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JESUS’ POWER DISPLAYED
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
Matthew 8:1-13

Psalm 90:1-6

 

He is the express image of God.

 

JESUS’ POWER DISPLAYED
 
We continue to meditate upon the earthly ministry of Christ which showed in so many ways that He was indeed God. Down through the Church Age, Bible scholars have agreed that Satan was more openly active during the earthly ministry of Christ than at any other time in recorded Bible history. When Jesus came to an area known as Gadarenes, a man possessed by evil spirits came to Him. Jesus not only had complete power over these evil beings, they also recognised Him as the Son of God and feared Him (Mark 5:9-13). In Matthew’s more complete account of this incident, we find that the demons were aware that their final judgment before God would be conducted by the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt 8:29). At the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus was again met by a demon-possessed man. This evil being also recognised that Jesus, the Holy One of God, had complete power over the evil spirits and could destroy them (Luke 4:33-34).
 
The instances where Jesus’ power was shown over diseases are numerous. The woman, who had suffered for twelve years with an incurable illness, was healed by just touching the Lord’s clothing (Mark 5:25-34). Leprosy was the most dreaded disease of Bible times. Those afflicted with this disease not only suffered a slow lingering death, they were also separated from family and friends. Lepers could be offered no hope by medical men of their day, but Jesus healed them (Matt 8:1-4).
 
There are two things that are important for us to notice about the healing ministry of Christ. First, He healed by His own power. He was God and needed no outside agency to help Him in His healing ministry. Second, He healed all who came into His presence according to His will (Matt 12:15). The healing did not depend on the strength of their faith but on the power of the Almighty God into whose presence they had come.
 
THOUGHT: What did the Lord’s healing ministry prove?
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, for Thy love for sinners shown throughout Jesus’ ministry.

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