Discipleship and the Reassuring Power of Christ (Matthew 9:18-34)
The next three stories of healing that Matthew reports are some of the most encouraging and inspiring in the Gospels. In each case, the faith of the people around Jesus is highlighted. The father of the girl who has died has no doubts that Jesus can change the situation. The lady who had suffered a life-long illness longed to merely touch Him, somehow knowing it would be enough to heal her. The blind men are asked by Jesus if they believe He can heal them.
In each case, it is not the fact that the people have faith that heals them. Jesus alone and His power is effective. But what we see here is the confidence and assurance of the faith of a disciple. Following Jesus is trusting Him to lead, and the wonderful thing about such a life is that Jesus rewards that trust. He is God, so we do not overreach in trusting Him. He alone is worthy of that sort of faith.
Later, when Jesus heals the mute by casting out a demon, the crowds of people are amazed at His power. This man who is God is worthy of all the trust we could ever give Him.
And yet, where we disciples trust in Jesus, there are those who will deny His power. Not that He has power, only that it is the sort of power worthy of trust and following. There is no way we can see the power of God and pretend that it is not there. But those who do not want to yield to God try to pervert the power they see. The Pharisee says it is demonic. The secular man says it is only natural and a question of perspective.
The power of Jesus is not something a disciple wields or controls through a faith that is some sort of magic, or a prayer delivered as some sort of incantation. It is the power of the Creator of the universe. We trust and follow Him for who He is and not merely what He does.
In each case, it is not the fact that the people have faith that heals them. Jesus alone and His power is effective. But what we see here is the confidence and assurance of the faith of a disciple. Following Jesus is trusting Him to lead, and the wonderful thing about such a life is that Jesus rewards that trust. He is God, so we do not overreach in trusting Him. He alone is worthy of that sort of faith.
Later, when Jesus heals the mute by casting out a demon, the crowds of people are amazed at His power. This man who is God is worthy of all the trust we could ever give Him.
And yet, where we disciples trust in Jesus, there are those who will deny His power. Not that He has power, only that it is the sort of power worthy of trust and following. There is no way we can see the power of God and pretend that it is not there. But those who do not want to yield to God try to pervert the power they see. The Pharisee says it is demonic. The secular man says it is only natural and a question of perspective.
The power of Jesus is not something a disciple wields or controls through a faith that is some sort of magic, or a prayer delivered as some sort of incantation. It is the power of the Creator of the universe. We trust and follow Him for who He is and not merely what He does.
Comments
Post a Comment