Bible Verse Synopsis 2-25-25
Matthew 8
Christ healed a leper with only His word. It was against the law to touch a leper and to remain a sinless man, the leper had to be healed before Jesus could touch him. This tracks so well with what our understanding of Christ and His power should be. Overarching and all encompassing power that knows no bounds. Through only His word all things are possible. His touch would lift you up off of your feet. Yet He suffered as man when He had the power to turn anything in His favor. This is the true sacrifice of Christ. Giving in to the need of man to have a lamb so the scriptures would be fulfilled. He answered every scripture in utter perfection! A Centurion also sought Christ's help. The Lord, as He was called by both the leper and the gentile, said " I will come and heal him." Verse 7. There is no plainer explanation of the power of Christ. He can heal the sick divinely, without medicine or therapy, but through His Majesty. The gentile understood this power and how short he and his men fell. He calls himself unworthy in Verse 8. As the men follow the gentile Captain because of their sworn allegiance to serve the emperor, disease follows the order of the Lord. Jesus marveled at the faith of this Gentile and reflects on the travesty that will come to Israel. Jesus healed the man from where He sat and acknowledging that many Gentiles will be saved to live with Abraham and Isaac, "But, the children of the Kingdom (Israel) shall be case our into utter darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Verse 12. This verse proclaims the failures that comes from Israel as they reject the Messiah.
As Jesus continues His ministry back at Capernaum, He heals Peter's mother. She is so healthy immediately following the event that she prepares and serves Jesus and the disciples a meal. He cast out many demons and healed more sick people with His word. Then as the multitude of people grew, Jesus withdrew to the East. One man says he will follow Christ whenever He went. Jesus answered in a metaphor. Foxes and birds have homes here on Earth but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. - Verse 20. Until the Cross, Christ did not have a home here, now the whole planet belongs to Him. Another asks Jesus to take care of his father until he dies. Jesus said "Follow Me and let the dead bury the dead." Verse 22. Nothing should get in the way of our following of Christ. And we should spend our time burying the physically dead when they were spiritually dead. Let the other spiritually dead do this. You will follow Me.
Christ has the power above the storms and the winds and all of nature. It answers to Him. Jesus was awoken by the disciples in a storm on a ship. "Oh you of little faith" - Verse 26. The disciples marveled at the display of power. In our times of greatest fears, when the storm of life has enveloped us and see no way out, turn directly to Christ and He will calm the waters and lay down the wind. Brush away the clouds and bring out the sun. With Christ our battles and turmoil are easier and less burdensome. Christ carries this weight for us! Give Him the control He needs of our lives and He shall answer our prayers.
2 Demons knew Christ as He entered into Gergesenes. They called upon Him as "Jesus, Thou Son of God." - Verse 29. Even the demons respect the Lord and know His awesome power. The way the demons speak through the men they inhabit, it is as if they know they have no chance against the Almighty. And they do not! Christ will be ever victorious over all demons, sickness, and weaknesses of men. For it is obvious that we fall short of the throne. Christ is there to bridge the gap between our sinful selves and the perfection He represents. We can walk with Him to other side of the aisle where sin abides no longer in us but is carried by Christ. Our demons are cast off and souls set free. But only if we walk in pure Faith with Christ.