Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Matthew 8 - Power Over the Storms of Life


And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! Matthew 8:26-27. 

The disciples marveled at how Jesus displayed power over the wind and waves as they crossed the Sea of Galilee to deliver the good news of the kingdom. While Jesus slept in the back of the boat, a storm began to rage such that the disciples were afraid for their lives. They had to wake Him, wondering why He didn't seem concerned that they were about to perish.

Hard to imagine, but this is exactly how the Bible relays the incident. Jesus was content in the arms of His heavenly father, completely at peace as the wind and waves roared about Him. He was displaying to the disciples that He is ABOVE all earthly circumstances, even those things that are part of nature, such as tumultuous seas.

When He awoke, He rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith and then calmed the wind and waves with His word. This is the power and authority that the heavenly father had given Him BEFORE the cross. Imagine the power and authority available to Him now, post cross and resurrection! We are part of His body, and all the authority He has, we have too, In Him! See Ephesians 1-2.

In Jesus, we have the power and authority to be victorious in every storm of life! Selah!

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Matthew 8 - He Healed Them All!

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. Matthew 8:16-17

Matthew tells us that after Jesus healed the leprous man, He healed the Centurion's servant who was grievously afflicted by demons. The unique thing about the Centurion is that he was a gentile pagan who recognized Jesus as Messiah and treated Him with the same respect as a ruler or king. He saw and understood the authority Jesus had over demons and disease and KNEW He could heal at the spoken word - no prayers or fanfare, but just a word of authority, the same way the Centurion would speak to his soldiers. Jesus told His disciples He had not seen such great faith in all of Israel.

In Peter's house, Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law of a fever, and again, the multitudes thronged Him. All who came to Him at Peter's house that night who were demon afflicted and sick were healed. ALL. Matthew said this was to fulfill Isaiah 53, that "surely He has born all our sicknesses and diseases."

When looking at the original Hebrew language in Isaiah, it appears that prophet also says that Messiah bore all of mankind's sicknesses and disease, NOT griefs and sorrows as the KJV states. Praise God for the Internet that enables us non-scholars to see the original language!

He healed them ALL because He bore ALL sickness and disease!