denver metro taking all of the sick, ill, and people in pain, paralyzed and demon-possessed to Jesus. And he touched and healed them all. First of all, the sheer power of this activity, is astonishing! How many hours did he work in a day? How many people did he heal each day? We may never know these answers.

What we do know is it was an incredible time, and word spread fast. People came from all over the place to see this God-given power on display. Jesus was the Son of God and he showed it right at the beginning of his ministry here.

At the same time, while he had everyone’s attention, he taught the truth in the synagogues and preached the good news about his coming. He guided them to God with his power. Everything he had, he gave to the service of God. And he loved all the people he saw so much that he told them the truth and helped them.

Lord, this Christmas season, give me extra energy, increased strength, and a brightness to serve others, just like you did. Help me to speak truth and love well. Thank you for this incredible model of depending on God’s strength to do the unimaginable!