Matthew 8

Matthew 8.....
I'm trying to imagine the large crowds that followed Jesus. chapter 7 told us he spoke with authority. So.....did crowds follow after him because of that? I'm thinking they followed after him because they wanted something. Like the man in verse 2 with leprosy. Leprosy is a contagious skin disease. People with this condition were not considered clean so they were outcasts. Jesus was willing to touch him and he healed him of his disease.
Verse 4 is interesting in that Jesus tells the man not to tell anyone. My notes say it's because Jesus didn't want his ministry hindered by too much publicity being given to his miracles.
Verse 5 a centurion is a roman military officer in charge of about 100 soldiers. He aske Jesus for help of his paralyzed servant. The centurion realized he didn't deserve to have Jesus come into his home. The centurion knew Jesus had great authority, that all he needed to do was speak and the sick man would be healed. His breath and words are enough.....no touching needed.
Verse 10 Jesus says this centurion had great faith....and he's found no one with this much faith. This man was not a Jew. People are either Jewish or gentile. Basically if your not a Jew you are a gentile. I am a gentile and so are most of the people I know. In these times the word of God was given to the Jews. Gentiles weren't given the word until later. Verse 11 is telling of how Jesus and heaven is for gentiles too.
Verse 17 is from Isaiah 53:4
Verse 18-22....Jesus wants wholehearted followers. These men wanted to take care of some things before they followed him. The man talked of following after he buries his father but his dad may not have been close to death. Basically this man wanted to wait for his fathers death, get his inheritance, and then follow Jesus. Jesus don't work that way. When he calls we must follow......not later....NOW
Jesus calms the storm....without drama...or worry. How many storms do we encounter regularly? Do we ask him for help? Do we accept the storm? Do we realize that nothing comes to us that he hasn't ordained to happen? Do we realize he's in full control of this life? All these questions keep us from questioning and worrying about anything in this life. Just as Jesus says "you of little faith why are you afraid"? He wants us to fully trust him and not be afraid. Being afraid and worrying means we are relying on our own self and we then act like we don't need a savior.
Verse 29.....the demons recognize who Jesus is. One thing to remember......demons are satan's workers. They know Gods word and they know who Jesus is. They try to trick us, but we have to be quick to recognize who and what they are doing. The demons knew Jesus and going into thr pigs would be better for them....so Jesus granted their request. They were afraid of Jesus. Jesus always wins.