Authoritative not Authoritarian

Reflections on the actions of Jesus in Matthew 8

Jesus is a man under authority. This observation was from the Centurion that had asked Jesus to heal his servant. When Jesus offered to go to the man's house to heal his servant, the Centurion refused, stating that he knew what authority was and that all Jesus had to do was say the word. Jesus did say the word, and that very hour, the servant was healed. This event occurred in Matthew 8, but several other moments in this chapter are worth looking at.

First, let us start in chapter 7 with Matthew stating that the people were amazed because Jesus was teaching with authority and not as one of the scribes. This verse sets the stage for the next chapter, where Jesus demonstrates six times that he has all authority in heaven and on earth. Chapter 8 of Matthew emphasizes Jesus showing the world that he has the authority to back up what was taught on the mountainside. A good leader practices what he teaches; not only does he talk, but he also walks it. Jesus shows authority in these six areas: illness, Gentiles, Isreal, followers, Creation, and principalities.

When Jesus descends from the mountain, he is met by a man with leprosy. The leper calls him "Lord," which indicates that the man recognizes Jesus' position. Jesus heals the man saying, "I will, be clean." He then gives the leper a command to show himself to the priest and bring the gift that is commanded. Interestingly, in some instances of Jesus healing people, he commands them not to say anything, but they do the opposite and spread his fame throughout the regions, yet this does not happen here. Jesus showed his authority over sickness in the opening verses of chapter 8.

Next, Jesus is approached by a Centurion. Here they specifically talk about authority. Neither are strangers to it, and they are well acquainted with the weight of leadership and the power of authority. Jesus commends the man for his faith by his recognition of authority. Here also, the Centurion calls him "Lord" though the Centurion is of the occupying force in Israel and has the right to do whatever he wants. He submits himself to Jesus, calling him Lord. Jesus tells the Centurion, "Go, let it be done to you as you have believed." The man believed in Jesus' authority to heal his servant, and the passage closes by stating, "and the servant was healed at that very hour." Jesus demonstrates his authority over the Gentiles, even occupying Roman soldiers.

From there, Jesus goes to Peter's house and finds Peter's mother-in-law in bed with a fever. We know that he has already proven his authority over illness, and I believe this event is here to show his authority over the people of Isreal. It follows afterward that he went on healing many other people and cast out demons. He did this all with a word, just a simple command, and the demons scattered before him. Interestingly, this passage states that this was to fulfill what the prophet Isaiah wrote. "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases." Jesus had the authority to fulfill prophecies and the power to heal the sick and diseased. He came for the sick, not the healthy, and he had the strength to fulfill all that God commanded of him and the will to carry it on to the end. Ultimately, Jesus's actions show that he has authority over Isreal, fulfilling prophecies and taking care of the children of Abraham.

These events caused a crowd to form around Jesus. He ordered his disciples to get into a boat and cross to the other side. While they were preparing for that, several people asked to follow him. These people wanted to follow him but had other business to attend to before they attended to Jesus. They desired to follow him on their terms and only when they felt ready. Jesus tells them that they must follow him at any cost, and that cost may include missing funerals and not having places to sleep at night. Jesus shows us that he has authority over his followers. He is the leader, not us. We must follow him as he has willed and planned, not whenever we feel like it. Jesus tells us the cost of following him, there is obedience to his call, or we choose to disobey his authority.

Now that Jesus is in the boat, having left the crowds behind, he settles down for a nap. His disciples begin the voyage across the sea but encounter swamping waves and terrible wind. They are filled with fear as they see they are being overtaken by the storm. They turn to Jesus, who is still asleep, and plead for him to do something. They call him Lord as they beg him to save them. He asks them, "Why are you afraid?" He knows that they do not believe that he has authority over Creation. Indeed, Jesus was before Creation, and he was with God in the beginning. Jesus rises and rebukes the wind and the waves, and the storm abates. With a word, Jesus asserts his dominion over the world that he made thousands of years earlier. The very earth listened to his voice and heeded his command. The disciples, upon seeing this, question amongst themselves, "Who is that even the winds and sea obey him?" They clearly did not understand Jesus's authority.

Lastly, we come to Jesus having authority over the power of evil. He encounters two men filled with demons. They ask if he has come to torment them before their appointed time, and then they beg to be cast out into a herd of nearby pigs. Jesus gives the command, "Go," and with a single word, a legion of demons leave and rush off a cliff into the sea. With a single word, he frees the captive men. With a single word, Jesus obliterates strongholds of darkness and evil. Jesus has all authority, and he exercises that authority perfectly. Unfortunately, the people of the nearby city saw him and were afraid, and they asked him to leave their region. Matthew 8 concludes with Jesus giving six clear examples of his authority over all of the created order. He showed his preeminent position by perfectly exercising his will, just as the Father told him to do.

In this chapter, we learn to trust Jesus. In the previous two chapters, he spent teaching and turning the law upside down by telling the people that obedience goes deeper than the skin. It is a matter of the heart. Chapter 7 ends with the amazement of the people at the authoritative teaching of Jesus, and Chapter 8 ends with the amazement at the authoritative action of Jesus. He came to fulfill the law and the prophets and has all authority and power to do so.

In turn, we are to submit our will to his and follow him no matter the cost. He demonstrated that he is eminently trustworthy and deserving of all love and admiration. All glory and praise are due to him. Let us follow him, love him, and in all our ways honor him because of it. In Christ, and under his authority, there is freedom. We are bound to him who has set us free to love him. We are freed from sin for loving Jesus. His power and his authority are for our gain, for through him we have gained a most precious treasure, the love of Christ.