Matthew 8:28-33

Rachel Workman: 28 When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes,[g] two men who were possessed by demons met him. They lived in a cemetery and were so violent that no one could go through that area.

29 They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?” I find it interesting that the demon asked have you come here to torture us before God's appointed time. They knew their time of judgement was coming. They also knew that their souls would be tormented. They chose evil but once they became Satan's there was no turning back for them and they knew that. You won't get a second chance once this life is over.

30 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. 31 So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”

32 “All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.

33 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone. This verse stands out to me. They begged Jesus to go away and leave them along. I for one am very glad Jesus didn't and hasn't left me alone.

____________________________________________________________________________________

John Burnett:  ²⁸ When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. ²⁹ And they cried out, saying, “^[a]What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before ^[b]the time?” ³⁰ Now there was a herd of many swine feeding at a distance from them. ³¹ The demons began to entreat Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” ³² And He said to them, “Go!” And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters. ³³ The herdsmen ran away, and went to the city and reported everything, ^[c]including what had happened to the demoniacs.  Being an old pig farmer, the tainting of these pigs reputations is disheartening, but these pigs had no choice.  They were being led off that cliff by the King of kings and Lord of lords.  The most interesting twist in this story is the fact that the demons knew exactly who they were dealing with and what His plans were for them.  They knew they were powerless and they asked Him to cast them  into the herd of swine.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Allen Michaels:   ²⁸ When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. Demon-possessed people are under the control of one or more demons. Demons are fallen angels who joined Satan in his rebellion against God and are now evil spirits under Satan’s control. They help Satan tempt people to sin and have great destructive powers. But whenever they are confronted by Jesus, they lose their power. These demons recognized Jesus as God’s Son (8:29), but they didn’t think they had to obey him. Just believing is not enough (see James 2:19 for a discussion of belief and devils). Faith is more than belief. By faith, you accept what Jesus has done for you, receive him as the only one who can save you from sin, and live out your faith by obeying his commands.

According to Jewish ceremonial laws, the men Jesus encountered were unclean in three ways: they were Gentiles (non-Jews), they were demon-possessed, and they lived in a graveyard. Jesus helped them anyway. We should not turn our backs on people who are “unclean” or repulsive to us, or who violate our moral standards and religious beliefs. (This pretty much describes those barbaric, Christian killing, made-up-God believing pedophiles called muslims). Instead, we must realize that every human individual is a unique creation of God, needing to be touched by his love. I have a hard time accepting this. I also think that God is OK with us standing up for Christians and Christianity, by using any means necessary.

²⁹ “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” The Bible tells us that at the end of the world the devil and his angels will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur (Revelation 20:10). Just by stating “before the appointed time,” these evil spirits proved they knew their ultimate fate.

³⁰ Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. ³¹ The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

³² He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. When the demons entered the pigs, they drove the animals into the sea. The demons’ action proves their destructive intent—if they could not destroy the men, they would destroy the pigs. Jesus’ action, by contrast, shows the value he places on each human life. ³³ Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. ³⁴ Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. Why did the people ask Jesus to leave? Unlike their own pagan Gods, Jesus could not be contained, controlled, or appeased. They feared Jesus’ supernatural power, a power that they had never before witnessed. And they were upset about losing a herd of pigs more than they were glad about the deliverance of the demon-possessed men. Are you more concerned about property and programs than people? Human beings are created in God’s image and have eternal value. How foolish and yet how easy it is to value possessions, investments, and even animals above human life. Would you rather have Jesus leave you than finish his work in you?

Matthew 8:23-27

Rachel Workman: 23 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

In these verses what stands out to me is "and suddenly there was a great calm". One minute the disciples think they are dying and in the next there was great calm. That's exactly who Jesus is. One minute you think there's no way out and the next Jesus just commands his peace over your situation.

I look at the word faith here and sometimes I think the word is a little overused and it loses its meaning. Do I have faith that Jesus has me? I can't sit here and claim to know the heart of God. Yeah, he's got me. But that doesn't mean I can't go down a path of suffering still. But where I do have faith is in Christ being who he says he is. He is the living Son of God, who died on the cross for my sins. That's enough for me. He may not promise us puppies, kittens and cotton candy every day but what he does promise us is eternal life. And that is enough.

____________________________________________________________________________________

John Burnett:  ²³ When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. ²⁴ And behold, there arose ^[a]a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. ²⁵ And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” ²⁶ He *said to them, “Why are you ^[b]afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and ^[c]it became perfectly calm. ²⁷ The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”  The disciples had not been with Jesus long but they had witnessed miracles by this time yet they still did not have faith in Him.  I know my faith would be strengthened if I was in the boat with Him but now we have His Word and it is far more convincing to me as a Christian because I have the Holy Spirit, who opens my eyes and gives me ears to hear.  The disciples did not have the Holy Spirit yet and they had no idea of what Jesus was capable of, even though Jesus said two words to them and they drop their lives and followed Him. 

Unlike the world who doesn’t know that they are perishing or doesn’t care that they are perishing, in this environment the disciples knew that he could save them so they asked Him to save them, they just didn’t have faith that he could or would do it the way He did, with His words.  We know this was easy for Him because he created everything with just His words.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Allen Michaels:

²³ Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. Sudden storms are a constant issue on the Sea of Galilee due to its small size, a shoreline that’s 680 feet below sea level, and being surrounded by mountains. So it’s safe to assume that the disciples had not foolishly set out in a storm. They had been caught without warning, and were in great danger. Many times we start out with good intentions only to have everything turn to crap. Most of the time we are doing something that WE think is right. It’s only when the waves come flooding over the boat that we realize that God probably isn’t real happy with what I’m doing. ²⁵ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Although the disciples had witnessed many miracles, they panicked in this storm. It never even dawned on them that Christ could bring them through this storm unscathed. They were experienced sailors knowing the dangers on this sea; what they didn’t know was that Christ could control the forces of nature. I’m like this myself. I relax in the boat during calm seas and tell Jesus to “go ahead and sleep…I got this!” But once there’s “trouble a brewin” I’m all “wake up Jesus, can’t you see I need your help?” There is often a stormy area of our human nature where we feel God can’t or won’t work. When we truly understand who God is, however, we will realize that he controls both the storms of nature and the storms of the troubled heart. Jesus’ power that calmed this storm can also help us deal with the problems we face. Jesus is willing to help if we only ask him. We should never discount his power even in terrible trials.

²⁶ He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. ²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Why are you fearful? - You should have remembered that the Son of God, the Messiah, was on board. You should not have forgotten that he had power to save, and that with him you are safe. So Christians should never fear danger, disease, or death. With Jesus they are safe. No enemy can reach him; and as he is safe, so they shall be also.

Matthew 8:18-22

Rachel Workman: 18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake.

19 Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

20 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man[e] has no place even to lay his head.”

21 Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”

Where ever you go, teacher I will follow you. Those are easy words but would I really? Jesus didn't have a place to call home or even a bed to sleep in. Would I sleep on the ground with no cover to follow Jesus in the cold and heat? I like to think my answer is yes. Or would I be like the man making excuses about needing to return home. It's easy to say now knowing what we know what we would do. But what about if we didn't know what we knew? Would we, would I leave it all to follow someone who up until this point was just a hoped for promise?

____________________________________________________________________________________

John Burnett:  ¹⁸ Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea. ¹⁹ Then a scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” ²⁰ Jesus *said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the ^[a]air have ^[b]nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” ²¹ Another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” ²² But Jesus *said to him, “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”  Jesus didn’t beat around the bush or consider how his words would make someone feel about Him.  He tells this guy who wants to be a disciple that following Him is more important than burying his father.  He knew the father and called him dead, as in separated from God and not having eternal life and those who were going to bury him were in the same predicament of being spiritually dead.  A few days of following Christ is more important than burying the man’s father.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Allen Michaels:  ¹⁴ When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. Peter’s mother-in-law gives us a beautiful example to follow. Her response to Jesus’ touch was to wait on Jesus and his disciples—immediately. Has God ever helped you through a dangerous situation? If so, you should ask, “How can I express my gratitude to him?” Because God has promised us all the rewards of his kingdom, we should look for ways to serve him and his followers now.

¹⁶ When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

“He took up our infirmities
    and bore our diseases.”

Matthew continues to show Jesus’ kingly nature. Through a single touch, Jesus healed (8-3, 15); when he spoke a single word, evil spirits fled his presence (8:16), Jesus has authority over all evil powers and all earthly disease. He also has power and authority to conquer sin. Sickness and evil are consequences of living in a fallen world. But in the future, when God removes all sin, there will be no more sickness and death. Jesus’ healing miracles were a taste of what the whole world will one day experience in God’s kingdom.

Matthew 8:14-17

Rachel Workman: I have no reading for today.

____________________________________________________________________________________

John Burnett:  ¹⁴ When Jesus came into Peter’s ^[a]home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and ^[b]waited on Him. ¹⁶ When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “He Himself took our infirmities and ^[c]carried away our diseases.”  He will do the same thing for us.  He will either heal us while still here on earth, or when we receive our glorified bodies.  Before he gives us our glorified bodies, He has to take our most serious infirmity/disease and send them as far as the east is from the west, our sin.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Allen Michaels:  

¹⁴ When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. Peter’s mother-in-law gives us a beautiful example to follow. Her response to Jesus’ touch was to wait on Jesus and his disciples—immediately. Has God ever helped you through a dangerous situation? If so, you should ask, “How can I express my gratitude to him?” Because God has promised us all the rewards of his kingdom, we should look for ways to serve him and his followers now.

 

¹⁶ When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

 

“He took up our infirmities
    and bore our diseases.”

Matthew continues to show Jesus’ kingly nature. Through a single touch, Jesus healed (8-3, 15); when he spoke a single word, evil spirits fled his presence (8:16), Jesus has authority over all evil powers and all earthly disease. He also has power and authority to conquer sin. Sickness and evil are consequences of living in a fallen world. But in the future, when God removes all sin, there will be no more sickness and death. Jesus’ healing miracles were a taste of what the whole world will one day experience in God’s kingdom.