In January 2020, I discussed following Jesus in Mark 12. Today, I am going to go a little more into it. You can't follow Jesus until you become clean. You become clean when you become a Christian. It is just that simple. However, it is not a happily ever after at the moment of salvation. That is just where the adventure begins. Adventure means some hardships. The happily ever after comes later.
Where ever Jesus a crowd followed and grew. However, they were following a miracle worker. They were following what was considered a famous person. These people were not the people that would follow Jesus into the unknown.
A man came to Jesus kneeling to ask Jesus to make him clean. Jesus cured his leprosy immediately. Leprosy is a disease that would cut a person from society. Jesus gave him back his life and made him a living testimony of what Jesus could do. He was just proof of Jesus' power. However, none there understood salvation yet. This man had been let down by society, but Jesus gave him a new chance. He probably would be willing to follow Jesus anywhere after that.
A centurion (a Roman/Gentile) came to Jesus on behalf of his servant that had become paralyzed and was in agony. His servant was probably a Jew that had told his master about Jesus. The Gentile's faith impressed Jesus because it was stronger than any Jew's faith. Jesus spoke healing for the servant. Jesus did not go to heal the man. His words did it without ever meeting the man, but the servant was healed by the centurion's faith.
Jesus healed a lot of people: friends, family, their friends. It grew and so did his name. He healed Peter's mother-in-law from a fever. She got up began to serve Jesus and his disciples.
Jesus' most famous demonic healing was the two violent demon possessed men that tormented anyone who came near them. Jesus drove out Legion into the nearby pigs. The pigs ran off the cliff and drowned in the sea. The locals were no grateful as much as they were scared. They actually asked Jesus to leave. They blamed him for the destruction of their herd: income, food, status quo.
God claimed him at the Baptism. Then Satan confirmed it. Now demons acknowledge him as God's son. Why is it so hard to accept? Jesus drove out demons whenever he encountered them. This was a different kind of healing. He was healing wounded souls and fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah.
The crowd following Jesus had become quite large, so it was time for him to address them. He was thinning out the herd. Don't declare that you will follow Jesus where ever he will lead unless you mean it. If you follow Jesus, then you may not have a home. You may not have comfort. You may give up restful sleep. You may even be required to give up family. It is a life of right now action and letting go of the cherished comforts of life.
The weather obeys Jesus immediately. Jesus spoke commands to the winds and sea. They always obeyed signifying His part in creation. His power it eternal. It is intertwined in nature.
Can you follow Jesus even when you don't understand? Can you trust that Jesus is in control when it feels like everything is trying to destroy or kill you? Will you face your human death in the eye or try to hide.
Matthew 8
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