Daily Devotions
Matthew
Knowledge of Jesus
Text: Matthew 9 : 1 - 8
What had the multitudes learned about Jesus? For that matter, how much had the learned scribes understood Jesus? What about the disciples? It would appear that for the main part, most regard Jesus as a mere man. He was an outstanding man, but still only an ordinary man, by all counts!
What then did the teachings of Jesus reveal about Him? What about the mighty miracles He performed? What did they reveal about Jesus? Few truly understood Jesus. If they did, they would have left their all to follow Him as His disciples!
“THE SON OF MAN” CONCEPT
Jesus used this humble term to describe Himself. How may this term be understood?
1. It may be understood as a normal reference to a human being.
This was the way the psalmist David used this term when he wrote Psalm 8.
“What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honour.”
Psalm 8:4-5
2. It may also be understood as an Eschatological reference to the Messiah.
This term “Son of Man” was used by Daniel in his prophetic work. Let us take time to ponder this text found in the Book of Daniel.
“I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
Then to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom.
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.”
Daniel 7:13-14
Which concept was applicable to Jesus? Few understood that He fulfilled both roles perfectly. He had donned flesh! And as long as He was in the flesh, it was appropriate for Him to use the humblest of terms to describe Himself.
However, it must also be said that He was the eschatological Son of Man. Worship, glory, honour were to be given to Him! Matthew recorded two outstanding instances where Jesus was recognized for who He really was. There were the Wise Men who came from the east to give Him worship as the King of the Jews (cf. Matthew 2). Then there was the centurion who recognized His power and authority. Both groups were Gentiles! How had Israel, with all its tradition and knowledge of the Scriptures, failed to recognize their Messiah and Saviour? Even when He had performed so many mighty miracles, the people were still blind to His true identify! They saw Him only as One who could heal them and little more!
DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE
There were many people who thronged Jesus as He ministered. We need to be aware that though they formed “the multitudes” they were not a homogenous group. A variety of groups may be noticed.
1. The sick and the demon-possessed
It would appear that what was foremost in their mind would be healing. It would not be amiss to have some extra religious teaching, but that seemed to be secondary.
2. The bystanders
These would watch with curiosity. What would Jesus do next? Would He be able to heal ALL types of diseases? Where did He get His powers from? These and other questions would probably come to mind. There would be hardly any depth at all.
3. The scribes
These would come with their pre-conceived notions about what the Scriptures teach. They came almost as “critics” to check Jesus out. If they were to hear anything contrary to what they had learned, they would take Jesus to task.
4. The disciples
The only group of people who seemed to have anything significant out of being with Jesus would be His disciples. But even they seemed to need Jesus to prod them before they could move on from one level of faith to the next.
BRINGING UP THE MOST IMPORTANT MATTERS
As Jesus taught the people, He knew that many were just missing the point of His ministry, whether that was in teaching or healing.
1. The “first” ministry in Capernaum (Matthew 8)
Matthew noted how He would both teach and preach. However, the former seemed to have become more prominent, due to the fact that the sick were brought to Him in droves. The danger was real enough for Jesus to withdraw Himself temporarily.
2. The “second” ministry in Capernaum (Matthew 9)
If the people cannot arrive at the correct conclusion by themselves, then Jesus must raise the level of understanding by every means possible. Thus Jesus openly made statements that He knew would be “controversial” to the crowds!
He had to bring up important matters like sin, forgiveness and the significance of the Son of Man in their midst! Few things could be as important!