Recently I have been reading and re-reading the New Testament book of Matthew. As I have been working my way through it I have come across a few interesting things. One that I want to share today comes from Matthew chapters 8 & 9.
As we read through the following passages we will see that Jesus performed a number of amazing miracles. One thing that really stood out to me was that when someone had a problem they took it to Jesus. It didn’t matter what it was, if they took it to Him, He dealt with it. Here are a few examples.
The man with leprosy
Matthew 8:1-4 NLT – Large crowds followed Jesus as He came down the mountainside. 2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Him and knelt before Him. “Lord,” the man said, “if You are willing, You can heal me and make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” He said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
He knelt before Jesus and said if you are willing I will be healed. Jesus was willing and healed him. Now the reason why Jesus said to not tell anyone and go and show the Priest is because Lepers were outcastes from society. A Priest declared them unclean with Leprosy and only a Priest could declare them clean and re-admit them to society.
The Centurion’s slave
Matthew 8:5-10 NLT – When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with Him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralysed and in terrible pain.” 7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come into my home. Just say the word from where You are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, He was amazed. Turning to those who were following Him, He said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!
He asked Jesus to “say the word” and his servant would be healed from a distance. Jesus said the word and he was healed. The Centurion understood authority because he was a committed soldier. He understood orders and authority. He knew Jesus had the authority and power of heaven and Jesus just needed to give the order and it would be done.
The calming of the storm
Matthew 8:23-27 NLT – Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with His disciples. 24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke Him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then He got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. 27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey Him!”
The disciples were terrified as the storm on the lake threatened their lives. They called to Jesus and He stilled the storm. In the preceding miracles Jesus healed peoples bodies. This one is a powerful nature miracle. It was so powerful that even the Disciples looked at Jesus differently.
The Paralytic man
Matthew 9:1-8 NLT Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to His own town. 2 Some people brought to Him a paralysed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralysed man, “Be encouraged, My child! Your sins are forgiven.” 3 But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does He think He’s God?” 4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so He asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 6 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralysed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 7 And the man jumped up and went home! 8 Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority.
Some friends brought the paralytic man to Jesus in faith that He could heal him. Jesus told him to pick up his mat and go home. He got up and walked. I like that the man could not come to Jesus on his own, he needed his friends to bring him. I wonder who I can bring to Jesus? How about you too?
The Dead Girl
Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26 NLT – As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but You can bring her back to life again if You just come and lay Your hand on her.” 19 So Jesus and His disciples got up and went with Him. 23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, He saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. 24 “Get out!” He told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at Him. 25 After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside.
A man came to Jesus and told of his dead daughter. He said if you touch her, she will live. To me this is amazing faith. Like the Roman Centurion, the father knew Jesus had the power and authority. Jesus touched her and she lived. Jesus had the power over death.
The Sick Woman
Matthew 9:20-22 NLT Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind Him. She touched the fringe of His robe, 21 for she thought, “If I can just touch His robe, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
The woman who had been bleeding non stop for 12 years came to Jesus. She knew if she could touch His cloak she would be healed. She did and she was healed. Like the Centurion and the father we have previously read about, she knew where the power for healing came from. It was from Jesus…even in the midst of a pressing crowd.
The Two Blind Men
Matthew 9:27-31 NLT – After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind Him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” 28 They went right into the house where He was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” “Yes, Lord,” they told Him, “we do.” 29 Then He touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” 30 Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about this.” 31 But instead, they went out and spread His fame all over the region.
Two blind men came asked Jesus to have mercy on them. He asked if they believed He could heal them. They said yes and they were healed. By addressing Jesus as the Son of David the men recognised His royal lineage back to David. It was prophesised that the Messiah would come from the line of David. So they not only came in faith, but knew Jesus was the Messiah.
The Mute Man
Matthew 9:32-33 NLT When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn\’t speak was brought to Jesus. 33 So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed.
A man was brought to Jesus who was demon possessed and could not speak as a result. The demon was driven out and he was healed. This is another example of someone bringing a friend or relative to Jesus. Sometimes we are the life line or conduit that brings people to God. In this case we see Jesus had authority over the unseen demonic world.
Closing
In all of these cases the people brought their problem to Jesus. They came in faith or their friends brought them in faith, and Jesus dealt with their problem and restored the situation. Nothing was too big or too small. Jesus handled it all.
The miracles we read about were healing, nature miracles, bring people back to life and casting out a demon. He had the power and authority to do amazing things. Some of which had never been seen in Israel before!
If you are struggling today with an illness, or there is another type of storm in your life, I would encourage you to bring it to Jesus today. He is more than willing and capable of handling it today. Simply come in faith.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, today I bring my problem to You. You know my situation and my need. I lift it up to You today and I ask You to intervene. Please bring a miraculous breakthrough that only You can do. I ask this in Your name, Amen.
PASSIONAustralia.blog 