Focus:
kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
(
FaithOfJesus thread begun by r
RandyP )
Today's Verse:
kjv@Matthew:8:5-13
kjv@Matthew:8:5 @ And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
kjv@Matthew:8:6 @ And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
kjv@Matthew:8:7 @ And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
kjv@Matthew:8:8 @ The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
kjv@Matthew:8:9 @ For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
kjv@Matthew:8:10 @ When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
kjv@Matthew:8:11 @ And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
kjv@Matthew:8:12 @ But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
kjv@Matthew:8:13 @ And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Today's notes: So Great Faith
Context:
- Before - cleansing of the leper
- After - He took our infirmities
_(see also Luke:7:1-10 for additional detail)_
What is man believing/doing?:
- A roman gentile is beseeching healing from a Jewish prophet
- a military leader over a hundred seeks healing for one of his servants
- insisting on authority of Jesus operate similarly to his and can be issued via a third persons request
What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:
- he has either heard of or witnessed Jesus heal, perhaps specifically the palsy and is confident that gentiles have opportunity
- empathy with the torment of his servant
- perception of unworthiness of a home visit
Notes:
While the faith tends to be our focus, it was the authority and unworthiness that became this man's. His familiarity with this concept in his own daily dealings with others in his charge helped him to transcribe that into a spiritual dimension. Out of the hundreds or thousands of healings that day, the author chose to point this one out specifically as a lesson to us all.
Where did all these sick people come from? Intellectually we want to put sickness and calamity off at a safe distance. We don't mind theorizing and philosophizing singing psalms with grandiose intents. Here though, people are pouring out into the cities and into the streets almost in complete mayheim; no doubt an overwhelming site. These people were in close proximity all of this time though we chose not to see them. They are driven now by the lightening bolt of hope that they see in Jesus. How does one intellectualize this? How does one devise grand intent? The immediate religious consequence to the elite religous class must have been stiffling.
Key Messages:
What does this say about our present condition?
- The empathy for another in torment can just as easily be justified as something they deserve or should have been cautious of or blame somehow put to their account. People are fired. People are denied coverage. People are seen as weak and infantile making more of their suffering than warranted. This becomes more and more true in legalistic environments.
- The observance of torment can be repulsive and fearful even leading to the blaming of God.
- There are certain similarities between how we operate daily and how the Godhead operates; if we only knew which. This man stumbled upon one.
- There remains controversy as to what faith is capable of producing itself and what restrictions faith surrenders to God's authority through Christ.
Further Resources:
Comment Board:Matthew:8:5-13
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:8:5-13 rwp@Matthew:8:5-13 mhcc@Matthew:8:5-13
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index