Matthew 14:35

“People brought all their sick to him.”

Things are now returning to “normal.”  Jesus is healing the sick as usual. The disciples help to manage the crowds. Matthew notes that all who touched Jesus were healed, even those who could only get near enough to touch the hem of his garment.

So the life-changing events in which he disciples helped Jesus by distributing the loaves and the fishes, and then their utter helplessness to save their lives in the troubled sea, all came to an end but the question remained, “Who is this Jesus?”  They see him healing the sick and setting men and women free.  That is so like Jesus.

So it is with all of us who have given our lives to the Lord – moments of super highs and depressing lows are followed by opportunities to put into practice what we know of Jesus in the usual ministries he has given us.

Events like the miraculous feeding followed by horror in the storm are special times of learning – first about our own human weakness, if not abject helplessness, and more important, who Jesus is. Each such experience deepens our faith and strengthens our hope.

So we need to thank the Lord for ecstasy and we need to thank him for pain – both windows in which we see the manifold grace of God – for us, for me.