Sharing Bread Matthew 18:5-6

SHARING BREAD

⁵ “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. ⁶ But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

 

Matt 18:5-6 (NIV)

 

To be sure, the age of childhood is the age of learning – the time of training.  It is the golden opportunity for teaching Truth and for leading and guiding these young ones by our conversation as well as by our example towards God’s Word and ways.  This statement from our Lord Jesus should be a red flag to all regarding the treatment of our precious young ones.  True, they are innocent and vulnerable yet they are also born broken – each with a sinful nature - and in dire need of being taught and directed.  It is not necessary to teach little ones to demand their own way or to lie or to be selfish – that comes natural for them.  We are to train them in God’s ways of Truth, righteousness, selflessness, kindness, goodness, gentleness and peace through continuous direction and discipline – things which do not come natural.  Those left unattended to go their own way more often than not suffer greatly.  Many a pitfall could be avoided in a child’s life with a proper upbringing.  Proverbs tells us:

 

 ⁶ Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.   Prov 22:6 (NIV)

Those with small children in their spheres are to use each opportunity presented to train a child’s conduct away from evil and point them towards Christ-likeness – the proper path, the path of the wise, the path of peace.  Scripture tells us the way of wisdom is far better than riches.  It is to be sought at all costs.  Again, we discover in Proverbs the result of gaining wisdom is a life marked by tranquility and confidence:

¹³ Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, ¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.   Prov 3:13-18 (NIV)

⁵ “Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. ⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. ⁷ Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. ⁸ Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. ⁹ She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.”   Prov 4:5-9 (NIV)

 

One of the most important passages of Scripture for the Hebrew is the Shema found in Deuteronomy.  It speaks of training our children throughout each day – making the most of every opportunity:

 

⁴ “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”   Deut 6:4-9 (NIV)

 

In our verses for today we see our Lord’s reaction to those who cause “these little ones who believe in me to sin.”  He does not look too favorably upon it - to say the least.  Interestingly, we can sin in this way either through omission by failing to follow through on Truth commanded in Scripture such as shown through the passage in Deuteronomy above – leaving these young ones floundering by neglecting our opportunities presented or we can sin through commission by teaching and leading them into evil – down destructive paths in lieu of paths of righteousness.  Most of us fall into the first category through the tyranny of the urgent of our day.  We are so busy doing life we miss it.  We neglect our God given responsibilities.  It would do us well to remember that Jesus takes these opportunities presented to us very seriously.  He does not look lightly upon our disregarding His commands and neither should we.

“The majority of children acquire the characteristics and habits of their parents.  What are they learning from us?”  Billy Graham

What I glean from this:

·       Childhood is the opportune time of training.

·       I am commanded in Scripture to teach and train young ones in my sphere through my words and example.

·       Jesus takes this command seriously.

 

 

Sharing Bread Matthew 18:1-4

SHARING BREAD

¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

² He called a little child and had him stand among them. ³ And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matt 18:1-4 (NIV)

Humans, we seem to constantly seek to elevate self.  We can depend upon it, where self begins, sorrow begins. It was no different for Jesus’ guys either.  They were dreaming of a temporal earthly kingdom with all the enticing worldly glam emanating from external pomp and power.  Believing that Christ’s kingdom on earth was about to be ushered in, they were each clamoring for their places - the higher, of course, the better.  In fact, both Mark and Luke’s accounts of this incident record the disciple’s unbecoming contest for precedence -arguing over which one of them was the greatest – so very human nature:

³³ They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. ³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”   Mark 9:33-35 (NIV)

 

⁴⁶ An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.   Luke 9:46 (NIV)

 

Our Lord’s teaching turned human nature’s desires upside down.  While we all clamor for the top Jesus says stoop low.  You want to be great, serve.  You want to be first, be last.  You want to be the big lead dog, humble yourself – take the back row seat.  Humility – God’s standard for greatness.  Let’s each consider for a moment ourselves. We bring nothing into this world – what do we have that we did not receive?  And seriously, all we bring to the table is our will - as vacillating as it is.  We are way too enamored with self!  If we need an attitude adjustment regarding pride/humility a quick read of the last five chapters of Job will quickly sober us up.  

 

“Here is the divine antidote against the pride and restless ambition of the men of this world.  Nothing is more sad than to witness a pushing, bustling, forward, self-confident spirit and style in those who profess to be followers of Him who was meek and lowly in heart.  It is such a flagrant contradiction of the spirit and precepts of Christianity, and is a sure accompaniment of an unbroken condition of the soul.  It is utterly impossible for anyone to indulge in a boastful, pretentious, self-confident spirit, if ever he has really measured himself in the presence of God.  To be much alone with God is the sovereign remedy for pride and self-complacency.  May we know the reality of this in the secret of our own souls.  May the good Lord keep us truly humble, in all our ways, simply leaning on Himself and his grace…”  C H Macintosh, Notes on Deuteronomy, 1869

 

There was never a better pattern set for us of humility than our great Example.  He took all occasions to command it, commend it and walk in it.  Humility is a necessity and a requirement insisted upon by God.  We are most like the Savior when we are humble. Paul writes in Philippians regarding Jesus’ model for us to follow:

 

³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴ Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Phil 2:3-11 (NIV)

 

No doubt about it, in God’s way of thinking – in His perfect economy of scale which He clearly presents in His Word – humility precedes greatness.  Indeed, He opposes the proud yet gives grace to the humble.

 

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  ⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.   1 Peter 5:5-7 (NIV)

 

“Christ is with the humble, not with those who set themselves up over His flock.”  Clement of Rome

 

“In the Kingdom, there are no great men of God, just humble men whom God has chosen to use greatly.  How do we know when we are humble?  When God speaks, we tremble.  God is looking for a man who trembles at His word.  Such a man will find the Spirit of God resting upon him; he will become a dwelling place for the Almighty.  God asks for nothing but ourselves.”   Francis Frangipane  

 

What I glean from this:

·       I should not seek to elevate self.

·       God opposes the proud yet gives grace to the humble.

·       I am to clothe myself with humility.

 

Sharing Bread Matthew 17:24-27

SHARING BREAD

²⁴ After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?”

²⁵ “Yes, he does,” he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes--from their own sons or from others?”

²⁶ “From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. ²⁷ “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Matt 17:24-27 (NIV)

Here the Lord Jesus gives His guy Pete (as well as all of us) a lesson on avoiding unnecessary offense.  I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s writing in Romans Twelve:

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.   Romans 12:17-18 (NIV)

 

To be sure, the Gospel can be irrefutably controversial and convicting – offending those willingly determined not to embrace it and live by it.  We need not add more fuel to the fire in indulging our liberties if it will cause others to stump their toes.     In 1 Corinthians Paul again admonishes us:

 

²³ “Everything is permissible”--but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”--but not everything is constructive. ²⁴ Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.   1 Cor 10:23-24 (NIV)

Our words and actions should be motivated and regulated by love for others.  That is the guiding principle of the believer’s freedom in Christ.  Everything the Lord Jesus did was motivated by love.  Our words and deeds are not beneficial or constructive or edifying unless they promote the welfare of others.  This is a good indicator of our standing in Christ Who tells us:

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”   John 13:34-35 (NIV)

 

“We are the Bibles the world is reading.”   Billy Graham

“Unless a life is lived for others, it is not worthwhile.”   Mother Teresa

“When the world asks, ‘What is God like?’ we should be able to say, ‘Look at the church.’”   William R. L. Haley

The tribute demanded of Jesus in our verses for today was not a civil payment to the Roman powers rather a temple tax – monies collected and used to defray the expenses of worship.  Peter was the one approached by the collectors to help support the public worship rather than Christ.  You get the feeling Pete is unsure by his stating of the affirmative to their query.

Knowing all things, the owner of “the cattle on a thousand hills” is first to speak and presents Peter with a question to ponder – do the kings of the earth require taxes from their sons or others.  Peter rightly answers “others”.   Jesus, being the Son of God and Heir of all things is therefore not under obligation to pay this tax for the service of the Temple either- the Son being exempt.   Waiving His privilege, however, Christ paid the tribute owed so as not to offend them.   

“Christian prudence and humility teach us, in many cases, to recede from our right, rather than give offence by insisting on it.  We must never decline our duty for fear of giving offence, but we must sometimes deny ourselves in that which is our secular interest, rather than give offence.”   Matthew Henry    

Lastly, Christ demonstrates an evidence of His divinity by His method for obtaining the monies for the temple tax – even the fish of the sea obey His commands.  Peter is told by Christ to do something by way of his calling – go fishing.  Peter has a part in this – he must catch the fish by angling.  It is an employment the Master has called him to.  We must be ready to work for Christ as well – using our callings and gifts for His glory and our good.  The fish come forth with money in its mouth – the exact amount of the tax for both the Lord and Peter.  With God, all things are possible.       

What I glean from this:

·       I am to avoid unnecessary offence.

·       My words and actions are to promote the welfare of others by being beneficial, constructive and edifying.

·       I must not decline my duty for fear of giving offence but I must sometimes deny myself in that which is my secular interest.

Sharing Bread Matthew 17:22-23

SHARING BREAD

²² When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. ²³ They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.

Matt 17:22-23 (NIV)

Reading these verses, it might come as a surprise to us – as I am sure it did to the disciples after hearing the Lord’s Words in our Scripture today – that God is the inventor of pleasure, the source of pleasure, the secret of pleasure and at His right hand, we are told in His Word, are pleasures forevermore – eternal pleasures.  King David pens:

¹¹ You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.   Psalms 16:11 (NIV)

This calls for clarity in our vision - eyes set on things above and not earthly things as Paul tells us in Colossians:

¹ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.   Col 3:1-4 (NIV)

While presently, as we sojourn here on earth, we live in pleasure while we live/abide in Him.  We abide in Him through the power of the Holy Spirit.  The disciples - ignorant of the coming indwelling of the Holy Spirit within believers in Christ – were clueless.  What they heard was the Son of Man was going to be killed – taken away from their presence – and doubtful they dwelt on His being “raised to life.”  His Words to them were like daggers cutting through their hearts as a hot knife in butter.  They were exceedingly sorrowful over His conversation.  This was not news their ears wanted to hear.  Yet, Jesus knew, soon their grief would turn to joy.   John records Jesus’ Words regarding this Truth:

²⁰ I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.   John 16:20 (NIV)

If they perhaps would have but sought to have seen the big picture or at least sought to have understood what His Words had meant – the purpose behind what was about to occur – they would have known His actions were for the saving of their scrawny necks and ours as well.  We as humans can become so anxious, discontent, grief stricken and without joy when our constant focus remains on the tyranny of the temporal - things that will surely be burned up.  Things which our eyes can see and our minds can make sense of and our fingers can touch.  This habit is both consuming and robing of our present peace and joy.  Yet God’s ways are not man’s ways – never have been, never will be.  He will not be placed into boxes of our own making.

“We need to stop trying to domesticate God or confine Him to tidy categories and compartments that reflect our human sentiments rather than His inexplicable ways.”   Francis Chan

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. ⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”   Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

When we have what we don’t want or when we want what we don’t have we are disgruntled and dissatisfied.  We become whiners and complainers, grief stricken or emotionally paralyzed.  Rather than daring to delve deeper into the sureness of God’s constant love for us – trusting He has our best interest at heart even when we do not comprehend His ways - we become like His guys in our verses for today – exceedingly sorrowful.  We should have the Prophet Jeremiah’s words inscribed on our minds and on our hearts:

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.   Jer 29:11-13 (NIV)

“His love in times past forbids me to think, He’ll leave me at last in trouble to sink.”   John Newton

“You see, we all have what Paul Tripp calls ‘Gospel amnesia.’  We (probably) know the truth; we just don’t allow the truth to set us free, to quote Jesus.  We have to remember that every hardship in life and ministry—marriage conflicts, parenting questions, financial struggles, fear of the future, loss of vision or focus, divisiveness in leadership, etc.—is an opportunity to apply the gospel.  Even saying it like that is wrong.  We don’t “apply the gospel” to the issues of life, as if it was a mathematical formula.  The gospel is not a principle to master or a procedure to follow.  The gospel is life.  It is how we live life as a believer.  It is how we relate to ourselves, to God, and to each other.  The Scriptures put it like this: “The just shall live by faith” (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38).  The just, the righteous, the people of God, live only by faith.  We don’t live by effort or insight or emotion; we live by faith in the work of Another, and his name is Jesus.”  Dr. Tom Wood

 

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep.”   John 10:14-15 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

·       God is the inventor and sustainer of pure pleasure.

·       I am to set my heart on things above – not on the tyranny of the temporal.

·       God loves me and has a plan for my life.

 

   

 

Sharing Bread Matthew 17:19-21

SHARING BREAD

¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn't we drive it out?”

²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matt 17:19-20 (NIV)

Jesus states like Words a few chapters later after the remarkable withering fig tree miracle of which the disciples marveled over:

²⁰ When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.  ²¹ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. ²² If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”    Matt 21:20-22 (NIV)

 

It is just as important to state what these verses do not mean as it is to state what they do mean.  These are not to be thought of as sitting on Santa’s lap verses where we name and claim our every desire and whim and expect God to bring it forth – pronto!  God is not a genie - ever desirous of fulfilling our every wants – things outside of His perfect will for our lives.  No matter if we have the greatest faith going.  Many received a “No” from earnest prayer in Scripture – our Lord Jesus included – yet it was always for a far greater “Yes”.  I am reminded of Paul’s words to us in 2 Corinthians:

 

⁷ To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.   2 Cor 12:7-10 (NIV)

 

Paul learned the lesson from his experience that the brightness of Divine power is best displayed against the backdrop of the blackness of human weakness - the darker the backdrop, the brighter the shine.  Like a diamond on black velvet.  This, of course, brings glory to God alone.  The One Who gives the power gets the glory.  Rather than taking Paul’s problem away – which as humans we long for Him to do - Paul included - God gave him the grace sufficient to meet his need.  He will do this for every other believer as well.  We need never worry – His promise is that His grace is always sufficient – actually, it is more than sufficient.  We must never doubt the power and promises of God.  What He has promised, He must certainly bring about.  As certain as the promise is, our faith should be as confident.  It pleases the Father when His children stand up for Him when circumstances in their lives appear to belie Him.  We are not to be double-minded or vacillating people – ever wondering if He is going to pull through for us or not.   James tells us:

 

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.   James 1:5-8 (NIV)

The last statement from Jesus in our verses for today - “Nothing will be impossible for you” – impacts me.  I have always considered it in a positive light – the “Yes” answers.  But what about the “No’s”?  Wouldn’t they be included in the “Nothing” as well?  Meaning, whatever He bids me to go through, for my good and His glory, will not be impossible for me through His strength to accomplish – no sickness, no loss, no loneliness, no financial setback, no death – whatever mountain He calls me to move.  You get my drift - through His love, grace and power nothing will be impossible for the believer in Jesus – though the world may crumble and fall apart the believer stands.  Why?  Because the God of all creation suffers right along with us – He is a “with us” God.  He is not only the Lord of our harvests but He is the Lord of our storms as well. 

“He shares the grief with us and reasoning is cold and His embrace is warm.”   Ann Voskamp

“God wants us to be victors, not victims….to overcome, not to be overwhelmed.”   William Arthur Word

“Faith is a living and unshakeable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake.”   Martin Luther

¹² That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.   2 Tim 1:12 (NIV)

 

What I glean from this:

 

·       God is not a genie in the sky desirous of fulfilling my every want and whim.

·       God’s grace is always sufficient for my every need.

·       Jesus strengthens me in my trials and grief’s so that I can stand.

 

Sharing Bread Matthew 17:14-18

SHARING BREAD

¹⁴ When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. ¹⁵ "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. ¹⁶ I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him."

¹⁷ “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you?  How long shall I put up with you?  Bring the boy here to me.” ¹⁸ Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

Matt 17:14-18 (NIV)

In our verses for today we discover a Daddy humbly approaching the Lord Jesus on his knees interceding with pleas of mercy for relief of his son’s suffering.  The child’s condition was dire.  The father draws near to the Healer empty handed save humility – the perfect way of achieving prayer.  Christ delights to be thus wrestled with.  None has anything to offer “I AM” but our wills and the knowledge of our lack of anything.  Indeed, the Word translated “mercy” is from the Greek Word “Eleeo” meaning “to relieve affliction, alleviate suffering or distress, ease misery.  It is the concrete expression of pity and compassion for the destitute or those in misery which undertakes to mollify or remove their suffering.  It is used especially to signify God’s salvation in which He acts to reverse the adverse effects of sin and to relieve sinners of their moral and spiritual wretchedness, all that He accomplishes in delivering them from the miserable and pitiful (though deserved) condition of sin, guilt, and death.”  Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible – New Testament Lexical Aids.    

²² Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalms 55:22 (NIV)

 

¹⁴ if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.    2 Chron 7:14 (NIV)

 

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.   1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)

 

“The foundational principle of grace is that God’s kingdom priorities are completely inverted from those of the world. God’s plan is to magnify His saving mercy and grace not through human strength but rather through its weakness…The gospel of grace would remind us that we can’t be used until we operate not out of our own strength but in weakness, as we depend on Christ’s Spirit to show the reality of the cross.”  Paul Kooistra

Seriously, what parent can’t relate to this Dad in our verses today?  When our “biddies” are “broken” it is no trouble for us to cry out on their behalf – pleading for the Maker to move His merciful hand.   Parents are doubly concerned to pray for their children.  This incident occurs immediately upon the Lord’s return from His mountaintop glory transfiguration yet thankfully we discover Jesus’ glories do not make Him unmindful of our miseries and needs – thankfully!    As Satan would have it, the effects of this child’s disease were deplorable casting him into the fire or the water.  Mark tells us in his Gospel that this child would also foam at the mouth, gnash his teeth and become rigid – a frightening sight for any parent to behold.     

Christ had previously granted His power to His disciples earlier to cast out demons and they had been successful yet here they failed in this attempt and there were nine of them present – the other three had been with the Lord Jesus.  We discover earlier in Matthew:

¹ He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.    Matt 10:1 (NIV)

⁸ “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”   Matt 10:8 (NIV)

Thankfully, the failure of human instrument does not hinder the operation of Christ’s grace.  We see Him chiding those around Him for their unbelief.  Our Lord’s address was not to His guys rather to the people and perhaps especially to the teachers of the Law in His hearing.  Christ Himself could not do many mighty miracles among those with whom unbelief reigned.  The blessings were withheld because of their faithlessness.

⁵⁷ And they took offense at him.  But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”  ⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.   Matt 13:57-58 (NIV)

 

Lastly, we see Jesus break the power of Satan with the mere rebuke of His Word.  All power in heaven and on earth and under the earth belongs to Him.  He is the One with all authority.  The adversary cannot stand before the rebuke of Christ no matter how long his possession.  And, as the touch of the Healer always demonstrates - ealeran immediate and perfect cure occurred.  Such is the kindness of our Lord.

 

What I glean from this:

 

·       I am to approach Christ humbly as I bring nothing but my will and my lack.

·       Human instrument does not hinder the operation of Jesus’ grace.

·       All power belongs to Jesus.