After completing his report on Jesus’ teaching in the sermon on the mount Matthew now turns to demonstrating Jesus’ authority over disease, demons and even the weather! Instead of telling the story of Jesus’ ministry in chronological order Matthew groups Jesus’ miracles into a series of stories beginning with this chapter. First, Jesus is approached by a man with leprosy, a man who’s shunned from public life and declared ceremonially unclean. Boldly, with great faith and humility he approaches Jesus and says that he could make him clean if he wanted to. The leper is immediately healed and told to go to the priest to be officially declared clean.

Next, in Jesus’ adopted hometown of Capernaum, Jesus was approached by messengers on behalf of a Roman Centurion whose servant was paralysed and on the verge of death. Jesus was prepared to go the centurion’s home but the Roman Officer says he was unworthy to have Jesus in his home pointing out that Jesus only need say the word and he would be healed. The centurion compares Jesus’ authority over the natural world to that of his own authority as a Roman Officer. Jesus, astounded at the centurion’s faith, even though he was a gentile, speaks the word and the servant is healed. Jesus then went to Peter’s house and healed his mother-in-law from a fever and then spent the evening healing many people of sickness and casting out demons.

Jesus then travelled with the disciples across the Sea of Galilee. A storm blew up and the disciples were afraid for their lives and woke Jesus to save them. With a single command he stopped the storm dead and questioned the disciple’s faith. On the other side of the lake Jesus was met by two demon possessed men. The demon recognised Jesus as the Son of God who proceeded to cast the demons into a herd of pigs who immediately rushed into the sea and drowned. Jesus turns convention upside down; healing an untouchable leper, healing a gentile’s servant, demonstrates power over nature and has demons on the run. Miracle worker indeed.

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Questions:

Which of these miracles do you consider the most surprising; amazing; unexpected or most humbling? Can you relate any of these stories to a modern-day example of Jesus’ healing miracles today?

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, that you are a great healer and miracle worker. Help us to have a faith like the Roman Centurion and boldness like the leper that we may trust you always never doubting your love for us. May we never be afraid to call on your name in our time of need in the knowledge that you not only hear our prayers but answer them. Amen.