Jesus as healer and Son of David

[caseylok]

Laniak refers to a commonality in all four healing incidents found in Matthew 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30. The reader’s attention is directed to Jesus being called as the Son of David even though David is a king and does not heal at all.

I think that there is no significance of Jesus being called the Son of David in all the four healing accounts. Since Matthew writes to Jewish audience who is familiar with the traditions of their forefather David and the prophecy concerning the Davidic Messiah; the gospel author may choose this address of Jesus with the background of these first readers in mind.

But Laniak explains the link which connects David to the healing ministry of Jesus. Jesus shows compassions on the sick and heals them; Laniak observes this as “responsive shepherding”. For David, as he himself acknowledges that the coming Jesus is Lord (Ps 110:1; Matthew 22:43-44); David’s kingship rule is an extension of Jesus’ responsive shepherding.

As God’s shepherds, we should pray and care for the physically sick. But this principle liberates us from placing excessive emphasis on miracle healing and from deducing that since Jesus heals, healing ministry is to be part of the shepherd’s role. The scope of “responsive shepherding” is wide and vast; caring for the flock when they are sick is only one of the many responsibilities of a shepherd.