17: Amazing Jesus (Mt 8:1-17)

Little Johnny is constantly late for school and what's worse is that he always has a big lie explaining why. The teacher tells the principal that she has had it with his exaggerations. The principal tells her to send Johnny to him the next time he shows up late. He will tell Johnny a lie so big that he will never tell another one. Ever.

The next day, Johnny shows up two hours late.

Johnny says, "I was two hours early today so I had time to fish in the pond on my way to school. I caught a 17-pound bass and had to take it home. If I didn't clean it and freeze it, my mom would've been angry. That's why I'm so late.”

The teacher promptly takes him to the principal's office and explains the story to the principal.

The principal tells Johnny about his own trip to school that day. He says, "I was walking to school through the park on the trail today when I heard something behind me. I turned around and was shocked to see a giant grizzly bear behind me. He was 24 feet tall and had 6-inch fangs. He was going to eat me, Johnny! Just then a little dog ran out from the bushes, jumped up and attacked the bear. The little dog killed the bear and then ate the whole bear right there in front of me. What do you think of that, Johnny?”

Johnny replies, "Oh yeah, that's my dog Sparky. That's his third bear this week."

Some people know how to make up some doozies. And every now and then you’ll hear a TRUE story that is hard to believe, but true none the same.

The Gospel of Matthew tells us about Amazing Jesus. And these stories he tells us about aren’t fairy tales with pretend characters and places. No. These stories are about real people in real places with multiple eyewitnesses who saw these events take place.

The ministry of Jesus was amazing. His many miracles led people to listen to His fantastic claims. Today we get a glimpse of how amazing Jesus is and what amazes Him.

Last week we finished the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7), where Jesus taught people what He expects and empowers His disciples to do, following His perfect example.

Matthew tells us that people wanted to hear what He had to SAY, because of the things they SAW Him do. Let’s back up in Matthew’s gospel to be reminded of what Matthew documents just before the Sermon on the Mount. This will help give us context on where we are headed as we open up Matthew 8.

Matthew 4:23 (NIV)

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Matthew 4:24–25 (NIV)

News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and He healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed Him.

It’s after this that Matthew spends a lot of time recording what Jesus was teaching (Sermon on the Mount - chapters 5-7), but Matthew has not yet focused in on any personal stories on the impact of Jesus’ healing ministry. Until now...

Matthew 8:1–2 (NIV)

When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Incredible! Leprosy was considered a social death sentence.

Leviticus 13-14 gives the command to take the person to the priest to examine and quarantine the person with a skin disease to see if it would heal or spread. If the disease is healing, he would consider them clean, but it not...

Leviticus 13:45–46 (CSB)

The person who has a case of serious skin disease is to have his clothes torn and his hair hanging loose, and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ He will remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.

In order not to infect others this person could not live with the healthy and was essentially kicked out of the community - Fathers & mothers, sons & daughters forced to leave their families.

These people were untouchable by the healthy. Never again would these people experience healthy touch from a friend or family member. COVID had nothing on these folks.

These people couldn’t show up to family activities nor spiritual gatherings at the local synagogues nor Jerusalem temple.

Leprosy had left this guy without health, wealth, or normal relationships. His future was dark & lonely.

And there was no question whether the guy who approached Jesus was sick or not, as Dr. Luke’s telling of this same man says he was “covered with leprosy” (Lk 5:12). With no where else to turn, this disfigured man with open soars & dirty clothes entered the town crying ‘unclean, unclean’.

The synoptics (Matthew, Mark, & Luke) make it clear that this man was on his knees with his face to the ground (Mt 8:2, Mk 1:40, Lk 5:12) - his one wish was to be made clean.

He had no other options. He was desperate & needy. He trusted that Jesus COULD heal but didn’t know if Jesus WOULD heal his deadly disease.

This man’s approach is graphically illustrates how sinners like US should approach Jesus. - humble, needy, desperate, & asking for something that we cannot do ourselves, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

It is then that we get a glimpse of more than a miraculous command from Jesus. We see the moving Compassion of Jesus. Lepers were used to people moving AWAY from them, not moving TOWARD them. But check out not only what Jesus SAYS, but what Jesus DOES.

Matthew 8:3 (NIV)

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. I love that! Jesus didn’t have to TOUCH that guy. But Jesus TOUCHED this man who likely hadn’t received a healthy touch for years and years. Jesus wasn’t afraid of an unhealthy infection, as He showed healthy affection to this needy man.

Did Jesus NEED to touch him to heal him? No. Unlike others, Jesus wasn’t concerned about being infected. Instead, as NT Wright puts it, “It worked the other way round. His [Jesus’] cleanness, his healing power, ‘infected’ the man.”

All those years without being touched by a healthy person…and the first one to touch him is a 30 year-old rabbi.

And after Jesus touches him, everyone could see that the leprosy was suddenly GONE! No gradual healing of sores, no ‘take 2 pills and call me in the morning’, but immediately clean!

This man would never have to shout UNCLEAN again. Instead, he could shout “I’M CLEAN!!!!”

Matthew 8:4 (NIV)

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.” * Lev 14:1-32

Don’t tell anyone? Why not? Jesus wasn’t telling the man he could NEVER tell others about his cleansing, but that he FIRST must b-line it to the priest. Here’s why.

First, this was to be a testimony to the priests, that God had healed this man - another proof that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah.

Second, the Scriptures not only prescribed removing lepers from the community, but also prescribed how to restore the healed person back into the community (see Lev 14:1-32).

So, showing himself to the priest would have demonstrated that he was healed and he would be declared clean, & welcomed back into the community.

Matthew 8:5–6 (NIV)

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

First, the man asking for help is a military man, a centurion in the Roman army responsible for about 80 men under his authority. [1]

Second, according to Dr. Luke, this Roman soldier is respected by Jewish elders, whom Dr. Luke says are the ones who went on his behalf to ask Jesus to heal his servant. In fact, they say he was responsible for helping build their synagogue (Lk 7:4-5)…

a place that several of our folks have stood in.

Third, this man’s servant matters to him. He wants to see him healed.

Finally, this military man humbly asks and fully trusts that Jesus can heal him.

Matthew 8:7–9 (NIV)

Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.

In fact, a Jew walking into a Gentile’s home would have made him ceremonially unclean (Acts 10:28). This man asks humbly…but he also trusts fully.

But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 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.”

This is amazing faith. This man simply believes if Jesus says it, it will be done! He recognizes that Jesus has the authority to heal simply by commanding it to be so.

And then we see something that is never said in a positive way by Jesus…EVER…except here, in this story.

Matthew 8:10 (NIV)

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.

There are many times when others are amazed at Jesus (Mt 8:27, 15:31), there is a time when JESUS is amazed by others lack of faith (Mk 6:6), but THIS ONE TIME…Jesus is amazed by this man’s faith…his TRUST in Jesus.

Although this man was NOT racially nor religiously Jewish, and therefore NOT considered by the Jewish people to be a citizen of God’s Kingdom…Jesus sees him in a different light, because...

Kingdom citizens TRUST Amazing Jesus

And since this man does trust Amazing Jesus, he is a citizen of God’s Kingdom. In fact, Jesus uses this man as an example to his Jewish audience in what He says next.

Matthew 8:11 (NIV)

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.

The Old Testament Scriptures point to a day when ALL NATIONS will be a part of God’s Kingdom. Our men just read about this a couple of weeks ago in Isaiah chapter 19.

Isaiah 19:23–25 (NIV)

In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt My people, Assyria My handiwork, and Israel My inheritance.”

Egypt and Assyria were the 2 superpowers of the day. They were at war with one another and Assyria was at war with the people of Israel. Yet Yahweh speaks of a day when they will be at peace, worshipping Yahweh together - ALL belonging to Him!

And now, Jesus notes that this Roman centurion is one of many Gentiles who will sit at the same table as the Jewish patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob. Many of the people in this room are a part of that great gathering of many nations who belong to the King of Creation!

Matthew 8:12 (NIV)

...But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

This is a warning shot right across the bow of many listening to Jesus. Many Gentiles will welcomed into the kingdom..because of their FAITH - their TRUST in Jesus. But…many Israelites who already considered themselves to be subjects of the kingdom, based on their racial heritage - will be thrown outside the kingdom and experience hell - a place of darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth.

I wonder how many of US are leaning on our hope of heaven because of our family heritage - godly Moms and Dads, grandfathers and grandmothers. Maybe we trust in our knowledge of the Bible or our church involvement and partaking in religious rituals.

Instead, we should recognize that...

Kingdom citizens TRUST Amazing Jesus

He’s more than a good dude, a great teacher, or just a miracle worker. We believe that Jesus is amazing because He has demonstrated that He is the Good Shepherd of all who will follow Him - kind, compassionate, truthful, sinless, all-powerful, God-man - who came to earth to live WITH human beings and die FOR human beings.

Jesus is our trustworthy, sacrificial, King of the Kingdom.

We don’t know the fullness of what that centurion knew about Jesus, but he simply believed whatever Jesus said. Oh that we would follow this man’s example and take Amazing Jesus at His word - whatever He says is trustworthy & true.

Matthew 8:13 (NIV)

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.

Dr. Luke tells us that the servants left Jesus and returned home to find the servant well (Lk 7:10).

Amazing Jesus can heal people without ever touching them or even seeing them!

Matthew continues to show Amazing Jesus at work in the same town - just a few feet from the synagogue - in a 1st century home that still exists.

Matthew 8:14–15 (NIV)

When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on Him.

What a great picture of our relationship to Jesus. He changes us and we serve Him!

The people in Capernaum knew where Jesus was, so as soon as the sun went down on the Sabbath was over, people flocked to the house to see Jesus.

Matthew 8:16–17 (NIV)

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. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” *Isaiah 53:4

Matthew makes sure to point his Jewish audience to show that Amazing Jesus is the fulfillment of a 700 year old prophecy from Isaiah 53:4 because he wants his people to know more than WHAT Jesus can do; he wants people to know WHO JESUS IS!

Amazing Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, who has come to let the outsiders in - the living, breathing demonstration of God’s truth, compassion, and sacrificial love - who invites people into His Kingdom and warns others who think they’re already in because of family heritage, religious rituals, or biblical knowledge.

He calls us to become Kingdom Citizens, and...

Kingdom citizens TRUST Amazing Jesus

FEET2FAITH

Answer this question: “What’s the evidence that I am a kingdom citizen?”

Open the Gospels to read WHAT JESUS SAID & DID and WHO JESUS IS.

Tell others about Amazing Jesus. Tell them about what you read. Tell them about what He has/is doing in your life.

____________

Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009), 264.

Discussion Questions

What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching? You might need to look back in your notes to help explain your answer.

Read Matthew 8:1-4 and Leviticus 13:45-46. How did skin diseases impact a person’s life and why was Jesus’ ability and willingness to heal so significant? If Jesus didn't need to touch the man to heal him, why do you think He did touch him?

Read Matthew 8:5-10, 13 and Luke 7:1-10. What are some evidences that this man was genuine, humble, caring, & trusting? How does Jesus respond to his faith? How does this man’s faith challenge us to trust Jesus at His word? What are some things you need to trust Jesus with? As you share this, people from the group should remind each other what the Scriptures say regarding those topics.

Read Matthew 8:11-12. If you are a Gentile (non-Jew) follower of Jesus, have you ever stopped to consider how your life is a fulfillment of this passage? Explain your answer. Based on this passage, who is the message of Jesus for - only certain ethnicities? Why would v12 likely upset Jews who were trusting in family heritage, good works, or religious rituals?

Read Matthew 8:14-17. Have you ever thought about how much time it took to meet with all these people; what about all the gross things Jesus saw and smelled as he cared for these folks? What does this tell you about the compassion of Jesus for people who are hurting? How might the example of Jesus encourage us to treat hurting people with value?

Look back at our FEET2FAITH Challenges from today. Answer F2F#1: What’s the evidence that you are a Kingdom Citizen? (If you don’t know, then it’s okay to talk about that!) F2F #2: Answer which gospel you will read from this week and why. F2F#3: Who is someone you need to prayerfully approach to tell about Amazing Jesus?

Share prayer needs and pray for one another.