Matthew 8 !

Thursday,  Jan 21, 2015


Soooo, we're reading through the New Testament chronologically, and my "reading guide" tells me that today we are reading Matthew 8...which is the end of the sermon on the mount.   I'm pretty sure that isn't chronologically correct, since I haven't read the beginning of the sermon on the mount.   I'm not sure why Matt 8 is suggested for today, but I guess it isn't terribly important anyway.  I only mention it so you would know I caught it too!


The big picture in Matthew 8 is "Jesus has power".   He heals leprosy with a touch, then he heals from a distance, he heals small things like fever, and large things like demon possession and every other kind of sickness.  Towards the end of the chapter he calms the seas with a word.  I think He calmed the seas to continue teaching the disciples about who He was.  A short time after the sea had been calmed he faced down two men who were raging with demon possession.  Again, with a word he calmed the human heart.   As I think about it, the one thing that all of these situations have in common is that "Jesus spoke".   The same voice that uttered "let dry ground appear" was calming the sea.  The same voice that said to Moses "take off your shoes, because the ground on which you are walking is holy" spoke to the Roman officer.  These were the hands that originally shaped man from the dust of the ground.  Now they touched the leper and made him whole again.


Simply put, there isn't anything that Jesus cannot do.  Anything broken He can fix.  Anything that is dysfunctional or inoperative he can repair.  He makes all things "new".  And He isn't just fixing the visible, human things...but the spiritual ones as well.   He is forgiving sin, and repairing our relationship with the Father.    He is Jehovah Rapha (the Lord our healer).  He is the Great Physician.  (Exodus 15).


Those who put their faith in Him will see their oceans calmed, their loved ones healed and their communities restored.  At the same time, we should remember that there is a cost involved.   In return for taking us on this amazing journey, and restoring our relationship with the Father, Jesus asks that we follow Him (immediately) and leave behind whatever He chooses to separate us from.


What do we have to lose?  the comfort of a home that we could never keep anyway, and the financial security of a "large herd of pigs"?  


That's a good deal without question.  It's worth it.


PR