October 3 A READ MATTHEW 8–11
Power of the King
OVERVIEW
It is one thing for a preacher to proclaim the words of the Sermon on the Mount; it is something else to be able to back up those words with power—power that could only come from God. Jesus’ miracles serve at least two vital functions: (1) they demonstrate his authority over sin, sickness, demons, and nature; and (2) they show his heart of compassion toward those who were like sheep without a shepherd. An incurable leper, a disillusioned woman who suffered from bleeding for twelve years, a timid boatful of disciples on the raging Sea of Galilee—each receives comfort and consolation from the powerful words of the Savior.
MY DAILY WALK
Jesus’ statement in Matthew 11:27, “My Father has entrusted everything to me,” is similar to one of the last things Jesus said to his disciples while he was still on earth: “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth” (28:18).
In isolation, either of these statements might seem like the proud boast of an egotist. But in this case, the first statement alone has been preceded by no fewer than nine miracles. You have watched hopeless medical cases healed, violent storms silenced, even dead people raised to life. Now how do you react to Christ’s words?
Seeing is believing, or so the old saying goes. One of the strongest encouragements for trusting God today is seeing God’s power in the past. Write down the nine miracles found in today’s reading. Can you think of a time in your own life when you saw God’s power at work in a mighty way?
HAS YOUR FAITH LOST ITS WONDER? HAVE YOU TAKEN YOUR EYES OFF OF HIM WHO IS TRULY WONDERFUL?
INSIGHT
The Costs of Discipleship . . . and the Alternative | Matt. 8:18-22
Jesus often made it clear that those who followed him would have to make great sacrifices (8:18-22). There is always a cost to discipleship. But many people forget that the cost of non-discipleship is much higher. See John 3:36 for the unappealing alternative to following Jesus.
INSIGHT
“If You Refuse to Take Up Your Cross” | Matt. 10:38
The cross casts its terrible shadow across all four Gospels (10:38). In Matthew it’s mentioned numerous times. Jesus knew he would die by crucifixion when he spoke these words, but he pointed to a deeper reality for his followers: following Jesus would mean dying to self on a daily basis.
Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy
1Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. 2Suddenly, 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.”
3Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 4Then 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.”
The Faith of a Roman Officer
5When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer* came and pleaded with him, 6“Lord, my young servant* lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”
7Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”
8But 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. 9I 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.”
10When 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! 11And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.
Jesus Heals Many People
14When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. 15But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.
16That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. 17This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said,
“He took our sicknesses
and removed our diseases.”*
The Cost of Following Jesus
18When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake.
19Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man* has no place even to lay his head.”
21Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
22But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.*”
Jesus Calms the Storm
23Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26Jesus 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.
27The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”
Jesus Heals Two Demon-Possessed Men
28When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes,* two men who were possessed by demons met him. They lived in a cemetery and were so violent that no one could go through that area.
29They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?”
30There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. 31So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”
32“All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.
33The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. 34Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone.