God's Authority Walking On Two Feet

Most of us in this room have completed whatever formal education we are going to receive, whether that is high-school, college, etc. And the age-old question that is always asked, probably particularly in middle-school math or science, is “when am I ever going to use this?”

Did you ever ask that question? Did you ever study a subject and wonder “when is this rubber ever going to meet the road?” Now, for many, learning is all the fun, and the more information and new concepts that can be discovered or mastered really excites them. But if you’re more practical in nature, learning things like Newton’s laws and Pythagoras’ theorem really don’t get your gears turning.

Great teachers always find a way for those things to enter in. Now, I’m not a math person. It was my least proficient subject, and Lizzy will tell you that when it comes to numbers I’m still out of my league sometimes even with basic addition. I’m only partially kidding there. I often joke that I’ve focused my studies in scripture and theology because I can usually stay pretty far from mathematics. In fact, my one math class that I was required to take in college was my worst grade - it haunts me to this day.

But sometimes even math comes to life. Like that Pythagoras Theorem - anyone remember that? A2 plus b2 equals c2? Well, wouldn’t you know that as a carpenter I use that calculation all the time to square up lines, and walls, and cabinets, etc? And I have to admit that I use a calculator to do it for me most often, but I still remember the first time I didn’t have my calculator and I had to do the math with a pencil on a piece of scrap wood. Sometimes the light clicks and ideas come to life, show themselves in reality, and make a big difference.

Well, having just come off our series on the sermon on the Mount, we’ve received a lot of teaching, haven’t we? And particularly at the end of the sermon, that teaching showed us a lot about who Jesus is - His Lordship, His authority, His eternal power. And as we saw at the very end, people were amazed - they were awe-stricken at Jesus’ authority - the authority behind his words.

Now, if it had stopped there, then Jesus’ may have been what many truly believe he is - just a good teacher, just a significant, if not controversial, Jewish Rabbi. The sermon on the mount may be seen as just a pinnacle of ethical instruction, but nothing more than that. And the teaching is marvelous and truly life-giving, as we’ve already seen - but we haven’t seen all of Jesus, who he is and what he does, yet - we’ve only gotten a taste so far in Matthew.

That teaching is a pinnacle, at this point, in Israel’s history - for the first time, perhaps, God Himself has come to instruct on the true meaning of His law, the true depth of blessing available, and the true scope and source of righteousness. But it doesn’t end with the teaching - the authority doesn’t stop there. As Jesus came down off the mountain, he is immediately met by people in need.

Now, one thing to know about Matthew is that he doesn’t necessarily arrange everything in chronological order. So we can’t say for sure that these accounts all happened the same day, but they are confirmed in Mark and Luke as well, so we know that they happened - and as we will see, they happened and Matthew records them for a purpose.

In these miracles, Jesus’ authority and care really enter in to the darkness, the sin, the curse, the effects of the fall, in a major sense. He enters in to human brokenness and uncleanness in a way that would have shocked and even repulsed many of the Jews of that day. Jesus’ ministry is affirmed, broadened, and attested to by these miracles. But they not only tell us about his authority and power, but they tell us what He is like.

In these accounts, we see the power and authority of God Himself walking around on two legs. For years, the little phrase became popular - W.W.J.D. What would Jesus do? It was on bracelets and shirts and ballcaps. Maybe you or your children wore some of those.

That’s an intriguing question, and its a question meant to provoke a positive action in the one who asks it. Be like Jesus, is the big idea - and that is good. We should be Christ like. But what do we see when we see Jesus?

For Him, we don’t have to ask “What would Jesus do?” Because he is Jesus. But in stead we ask, “what would God do?’

What would God do if a leprous man approached him on the street? What would God do if a Roman Military official begged him to help his servant? What would God do if a woman was sick on her bed, unable to rise?

What would God do with the brokenness, the sin, the curse, the uncleanness, the impurity of human life? Well, Jesus is God - and in these accounts we see what he would do - enter in to it, touch it, look it square in the face, deliver it, heal it.

Regardless of condition, background, or status, Jesus’ authority and care can enter in and heal what is broken and unclean.

Three Stories

Verse one tells us that when Jesus came down from the mountain, after his sermon, great crowds began to follow him. We will see later that these great crowds were not necessarily following him in the sense of a disciple, as many of them would walk away - but nevertheless, he had garnered the interest of many, and that is really nos surprise.

Before we started into the sermon on the mount, we got just a glimpse into Jesus’ healing ministry.

Matthew 4:23–25 ESV

And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

So in one sense, we’re picking up where we left off. We see in those verses that Jesus had “great fame” as a teacher and a healer, and no doubt the sermon on the mount only bolstered that. Remember what the people’s response was after he finished teaching?

They were astonished - they were amazed - baffled by the authority that Jesus taught with.

And so now the audience is watching, and again, we’re not sure if all three of these healings happened on the same day, but the idea is that the crowds are watching, the people are taking notice of what Jesus would do. And as Matthew records it, the first “test” he gets, so to speak, after coming down the mountain would have been one for the history books.

1. The Leprous Man

Matthew 8:2 ESV

And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

Now, we could stop reading after the first phrase in that verse, because that is where the crowds would have stepped back. “And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him...”

Leprosy is still around today, at least in name - and the one that is around today may not be the exact disease that was being spread around in Jesus’ time, but it would have been very similar. Leprosy was any number of contagious skin diseases, most notably a disease that essentially killed the body from the outside in. In the commonly known disease, the infected would start with sores, rashes, or boils, and in the infected areas all feeling would often be lost, and the skin would die, waste away, and even be rubbed off over time.

There were other less deadly forms of skin disease which were also called by this one word “leprosy,” but their physical symptoms were not the only ramification.

In Israel, there were some very important laws in place concerning the spread of skin disease. Leviticus 13-14 are almost entirely filled with laws and procedures about leprosy and skin disease. I would encourage you to read those chapters at a later time, and it will help you to get a truer sense of what this man was facing.

The highlight of those chapters, or perhaps the low-light if you were the infected one, is in chapter 13:45-46

Leviticus 13:45–46 ESV

“The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.

And there is the picture - a dwelling outside the camp, alone, marked by his unkempt hair and tattered clothing, and whenever near another individual, crying out “unclean, unclean” with his hand over his upper lip. It is thought now that leprosy was spread mostly through saliva and respiratory droplets, so the hand over the mouth was to prevent that spread while the person was yelling out their condition.

Now, as usual, what started as a measure to protect from the spread of infection turned in to hatred and despising of the infected. Now we can be a little lighthearted this morning, but over the last couple of years we could probably all agree that there has been some animosity around the whole Covid-19 pandemic? Differing opinions, opposing parties calling the other side unreasonable and irresponsible for opposing reasons. And that is only after two years.

Imagine the man in our story. These laws concerning leprosy had been in place for 1500 years at this point! And leprosy was a continual disease. Remember the story of the cleansing of Namaan by Elishah? The scriptures tell us that there were many lepers in the land at that time. And what about in Jesus day? Well in Luke 17, we read the account of Jesus healing 10 lepers who were all together, and the idea was that all these lepers and more lived together in “camps” so to speak.

To add to this, in the Talmud, one Jewish Rabbi is recorded as recommending throwing stones at lepers to keep them at a safe distance. When I got covid, I remember thinking, “well, people are going to think this or that about me… I’m going to have to walk around with a mask that says “unclean, unclean...” Folks, we have no idea what this situation was like. No idea the fear for life on the part of the healthy, and no idea the separation and agony and sadness on the part of the infected. Let alone families that were torn apart when a spouse was infected and was good as dead.

Well, in contrast to the Rabbi who threw stones when a leper approached, what does Jesus do?

Matthew 8:3–4 ESV

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.”

In stead of stepping back, in stead of being angry, Jesus reaches out, and touches the man. He touches him! Nobody touched a leper. Nobody got close enough to be at arms length. But Jesus touches him.

Notice what the leprous man says -

“Lord” - which was at the very least a title of respect, but seeing the request that he was about to make, it more than likely was admitting that Jesus was more than a mere teacher.”

“If you will...” Do you see that? From whatever the leper had heard, whatever he had seen, he believed that with Jesus it wasn’t a matter of ability or authority - Jesus had both of those in full supply. It wasn’t a matter of ability or authority, but of will.

Do you approach the Lord like that? Do you bow before him, knowing that with Him all things are possible, and its not a matter of ability, but of will? This is how Jesus taught us to pray - your kingdom come, your will be done - that’s what this leper was saying. By even approaching Jesus, he showed great faith that he wouldn’t be stoned by someone in the crowd, and in speaking these words, he wasn’t presumptuous, but he had great faith.

And Jesus healed him - instantly cleansed. There were some lepers who recovered over time, and there was a process for them to be examined by the priest and declared clean. And intrestingly, that is what Jesus recommends - he says, don’t say anything right away, but go the the priest, go through the process, and it will serve as a sign - as a witness to them.

Now, we read in Mark’s account that this leper didn’t listen to Jesus words, and he went and told everyone, and humanly speaking, I think I can relate to him - but i’m sure he did eventually go to those priests to be declared clean, and when he did, I can only imagine the conversation.

“how long were you leprous? And you just suddenly became clean? How? You were healed? By who? Jesus of Nazareth?” And the healing would have done its job at that point - a sign.

We see in this healing, not just compassion - as all these will display compassion. But we see Jesus fearless mercy. Jesus is not afraid to get right into the thick of it to show mercy. Like our theme for this year, unwavering love, unending mercy.

2. The Lame Servant

Matthew 8:5–9 ESV

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.”

There is a parallel to this in Luke’s gospel, and in that account it is said that there were representatives that came for the centurion, which would have still been seen as the centurion approaching Jesus, and if its true, it also shows the kind of authority this man had. A centurion was a Roman soldier who had come up in the ranks to be a captain over a group of men, probably 100 - thus the word “century” in the name.

He was a gentile, a commander in the Roman Military. Now, we have already broached social and ceremonial uncleanness with the leprous man, well, this gentile was no different - he was not “clean” as touching the law of Moses, and not only that, but he was a Soldier from the empire who has turned Israel into a puppet kingdom. Again, talk about stigma.

Well, this centurion obviously had some amount of faith in Jesus, and he also showed a great amount of compassion. The word for “servant” here can also mean “son,” and its possible that it was his son who was paralyzed at home.

Jesus response was immediate - “I will come and heal him.”

Now, just like touching the leper would have made the crowd lurch back and drop their jaw, Jesus, a Jewish teacher, offering to enter a Gentile’s home was equally surprising. By some interpretations of law in that day, it was not only unlawful to enter a Gentile home, but the person would become unclean by doing it. But Jesus again shows compassion, he shows that fearless mercy, but there is more also.

The centurion says, “I am not worthy.” He uses, actually, the same words that John the Baptist uses when John said “I am not worthy to loosen you sandals.” He had been around a while, he knew the Jewish traditions, he knew their laws, he saw the scowling looks on their faces, the hatred, the animosity - the centurion knew he was not welcome in the crowd. But in his humility, he also showed great faith - and here we see the idea of authority again.

Jesus Taught with authority, but now we see him heal with authority. This is real, this is God’s authority walking on two feet.

The centurion recognized somehow the relation of God’s authority in Jesus. Did he recognize that Jesus is God? We don’t know, but he at least recognized the authority he possessed, and he used analogy with his own authority. How he could command certain people and they would do things, which is why the fact that Luke records him as sending representatives is significant.

Matthew 8:10–13 ESV

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.

What Jesus says next is meant as an example, a promise, and a warning.

The example - The centurion’s faith. Now remember, jesus is being followed by great crowds, probably mostly Israelite Jews - and he said, “I haven’t seen such faith, even in Israel!” The centurion’s faith to believe that Jesus could heal with just a word reminds us of the fact that with just a word the heavens were made, and with the voice of God the earth was brought forth - and The New Testament tells us that it was Jesus who was involved in that creation.

The promise - this goes back to Abraham’s covenant. Genesis 22:15-18

Genesis 22:15–18 ESV

And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

In Abraham’s seed, all the nations would be blessed. And what does Jesus say here, about this gentile Roman centurion? Many will come from all around and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - Many will have a place at the table by faith, the kind of faith this centurion had. That is you and I, we are not sons of Abraham by birth, but we can be by faith.

The warning - not everyone who is a son of Abraham will be in Jesus’ kingdom. And again, this all goes back to Jesus’ notice of the faith. There are many faithless sons of Abraham, who would reject their messiah, and many still do, who will not be advantaged on that day because of their heritage. There is a warning in that for us as well. We cannot be born into the faith by physical birth - but as Jesus told Nicodemus, we must be born again.

Matthew 8:13 ESV

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.

Almost as an afterthought, matthew includes, Oh yeah, by the way, the servant was healed. And again, the Miracle has done its job. Yes it was a miracle, yes it was an act of compassion, and a display of authority, but it served to teach and still teaches.

3. The Woman Lying Sick

Matthew 8:14–15 ESV

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.

Now I have to be careful here, because when you read this passage, the mother-in-law jokes just start flooding into your mind. And especially when the first two candidates are a leper and a despised roman soldier.

In all seriousness, there may be some tie to social disadvantage here, as women were often seen as somewhat second-rate, even if just culturally. Jesus gives a great amount of attention to his followers who were women though, and has a higher view of womanhood than his contemporary teachers for sure.

But In this case, I think the image is different. Up until this point, Jesus has healed strangers. People he didn’t know. People who were outcasts and not welcome in Jewish culture.

But here, he heals a near relative of one of His followers. Think of Peter. He has seen Jesus healing, He has experienced his authority in teaching, he has seen his power. But now, Jesus comes into his home - his house. Its hard to know how long Peter’s mother-in-law had been sick, but regardless, this time, it is personal.

Jesus, again, touches with a miraculous, healing touch. And She rose and began to serve him.

If it wasn’t real for Peter yet, it probably was now. This time, the power and authority came to bare on his own household. His wife’s own mother was sick and possibly dying, but now she has arisen and immediately goes to serving.

There are a couple applications in that

First, is it personal for you? Do you realize that Jesus is real? That He is a real person? A real person, the God-man, who came to this earth, who displayed the power and authority and righteousness of God, and who died for your sin and mine? Jesus is real - but is he real for you? Had you come to terms with who He is?

And secondly, if Jesus is real to you, what are you doing since he has saved you? We are saved unto good works that God has prepared for us - are you serving the Lord, the Lord who saved you, the Lord who died for you?

One Purpose

Now, Matthew is the master at grouping stories together to make one big point. We will see that many times in His gospel record. And Often the big point has to do with fulfillment.

We said way back in the introduction to Matthew last year that Fulfillment was really the number one theme in Matthew. And we see it here again.

Matthew 8:16–17 ESV

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.”

That evening, and that’s important, because in a parallel account we read that this happened on a Sabbath day - so people were literally waiting until evening when the Sabbath was over so they could travel - that evening the miracles flowed from Jesus as if it was effortless.

Talk about a display of God’s authority and power. Now, I believe God still actively does miracles. But there has never been another man like this - never this display of power and might.

And this was done to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy.

Isaiah 53:1–5 ESV

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Now, In this case the healing was physical - but when Matthew referred back to Isaiah’s prophecy, the Jewish mind would think immediately of all that was written therein.

Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the promised deliverer, the Servant of God come to save his people from their sins. He proved his power and authority in his miracles and healings, but the rest of the prophecy would come to fruition as well, as Jesus surely would be crushed for our iniquities.

And much like touching the leper, and being willing to enter the unclean home of the centurion, Jesus would show fearless mercy in taking our sin upon His sinless body on the cross. Do you believe?