My yearly Bible reading plan is arranged so that I read two chapters in the OT, one psalm or proverb, and 1 chapter in the NT. That takes me through the Bible in a year, reading Psalms and Proverbs twice, and the Gospels twice.
My NT chapter this morning was Matthew 8. This is a glorious chapter recording events early in the ministry of Jesus.
Matthew begins with three healings. First the man with leprosy, then the Centurion’s servant (more on this event tomorrow), and finally with Peter’s mother-in-law (which generated people bringing many others to Jesus’ doorstep).
There is a section on the cost of following Jesus. Then suddenly Jesus and the disciples are in a boat in a terrible storm calling out to Jesus to save them. He calms the winds and the sea with simply His word.
Finally, to end the chapter, Matthew reports Jesus delivering two demon-possessed men in the region of the Gadarenes.
Do you see what Matthew did in this chapter. He shows us a marvelous picture of our LORD’s authority. As we read through these events, we see that Jesus has all authority over sickness and death. He has all authority over the natural world. And He has all authority over the spirit world.
He heals by His Word and Touch. He calms nature by His word. He dispatches demons by His Word. PTL.
