One of the great aspects of this study of Matthew is a return to simply looking at Christ for who he is and seeing what he tells us to do. We have so much information around us that we can struggle to know the real Jesus and settle for knowing “How to Live the Christian Life.”
In Matthew 9:18-26, we see both the power and compassion of Jesus. First, a ruler whose daughter had died approaches him and Jesus agrees to go and bring her back from the dead. Jesus has power even over death and he begins to travel with this man to raise his daughter.
By the time he reached the house, the funeral music had already begun and the people were mourning. However, just as in the case with Lazarus, Jesus raises the girl from the dead. Who is this man that he can even raise people from the dead? He is the Christ, the Son of God. Do we worship Jesus for all of his power, even those aspects of it that we do not understand? Is there a greater miracle than raising people from the dead? The greatest miracle of all was Jesus’ own resurrection. He truly is the Resurrection and the Life.
On the way to the ruler’s house, a woman suffering a bleeding disease for 12 years approaches Jesus. She touches his garment, believing that mere contact is enough to heal her. He looks at her and says, “Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well.” Here we see both the power and the compassion of Jesus. He not only heals her disease but encourages her faith as well, showing her that her faith in Jesus to heal her is right and good.
Have we become so familiar with these stories that we have lost the majesty of Jesus? We must continue to see Jesus for who he is and understand that this is no mere man, but God in the flesh and he has power over everything. Understanding this power makes his death on the cross that much more powerful as he controls all things. He chose to die for our sins. Do we worship him with that power in mind?
Peace,
Jeff Moody
jeffmoody82@gmail.com
Comments