Remembering God’s Passion
Week Starting Sunday, March 13, 2005
This Week’s Scripture Reading
Matthew 8:1-17
1Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. 2Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Jesus. He knelt before him, worshiping. “Lord,” the man said, “if you want to, you can make me well again.”
3Jesus touched him. “I want to,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 4Then Jesus said to him, “Go right over to the priest and let him examine you. Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy, so everyone will have proof of your healing.”
5When Jesus arrived in Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6“Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and racked with pain.”
7Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”
8Then the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed! 9I know, because I am under the authority of my superior officers and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this or that,’ they do it.”
10When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all the land of Israel! 11And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go on home. What you have believed has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.
14When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was in bed with a high fever. 15But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.
16That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. All the spirits fled when he commanded them to leave; and he healed all the sick. 17This fulfilled the word of the Lord through Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.”
Prayers for the Week:
Sunday |
Heavenly Father, Thank You for being a God of healing. As I read Your word in Matthew, I am reminded that Jesus is the Great Physician, no illness is to great for Him. I pray that you will heal me inside and out that I may glorify You. Amen. |
Monday |
Heavenly Father, many people I know need Your healing touch. I pray for spiritual and physical healing for members of my family, my friends and others I know, who are lost without Your saving healing touch. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Tuesday |
Heavenly Father, Jesus reached out to a Roman soldier, a man who would have been hated among the Jews. Please, take away my prejudices and let me reach out to everyone in my sphere of influence with Your Good News. Amen. |
Wednesday |
Heavenly Father, I pause right now to praise You for who You are, and to ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit that throughout this day I may bring You honor. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Thursday |
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your healing touch. I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may share that healing with others today and always. In Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Friday |
Heavenly Father, so many in our world are lost and hurting. I pray that You will touch them with Your healing hand. Use me in whatever way You will to spread Your healing. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Saturday |
Heavenly Father, as I come to the end of another week, I give You thanks and praise for being my God and the God of all creation. Use me today, to carry out Your purposes in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Background on the Text
The first eighteen verses of Matthew record Jesus’ great healing power! As we see, in these eighteen verses alone Jesus healed three individuals who are mentioned by their particular illness, and then dozens of other unnamed people who came to Him possessed by demons or burdened down with various diseases. Matthew makes it clear that in Jesus’ use of God’s healing power, He was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah who had proclaimed that when the Messiah came, he would take away the people’s sicknesses and remove their diseases. As you read this passage through the week, put yourself in the place of the leper, the centurion, of Peter’s mother-in-law, of the countless throng that gathered knowing that Jesus was their only hope. Remember that God’s word is not just for way back when, but it is for today. The God who healed, is the God who heals! Think of how folks helped others get to Jesus so they could be healed, and consider how you might bring others as well!
Monday
Observation: What does the text say?
Tuesday
Interpretation: What do these verses mean?
Wednesday
Application: How can I respond to the text’s insights and teachings?
Thursday
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
Encouraged and strengthened me by:
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Fallen short areas
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What will I do with these insights?
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Friday
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
What did God say to me this week?
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Share insights and growth points
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Changed/transformed how?
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Saturday
Reflective Thoughts