That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8:16-17
Why does Matthew say that Jesus fulfilled the words of Isaiah in His life, when Isaiah clearly points to Jesus bearing our griefs and our sorrows in His death?
Matthew is telling us that what happened to these people, who were miraculously healed by Jesus, was a sign, a foretaste, of what one day every believer will enjoy. It is a glimpse of why Jesus came into the world and a sample of what He will do—every demon was cast out, every sickness was healed. This is what Isaiah prophesied.
Jesus died on the cross to fulfill the great purpose of God, which is to bring us into a glorious new world where grief and sorrow will be no more. Isaiah is a master teacher, and as he takes us into what Jesus accomplished at the cross, he begins with the big picture.
Jesus tells us that we will go through a time of sorrow, “You will weep and lament… but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20). He adds, “Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (16:22). In this life we will know much sorrow and grief, but His joy will be ours when Jesus comes again.
Jesus went to the cross so that there might be a great restoration. He will bring us into a new world where there will be no more war, violence, hatred, lies, deception, illness, depression, fear, anxiety, temptation, sin, hunger, thirst, doubt, pain, wounds, sorrow, grief, or loss! And Jesus offers a place in that world to all who will follow Him.
Why did Jesus cast out demons and heal the sick?
