Matthew 8:14-17 He Himself

Examine with me, the text and for context sake lets read from

Matthew 8:14–17 “Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. 15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. 16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.””

Power of Messiah

Matthew 8:14 “ Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever.”

Jump with me real quick to Luke 4 & Mark 1, because here we see some details revealed about this event that we don’t need but expand the narrative a little. Peter loves his wife, 40 years later Paul says Peter traveled in ministry with his wife (1 Corinthians 9:5) she has seen most of what Peter has seen. She is a disciple for sure. Peters house was their base camp.

Luke 4:38 “ Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her.” Mark 1:29–30 “ Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.”

The assumption is that Petes mom in law was not normally there, she is being taken care of because of her fever

Have you ever had a high fever? Where it hurt? where you thought you would die. note; it seems she was incapable of asking herself because “they” requested He heal her.

Now, I want to bring this up a moment because many Word of Faith preachers teach that if your faith isnt strong enough or you don’t sow into the miracle, it won’t happen. But thats like saying Jesus can’t heal if someone doesn't have faith. There may be times where people won’t come because they have no faith to healed but thats a heart issue.

Matthew 8:15 “ So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.”

Look at it. Also glance with me at Luke 4:39 “ So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.” Mark 1:31 “ So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.”

I would note: If a faith healer lays hands and says, its your fault you aren't healed, they are false teachers. We pray for folks to be healed all the time, but we testify that its not in our power or right she's out of it and Jesus still heals in His will, not in anyone else's.

he did however, wait till asked. The act of faith calls on the one that can respond.

This is a sign, because all of the things Jesus did were a sign. Even the healings and miracle of all that He did put this on display. This was all done so that we would believe. John 20:30–31 “ And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

I love that she immediately got up and served them.

firstly, She was instantly restored to strength to be able to serve as she chose to. (Did Jesus heal her for some lox & bagels? no, a fever can kill it was her choice to serve and the intonation is that it was from gratitude) this wasn't just a natural healing. When you had fever, soon as it broke did you go play paintball or hit the gym, of course not. A well timed word. Was sign.

secondly, what a treat to bring jesus and his guys food. I loved bringing food and drink to guys like chuck smith and the like when they visited our church. To hear them talk, watch them relax and laugh. Even share some of the meal. But to do it with Jesus, wow. We might be jealous of her to sit at the feet of the Christ.

Note: this doesn’t mean all who healed have to serve in ministry at church, etc. but It is simply a word to us that she truly was instantly and completely healed. There was no faking it. Was truly done. We see the healing continue -

2. Signs of Messiah

Matthew 8:16 “ When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,”

this is not prescription for ministry. each of these things are signs. Even when the apostles healed it was known as the signs of an apostle (2 Corinthians 12:12)

however it does tell us that there are demons (unclean spirits) and they can possess (inhabit unsaved) people. Jesus could simply command these beings to leave. They often exhibit supernatural strength when encountering others but they feared and screamed when encountering jesus!

this healing was also indicative of the fulfillment of this prophecy that is mentioned in the next verse. Jesus’ authority is such that he can even give this ability to others (which He does in Matthew 10 and also through the history of the church)

3. Prophecy of Messiah

Matthew 8:17 “ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.””

break out your argument pencils, this scripture is argued about by so many different schools of thought.

some say it means we can and should all be healed with prayer. Some say it only refers to salvation.

lets go to Isaiah to read the text - Isaiah 53:1–12 but I want to look at: Isaiah 53:4–5 “ Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

The entirety of the NT proclaims that Jesus, He Himself is our God our king of kings, the messiah of Israel, our Christ. He Himself is Almighty God on earth. The thought is mind-blowing but if God is real - and as powerful as stated, this is within His ability.

Isaiah 53:5 from the NET “ He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.” Does this mean we cannot be sick or will be healed if I am saved? Isaiah seems to be both healing and atonement in its use. Both present and future.

The context that Peter gives is precisely Spiritual 1 Peter 2:24–25 “ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Also, we must remember the context of all of the scriptures in regards to our prayers/laying of hands. There is no scripture that says we will always be healed via miracle/prayer. 1 John 5:14 NET “ And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” its always should He choose to do. Its not the force. James even points out that often prayer is not answered because we ask from our selfishness.

So, though Matthew clearly seems to be talking about healing its also relating the healing Jesus is doing to a spiritual cause or background or curing of sin (wages sin, etc) and over Satan himself. Evil cannot win.

Yes, Jesus has authority over all of creation. And though healing is in the cross, this is primarily pointing to salvation. If we look to the cross, its eternity. But though we have eternal life, we aren't in it yet. Thats future. So sometimes, our healing, is also there. No more pain sickness suffering, tears in Revelation its the final fulfillment of everything when we receive our resurrected bodies.

In closing, Suffering is part of our life here. Accidents, sickness, we could spend the day naming them.

But so are miracles in the life of a believer. Some might say its in our pain and misery, that the true thankfulness is revealed because we seek the living God all the more. And are thankful no matter the course. Because we have the ultimate healing of our salvation, all other pales in comparison.

As our memory verse says, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”