June 5, 2025; Matthew 8:18-34

Daily Dose of Hope

June 5, 2025

 

Scripture - Matthew 8:18-34

 

Prayer:  Dear God, We come to you today with sorrow.  We know that we are sinful and broken.  We know that we have fallen short.  Lord, how we need you.  Help us to grow closer to you.  Help us seek holiness.  Help us love others the way you love them.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, please help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...  In Your Name, Amen.

 

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we finish up Matthew, chapter 8.  As always, I would love to hear from some of you.  What are you learning?  What has surprised you?  What has distressed you?  What have been your a-ha moments? 

 

Matthew offers us a glimpse into the variety of miracles that Jesus performed, including physical healings, spiritual healings, and even miracles of nature (calming the storm.) In between those miracles, we find this brief interaction between Jesus and someone described as a teacher of the law and a would-be disciple. I would guess that by this time in Jesus’ ministry, there were all kinds of people hanging around him. There were those who were bedazzled by his teaching and miracles, there were those who were curious and seeking, and there were those who truly believed.

 

In a world before technology, I’m sure that Jesus was often the main show in town! All kinds of people crowded around him for many different reasons. Of course, Jesus knew this; he knew their levels of attachment to him varied. Thus, when a teacher of the law approaches him and says he will follow Jesus wherever he goes, Jesus gives a warning of sorts. Jesus has no ties to the things of this world. He does not even have a regular home, no place to lay his head at night. Those who follow him must be willing to give up ties to worldly things as well. Jesus must have known this man wasn’t ready to do so. Then, another would-be disciple implies that he wants to follow Jesus but he must first go bury his father. We don’t know if this means the man needed to literally bury his dead father, take care of a father who was old, or even simply take care of family affairs. But Jesus’ reaction is clear–discipleship is not something that Jesus wants someone to put off. The demands of the Kingdom are now, they are immediate.

 

Jesus heads to the other side of the lake.  Remember, this means he was going from Jewish territory to Gentile territory.  Jesus had a way of crossing all kinds of boundaries.  It’s on their way across the lake (otherwise known as the Sea of Galilee) that a big storm comes up suddenly.  You may recall from Mark that this body of water was known for sudden storms.  And the boat that Jesus and his disciples were in was taking on water fast.