Good morning again. What a pleasant rain last night! Hopefully it will keep things somewhat cooler. I have lawn to mow and dirt to move.
Lauren and Chris and Joseph came home later yesterday afternoon...so life is crazy again! The kid is so fun! He immediately wanted to go back to the barn as soon as he got out of the car! Summer is fun!
Jesus has completed his sermon on the mount (v 1) and is beginning his healing ministry in this chapter. Many people are following Jesus as a result of his message. If we compare the events from this chapter to the same events in Mark or Luke, you will notice a different arrangement. Matthew is more of a topical author while Luke and Mark are more chronological authors.
The first healing is of a leper. The only thing more defiling than a leper was a deceased person! Jewish custom was that people had to stay at least 6 feet away from a leper- unless the wind was blowing, then there was a minimum of 150 feet of separation! leprosy was seen as a model of sin: contagious, debilitating, corruption, making a person dead even while they are still alive. Regardless of this condition, the man wit leprosy came to Jesus and worshiped Him- bowed posture, calling Jesus - Lord, humbleness. The leper knew Jesus' power, but used the words "If you desire." I think this is the first time the word "Lord" has been used to address Jesus in this Gospel. Jesus reached out AND TOUCHED HIM! Jesus didn't have to touch the man to heal him, but he did to show us love and compassion for "them." Jesus then said "I am willing" and the man was healed. How willing are we to touch "them"? An often confusing point of some of Jesus' actions are when he says, "Don't tell anyone." Part of it is Jesus didn't want the crowds to get too excited and be looking for more miracles. Jesus wanted the people to recognize Jesus for his teachings and message- not necessarily his healings and miracles. There was also the threat of danger if too many people followed and were excited (Rome wasn't a fan of commoners inciting riots). The leper provides the appropriate sacrifice and is cleansed by the priest. In Mark, we hear that the leper ran and told everyone of the miracle.
In the next story, a servant of a Roman centurion was paralyzed and needed healing. The centurion was a Gentile, and hated by the Jews (i.e. Roman authority), but comes to a Jewish rabbi on behalf of his servant to be healed. Interesting that the Centurion came and asked for help. Under Roman law, if a slave was no longer healthy enough for work, they could be executed by their owner! There is no hesitation from Jesus as he agrees to heal the servant. The centurion poses the issue of Jews visiting Gentile homes (v 8) and showed great faith in Jesus' ability to heal with just words. Jesus is impressed and amazed by the faith of the centurion (v 10)! The first interaction with a Gentile and Jesus is impressed and announces that the kingdom of God is for all people (Gentile and Jew) (v 11). Jesus reminds the Jews that just because of their heritage, they are not guaranteed admission to God's kingdom (v 12).
Several different healings happened after this one and Mathew just mentions that many were healed (vv 14- 17). Big problems, small problems- they are all the same to Jesus.
Jesus' following is getting larger; this could be dangerous as Rome is probably catching wind of the thing s that Jesus has done and they are probably beginning to worry about the power Jesus has over the people. Some people seem to want to follow Jesus for the fame (v 19). Jesus didn't say "No" but he did paint an "unglamorous" picture of what life would be like- a wandering tribe of homeless people (v 20). Many places would open their door to Jesus and the disciples, but they had nothing of their own.
We now hear the story of Jesus calming the storm- a very familiar one for us. The Sea of Galilee was infamous for sudden violent storms, so this wasn't unusual (v 24). The storm raged, the disciples panicked, Jesus slept (didn't we hear Jesus just say in the last chapter- don't worry?!). It seems like Jesus obviously needed the sleep- he must be exhausted. I think we forget the human side of Jesus. He rebukes them- not for waking him up or for their request to calm the storm, but for their lack of faith (and then confidence in him and God). Don't they remember all the healings and miracles he had just done? Jesus rises, calms the storm and sits back down. The disciples respond with "Who is this man?" In a matter of a few minutes they see both the him and and divine aspects of Jesus.
The other Gospel stories tell us of one demon possessed person- Matthew has two people (v 28). Living in the graveyards (burial caves) was definitely against all Jewish customs: contact with the dead, demons love death and darkness, made them even more frightening. The demons knew Jesus (v 29) as they call him "Son of God" (just a few verses ago the disciples asked "Who is this man?"). At the request of the demons (v 30), Jesus casts the demons into a herd of swine (unclean animals for Jews, so they were part of a Gentile farm). Even the demons needed Jesus' permission to enter the pigs. The pigs were then driven to the lake by the demons and were destroyed (v 32). Unfair to the herd owner? Maybe this also shows us the temporal value of riches that we have when compared to God? The entire town is riled up and comes after Jesus asking him to leave (v 34)?! Were they more interested in the loss of their pigs than the healing of two men?
And so the mistrust of Jesus begins.
I hope you have a good day and enjoy the time we are blessed with.
Shalom+
Pastor Paul
I think of Jesus touching the lepers and it reminds me of when I first was a student nurse and even after graduating from training and becoming a registered nurse. We only used gloves at that early time in my career when we needed a sterile field or when we we in isolation.. The rest of the time no gloves were used. Now the nurses wear gloves for all things. We didn't think of what we were touching after being with a patient we simply washed and cleaned our hand really good. Altho I can't imagine touching a leper as
ReplyDeleteJesus did We would have used gloves then as the leper would have been in isolation. Jesus starts performing the many miracles of healingin this chapter after the sermon on the mount. He didn't even have to be present in the room or even touch to heal as shown by the Roman centurion who came to Jesus to help heal his servant. Faith in Jesus was enough
I think of the disciples being afraid on the boat when the storm cme up I don't swim and and deathly afraid of too deep water so even being on the boat would have been frightful for me let alone in a storm where he waves were so high and even seasoned fishermen who had been on the water became afraid. I can feel the fright the disciples must have felt and then the amazement when Jesus calmed the waters for them.
Enjoy your day and enjoy time again spent with Joseph. So much fun grandchildren are.
Have a good day all.
Human touch is such an important aspect of life. We forget how important it is. And to be unclean for so long and miss human contact must've been difficult!
DeleteI didn't think of some of them as being fishermen! Good point-- yet they were still afraid.
Thanks for your comments Clara
I can certainly understand how the Jews (and the Gentiles) felt about Lepers. No one knew how people got it or if it was "catchy". I also remember when AIDS became known. No one wanted to touch those with AIDS - not even people who worked in hospitals. No one knew how it spread from person to person. A friend of mine's brother had AIDS. When we went to visit, he was sitting all alone in a large room - looked like a storage room - no people with him, nurses completely covered when they came in. People were scared. I was scared. But the story and all the stories in this chapter, shows that everyone who has faith deserves and will receive God's blessings. Interesting to note that in Israel they found what they believe to be Peter's mother-in-law's home (from writings) and in order not to destroy it built a church several feet above it - you had to walk steps up into the church. It does seem heartless to cast demons into pigs and then the owner lost them all. But can you eat something possessed by demons? I think Jesus told the Leper not to tell anyone because Jesus wanted him to go to the Priest and offer a gift that Moses commanded for a testimony unto them. Maybe Jesus thought it would be ok to tell after that happened??? Jesus did follow the rules - Matthew 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill" I try to trust completely and have faith but sometimes, I just move forward and try to handle it myself the way I think it best. Which it usually isn't....
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have the family back!
AIDS would be similar to the leprosy from Biblical times…good connection. Like I said to Clara, the aspect of human touch is so important for us…we sometimes forget, but this last year of isolation has reminded us!
DeleteInteresting about Peter's mother-in-laws home! I didn't know that!
Deviled ham?!
Jesus didn't want to draw too much attention…he was looking for the priests to claim the healing maybe?
Faith is hard- especially when we are ice with difficult situations! and move ahead is something we need to do!
Good thoughts Donna!
The miracles described in the Bible are so BIG! Jesus was asked for incredible things and he came through. I can't imagine being there- living at that time- and seeing these magical things happening. There couldn't have been much medical help at the time but people were instantly healed by Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI can't help wondering if Jesus does miracles today or if that was just what he did to get people to notice him; to bring attention to what he was trying to teach. Some people think that everything that happens can be explained in some way. I've heard other people say that miracles happen everyday. They may not be the miracles or answers that we want. Who knows. I certainly don't.
I think the temperatures are supposed to go down into the 70s soon. It sure has been oppressively hot lately. I wouldn't mind a few cooler day.
I wonder what the feeling would have been when people saw him do miracles? I wonder what I would have felt?
ReplyDeleteDO miracles still happen today? Good question. Would we notice them if Jesus did them? or are we too caught up in other things? We certainly can explain lots of things, but who knows. I don't have an answer there!!
Thanks for the thoughts Cathy!