Why the Healing?

Matthew 15:30-31
(30)  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,
(31)  so that 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.


(30)  καὶ προσῆλθον αὐτῷ ὄχλοι πολλοὶ ἔχοντες μεθ' ἑαυτῶν χωλούς, τυφλούς, κυλλούς, κωφούς, καὶ ἑτέρους πολλούς, καὶ ἔρριψαν αὐτοὺς παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν αὐτούς·
(31)  ὥστε τὸν ὄχλον θαυμάσαι βλέποντας κωφοὺς λαλοῦντας, κυλλοὺς ὑγιεῖς, καὶ χωλοὺς περιπατοῦντας καὶ τυφλοὺς βλέποντας· καὶ ἐδόξασαν τὸν θεὸν Ἰσραήλ.

The word ὥστε introduces result.  It answers the question "what was the result of what was just written?"  Here we see that the crowds brought people who needed Jesus' healing touch and put them at His feet.  He did what Jesus does -- He healed them.

What was the result of this?  The crowd marveled at this.  Ultimately it led to them giving glory to the God of Israel.

We need to remember this when we look at what Jesus does in lives today.  Jesus died to set the sinner free.  I am living proof of that right now.  We need to remember the goal in this salvation is God's glory.  Christianity is not just about what "works" for people.  It is not just about having "your best life now" for your own sake.  It is for God's glory.  Ultimately justification and sanctification are so that God may be glorified.

This is why I am not bashful about sharing my story.  I want God to be glorified in my changed life.  I want Him to be glorified when I love and desire my wife instead of porn.  I want Him to be glorified when I put my family ahead of my own needs.  I want Him to be glorified when I go running or lift weights.  The reason He can be glorified is that I could not have done those things apart from His grace.  Sure, I could have sometimes got it right, but my heart would have been held back by my own selfishness and sin.  Instead, I can be part of bringing Him glory by showing the world how He changed my life.