Matthew is not simply writing a chronology of Jesus’ life. He is writing with a purpose. He wants his readers (you and me, but also the first century Jewish Christians who were his target) to be convinced that Jesus is the promised savior. What he records in chapter 8 is intended to keep that thought moving forward. We already know Jesus’ pedigree matches with the messiah. We read the testimony around his birth in Bethlehem, yet he was called a Nazarene. We read about “the voice crying in the wilderness,” and heard his testimony of the Spirit landing on Jesus as a dove and the voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son . . . .” We read about temptation, preaching and teaching – all of which point to Jesus as the Promised One.
Now we begin to see miracles.
Does anyone else find it interesting that Matthew gets through 7 chapters before he records a single miracle performed by Jesus? His purpose is to testify that Jesus was the promised savior; that he is God and Man sent here to rescue God’s people. On one level it would seem that miracles would be one of most convincing proofs of who Jesus is. But on another level, Jesus does not want us to believe in him because he can provide earthly healing. He wants us to believe because He is who He is.
Jesus performs miracles because he loves people. Remember that he is God who made us. When he sees the brokenness in his creation it breaks his heart and he responds in compassion. So he touches the leper – something people were not supposed to do – and cleanses him. He is moved by the love of master for servant – he feels similar love for his people. He is the embodiment of Isaiah 53:4, “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”
Matthew also shows Jesus’ power over nature as he calms the storm, leaving us with the question, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” And he demonstrates his power over the spiritual realm as he casts out demons, again leaving us with an intriguing response, “when they [the residents of the city] saw him, they begged him to leave their region.” There was clearly something “other” about Jesus. As he showed his divine power it not only drew people to him, but put fear in their hearts!
Sandwiched in the middle of this chapter there is a brief dialogue about the Son of Man having nowhere to lay his head, and letting the dead bury their own dead. This seems odd, but it strikes me to ask another question: How could Jesus ever feel at home with such brokenness all around him? He could not settle and remain still when so many of the people whom he loved, whom he created, whom he saw trapped in fear and bondage were all around him. He had to – was compelled by his love to – rescue them! But how to do it?
Jesus knew the ultimate problem for the world was not illness, fear, homelessness, hunger, or possession. He knew – and knows – that all these things flow from our broken spiritual nature. He knows they are consequences of sin in life. So while he does address sickness and the like, he also continues to head toward the cross to settle that which caused the brokenness in the first place. His ministry is not about miracles – it’s about redeeming people from sin.
What about us? When we look at the sickness, the separation, the fear and the brokenness of the world, what do we see? How can we feel at home in this world any more than he did? But like Jesus, we are also called to respond to that need, recognizing it for what it is – a symptom of sin in our world! So as we reach out, we keep both the need and cause in focus as we share the message that redeems us from our sin.
Lord Jesus, thank you for not just being a miracle worker or some kind of healer. Sometimes, I see that need for physical healing in my life or in the lives of others, or I see the need for your mighty intervention in some other way, but I lose sight of the cause for the problem. Help me to remember that the troubles of this world flow from mankind’s (my) sin, and help me to face those troubles in my life and in others’ lives as a messenger of your salvation. Amen.
Now we begin to see miracles.
Does anyone else find it interesting that Matthew gets through 7 chapters before he records a single miracle performed by Jesus? His purpose is to testify that Jesus was the promised savior; that he is God and Man sent here to rescue God’s people. On one level it would seem that miracles would be one of most convincing proofs of who Jesus is. But on another level, Jesus does not want us to believe in him because he can provide earthly healing. He wants us to believe because He is who He is.
Jesus performs miracles because he loves people. Remember that he is God who made us. When he sees the brokenness in his creation it breaks his heart and he responds in compassion. So he touches the leper – something people were not supposed to do – and cleanses him. He is moved by the love of master for servant – he feels similar love for his people. He is the embodiment of Isaiah 53:4, “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”
Matthew also shows Jesus’ power over nature as he calms the storm, leaving us with the question, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” And he demonstrates his power over the spiritual realm as he casts out demons, again leaving us with an intriguing response, “when they [the residents of the city] saw him, they begged him to leave their region.” There was clearly something “other” about Jesus. As he showed his divine power it not only drew people to him, but put fear in their hearts!
Sandwiched in the middle of this chapter there is a brief dialogue about the Son of Man having nowhere to lay his head, and letting the dead bury their own dead. This seems odd, but it strikes me to ask another question: How could Jesus ever feel at home with such brokenness all around him? He could not settle and remain still when so many of the people whom he loved, whom he created, whom he saw trapped in fear and bondage were all around him. He had to – was compelled by his love to – rescue them! But how to do it?
Jesus knew the ultimate problem for the world was not illness, fear, homelessness, hunger, or possession. He knew – and knows – that all these things flow from our broken spiritual nature. He knows they are consequences of sin in life. So while he does address sickness and the like, he also continues to head toward the cross to settle that which caused the brokenness in the first place. His ministry is not about miracles – it’s about redeeming people from sin.
What about us? When we look at the sickness, the separation, the fear and the brokenness of the world, what do we see? How can we feel at home in this world any more than he did? But like Jesus, we are also called to respond to that need, recognizing it for what it is – a symptom of sin in our world! So as we reach out, we keep both the need and cause in focus as we share the message that redeems us from our sin.
Lord Jesus, thank you for not just being a miracle worker or some kind of healer. Sometimes, I see that need for physical healing in my life or in the lives of others, or I see the need for your mighty intervention in some other way, but I lose sight of the cause for the problem. Help me to remember that the troubles of this world flow from mankind’s (my) sin, and help me to face those troubles in my life and in others’ lives as a messenger of your salvation. Amen.
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