Scripture: Matthew 8:1-17
I. Jesus has the authority to heal and transform.
A. Jesus shows He has authority over both sickness and sin by healing a leper (vs. 3). All sickness is caused, directly or indirectly, by sin. In Matthew 1:21 the angel told Joseph about Mary’s child: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” When Jesus touches the leper, Jesus does not become unclean. The leper becomes clean! What authority Jesus has – even over a horrible sickness like leprosy. Jesus completely transformed the leper’s life – from sick to healthy, from unclean to clean.
II. Jesus has the authority to speak as God.
A. The second healing miracle Jesus performs in Matthew 8 is the healing of a paralyzed servant. This was the servant of a centurion (vs. 5-6). Here’s the connection the centurion made between himself and Jesus. When the centurion speaks, Caesar speaks. And when Jesus speaks, God speaks (vs. 8-9). So, if Jesus would command the servant’s paralysis to go away, it would cease. Just like that. And that is what happened as we see in vs. 13. Jesus had the authority to act and speak as God. Jesus’ words were God’s very words.
III. Jesus has the authority to comfort and terrify.
A. Jesus marvels at the faith of the centurion (vs. 10). Why? It is a Gentile who has this faith. Even Gentiles could be part of God’s chosen people. Jesus would fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 25:6 about a heavenly banquet: “On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.” But it will be terrifying for those sons of the kingdom (those Jews) who will be outside of the kingdom of God in hell (vs. 12). Only those with faith in Jesus will be in the kingdom.
IV. Jesus has all authority because of his work on the cross.
A. Jesus’ final healing in Matthew 8 is healing Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever (vs. 14). How does Matthew explain Jesus’ authority to heal? He quotes from Isaiah 53:4 in Matt. 8:17: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” These healings that Jesus performed in Matthew 8 would stem from Jesus’ death on the cross. It was the cross that would bring the benefit of healing and all the other benefits that we enjoy in God’s kingdom. Healings were just one subset of benefits that would flow from Jesus’ work on the cross.
Application:
Jesus confronts you with your sin and your need for forgiveness. Receive that forgiveness.
Sources:
The Bible
Commentaries by D.A. Carson, Charles Quarles and J.C. Ryle
Sermon Discussion Questions
1) What is the connection between sickness and sin? What does Jesus’ authority to heal say about His authority over sin?
2) In what ways does the centurion compare his own authority to the authority of Jesus? Why did Jesus marvel at the centurion’s faith? Who are the sons of the kingdom (vs. 12) who will ultimately be outside the kingdom of God?
3) Where does all of Jesus’ authority flow from according to Matthew 8:17? Where should we look if we want to see the place where all of the benefits of Jesus come from?