Abide

Read: Matthew 8:23-34

The miracles at the end of Matthew 8 further establish Jesus’ authority. When Jesus pushes out into the boat, a storm arises on the Sea of Galilee, which wasn’t all that uncommon. The geography of the region causes the weather to shift rapidly and sometimes without much warning . This particular storm was rather violent and was pitching the boat up and down, yet Jesus was sleep. When the disciples wake Jesus, Jesus speaks to the storm and it stops, and the disciples were amazed even the storm “obeyed” him.

The second miracle puts Jesus among some of the most foul things that any Jew could encounter that would certainly make that Jew unclean. First, the man that Jesus heals is hanging out around tombs – the place of the dead. Jews typically avoided places such as this because encountering the dead made them ceremonially unclean. Second, this particular miracle happened in a region far outside the bounds of where the Jews lived in a place primarily inhabited by Gentiles, who the Jews avoided. Third, these Gentiles herded pigs which were unclean animals. There was herd of them nearby that the demons went into after Jesus cast them out of the man. Also of note, the particular man that was inhabited was not inhabited by one, rather by man demons that gave the man supernatural strength but also drove the man mad. This place to a Jew would have been a pagan, God forsaken land and a stronghold for evil and full of demonic influence. The demons however immediately recognize Jesus – they call him the “Son of God” and know that their judgment is coming. Jesus drove them out into the herd of swine which caused a great fear to come over the Gentiles in that reason. Gentiles in that day though were generally skeptical of miracle works and saw them as a bad omen while the Jews welcomed the miracles as a sign from God. This is why they asked Jesus to leave when he did come. The second miracle shows that Jesus has authority over demons even in their own strongholds like this man.

Jesus’ authority over natural and supernatural can only point to one truth: he commands the same kind of authority that only God has. The next incident that Matthew records also implies the same truth when Jesus forgives sins. Regardless though of clear demonstrations of power that Jesus had put on display, his own disciples lacked faith. This faith stands in contrast to the faith of the centurion whose servant was healed. For Christian today, faith the means to please God. Submitting to him in faith and believing that he has the power to do mighty acts demonstrates the not only the faith of the believer, but also the authority of God in all things. There is nothing in the natural or supernatural that can stand between God and his purposes!

Lord, you reign supreme! Help me trust you ways and will in all I do!