SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 8
THE MAN WITH LEPROSY (vs. 1-4)
A man with leprosy came and knelt before Jesus saying: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” (v. 2). Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and said: “I am willing. Be clean!”. Immediately, he was cured of his leprosy. And Jesus told him to show himself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded as a testimony to them.
THE FAITH OF THE CENTURION (vs. 5–13)
A centurion from Capernaum had a servant who was paralyzed suffering at home. He came to Jesus asking for help. So Jesus said to him. “I will go and heal him.” (v. 7). But the centurion told Jesus no need to go to his house but just to say a word and his servant will be healed. Jesus was astonished with such great faith the Centurion had. Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go, It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.
JESUS HEALS MANY (vs. 14-17)
Peter’s mother-in-law had a fever lying in bed. When Jesus came to Peter’s house, he touched her hand and the fever left her.
THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS (vs. 18-22)
A teacher of the law told Jesus that he will follow him wherever he goes. Jesus replied: “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (v. 20). Another disciple said to him: “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” (v. 21). But Jesus answered: “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (v. 22)
JESUS CALMS THE STORM (vs. 23-27)
Jesus and his disciples got into the boat. While Jesus was sleeping, a furious storm came up and the waves swept over the boat. The disciples went and woke Jesus up telling him to save them from drowning. So Jesus got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it immediately calm down. Jesus said that his disciples have little faith while the men were amazed why even the winds and the waves obeyed him.
THE HEALING OF TWO DEMON-POSSESSED MEN (vs. 28-34)
There were two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs and met Jesus. They begged Jesus that if he is driving them out, send them into the herd of pigs. So Jesus said to them, “Go”. They came out and went into the pigs and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs report all that had happened to the town and the whole town pleaded Jesus to leave their region.
THOUGHTS:
This chapter displayed many miracle of Jesus and recorded them as proof that Jesus is the promised Messiah. It also shows several kinds of faith. Some people have “no faith”, while others have “little faith”. But there are people with “great faith”. Faith is like a seed that grows if it is planted and cultivated in the heart. In times of trials and testing, you exercise your faith to grow and glorify God.
Leprosy was a terrifying and contagious disease in Jesus’ day. A leper was ostracized from the community. But when the leper saw Jesus, he begged Jesus to heal him. Jesus reached out and touched him and he was healed. Sin is also an incurable disease. Only Christ’s healing touch can take away our sins and retore us to real living. But we must ask help from Christ.
The centurion was a military officer in the Roman army and was hated by the Jews for his oppression, control and ridicule. But this man’s genuine faith amazed Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders.
Jesus’ miraculous touch healed all diseases. His single word drove out evil spirits. He has the authority to conquer sins and evil.
It is not easy to follow Jesus. It involves a great cost and sacrifice with no earthly rewards or security. While Jesus was on earth, he has no place to call home. Therefore, following Jesus may cost your popularity, friendship, enjoyment or usual habits. But being Christ’s disciples is an investment with lasting rewards in eternity.
Jesus demands that those who decide to follow him should have complete loyalty. Even family loyalty was not to take priority over obedience to Him. The decision to follow Jesus should not be put off even the other loyalty compete for our attention. Nothing should be placed above a total commitment to living for Him.
While the disciples were on a boat, a great storm appeared and sent violent waves. The disciples were panicked and knew the dangers. They did not know that Jesus could control the forces of nature. We often encounter storms in our life when we feel God cannot or won’t work for us. Remember that Jesus can control both the storms of nature and the storms of the troubled heart. Jesus can calm the sea and help us deal with our problems. What we need to do is to ask Jesus for help.
Demons are fallen angels who joined Satan in his rebellion against God and are now evil spirits under Satan’s control. When Jesus met the two demon-possessed men, they begged Jesus to send them into the herds of pigs. When they came out from the two men and went into the pigs, the pigs rushed down into the lake and died in the water. Then those tending the pigs reported all the happenings to the whole town. The people pleaded him to leave the region because they were upset losing a herd of pigs more than they were glad about the deliverance of the demon-possessed men. Are you more concerned about property, possessions or animals than people?