Matthew’s third scenario of Jesus “walking the talk” after he came down from the Sermon on the Mount has to do again with people coming to him for healing. He cured the untouchable leper first and then the Centurion’s servant who was not even present. If he can cure without seeing the patient, maybe he could also deal with the unseen spirit world. For us modern, Western thinking, scientific people conversations about the demonic are very uncomfortable. Many just do not talk in those terms. But in places I have been, demonic possession is the way the unexplainable to talked about. Evil takes many forms and disguises and those who suffer under its curse cry out for help.
I have no need to dispute Scripture that says that Jesus healed “many who were possessed by demons, and cast out the spirits with a word.” When life does not make sense to us or to modern science, we have a God who understands what is going on and in fact is more powerful. Not all people were cured and faith is not a magic way to get around the ugliness of life. At the least the passage tells me God is greater than anything that is defeating me, be it physical, emotional or spiritual.
“14 When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his 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 serve him. 16 That evening they brought to him many who were possessed by demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, ‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.’ (Matthew 8: 14-17)”
Many of the problems we face today seem so big and we feel so small. The pandemic, the wars around the globe, environmental chaos, finance and probably the future are huge. Whether we credit evil or systems that are man made, life can lead us to feel defeated. The text tells us that Jesus was able to deal with situations with a word.
Perhaps there is a problem that is challenging you or perhaps you would like to just bring one of the world problems into prayer with God now. He is listening and he cares what you care about and he can help. Blessings as you seek his face.
On the Way to Wonder 