On the Wings of the Messiah

The sun of righteousness will rise with healing on its wings.
- God’s word through the prophet Malachi

It’s one of the final words in the Hebrew Bible, leaving the reader in anticipation for the Messiah. A figure, Malachi also says, will come after Elijah has been sent. And the Old Testament closes with this image — so when the New Testament begins we look in anticipation for the Messiah.

The book of Matthew paints a picture of a man called John the Baptist who dresses like Elijah, lives how Elijah lived and eats what Elijah ate. In fact, when talking to people about John, Jesus quotes Malachi 3:1, likening John to this Elijah figure the prophet spoke of.

The message is clear: One like Elijah has prepared the way, and now Messiah has come.

Then, on his way to heal a ruler’s daughter, a woman reaches out and touches the “fringe of Jesus’ garment”. This word for fringe is talking about the prayer tassel that hung from the clothes Jesus wore in obedience with the Torah. The ancient Jews referred to their tassels as wings. 

She had faith that Jesus was the Messiah — and if that were true, he would have healing on his wings. She had suffered for so long she couldn’t even remember when it started. All she had to do is reach out and touch the wings of the Messiah. Jesus instantly changed the course of this woman’s life.

Sometimes we feel like all we can get of the Christ is the fringe. Like it’s a stretch to reach out and touch him, and when we do, it’s just the edge of his wing. But Scripture teaches us that’s enough. Because there is healing in the wings of the Messiah. And in him we find everything we need.

So we look to this Christ with faith. Faith that he can heal. That he can change the course of our lives. Faith that he can make today a new day, and that from the moment we meet him, our lives will never be the same.