So right now, I am at Matt 8:5, nearly close to Matt 10. This is what is going on during this sequence of events:
Matthew 8:5
Many people are asking Jesus to heal wounds and sickness. We have already read past John the baptist, and Satan’s order to turn stone into bread. Jesus is divine, but he can only answer prayer. It is his main purpose to show us that prayer does work.
One of the disciples Mother-in-law has been stricken with a fever. He cures of the fever, restoring her back to health. He casts out demons for family and friends. This shows us that he is truly a divine person. Jesus declares: “follow me, and let the dead bury their dead”.
Jesus’ disciples declared: “oh lord, save us! We are perishing!” They were astonished by Jesus’ divine nature. Even when the demons ordered him to go away with the swine, Jesus never gives up. Instead, Jesus casts the demons with the swine, ordering all of the pigs into the lake of fire.
This is where Jesus finds Matthew, a former tax collector. He becomes a new disciple for Christ. At first, Jesus questions why Matthew is such a follower’, and yet he still eats with indebted tax collectors. This reminds Jesus of swine. He saves a woman who is suffering from a hemorrhage.
I think that it’s because he has to take his mind off of Matthew before becomes accustomed to a new disciple. So he goes on to help two blind men, and then casts out the demon of a mute man. People were astonished, But Jesus still remained humble. ( for starters- Judas was the man who betrayed Jesus).
There are some questions I have for readers of this thread...
1. What are a few things you expect this account of the gospel to highlight from the life and ministry of Jesus?
2. Have you read through (or studied) the gospel before? What are a few things you hope to better understand about Jesus?
Tell me what you think. I think that these are interesting questions from the 12 week course (online) that I am taking for the gospel of Matthew.
"Oh Lord save us, for we are perishing"
