[:en]SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 8
Bible Verses:
“Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.” (Matthew 8:3)
“Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
(Matthew 8:13)
“ Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20)
“He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” (Matthew 8:26)
This chapter recorded miracles that Jesus had done to prove that He is the Messiah:
- He has Power over Diseases (vs. 1-17)
A. Leprosy (vs. 1-4) – Jesus touched the leper and said “Be clean” and the man was cured instantly.
B. Palsy (vs. 54-13) – Jesus healed the servant of a centurion by just saying: “Go. It will be done just as you believed it would” (v. 13)
C. Fever (vs. 14-17) – Jesus touched the hand of Peter’s mother- in-law and the fever left her.
2. He has Power over Nature (vs. 18-27) – A furious storm strike when Jesus was sleeping on a boat. By His rebuke, he was able to control the winds and the waves and calm down the sea.
3. He has Power over Demon (v. 28) – Two devil-possessed men came from the tomb to meet Jesus. The demons begged Jesus to send them into the herds of pigs. The men were cured but the pigs rushed down into the lake and died in the water.
REFLECTION:
- Leprosy is a picture of sin. It lies deeper than the sin – it spreads and it defiles. Only the work of the Cross can wash out SINS.
- The paralytic servant was healed by Jesus at a distance. It was the faith of the Centurion that Jesus honored. Faith is classified into ‘NO FAITH”, “LITTLE FAITH”, AND “GREAT FAITH”. In times of trials and testing, we need faith to be victorious. What kind of faith do you have?
- Fever is a common ailment. Yet Jesus had compassion over individuals. He took time to heal the sick and the afflicted to free everyone from suffering.
- Jesus displayed peace despite of a furious storm attacking the boat he was riding. He woke up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. You can let Jesus calm down the storms of your life and give you peace.
- The graveyard is an illustration of death. The two demon-possessed men met Jesus in the tomb. There is reality of demonic power in our world today. We need the blood of Jesus to save us from demonic power.
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