Jesus Continues To Amaze

Matthew 9:18-38

Well it's January 20th, 2009 and that means a lot to this nation. We now officially have a new president. Now whether you like the president or not, this is an important day for all Americans, and as citizens I think it's important to at least witness this event. Whether you agree with him or not is another story. I, for one, was anticipating this event because it may mean a lot to me and my future.

Now if you've watched the event, I was kind of mesmerized by how they made this event. I don't remember the inauguration speech being such a theaterical event. But I guess that's what happens when you put in a lot of money for it. As far as President Obama, he has shown that he can speak; his speech was very good. Now it's time to put those words into action. As an American, I wish him, our leader, the best.

On a side note, anyone chuckle when Obama screwed up the oath? Good thing he backed it up with a powerful speech...

School started again and it went pretty well. We finally made teams for our senior design, and I like it thus far. I think everyone knows a little something to get us started. It's just the beginning though, so wish us the best!

A Dead Girl And A Sick Woman
Reading: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%209:18-26;&version=31;

Jesus continues on his trek to heal and save many people. This encounter is with someone who also has faith in Jesus that He can save his daughter. The ruler saw that his daughter was dead, but he knew that Jesus was able to heal her, even when she was dead. Knowning this and having faith in Jesus, he came all the way to Jesus and asked for help.

Meanwhile Jesus encounters a woman who has been suffering from bleeding. She also seeks help and had faith that just by touching His cloak, she would be healed. Jesus, seeing this faith, said she was healed. Jesus finally sees the daughter and heals her as well.

What we can get from these messages of how Jesus healed people is our need to have faith in Him. If a ruler can have the faith that Jesus can save his dead daughter and the bleeding woman can have faith that just by TOUCHING His cloak, she can be healed, what's there to stop us from having that kind of faith? If we truly believe in Him, we need to have this kind of faith, a faith that Jesus will alleviate any pain, physical and non.

Jesus Heals The Blind And Mute
Reading: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%209:27-34;&version=31;

This reading is a continuation of all the great miracles Jesus performs.. The first is on 2 blind men who asks for help. Jesus again sees their faith and heals them. He then warns them not to spread the news of what has happened, yet they do. I don't know what the purpose of Jesus's wish for the news to not spread. The only thing I can think of is to help the men be humble. Yes being able to see is probably a huge deal to someone who was blind. However, maybe Jesus didn't want this excitement to make the men forget why they were able to get healed. They were healed because of their faith.

The second was a mute, demon-possessed man. Jesus drove the demons out and the people were astonished at the miracle. Yet, the Pharisees were skeptical. They tried to find every way to make the miracles less credible. Is this what we do when we see miracles? Perhaps. Everyday seems like a miracle in a way, yet we just accept it like we deserve it. Maybe it's time to be thankful and not be so cynical.

The Workers Are Few
Reading: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%209:35-38;&version=31;

Jesus continues on and teaches in many places. He sees the crowds and has compassion on them. He compared them to sheep with a shepherd. In many cases, that's exactly what we are. We are people that live our lives without a purpose. We're misguided and don't know what we're doing. So a shepherd like Jesus comes along and guides us. The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few. It is time for us to ask if this is what we want, and it's time to get on it. It's a message for us to serve when we're ready.

Summary:

A Dead Girl And A Sick Woman
18-19 A ruler came to Jesus and asked to save his daughter by putting a hand on her. Jesus went with him.
20-22 A woman who has been bleeding for 12 years came and touched Jesus's cloak, wishing to be healed. Jesus replied that she was healed because of her faith.
23-26 Jesus arrived at the ruler's house and told the noisy crowd to go outside. He saved the girl. This story was then spread.

Jesus Heals The Blind And The Mute
27-31 Two blind men encountered Jesus and asked to be healed. Jesus saw if they had faith and healed them once they replied that they did. He warned them not to tell anyone about this, but the news spread.
32-34 A demon-possessed mute man then came and Jesus drove the demon out and the man spoke. People were astonished, but the Pharisees were skeptical.

The Workers Are Few
35-38 Jesus went around different towns and had compassion on the people because they were like sheep without shepherd. He stated that the harvest is plentiful but workers are few. He told the crowd to ask the Lord for the harvest.