BACK TO BASICS
Opening Prayer
Loving Father, I am many things to many people, but in your sight, I am your child. Thank you, Lord.
Read Matthew 8:14–22
Jesus Heals Many
14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“He took up our infirmities
and bore our diseases.”[a]
The Cost of Following Jesus
18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 8:17 Isaiah 53:4 (see Septuagint)
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Jesus meets need perceptively and powerfully, but often not as expected. Tell him about your concerns for others, or yourself.The New Testament is full of understatements – in just 35 words (NIV translation), we learn that there was a problem at Peter’s house, which Jesus solved. Just like that. Another miracle! As you read these verses are you in danger of taking Jesus’ healing power for granted? Had you been there and witnessed it first-hand, how would this event have affected you? Pause and ask God to fill you afresh with awe and wonder at Jesus’ amazing compassion, authority and power.
News traveled fast and, as always, Jesus continued to minister to many people’s needs. In Isaiah 53:4, Jesus is described prophetically as carrying our diseases. What a lovely illustration of the way he deals with burdens that are too heavy for us to bear, just as Jesus himself says in Matthew 11:28.
But, as we read on, we discover that hand-in-hand with the healing and relief that Jesus brings, is the cost of being a disciple. Jesus has given us a glimpse of his kingdom, but are we prepared to have him as our king? Are we prepared to follow, whatever it takes? Do we need to examine our priorities? Is it about what Jesus can do for us, or is it about what we can do for him?
Apply
What about Jesus’ subsequent challenge in verses 21 and 22? Are there areas in your life where you need the Holy Spirit’s power to follow Jesus without reservation?
Closing prayer
Father, I tend to hunker down, concerned only for me and mine. I ask for an open heart and open arms, just like Jesus.
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