Matthew 8-9Christology, Faith, Discipleship

WHEN FACED WITH THE MOST DIFFICULT, CHALLENGING TIMES OF LIFE, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS?

Matthew 8: 1-13

Crowds followed him. A man said, “You can heal me.” Jesus agreed. He was healed. Jesus said, “go present the offering.”A man said, “my servant is ill.” Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”He said, “I am not worthy, just say the word.”Jesus marveled, “I have not found such faith in Israel. Go it shall be done.”The servant was healed that moment.

Crowds followed him. A man said, “You can heal me.” Jesus agreed. He was healed. Jesus said, “go present the offering.”

1When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2And a leper (A man) came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make (heal) me clean.”

A 24 year-old man

Crowds followed him. A man said, “You can heal me.” Jesus agreed. He was healed. Jesus said, “go present the offering.”1When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2And a leper (A man) came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make (heal) me clean.” 3Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing (agreed); be cleansed.” And immediately his [he] leprosy was cleansed (healed). 4And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

5And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a (man) centurion came to Him, imploring Him, 6and saying (said), “Lord, my servant is lying (ill) paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” 7Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8But the centurion (He) said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9“For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. 11“I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; 12but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.

Similarities

Leper• Physical outcast• A touch and want to• Grace for an outcast• Recognition of Jesus

and his abilities to heal• Lord (Christ)• I want to

Centurion• Religious outcast• A word and want to• Grace for a non-Jew• Recognition of Jesus and

his authority to heal• Lord (Christ)• I will come and heal

Jesus arrival is a sign of God’s desire to restore the effects of sin on

humanity: sickness, death, separation, despair…

When Jesus comes onto the scene we hear God

say, “I want to!”

His Simple Confidence in Jesus as the Christ is Impressive!

Belief in Jesus as the Messiah (and Matthew returns to this often) is the indicator of

inclusion in God’s Salvation Plan. Not genealogy

Belief in Jesus as the Messiah (and Matthew returns to this often) is the indicator of

inclusion in God’s Salvation Plan. Not genealogy

Simple Confidence in Jesus