Gen FX — Be Like Jesus, the Healer and Helper

Understanding EFKS faith for the next generation, Gen FX reflects on today’s EFKS message and scripture in clear, simple language, exploring faith, hope, and God’s presence in everyday life.

FAITH & DEVOTIONSGEN FXEFKS

4/26/20262 min read

A special Gen FX reflection on today’s EFKS message.

Weekly EFKS Theme:
The Gospel of Matthew — Help and Healing

📖 Bible Reading:
Matthew 8:28–9:8
(EFKS Tusi Faitau Aso)

Dear Gen FX,

When we think about being like Jesus, we may think about being kind, loving or forgiving. But the Gospel of Matthew also repeatedly shows Jesus noticing people who are suffering and responding to their needs.

Matthew 8 and 9 show us Jesus as both healer and helper.

We cannot perform every miracle Jesus performed. But we can learn from the way He responded to people who needed help.

THE READING, EXPLAINED

As Jesus arrives in the region of the Gadarenes, He meets two demon-possessed men living among the tombs. They are described as so violent that people are afraid to pass that way.

The demons recognise Jesus and His authority. At His command, they leave the men and enter a herd of pigs, which rush down the hillside into the water.

Jesus then crosses back over the lake, where people bring Him a paralysed man lying on a mat.

When Jesus sees their faith, He first tells the man:

“Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” — Matthew 9:2

Some of the scribes believe Jesus is blaspheming because only God has authority to forgive sins.

Jesus knows what they are thinking. To demonstrate His authority, He tells the paralysed man to rise, pick up his mat and go home.

And the man does.

The crowd responds with awe and glorifies God.

WHAT THIS THEME IS POINTING TO

Jesus meets different kinds of need in this passage.

The two men need freedom. The paralysed man needs healing. But Jesus also addresses something deeper by offering forgiveness.

This reminds us that helping people is not always one simple action.

Sometimes help means providing something practical. Sometimes it means listening, encouraging, forgiving, standing beside someone or bringing their needs before God in prayer.

Being like Jesus the healer and helper does not mean pretending that we have His divine authority or that we can solve every problem.

It means allowing His example to shape the way we respond when we see someone in need.

Jesus did not treat suffering as an inconvenience.

Neither should we.

WHERE THIS MEETS REAL LIFE

Think about the friends carrying the paralysed man on his mat.

The man could not reach Jesus by himself, so other people carried him. They could not heal him themselves, but they could help bring him to the One who could.

That is a useful picture of Christian service.

We will encounter problems we cannot fix. We will meet people whose burdens are beyond our ability to remove.

Helping does not always mean having the solution.

Sometimes it simply means refusing to leave someone to carry a burden alone, offering whatever help we can, and pointing them toward Christ.

ONE THING TO HOLD ONTO

We cannot heal every hurt, but we can follow Jesus by seeing those in need and choosing to help.

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord Jesus, teach us to notice those who need help. Give us compassion to serve others faithfully and wisdom to point them towards You. Amen.

Signing off,
Alofa Tunoa

Alofa Tunoa shares budget-friendly recipes, family meals, one-pan dinners, and Pacific Island inspired food rooted in Samoan culture and faith-filled home cooking.