Jesus continues His ministry of teaching, healing, and performing miracles. Immediately following the sermon on the mount, Matthew records Jesus performing a series of healings. The first of these is the healing of a leper, in Matthew 8:1-4. Jesus touches the man and says, “Be clean!” and immediately the leprosy left him. This act of healing is significant not only because of the miracle itself but also because it demonstrates Jesus’ willingness to reach out and touch someone considered unclean by society, showing His concern for all, regardless of their status.
Jesus’ actions and teachings continue to demonstrate His divine authority and compassion, reinforcing His teachings with acts of healing and miracles.
Jesus’ act of touching and healing the leper not only cleanses him physically but also restores him socially and spiritually. Jesus instructs the man to show himself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded as a testimony to them, aligning with Jewish law.
In Matthew 8:5-13: Jesus encounters a Roman centurion in Capernaum. The centurion demonstrates great faith in Jesus’ authority by believing that Jesus can heal his servant with just a word, without needing to be physically present. Jesus marvels at the centurion’s faith, greater than He had found in Israel, and the servant is healed at that moment. This event highlights Jesus’ authority over distance and illness, and His ministry’s openness to Gentiles.
Another example is in Matthew 8:14-15: Jesus heals Simon Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever by touching her hand. Immediately, she rises and begins to serve them. This healing shows Jesus’ power over illness and also signifies the immediate response of service to Jesus’ healing touch.
There is still another miracle where Jesus was healing several people (Matthew 8:16-17): That evening, many demon-possessed and sick people are brought to Jesus. He drives out the spirits with a word and heals all the sick, fulfilling what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.
As Jesus’ fame grows, so does the number of His followers. He teaches about the cost of discipleship to those who wish to follow Him, emphasizing that following Him may require significant sacrifices, such as leaving behind one’s home and comforts.
Jesus even calmed a storm (Matthew 8:23-27): Jesus and His disciples encounter a severe storm while crossing the Sea of Galilee. His disciples, terrified, wake Him, and He rebukes the winds and the waves, demonstrating His authority over nature. This miracle reveals Jesus’ divine power and prompts His disciples to question, “What kind of man is this?
In the healing of a Demon-Possessed person (Matthew 8:28-34): Jesus travels to the region of the Gadarenes, where He heals two demon-possessed men, demonstrating His authority over demonic forces. The demons are cast into a herd of pigs, which then rush into the lake and drown, showcasing Jesus’ ultimate authority over spiritual realms.
These events and teachings immediately following the Sermon on the Mount serve to illustrate Jesus’ teachings through His actions. They show His compassion, authority, and the radical nature of His ministry, challenging social norms, and extending His message of salvation and healing beyond the confines of traditional Jewish boundaries.
In summary, Jesus’ teachings through miracles emphasized compassion, faith, and the power of God, through Jesus. He healed the sick, fed multitudes, and calmed storms, demonstrating divine authority. These acts reinforced His messages of love, forgiveness, and salvation, inviting people to believe in God’s kingdom and follow a path of righteousness and humility.
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