Mat 8:18-27; Let Go and Let Yourself Follow God.

Class Outline:

Wednesday October 30, 2024

Main idea: To fully follow the Lord, the believer has to abandon his own will.

 

He bids them to follow Him - to the land of the Gentiles, alone with Him. Will we follow? What does that question mean to us today? 

 

Follow Me! 

 

Jesus will not remain in Capernaum. And in fact, will go to a place that Jews avoid. 

 

Jews have been taught to think that all Gentiles will be outside of the kingdom. Jesus said otherwise (8:11-12). Now He is going to them.

 

Do not sit still in your spiritual life - grow and go. 

 

Pick up your cross and follow Me - death to your will and love of all His. 

 

Matthew goes out of his way to show the disciples following (8:23).

 

Mark and Luke begin with them all in the boat. 

 

What does it mean for us to follow Him today? 

 

Who are you following: The Son of Man. (first time used in Matthew; MAT 8:20). 

 

A title from DAN 7:13.

 

The first usage in Matthew is in the context of uncertainty. The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. 

 

And, almost as if to prove the point, Matthew shows Him sleeping in a boat.

 

The second usage by Jesus is MAT 9:6, the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins. Only God can do. 

 

The one who is to rule over all shared in the insecurity of the human condition. 

 

What authority does the Son of Man have? (Events on the lake - what will you see if you follow Him?)

 

Readers will likely think of Jonah. The similarities and contrasts are enlightening.

 

Matthew (MAT 8:24) uses the word seismos = earthquake (“great storm” NASB). Significantly, Matthew only uses this word here and at the death of Christ and His resurrection and as a sign of Christ’s return. 

 

Human history: Cross, resurrection, disciples spreading the good news, Christ’s return (all depicted with earthquakes). 

 

Authority over the wind and waves: JOB 38:8-11; PSA 18:15; 65:7-8; 89:9-10; 104:5-7; 106:9; ISA 50:2; NAH 1:4.  

 

In Matthew, Jesus rebukes them before the storm (MAT 8:26). In Mark and Luke it is opposite. While highlighting that He has all things under control, Matthew is also highlighting their distrust.

 

Little-faith-ones. Also in MAT 6:30; fearful about things of life and death. 

 

Cowardice shows that they do not take the Father’s care seriously, which is the essence of practical faith.   

 

Faith sees the unseen and believes the impossible. Faith also rests in God’s provisions, no matter what they may be. 

 

The Son of Man and men: In the face of the authority of Christ, the Son of Man, we have to be humble (MAT 8:27). 

 

“The men” were amazed. (not “disciples”). The disciples never self-advertise. “Men” used to contrast their frailty and little faith with Jesus who is more than a man. He is God who controls the sea and the wind. 

 

They are men, and ask themselves: “What kind of man is this?” They will answer their own question in the next storm with Him on this sea, except that time He’ll be walking on the water, MAT 14:33. 

 

Application: 

 

Do not sit still in your spiritual life, grow and go. What is His will for you today? Are you doing it?

 

What does it mean for us to follow Him today? 

 

Question: What things are out of your control but are generally making you unhappy? You are trying to enforce your will rather than accepting His. Change that through some good introspection and prayer.

 

Who are you following and what authority does He have? 

 

Though you are a little-faith-one, He is in your boat, and though He rebukes you with a “Why?” He helps you. 

 

The Lord does not respond to us in the measure of our faith but in the measure of grace. Yet He wills for our faith to grow out of these circumstances. 

 

No matter how strong our faith may get, we are still just men and women, frail and completely dependent upon Him. Matthew labels all of them as just men - about 25-30 after the event when he writes his gospel. 

 

Look up (you can use an online concordance) all the instances of “Son of Man” in Matthew (31 total in about 19 passages) and see what their contexts they are in. You will create your own picture of your King.