Matthew 8

If this chapter were to have a title covering all its five bases, it would probably be, Faith Always Triumphs. Five events during Jesus' perambulations through the Galilean countryside illustrate his power over the laws of nature and in Matthew's time, this ability was strong evidence that he was no ordinary human political agitator, but rather one who came with heavenly power and authority. Writing to encourage the early church to keep up their faith, Matthew no doubt groups these events together for emphasis to convince that, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (27)

      We could get into all kinds of quibbles about miracles, about the immutability of God's natural law, about magic acts being proof of God's power, but of what use would our answers be? At the outset, the agnostic in us recognizes that healing by supernatural means is not a given, otherwise no true believer would ever die. On the other hand, even the staunchest of us rushes to science when we're ill, backing up our hope in medicine with a prayer for healing, for strength. And so the whole idea of miraculous healing from physical illness has become a stumbling block to us and unless we place some interpretation-informed-by-understanding of these miracles' meanings, we're bound to conclude, unnecessarily, that either Jesus has died or our faith in him has evaporated.

      I note as I read this chapter that the situations represented are all substantially different and illustrate substantially different themes. Lepers are unclean; Jesus purifies and makes clean what was considered soiled. Centurions have great power; Jesus' love is stronger than any military establishment. Peter's mother-in-law has a fever; Jesus' comes as a friend and touches her and the fever turns . . . family and friendship have healing powers. Mental derangement is a tough disease to understand; Jesus' love (expressed through us, undoubtedly) can give relief from the most fearful demons.

      Here in Rosthern in the past weeks, we've had to mourn the deaths of at least five wonderful people before their time. Jim Craik. Marlene Blatz, Otto Kerber, our brother Pete Fehr and yesterday, our neighbour, Servais Rahier. How wonderful would it have been to raise them up in their infirmities like the leper in Matthew 8, to dismiss with joy our sad resignation!

      Somehow there is greater truth in Matthew 8, though, than the surface interpretation that if we have faith enough in Jesus, illness, storms will be easily defeated with a wave of the Saviour's hand . . . if he chooses. Maybe we are meant to understand more clearly the greater, the universal truth, the truth that reaches around the world, far past the few whose stories are told here: Jesus calms the restless heart, he wages war on hatred and anger like no army can, he eases our fear of lightning, flood, earthquake and volcano and he dismisses our demons, whatever shape they may take or whatever name we give them from time to time.

      In my experience, it has been the hands, the words and the embraces of his faithful followers that have conveyed these mercies, these almost-miraculous touches of the heart.