Matthew 8
-We see Christ’s compassion to heal all those who came to
Him as He comes down from the mountain with large crowds following Him. We see
the supernatural realm and His authority evident as those with demons were
restored and set free, leprosy was cured, paralysis healed, and fevers left
bodies. Christ was fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy that He would take from us our
infirmities (griefs, violent illness, sufferings, torments) and carry away our
diseases (Isaiah 53:4). *Application*
Surely the Lord cares for us in the same exact way He cared for the people He
ministered to in Galilee. Come to Jesus with every need and cast it on Him
today (1 Peter 5:7). We have a God who responds to our desperate cries for
help. Jesus Christ is our release!
-Christ Jesus orders those who wish to follow Him to get
into the boat in order to go to the other side of the sea. He was leaving the
hustle and bustle of the crowd to go do more ministry where it was needed.
There was a scribe there who wanted to go, but Jesus commented on His own lack
of a permanent home and His adventurous nature, which was always on the move.
Another wanted to go, but needed to go and bury his father (earthly concerns
over heavenly demands). Jesus’ command was to follow Him. The point was that
the physically dead can care for themselves and don’t need any more attention.
Jesus was direct with those who wanted to follow Him and tested the real
desires of their heart in their areas of weakness. *Application* The Lord always will demand our complete loyalty and
knows when we are not fully surrendered to His will. Following the Lord is no
game, it is reality and it will cost you everything. Christianity is serious
business.
-Once upon the sea with the disciples that actually followed
Him, Jesus shows Himself as the King over even nature as He calms the raging
waters that threatened to make the crew perish. He rebukes their lack of faith
in this instance and in the end inspires admiration of His awesome-supernatural
deeds. *Application* This is one of
several sea storm accounts in the Bible. The crew with Jonah and one of Paul’s
adventures come to my mind. We see over and over again that God has control
over the weather and the events that proceed from these acts of nature. They
represent the times in our lives when we are desperate and cry out to the Lord
for help and salvation. Once again we see that God responds and is primarily
concerned with our ability to trust in Him through the storms and trials and
struggles. Believe, believe, believe. God is your rescue and He wants you to
know that.
-East and probably south of the Sea of Galilee Jesus came
across a man (Matthew indicates two men) that was possessed by a legion (many)
of demons. Their response to the Messiah is noteworthy as they wonder what
business they have with one another. They knew the power of the Most High and
did not want to have anything to do with Him. They bowed in fear and cowered
under His authority, even though they had tormented these individuals for a
long time and were extremely violent with great strength. At the word of the
Lord they had to flee being sent into a herd of swine that stampeded into the
sea and drowned (weird eh?). The countrymen that saw and reported this were
rightly frightened and asked Christ to depart. One of the men who was healed
understandably wanted to follow Jesus and His disciples, but Jesus had a
different plan for him. He was sent home to his own house and people to tell of
the awesome and wonderful things the Savior had done for him (Mark 5:18-20). *Application* God has ultimate power in
our lives and wants to rid us of anything and everything unclean that is within
us. Allow His cleansing flow to infiltrate and wash you completely. Then you
will be free to go in peace to anywhere that He desires to send you, even if it
is in your own hometown!
Verses to Memorize:
Matthew 8:17, 20
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