When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.“ Matthew 8:14-17 (NIV)

The ancients were not stupid. They understood that a person with a fever could pass that fever on to other people.

They also had a rudimentary understanding of the notion of quarantine.

The ancients were not stupid. They understood that a person with a fever could pass that fever on to other people. They also had a rudimentary understanding of the notion of quarantine. In fact much of the Jewish law proscribed quarantine of a sort in order to prevent the spread of disease.

"The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp. Leviticus 13:45-46 (NIV)

Jesus reverses the natural human inclination. He reaches out and touches the person with the fever.

Clearly the word of this spread throughout the community. People began to bring anybody to Jesus who needed healing or deliverance from the devil.

Jesus reverses the natural human inclination. He reaches out and touches the person with the fever. Clearly the word of this spread throughout the community. People began to bring anybody to Jesus who needed healing or deliverance from the devil. Jesus healed and delivered these people. Matthew states that this fulfills the prophesy of Isaiah.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:3-5 (NIV)

The ministry of Jesus announces the coming of the kingdom of God.

At the same time the kingdom will only come via the cross.

When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.“ Matthew 8: (NIV)

The initial announcement of the kingdom makes Jesus a popular guy.

Naturally, people see these demonstrations of power and want to join the cause. They think that this will be nothing more than a ride to victory.

The initial announcement of the kingdom makes Jesus a popular guy. Naturally, people see these demonstrations of power and want to join the cause. They think that this will be nothing more than a ride to victory. Jesus warns them that following him will bring with it great cost.

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:25-33 (NIV)

There are people in this world who must make the stark choice between God and their family and friends.

For most people in the United States this choice may not really face us.

There are people in this world who must make the stark choice between God and their family and friends. For most people in the United States this choice may not really face us. So how are we to apply the teaching in this chapter?

Matthew 8

Matthew 8:1-4. Jesus touches and heals a leper.

Matthew 8 Matthew 8:1-4. Jesus touches and heals a leper. Matthew 8:5-13 Jesus heals a Centurion’s servant.

Matthew 8 Matthew 8:1-4. Jesus touches and heals a leper. Matthew 8:5-13 Jesus heals a Centurion’s servant. Matthew 8:14-17 Jesus heals a woman with a fever.

Matthew 8 Matthew 8:1-4. Jesus touches and heals a leper. Matthew 8:5-13 Jesus heals a Centurion’s servant. Matthew 8:14-17 Jesus heals a woman with a fever. Each of these actions involved some risk on Jesus’ part.

Swine Flu

Immigrants