Jesus Does What Only God Can Do

Text: Matthew 8:1–17; 9:1–8

Big Idea: Jesus doesn’t just have authority — He uses it to move toward broken people and restore what’s been lost.

Last week, Jesus didn’t ask us to agree with Him —

He asked us to surrender to Him.

So the question now is simple:

Is His authority safe to trust?

Matthew doesn’t answer that with an explanation.

He answers it with a story.

Point One

Jesus’ authority moves toward the untouchable

Matthew 8:1–4 “When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.””

Explanation (only what we’d miss):

Leprosy wasn’t just a medical condition — it meant exclusion from community, worship, and normal life.

Touching a leper made a person unclean. Jesus touches him anyway.

Application (relational):

Jesus’ authority is not threatened by shame, failure, or mess.

He doesn’t wait for people to be clean before moving toward them.

His authority brings restoration instead of rejection.

We:

We believe Jesus welcomes broken people, but we still manage distance—

from messy relationships, complicated stories, and parts of ourselves we’d rather keep hidden.

Jesus’ authority is not threatened by closeness to brokenness.

Ultra:

We keep our distance.

Jesus moves toward.

Point Two

Jesus’ authority can be trusted without control

Matthew 8:5–13 “When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.”

Explanation:

The centurion understands authority because he lives under it.

He trusts Jesus’ word without needing Jesus to show up or explain Himself.

That’s why Jesus adds a warning.

Some who assumed they belonged to the kingdom will find themselves outside—weeping and gnashing of teeth—because they trusted position and familiarity instead of submitting to Jesus’ authority.

The contrast is clear:

the outsider trusts Jesus’ word,

While we as insiders can assume belonging without surrender.

Application:

If Jesus has authority, then control is not required for trust.

His word is enough, even when outcomes are uncertain.

Authority like this doesn’t increase anxiety — it relieves it.

We:

We trust Jesus in principle, but we struggle when we don’t control the outcome.

Like the centurion, faith isn’t about proximity or certainty—

It’s about trusting Jesus’ word without conditions.

Ultra:

We want control.

Jesus asks for trust.

Point Three

Jesus’ authority pushes back what is broken

Matthew 8:14–17 “And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.””

Explanation:

When Matthew says, “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases,” he is not promising a pain-free life or guaranteed healing for every believer.

They reveal what Jesus has authority over—and where the story of the world is headed.

Jesus does not avoid suffering.

He enters it.

He bears it.

He begins undoing it.

But these healings are previews, not the final scene.

The kingdom has broken in—but it has not yet been completed.

Jesus’ authority means suffering is taken seriously,

But it is not allowed to reign forever.

We

We live with real pain, unanswered prayers, and ongoing weakness.

This reminds us that Jesus is not distant from suffering—even when healing is not immediate.

Our hope is not that brokenness disappears now,

But that it does not get the final word.

Ultra

Pain is real.

It is not ultimate.

Point Four

Jesus’ authority deals with the root, not just the symptom

Matthew 9:1–8 “And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.”

Explanation:

Jesus forgives sins before healing the paralytic.

The religious leaders understand exactly what He is claiming — authority that belongs to God.

Application:

Jesus doesn’t just manage visible problems.

He addresses guilt, shame, and the deeper brokenness beneath the surface.

Forgiveness is spoken, not earned.

We:

We often want relief without exposure and healing without confrontation.

Jesus forgives first, showing us that restoration begins deeper than what we can see.

Ultra:

We want fixes.

Jesus gives forgiveness.

Landing

Why This Is Good News

Jesus never uses His authority to protect Himself.

He uses it to rescue people.

He touches what is unclean.

He speaks into what feels out of control.

He pushes back what is broken.

And He forgives what we can’t undo.

The authority Jesus demanded in Matthew 7

is not meant to crush us —

It’s meant to save us.

And this same authority will carry Him forward —

not away from suffering,

but toward the cross for us.