Singularity
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Following Jesus implies a “Singularity” of focus: mind, heart, spirit.
23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.”
23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Water. Significant.
always evoking memory of the Exodus. Big miraculous salvation is by water, in the crossing of the red sea.
16 When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled.
Psalm 77:16-
19 Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen. 20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Psalm 77:19-20
8 O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you? 9 You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.
Psalm 89:
7 Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners,
So it is not insignificant that Jesus’ disciples find themselves in peril on the water. Who will rescue them and deliver them?
26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Remember ? “Who is mighty as you are o Lord? You rule the raging of the sea.”
27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
they were amazed. astonished. they stood in wonderment. they had no category with which to consider this man before them. And the story ends with that question hanging thick. Matthew doesn’t answer it.
amplified reinforcement of the question implied by the leperous man: what sort of man are you? do you will to heal me?
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James also evokes imagery of water. Maybe specifically thinking of this event in the ministry of Jesus, and also the Exodus, because he references water in relation to faith. Doubt is like an untamed wave.
matt 8:23
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
“ask in faith”
doubt=wave of the sea (but remember: who can calm the sea?) have faith!
and, Who can replace your doubt with faith?
double-minded (looking to God, among others for rescue and deliverance in times of trial) , unstable.
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27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Matthew 8:27
in the extreme:
confrontation with evil. Light vs Dark.
people living in darkness have seen a great light… ; . the first to fall to God’s condemnation are the first to see this Light. Galilee, and now the region of the decapolis.
James 1:
28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.
doubt=wave of the sea
Geography. Hellenistic / Pagan area. Many pagan influences, such that you would not recognize inhabitants as Jews.
disciples probably aren’t stunned that the first encounter they have is with demon possession.
consider some of the biblical imagery of paganism / idol worship.
angel from heaven:
2 And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
Cons
29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.
28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.
Matthew 8:28:32
Matthew 8:28
Sense that these acts of Jesus are about revelation concerning himself and concerning God’s promises to Israel (regarding a saviour)
2 And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
And if we look back to isaiah (as Matthew has done already several times):
6 For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of things from the east and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Isaiah 2:6
trusting is something else.
House of Jacob (Israel) has done just that:
7 Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. 8 Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made.
isaiah 2:7-8
7 Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. 8 Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made. 9 So man is humbled, and each one is brought low— do not forgive them! 10 Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty.
they’ve joined into Paul’s condemnation of the gentile nations:
isaiah 2:7-10
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
rom 1:22
9 So man is humbled, and each one is brought low— do not forgive them! 10 Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty. 11 The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
9 So man is humbled, and each one is brought low— do not forgive them!
9 So man is humbled, and each one is brought low— do not forgive them! 10 Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty.
6 For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of things from the east and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners. 7 Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. 8 Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made. 9 So man is humbled, and each one is brought low— do not forgive them! 10 Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty. 11 The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. 12 For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;
isaiah 2:9-10
But Jesus shows up.
Why?
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
So Jesus shows up. Having calmed the stormy sea, leaving his disciples with the ? what kind of man is this?
And who answers it? The demons! Those who would draw out attention away from God. Who would cloak us in darkness by the power of darkness.
29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.
28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.
Pigs? (likely meant for sacrifice in a pagan temple).
Who can cleanse us? restore us? reconcile us? bathe us in light?
Jesus, who reveals in this event that he has power and authority beyond that of any other influence in our lives. And so it renews for us the call to a singular faithful focus on him - and on God through him, which will cure us of double-mindedness and instability in our ways.
Matthew 8:
33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
isa
6 but you shall be called the priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.
rejection at least for now.
Matthew 8:33-34
What is your response to Jesus?