My Ideal Week Is to Consistently Follow and Obey the Risen Jesus
View all responsesMatthew 8 — Christ-Seekers Experience Amazing Words, Amazing Faith, and Amazing Miracles
In Matthew 6 Jesus says to make seeking the kingdom of God your first priority–the passion of your life. (6:33) In Matthew 8 we see seekers seeking Jesus.
Seeker 1 (a leper condemned unclean and untouchable by society) says: “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (8:2)
Jesus reaches out and touches this person who society says should never be touched. Then He says: “I am willing. Be clean!” Seeker 1 is immediately healed of leprosy and uncleanness. (8:3)
Seeker 2 says: “Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” (8:6)
Jesus says: “Shall I come and heal him?” (8:7)
Seeker 2 says: “Lord, I do not deserve to have You come under my roof. Just say the word and my servant will be healed.” (8:8)
Jesus is amazed and says to the crowd gathered around Him: “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” (8:10)
Turning directly to Seeker 2 Jesus says: “Let it be done just as you believed it would.” Seeker 2’s servant is healed at that very moment. (8:13)
Many seekers bring demonized people to Jesus. Jesus drives out the evil spirits with a word and heals those who are sick. This fulfills God’s word that was spoken and written centuries earlier by Isaiah the prophet: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (8:16-17)
Seeker 3 says: “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” (8:19)
Jesus says: “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” (8:20)
Seeker 4 says: “Lord, first let me go and burry my father.” (8:21)
Jesus says: “Follow Me and let the dead bury their own dead.” (8:22)
Jesus disciples follow Him into a boat. While they are crossing the Sea of Galilee a furious storm comes up and waves are sweeping over the boat. Jesus is asleep but fear turns His disciples into passionate seekers, and they wake Him up saying: “We’re going to drown.” (8:23-26)
Jesus says to His disciples: “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then He rebukes the storm and the waves and suddenly it is completely calm. (8:26)
Christ’s disciples are amazed and say: “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him?” (8:27)
On the other side of the lake two demonized men meet Jesus. They shout: “What do you want with us, Son of God? . . . If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” A large heard of pigs is feeding nearby. (8:30-31)
Jesus says: “Go!” (8:32)
The demons come out of the two men and enter the pigs. The whole heard rushes into the Sea of Galilee and drowns. The pig keepers run away and tell the local town about what happened. The townspeople go out to find Jesus, but they aren’t true seekers. Instead of seeking for Christ to stay, they beg Him to go away. (8:32-34)
Jesus is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Do you want Him to stay with you, (Hebrews 13:5) to live in you, (Colossians 1:27) to be your Lord and your God, (John 20:28) and to rule and lead you by His Spirit? (Romans 8:14) Or do you want Him to go away and let you do things your own way?
