Matthew 8

Demonstrate Christ-centered love, obedience, respect in all your life roles Col 3:18 – 4:1 Stewardship MATTHEW 8:1-13 (NIV) Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy 8 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” The Faith of the Centurion When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 5 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 10 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. 13 MATTHEW 8:18-22; 28-34 (NIV) The Cost of Following Jesus When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” 18 Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demonpossessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 28 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.” 30 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. 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. 32 MATTHEW 8:1-13 (NIV) Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy 8 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy[a] came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” MATTHEW 8:1-13 (NIV) The Faith of the Centurion When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 10 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. 13 MATTHEW 8:18-22 (NIV) The Cost of Following Jesus When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” 18 MATTHEW 8: 28-34 (NIV) Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,[c ] two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 28 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.” 30 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. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demonpossessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. 32 OUTLINE – MATTHEW 8 I. Jesus heals a Leper A. Leprosy in those times represented sin and anyone with Leprosy beyond hope or saving B. “If you are willing” – Do we worship and have the faith in Jesus as this Leper C. “You can make me clean” – Jesus can heal any of our ailments, sufferings and sins D. “I am willing” - Jesus is willing and sole purpose was for you II. Faith of the Centurion A. Jesus ‘amazed’ only twice and this is one of them B. Jesus welcomes all into his family – faith not lineage C. Jesus loving his enemy III. Do not delay – regrets building and opportunities lost A. Follow Jesus today – what is your excuse? B. Do you not believe the rewards are 10, 100, 1000X more than you expect? IV. Jesus restores two demon possessed men A. Response to Jesus’ powerful work is surprising B. What and why was their response so unexpected C. Are you like or not like them? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Do you have doubts or was there a time in your life when you feared going to Jesus or had doubts of your worthiness to Jesus? Please explain 2. How strong do you feel if your faith in Jesus is today? Please cite specific examples in your life that relate or confirm your response 3. What is similar and what is different about your feelings and relationship with your earthly family and your Christian family? 4. Are you fully committed to your Christian walk? Is there anything that may be slowing you down or holding you back and why? 5. Have there been times in your life where you missed Jesus’ wonders or teaching in your life especially because you were distracted with daily life or life’s business?