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Jesus is able and willing (Matthew 8:1-17)

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video forthcoming

MOTIVATE

Able and Willing

When someone has trouble, they’re not only seeking someone who is able but also willing.

  • Most companies are able to fix a plumbing or hvac problem but not willing if it’s a weekend or middle of the night.

  • Rental car industry is able to take a reservation but not willing to keep track of supply.

  • Warranty companies are able to fix your appliances but they’re not willing.

  • Cable/Cell companies are able to give you a lower rate, but they’re not willing.

  • Healthcare industry is able to solve insurance complexity and medicine availability and lower economics, but they’re unwilling because of corporate greed.

  • When it comes to some pain and specific suffering, the experts and specialists of our world are willing but sadly unable.

  • We know that our world is flooded with trivial complexities and overwhelming brokenness. And few have encountered one who is proficiently able and compassionately willing as Jesus.

EXAMINE        Matthew 8:1-17

1  When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.

Today’s text is Matthew 8, which means our series has skipped a few chapters.

  • Beatitudes: “Rogue Living” (2017)
  • Lord’s Prayer “Praying With Jesus” (2018)

So, ch.8 opens with Jesus coming down from the mountain and great crowds continuing to follow. What follows is 10 healing miracles by Jesus… like Moses coming down the mountain with commandments. Jesus, the greater Moses, brings miracles the works of God. Today we’ll examine 3 miracles.

Jesus helps the socially discarded.
2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3  And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4  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.”

Throughout Jesus’ life, He is abundantly approachable. Jesus is consistently reaching toward those from whom others run away.

Jesus is abundantly approachable. He is consistently reaching toward those from whom others run away.

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In this case, a person with leprosy approaches Jesus. Leprosy made individuals discarded and each have a checkered legacy.[1] Maybe this unknown leper’s name was Lamar and that’s why he’s in ch.8 of Matthew…[2]

Regardless, leprosy was lethal…  

  • In OT times, leprosy was the deadly disease that cancer is present day. Modern sciences calls leprosy, Hansen’s disease.
  • Leprosy was so feared that anyone having the disease was banished from society. No disease was more dreaded in the ancient world than “leprosy.”[3]
    • Skin patch discoloration and crusty scabs.
    • Skin patch spread externally on body & internally to organs.
    • Tumors appear & Tissue disintegrates to deform hands/feet.
    • Nerve endings were destroyed.
    • Spiritually unclean and socially unwanted

Leviticus 13:45-46 “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.”

The leper does not question Jesus’ power to heal; he knows Jesus is able. The leper calls Jesus “Lord,” which would also have been a generic name for sir/master. Between calling Jesus “Lord” and kneeling down (same word for worship – “proskuneo”) there’s theological hints that one who is spiritually unclean knows Jesus’ identity – in contrast to the religious elite who fail to admit their depravity or dependence, much more acknowledge the identity of Jesus as Lord and Son of God.

So, the leper believes Jesus is able to heal but is uncertain if Jesus is willing to help. The leper simply presents himself at the feet of Jesus.

We can learn how to pray from this leper.

*We can understand and affirm Jesus’ sovereign and mysterious power over all things, including suffering and evil. There are no accidents or oversights with God.

  • Prov 16:4 “The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.”
  • Isa 45:6-7 “I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.”

*We can also understand and affirm Jesus is approachable, wise, and compassionate.

There are moments or seasons where God permits undesirable circumstances to promote our faith and dependency, and has purposes beyond our finite understanding.

  • Ps 119:71 “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn God’s statutes.”
  • Paul said, “to keep me from becoming conceited… a thorn was given me in the flesh… Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2Co 12:7-9)

Likewise, there are moments where God is able and willing to heal based upon our prayers.

  • James 5:13-15 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let them pray… Is anyone among you sick? Let them calls for the elders of the church and let them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise them up.”

In summary, we can trust that Jesus as able and willing, but also wise to give us what He knows we need.

We can trust that Jesus as able and willing, but also wise to give us what He knows we need.

Additionally, Jesus could have healed this leper with a spoken word. He created the universe and its inhabitants by the power of His words (Gen 1; Col 1:16; Heb 1:3). The Gospels reveal Jesus can perform miracles without touching or being present.

Yet, in this case with one who is socially discarded, Jesus touches the leper. Jesus is identifying with the spiritual uncleanness of the person and exchanging with them His purity and cleansing power.

This scene reveals what Jesus does for us on the cross. Jesus takes our sin and exchanges it for His righteousness. Jesus’ death on the cross extends an offer of forgiveness, so that by faith we can be healed and transformed with the Spirit of God.

Last, Jesus commands the leper to show himself to the priest for declared healed and reinstated to the community (cf Lev 14). He also commands not to promote his healing to others. Why does Jesus direct silence for miraculous healings in the Gospels but demand proclamation for those saved from the gospel? It’s a debated question, but the very least is that before the cross Jesus was not seeking to draw uninformed attention. In other words, Jesus’ aim was not to be a flashy miracle worker but a humble Messiah whose healing would stem from His suffering. Jesus did not come to impress crowds but to die for sinners.

Jesus helps the ethnically different.

5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7  And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8  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. 9 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.” 10  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. 11  I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12  while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13  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.

Jesus returns to Capernaum and meets a Roman centurion. This Gentile and enemy of the Jews approaches Jesus with a need. The centurion’s servant suffers with paralysis.

  • IDK if you’ve ever been around someone who couldn’t walk/feed/bathe/relieve themselves without assistance. If not, the feeling is very cynical and hopeless….

This reality also points that the Centurion has care for this individual beyond a simple servant – who would have been able to perform few, if any, duties. The other Gospels record a similar account with it being the Centurion’s son (cf. Lk 7:7; Jn 4:47), and the individual not just suffering by paralysis but deathly on sickbed.[4]

Remarkably, the Roman centurion shows humility before the Jewish Messiah. He does not consider himself worthy for Jesus to enter his house. It’s likely he knows asking a Jewish religious leader to enter a Gentile’s home would be ceremonially unclean.  Further, he requests Jesus to heal remotely by spoken word. This shows substantial faith in Jesus’ ability to heal. The centurion understand authority, being oversight of 100 soldiers, and astutely applies this to Jesus’ authority over sickness and the human body.

Matthew 8:10 notes that Jesus marveled at the centurion’s faith. Notedly, Jesus gives commentary to the disciples about the ethnic differences of Jews/Gentiles, and His aim for people of all nations to be at the heavenly table fellowship.

In all, we see Jesus caring for those unexpectedly different from a “church crowd” – with differing ethnicities involved in His kingdom work. And Jesus commands the servant to return home and find his servant/son healed. And he does!

Question for us: Does Jesus marvel at your faith? Are you praying big and asking boldly for God to significantly work in your life? God’s enjoys answering prayers for financial provision, discernment for decisions, wishlist items at birthdays, or even healing through sickness. But we are also invited to pray “God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in Heaven.” So, what are the kingdom-focused prayers you have on your list? And, how are you including the ethnically different in your ministry of presence, touch, and compassion to serve needs?

Does Jesus marvel at your faith? Are you praying big and asking boldly for God to significantly work in your life? What are the kingdom focused prayers you have on your list?

Jesus helps the physically distressed.

14 And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.

After Jesus preaches a long sermon (Mt 5-7), he heals a leper and does the same interacting with a Roman centurion for his servant/son. His ministry day was long and without a nap. So, Jesus attempts to experience a few moments of respite in Peter’s house. But remember what the centurion said? 8:8 “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof” So, the one who is more worthy than a Roman palace seeks to dwell in a plain shelter of a fisherman.

Jesus enters Peter’s house and immediately discovers another person needing help.

Illus: What do you normally do after a full day of work? When you enter your house, do you remove shoes? Do you change to comfortable clothing? Do you pour a refreshing beverage? Do you find your recliner and pull back the lever for a few moments of uninterrupted quiet and peace?  

Yet, Jesus, after a likely exhausting day of helping others, enters the house to find Peter’s mother in-law stretched on a bed and sick with a fever. So, steps to her bedside and with a touch of her hand, she is immediately healed.

In ancient days, a fever wasn’t relieved by taking Tylenol, Essential Oils, Antibiotics, or any other elixir. Instead, people with a fever were susceptible to other infections and could quickly turn deadly.

Additionally, the mother in-law to a fisherman is the most ordinary, unimportant, and underwhelming facts to a circumstance.[5] Yet, to Jesus the simple predicament took priority.

Jesus is consistently reaching toward those whom others run away from. Jesus cares for those with modest burdens or weighty worries. You do not have to face your fears and troubles alone.

Ps 55:6-8, 16-17, 22 “I would say, ‘Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and storm’… But I call to God, and the LORD will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice… Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Let prayer to God be our first priority instead of last possibility.  

  • Let prayer to God be our first priority instead of last possibility.  
  • An altar is a place to meet with God for personal commitments and public dedications. Today, the altar is corporate worship gatherings… You’re invited today to come to the altar of fresh grace and new beginnings.
    {Illus: Like going to closing on a loan… all the provided information, paperwork, and statements mean nothing until you go to closing with a signature.}
    What holds you back from taking a step to the altar – – – instead of preparing to go home, take the opportunity to prepare yourself to seal and validate your spiritual decisions.

Also notice that after the mother in-law was healed, she served Jesus [imperfect tense indicates repeated action]. Matthew leaves the details out, but it’s likely that serving included sufficient food and helpful tasks – like telling Peter & Andrew not to argue / telling James & John not to wrestle / telling Judas to chill complaints about finances.

Seriously, people who are helped by Jesus should facilitate others to be helped by Jesus. They serve Jesus with whatever resources they have, trusting what’s in their hand can be used by God to be a blessing. Where and how are you serving Jesus?

APPLY/THINK

16 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. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

The mother in-law’s service enabled Jesus to extend an embrace and multiply miracles of healing and hope. Jesus is able and willing to defeat demons, dispel evil, and provide peace inside and out to those with any struggle.

Matthew summarizes Jesus’ miracles with fulfillment of prophecy from Isa 53:4 “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

Jesus does this with His own suffering. The ultimate cause of sickness, disease, and suffering is sin. Our world is deteriorating and people are dying from many symptoms – but the root cause is sin. Gospel atonement does erase earthly problems but it does inform us they have an expiration date. The return of Jesus will not only eradicate disease and death but will establish an assured existence and unshakeable kingdom where every tear will be wiped away and joy will permeate.

So, it is benevolent to sew and share blankets for the ailing. It is kind and helpful to provide medicine, clothing, and finances for international missions. It is good and generous to provide for the poor and counsel the brokenhearted. But the most compassionate act one can do is share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Because, Jesus [Himself] is powerful and compassionate. God’s presence in one’s life doesn’t just save from eternal condemnation but sustains in earthly tribulation.

And so, we have this hope: “In all these [struggles] we are more than conquerors… neither death nor life, nor earthly politics & powers… nor past disappointments or present difficulty… nor the highest of hardships or the lowest of despair… nor anything in all of life will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (adapted Rom 8:37-39)

Jesus is able and willing to save you, help you, and sustain you.

“The LORD’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save, or his ear dull that it cannot hear” (Isa 59:1).

Jesus invites you to come…

[1] Named lepers: Moses (Ex 4:6-7); Miriam (Nu 12:10); Joab’s family cursed by David (2Sa 3:29); Naaman (2Ki 5); Gehazi servant of Naaman (2Ki 5:20); Uzziah (2Chr 26); Simon healed by Jesus (Mt 26:6)

[2] Nod to Baltimore Ravens QB.

[3] Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 1–13, vol. 33A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1993), 198.

[4] Though some consider these to be separate accounts; D.A. Carson Matthew NAC / D.A. Carson John PNTC.

[5] Obviously, in this detail we learn that Peter was married. Therefore, it’s ironic a religious organization that establishes its leader to remain celibate stems from Peter.

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