Ep. 227. Matthew 8-9 | Many Miracles

EPISODE 227

MANY MIRACLES: MATTHEW 8-9

I probably should have spent more time on it during the video, but I want to reiterate the importance of Matthew 8:17. The healing of the sick and the demon possessed by Jesus had a purpose. We tend to talk about how powerful Jesus is, which isn't a bad thing to contemplate. Jesus, the creator and Savior, is powerful to bring about salvation and life and is capable of healing the sick and overthrowing demonic powers. However, the reason specifically offered for Jesus' healing of the sick is to fulfill the prophecy of the Messiah in Isaiah 53, which says that he would bear away sickness and diseases. Don't downplay that truth. We see that Jesus healed these people to fulfill the Scripture, and we are reminded that he didn't come to "abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them."

Honestly, we make the Bible too complicated and try too hard to figure out what big secret it may be trying to reveal when the text has as its aim the revelation of Christ. So when you read these two chapters, be amazed at the power of Jesus, but pay special attention to the fact the crowds are saying, "We have never seen anyone do these sorts of things before." Jesus came to show that he was different from the system they had been living in. Jesus was showing himself to be the source of life and salvation.

Today, we find ourselves more impressed when the cancer that showed up last month is miraculously gone this month than that Jesus should take me, an enemy of God, and make me righteous in the sight of our holy King. We do the same in our Bible reading. We find ourselves more impressed by the miraculous healings than we are by how Jesus showed himself to be the Savior. Remember that the healings (the smaller thing) were meant to point to Jesus as Savior, (the biggest thing). We don't want to elevate the sign above the Savior.

ADDITIONAL READING: Luke 13:22-30; Matthew 13:42,50; Matthew 22:13; Job 16:9; Acts 7:54; Psalm 35:16; Isaiah 53:4; Luke 9:57-62; Micah 6:6; Matthew 12:7; Jeremiah 50:6; Numbers 27:17; Ezekiel 34:3-6; Zechariah 10:2; 2 Chronicles 18:16