We pray for the meeting of preaching of Christ.
Father,
we ask that you will reveal to us
the end of the earth
so we might make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Teach us this morning what it means to be a true follower of Christ
and enable us by the power of the Holy Spirit
to follow and faithfully all our others.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Amen.
Please stand if you are able
as I read from Matthew 8, 18-34
to honor God as we come to the Lord.
Matthew 8, 18-34
Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him
he gave orders to go over to the other side.
And a scribe came up and said to him,
Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.
And Jesus said to him,
Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests
but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.
Another of the disciples said to him,
Lord, let me first go and bury my father.
And Jesus said to him,
Follow me and leave the dead to bury their own dead.
And when he got into the boat
his disciples followed him.
And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea
so that the boat was being swamped by the waves.
But he was asleep.
And they went and woke him saying,
Save us, Lord, we are perishing.
And he said to them,
Why are you afraid,
O you of little faith?
Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea.
And there was a great calm.
And the men marveled saying,
What sort of man is this
that even winds and sea obey him?
And when he came to the other side,
to the country of the gathering,
two demon-possessed men met him
coming out of the tombs,
so fierce that no one could pass that way.
And behold, they cried out,
What have you to do with us,
O Son of God?
Have you come here to torment us
before the time?
Now a herd of many pigs
was feeding at some distance from them.
And the demons begged him,
saying,
If you cast us out,
send us away into the herd of pigs.
And he said to them,
Go.
So they came out
and went into the pigs.
And behold,
the whole herd rushed down the steep bank
into the sea
and drowned in the waters.
The herdsmen fled,
and going into the city,
they told everything,
especially what had happened
to the demon-possessed men.
And behold,
all of the city came out
to meet Jesus.
And when they saw him,
they begged him
to leave their region.
Scott's holy and authoritative word.
Please be seated.
When people are learning
about a trade or a subject,
they often seek out internships
or apprenticeships
with someone
who is already established
in the field.
An aspiring electrician
seeks out a master electrician
under whose tutelage
he can learn to trade
and accumulate the hours.
An aspiring counselor
seeks out a licensed counselor
under whose mentorship
it can get the number of hours
necessary to attain licensure.
A PhD student
seeks out an advisor
who is already
a scholarly authority
in the field
so that he can learn
and gain credibility
and build connections.
The apprentice
seeks out the mentor
because there is something
to be gained
in that relationship.
Otherwise,
why would interns
and apprentices
subject themselves
to hard work
and long hours
for often little
to no pay
as many of our
postdocs can attest?
If the cost-benefit analysis
changes,
maybe the mentor
is too demanding
or the hours are too long
or the research
is too boring,
the student
might seek out
a different teacher.
In our passage
this morning,
two Jewish men
seek Jesus out
to be their teacher,
to be their rabbi
so that they can learn
from him
and then train
under him.
But Jesus,
interestingly,
does not offer them
any incentive
to follow him.
In fact,
he gives them
every reason
not to follow him.
Following him,
Jesus says,
will mean
rejection,
hardship,
danger,
threat to their
very lives sometimes.
And Jesus
demands such
allegiance
that all those
who follow him
must put duty
to him
even above
their filial duties
to their parents.
But why would
anyone in their
right mind
follow such
a demanding master?
Matthew's answer
in this passage
is that Jesus
is no ordinary man.
he is the
son of God.
And it is therefore
worth risking
our skin
and forsaking
even our kin
to follow
the son of God.
That's my main point
this morning.
To illustrate this,
Matthew recounts
how Jesus
took his disciples
through a stormy sea
to an unclean land
and in doing so
demonstrated
that Jesus is
a man whom
we must follow,
a man whom
the winds and sea
obey,
and a man
whom the demons
obey.
We're going to
talk about those
three points in turn.
Since we took a break
from our series
in Matthew
last week
for a guest preacher,
let me remind you
where we are
in the passage.
Set the scene.
In the preceding passage
just before this
in verses 14 and 17,
Jesus has spent
an evening
at Peter's house
healing the sick
and casting out demons.
And he said that
many people
were brought to him.
So Jesus has already
had a full day
and evening
of fruitful ministry.
And since he is
a man,
truly a man,
he most likely
was physically exhausted.
So much so that
later he would
fall asleep
on the road
in the middle of the storm.
Yet even after
this ministry
there's no end in sight
because it says
a crowd has gathered
now around Jesus
in verse 18.
And it says in 18,
when Jesus
saw the crowd
around him
he gave orders
to his disciples
to go over
to the other side.
Other side
in the Gospel of the Union
other side
of the Sea of Galilee
to the Gentile regions.
It's interesting
that seeing the crowds
does not make Jesus
stay.
It actually makes
Jesus go somewhere else.
This happened again
in chapter 5,
verse 1.
Beginning of the
Sermon on the Mount
it said that
seeing the crowds
Jesus went up
on a mountain
and when he sat down
his disciples
came to him.
There are times
when Jesus
sees the crowd
and has compassion
on them
and ministers to them.
But I think
in these two places
Matthew is trying
to emphasize
the priority
of discipleship.
What does it mean
to be a disciple
and a follower
of Jesus?
That's what
the Sermon on the Mount
really generally
the subject
of the Sermon on the Mount
was all about.
And in Matthew 7,
13 and 14
Jesus said
that only a few
of his true disciples
enter by the narrow gate
and the narrow way
that leads to life
whereas many
enter by the wide gate
and the broad way
that leads to destruction.
Later in Matthew 13
Jesus speaks
up to the crowds
in parables
so that they
would not understand
what he is saying.
This is made explicit
in Matthew 13.
He says that
the secrets
of the kingdom
of heaven
have not been
given to them.
That's why he speaks
to them in parables.
But to his disciples
to whom the secrets
of the kingdom
of heaven
have been given
Jesus speaks plainly
and he explains
his parables
to them.
So why does Jesus
see the crowd
and leave
to the other side?
I think because
he's trying to make
the distinction
between the crowds
who are curious
interested
but not truly committed
and his disciples
whom he's investing
in and training
and mentoring
because they're
the ones who know
what it means
to be a follower
of Christ.
As Jesus is about
to leave though
there are two people
who try to join
his entourage
and he says
in verse 19
a scribe came up
and said to him
teacher
I will follow you
wherever you go.
Remember the scribes
in the gospels
they are the Jewish
legal scholars.
They're the ones
who usually teach people.
And so for a scribe
who is a teacher
to come to Jesus
and say
teacher
is a way
a measure
of humbling oneself
and he offers
to follow Jesus.
We can speculate
on the reasons
based on Jesus' response.
We're told
in Matthew 7
28-29
that after Jesus
taught
in his sermon
on the mount
that the people
the crowds
were astonished
at Jesus' teaching
because they saw
that Jesus
taught as someone
who had real
divine
God-given
spiritual authority
unlike the scribes.
They couldn't
contrast the Jesus' teaching
from the teaching
of the scribes.
So maybe
the scribe
is an opportunist.
He saw
the tide
of opinions
turning in favor
of Jesus.
He saw
that Jesus
is a rising star
and he wanted
to throw in
his lot with him.
But this scribe
doesn't truly
understand
discipleship
what it means
to follow Jesus.
He doesn't understand
what that means
and we know
that from
two primary things.
First
this scribe
addresses Jesus
as teacher.
As a scribe
right
he was referred
to often
as teacher
but remember
how the leper
that came to Jesus
earlier in chapter 8
and the centurion
also in chapter 8
that came to Jesus
how did they
address Jesus?
They addressed Jesus
as Lord.
In the Gospel
of Matthew
only people
who are
outside
of Jesus'
circle of disciples
call him
teacher.
Scribes
the Pharisees
the lone exception
the only
disciple
that calls him
teacher
teacher is
Judas Iscariot
who later
calls him
Rabbi
the Jewish
who couldn't
he would
call him
teacher twice
when he is
betraying him.
So
we know
that this
reference teacher
doesn't really
quite meet
the standard
of what he
should think
about Jesus
how he should
relate to Jesus
that's the first clue.
He thinks
that Jesus
has a good
teacher
but not quite
as the Lord
and Master
that he should
submit to
and follow.
Isn't that the
case
this day
and age
as well?
There are
many people
nowadays
who will
concede
that Jesus
is
yeah
he was
a good
man
I think
he was
a good
moral
teacher
but the
Son of
God
the Lord
no
you're
overstealing
the case
but
acknowledging
Jesus
as a good
teacher
is
insufficient
must
not
acknowledge
and have
the Lord
the Son
of God
worth risking
our skin
and forsaking
our kin
to follow.
The second
clue that
this scribe
does not
understand
true discipleship
the nature
of following
Jesus
is verse
20
Jesus'
response
to it
Foxes
have holes
and birds
of the air
have nests
but the Son
of Man
has nowhere
to lay
his head.
Note that
Jesus
doesn't try
to persuade
this scribe
to follow
him
he's actually
trying to
dissuade
him from
following him
Jesus
is not
saying
that
if you
follow
him
you'll
never
have
any
kind
of
home
or
lodging
in fact
they did
just
stay
most recently
at Peter's
house
as a base
for their
ministry
so sometimes
they did
have
housing
however
as an
itinerant
preacher
Jesus
did
often
go to
places
where they
had no
known
relations
foreign
parts
where there
were no
people
to be
hospitable
toward
them
and
often
presumably
he also
stayed
in exposed
places
even more
exposed
than
foxes
holes
and
birds
nests
that would
have been
a change
for the
scribe
who was
probably
welcomed
as an
honored
guest
most places
he went
among the
Jewish
circles
and so
Jesus
said
later
about
the
Pharisees
and the
scribes
in
Matthew
23
verse
6
to
7
that
they
loved
the
place
of
honor
at
feasts
and
the
best
seats
in the
synagogues
and
greetings
in the
marketplaces
and being
called
by
others
but
the
Jesus
warns
this
scribe
this
is what
the
scribes
are
like
but
Jesus
warns
this
scribe
don't
think
that
you
will
find
honor
and
recognition
by
following
me
don't
expect
the
VIP
treatment
when
we
enter
into
towns
!
for
the
son
of
man
has
nowhere
to
lay
his
hand
Jesus
does
not
promise
wealth
comfort
popularity
to his
followers
as the
two
following
stories
from
Jesus
life
will
illustrate
foxes
have
holes
and
birds
have
nests
but
the
son
of
man
has
nowhere
to
lay
his
head
this
is
the
first
time
that
Jesus
uses
applies
the
title
son
of
man
to
himself
and
I'll
talk
more
about
the
meaning
of
that
later
on
but
for
now
the
contrast
between
the
son
of
man
and
the
foxes
and
the
birds
even
the
beasts
of
earth
have
homes
but
this
man
does
not
so
who
wants
to
follow
this
son
of
man
it's
a
non-starter
it's
the
anti
recruiting
bitch
right
and
then
in
verse
22
another
of
the
disciples
said
to
him
lord
let
me
first
go
and
bury
my
father
this
volunteer
this
prospective
disciple
starts
a little
better
he
addresses
Jesus
as
lord
and
Matthew
even
refers
to
him
as
another
disciple
but
based
on
his
question
and
Jesus
response
it
doesn't
seem
like
this
disciple
makes
the
final
cut
either
he
says
to
Jesus
let
me
first
go
and
bury
my
father
it
seems
unlikely
although
it's
possible
that
this
man's
father
literally
just
died
because
then
why
would
he
be
hanging
out
with
the
crowd
here
with
Jesus
teaching
being
attending
to his
funeral
responsibilities
it
seems
more
likely
that
the
expression
bury
my
father
is
in
reference
to
this
man's
sense
of
filial
responsibility
of
providing
end of
life
care
for
his
elderly
father
this
was
a
responsibility
that was
taken
much
more
seriously
in the
ancient
near
east
than
here
in
the
US
for
example
in
Genesis
47
it
says
that
when
the
time
drew
near
that
Jacob
must
!
he
called
his
son
Joseph
and
made
him
swear
to
bury
him
back
in
the
promised
land
in
Canaan
and
not
in
Egypt
he
doesn't
die
right
away
after
that
he
lives
for
a
while
after
that
but
he
nonetheless
still
already
tells
Joseph
what
to do
for
his
burial
Joseph
is
the
one
who
is
in
charge
and
has
this
real
responsibility
of
burying
his
father
and
so
this
man
is
in
a
similar
situation
and
he
is
asking
to
defer
his
enrollment
as
a
disciple
of
Christ
he's
not
asking
for
a
super
long
deferral
but
it
is
kind
of
an
indefinite
postponement
Jesus
I
really
want
to
follow
you
but
I
have
an
elder
to
follow
you
see
and
it's
my
filial
duty
as
a
son
to
care
for
him
until
his
death
so
give
me
a
little
bit
of
time
save
me
your
spot
on
your
roster
I'll
come
back
I
promise
when
the
time
is
right
however
Jesus
response
is
uncompromising
he
says
follow
me
and
leave
the
dead
to
bury
their
own
dead
this
man
is
closer
to
being
Jesus
disciple
than
the
scribe
Jesus
actually
invites
him
follow
me
but
there's
something
he
must
leave
behind
in order
to
follow
Jesus
leave
the
dead
to
bury
their
own
dead
people
of
course
cannot
bury
anyone
so
Jesus
not
speaking
in the
first
instance
of the
word
dead
of
physically
dead
people
he's
speaking
of
the
spiritually
dead
leave
the
spiritually
dead
to
take
care
of
their
own
physically
dead
in the
parallel
account
in Luke
9
verse
60
Jesus
says
leave
the
dead
to
bury
their
own
dead
but
as
for
you
go
and
proclaim
the
kingdom
of
God
Jesus
is
here
speaking
of
the
utmost
priority
of
following
Jesus
this
is a
shocking
thing
to say
even
in
our
culture
but
especially
so
in
Jesus'
day
because
the
Jews
considered
this
filial
responsibility
one of
the
highest
obligations
for
humanity
in
the
Old
Testament
people
the
Jews
were
forbidden
from
coming
into
contact
with
the
dead
with
diseased
people
with
harnesses
because
they
believed
that
caused
ritual
uncleanness
and
they
would
be
unclean
for
a
period
of
time
which
was
difficult
however
Leviticus
21
verses
1
to
3
specifically
made
exceptions
for
coming
into
contact
with
your
dead
parents
and
your
close
relatives
don't
touch
the
dead
don't
defy
yourselves
by
touching
the
dead
but
if
it's
your
father
if
it's
your
parents
bury
them
and
then
cleanse
yourself
after
all
the
fifth
of
the
ten
commandments
is
to
honor
your
father
and
mother
and
yet
Jesus
says
put
following
me
above
caring
for
your
parents
this
prospective
disciple
said
let me
first
go
and
bury
my
father
and
that's
the
problem
Jesus
says
follow
me
first
it's
similar
to what
Jesus
says
later
in
Matthew
19
verse
29
and
everyone
who has
left
houses
or
brothers
or
sisters
or
father
or
mother
or
children
or
lands
for
my
name
sake
will
receive
a
hundredfold
and will
inherit
eternal
life
please
don't
misunderstand
me
I'm
not
saying
that
you
should
go
and
neglect
or
abandon
your
family
members
right
now
the
command
to
honor
our
parents
still
applies
to us
today
in
first
25
verse
8
teaches
us
but
if
anyone
does
not
provide
for
his
relatives
and
especially
for
members
of
his
household
he
has
denied
the
faith
and
is
worse
than
unbeliever
what
then
does
Jesus
mean
when
he
says
follow
me
and
leave
the
dead
to
bury
their
own
dead
Jesus
is
putting
things
starkly
intentionally
to
communicate
clearly
the
radical
demands
of
Christian
discipleship
there
are
some
people
who
seek
to
defer
or
delay
following
Jesus
I'm
in
graduate
school
and
I
can
barely
keep
up
with
the
deadlines
deciding
whether
or not
follow
Christ
can
wait
I'm
still
getting
established
in
my
career
when
things
are
more
settled
then
I
can
prioritize
church
I'm
just
getting
married
I
just
bought
a
house
I
have
young
kids
when
they're
a little
older
I
can
focus
on
being
Christian
following
Jesus
I
have
parents
that
take
care
of
I
can't
go
to
church
but
Jesus
says
no
either
you will
follow
me
first
or
you
will
not
follow
me
at
all
Jesus
will
not
play
second
fiddle
Jesus
will
not
settle
for
third
wheeling
in
your
life
he
must
be
your
first
liege
your
first
loyalty
your
first
love
committing
to
follow
Jesus
will
turn
your
life
and
priorities
upside
down
I
love
the
phrase
that
a
Bible
commentator
R.T.
France
uses
about
pursuing
the
kingdom
of
heaven
following
Jesus
involves
a
degree
of
fanaticism
if you
become a
true follower
of Jesus
the people
of this
world
will look
at you
and say
there's
that
religious
fanatic
that
Jesus
was
forsaken
the world
to follow
Jesus
what a
shame
what a
waste
she
has
so
much
potential
he
used
to be
so
fun
you
guys
have
heard
that
are
you
ready
for
that
are
you
prepared
to
make
Jesus
your
highest
priority
above
your
career
relationships
including
your
family
are
you
willing
to
risk
your
skin
and
forsake
your
kin
to
follow
Jesus
if
not
then
Jesus
is
not
ready
yet
to
be
his
disciples
but
what
kind
of
man
may
speak
in
this
kind
of
way
what
kind
of
man
demands
such
high
allegiance
that's
why
we
have
the
next
two
paragraphs
to
answer
that
question
the
second
point
a
man
whom
the
winds
and
see
obey
verse
23
continues
this
theme
of
discipleship
of
following
Jesus
having
ordered
his
disciples
to
go
over
to
the
other
side
it
says
Jesus
now
gets
into
the
boat
and
when
Jesus
got
into
the
boat
his
disciples
followed
him
this
is
not
a
throw
away
detail
like
who
cares
who
got
into
the
boat
first
what
does
Matthew
tell
us
that
he
is
speaking
of
discipleship
Jesus
gets
into
the
boat
first
and
then
his
disciples
follow
him
this
is
the
third
time
we
are
seeing
the
word
follow
in
a
span
of
few
verses
a
scribe
said
to
Jesus
in
verse
19
teacher
I
follow
me
follow
is
the
language
of
discipleship
and
you'll
see
it
again
in
Matthew
9
and
10
38
and
16
24
what
does
it
mean
to
be
a
disciple
what
does
it
mean
to
follow
Jesus
it
means
that
you
decide
no
longer
to
go
your
own
way
no
longer
to
choose
your
own
path
no
longer
to
be
the
captain
of
your
own
soul
and
the
master
of
your
own
faith
no
longer
to
live
to
satisfy
your
own
desires
and
to
fulfill
your
own
dreams
instead
to
follow
Jesus
means
to
follow
another's
path
to
submit
to
another's
will
to
learn
another's
way
to
build
another's
kingdom
to
live
to
fulfill
another's
dream
that's
what
it
means
to
serve
a
Lord
that's
what
it
means
to
serve
a
king
that's
what
it
means
to
follow
Jesus
and
be
his
disciples
we
live in
a city
full
of
leaders
all
you
have
resumes
chock
full
of
leadership
experiences
but the
question
that is
of
first
importance
that we
all
must
answer
the
question
that is
almost
on my
mind
as a
pastor
is
not
whom
you
are
leading
but
whom
you
are
following
God
is
more
interested
in
your
followership
potential
than
your
leadership
potential
God
is
more
interested
in
your
humility
than
in
your
giftedness
than
in
your
platform
in
fact
only
those
who
know
how
to
follow
well
can
lead
well
only
those
who
are
faithfully
following
Jesus
can
fruitfully
lead
others
to
the
kingdom
of
God
are
you
ready
to
follow
Jesus
the
two
prospective
!
disciples
we saw
in the
preceding
verse
were not
quite
ready
to
follow
Jesus
but
these
disciples
who are
now
getting
into
the
boat
after
Jesus
are
following
him
they're
committed
to leave
everything
behind
following
him
so
what
happens
when
these
disciples
make
the
commitment
take
the
plunge
through
their
line
with
Jesus
what
happens
when
you
become
a
Christian
a
follower
of
Christ
safety
serenity
smooth
sailing
verse
24
and
behold
there
arose
a
great
storm
on
the
sea
so
that
the
boat
would
be
swamped
by
the
waves
but
Jesus
was
asleep
the
disciples
are
immediately
in
for
rough
sailing
a
storm
that
threatens
their
very
lives
Jesus
I
thought
you
are
the
Lord
of
all
creation
and
here
we
are
we're
following
you
and
we're
about
to
die
the
sea
that
is
mentioned
here
is
the
sea
of
Galilee
which
by
our
gigantic
United
States
standards
is
more like
a lake
but
the
sea
of
Galilee
so I'm
going to
call it
the
sea
of
Galilee
and
the
sea
of
Galilee
is
surrounded
by
hills
and
mountains
which
can
funnel
wind
down the
valleys
creating
sudden
sprawls
on the
waters
it
sits
well
below
sea
level
in
the
Jordan
Rift
valley
so that
there
is
a
huge
disparity
contrast
between
the
cool
air
on top
of
the
mountains
and
the
warm
air
over
the
water
and
that
contrast
also
can
produce
sudden
weather
changes
so
this
kind
of
sudden
squalls
and
storms
are
well
documented
in
the
Sea
of
Galilee
back
then
as well
as
today
and
we
know
this
is
a
boat
let's
it
tip
over
and
some
of
them
are
rowing
furiously
to try
to get
the
boat
to go
where
it
needs
to go
and
some
of
these
other
people
are
trying
to
dump
water
out
of
the
boat
so
it
doesn't
sink
and
so
it's
a
frantic
mess
and
remember
the
first
disciples
of
Jesus
were
with
him
at
this
time
Peter
Andrew
and
James
and
John
they're
all
fishermen
!
for
their
lives
it's
a
great
storm
save
us
Lord
we
are
perished
but
Jesus
on the
other
hand
is
sleeping
amazing
I
have
a
funny
sweatshirt
that a
good
fan
of
mine
gave
me
I
think
a
few
others
in
our
church
have
that
it
says
Jesus
took
naps
be
like
Jesus
and
it
has
a
Bible
reference
for
a
version
of
the
same
story
in
Mark
it's
a
fun
sweatshirt
but
that's
not
the
point
of
this
verse
Jesus
was
truly
human
so
he
must
have
been
exhausted
and
sure
he
took
the
nap
that's
fine
but
imagine
the
snooze
doesn't
last
very
long
does
it
right
he's
just
ministered
throughout
the
evening
and
now
he's
on
this
boat
and
then
there's
a
storm
and
his
disciples
wake
him
up
come
this
is
an
illustration
of what
Jesus
said
in
verse
21
the
son
of
man
has
nowhere
to lay
his
head
this
is
Jesus
life
place
to
place
rejection
after
rejection
hardship
after
hardship
following
Jesus
entails
trials
and
hardships
storms
and
struggles
and
yet
the
sleeping
Jesus
contrasted
with
the
frantic
disciples
teaches
a lesson
in
faith
Jesus
says
to
his
disciples
in
verse
26
why
are
you
afraid
oh
you
of
little
faith
this
expression
echoes
what
Jesus
said
earlier
in
Matthew
6
verse
30
to
people
who
are
anxious
about
what
they
will
eat
and
what
they
will
wear
Jesus
said
at
that
point
I think I
have it
to display
on the
screen
are you
not
value
than
the
birds
of
the
air
that
your
heavenly
father
feeds
and
which
of
you
by
being
anxious
can
add
a
single
hour
to
his
life
if
God
clothes
the
grass
of
the
field
which
today
is
alive
and
tomorrow
is
thrown
into
the
oven
will
he
not
much
more
clothe
you
of
you
of
little
!
people
worry
about
food
why?
because
they
don't
want
to
starve
today
people
worry
about
clothes
and
shelter
homes
why?
because
they
don't
want
to
freeze
today
people
worry
when
they
are
riding
planes
and
there
is
turbulence
why?
because
they
don't
want
to
fall
to
their
death
people
worry
about
diseases
!
why?
because
they
don't
want
to
die
from
illnesses
people
worry
about
being
shipwrecked
why?
because
they
if you
think
about it
most
of our
anxiety
is at
their
root
to
come
down
to
death
don't
they?
but
Jesus
reminds
us
that
no
matter
how
much
we
worry
no
matter
how
much
we
frantically
try
to
grasp
for
control
in
our
lives
and
are
wrecked
with
anxiety
he
says
we
cannot
prolong
our
lives
by
even
one
hour
which
of you
by
warning
can add
a
single
hour
to
your
life
because
our
life
and
life
and
death
are
in
the
Lord's
hands
before
a
single
day
of
our
life
came
to
pass
God
said
that
all
of
our
days
were
written
in
his
book
already
according to
Psalm 139
verse 16
so
why
do
so
why
do
we
worry
do
we
not
believe
that
our
heavenly
father
cares
for
us
do
you
not
believe
that
we
will
die
not
one
hour
sooner
and
not
one
hour
later
than
the
exact
time
that
God
has
appointed
for
you
to
die
Jesus
says
oh
you
of
little
faith
Jesus
was
able to
sleep
unlike
his
disciples
because
he
had
much
faith
because
of
his
rock
solid
confidence
in his
relationship
with
75
then
it
says
in
verse
26
Jesus
rose
and
rebuked
the
winds
and
the
sea
and
there
was
a
great
calm
it's
an
amazing
demonstration
of
Jesus
authority
the
verb
rebuke
in
Greek
as well
as
in
English
usually
takes
a
personal
object
right
people
usually
rebuke
sentient
beings
that are
capable
of
listening
to
rebuke
a
man
might
in
his
anger
when
his
car
doesn't
start
kick
it
and
rebuke
his
car
you
piece
of
junk
start
for
once
when
I
need
you
but
nobody
in their
right
mind
expects
the
car
to
actually
listen
and
start
when
you
plan
a
picnic
and
it's
rain
when
have
you
seen
your
friends
rebuke
the
rain
Jesus
rebukes
the
wind
and
the
sea
if
anybody
but
Jesus
did
that
we
would
be
right
to
think
that
he's
crazy
but
you
know
what's
crazier
the
winds
and the
sea
actually
they
obey
him
the
world
was
created
by
the
word
of
God
we
see
that
in
Genesis
1
we
see
that
in
Psalm
33
verse
6
and
John
1
tells
that
Jesus
is
the
word
of
God
who
has
taken
on
human
flesh
so
apparently
creation
still
recognizes
the
very
voice
that
created
that
throughout
scripture
it's
only
God
who
ever
rebukes
nature
rebukes
the
sea
Psalm
106
verse 9
speaks
of how
God
rebuked
the
Red
Sea
and
it
became
dry
Psalm
1815
recalls
how
the
Lord
rebuked
the
sea
and
exposed
its
foundation
so
Jesus
does
in
this
scene
what
only
God
can
do
the
great
storm
of
verse
24
becomes
a
great
calm
in
verse
26
the
repetition
of
the
word
great
highlights
Jesus'
complete
mastery
and
control
over
nature
this is
no
gradual
dying
down
of
the
storm
this is
no
a
big
storm
becoming
a
medium
storm
no
there's
this
great
storm
and
then
Jesus
says
rebukes
the
storm
and
then
seizes
a
great
calm
imagine
how
eerie
that
must have
felt
no
wonder
disciples
respond
this way
it says
in
verse
27
and
the
men
marbled
!
saying
what
sort
of
men
is
this
that
even
wins
and
see
obey
him
did
you
catch
how
awkwardly
the
disciples
were
referred
to
in
that
verse
they're
called
men
Matthew
calls
them
disciples
in
verse
23
and
verse
21
and
so
why
after
having
already
specifically
identified
them
as
disciples
does
he
use
such
a
generic
term
to
refer
to
them
this
is
intended
to
highlight
the
contrast
with
Jesus
the
son
of
man
the
man
marvel
saying
what
sort
of
man
is
this
that
even
wins
and
see
obey
him
whoever
Jesus
is
it
is
clear
he's
not
like
these
other
men
he's
not
the
same
sort
of
man
he's
something
more
he's
set
apart
from
he's
unlike
any
other
man
that
has
ever
lived
or
ever
will
he
is
a
kind
of
man
worth
risking
your
skin
and
forsaking
your
kin
to
fall
in
verse
28
Jesus
and his
disciples
arrive on
the other
side of
the sea
of
Galilee
to the
country
of
the
Gadarenes
we
know
that
this
is
a
Gentile
territory
because
of
the
presence
of
pig
farming
which
only
Gentiles
did
because
the
Jews
regarded
pigs
as
unpleased
animals
this
story
is
reported
in
all
of
the
synoptic
gospels
Matthew
Mark
and
Luke
but
there
is
a
curious
discrepancy
between
the
version
that we
find
here
in
Matthew
and
the
version
we
find
in
Mark
and
Luke
he
says
in
verse
28
that
when
Jesus
and
his
disciples
came
ashore
they
were
greeted
by
two
demon
possessed
men
but
Mark
and
Luke
report
only
one
demon
possessed
man
this
isn't
the
only
place
that
Matthew
differs
from
Mark
and
Luke
in
this
manner
in
Matthew
20
29
34
Jesus
heals
two
blind
men
in
Jericho
but
parallel
accounts
in
Mark
and
Luke
Mark
10
and
Luke
18
record
only
one
blind
man
that
was
healed
so
Matthew
tends
to give
two
when
Mark
and
Luke
give
one
Mark
and
Luke
prefer
to
focus
in
on a
single
character
in
greater
depth
for
example
Mark
and
Luke
both
include
the
detail
in
the
healing
of
the
blind
men
in
Mark
10
and
Luke
18
that
they
were
both
beggars
Mark
even
tells us
the man's
specific
name
that
he
was
called
Bartimaeus
so
Mark
and
Luke
tend
to
zoom
in
on
a
single
more
compelling
character
whereas
Matthew
tends
to give
us
a
wide
angle
lens
so
you
can
see
both
characters
and
gives
us
his
sparse
on
Matthew
tells us
that there
were two
demon
possessed
men
that
Jesus
healed
whereas
Mark
and
Luke
tell us
only
one
Mark
and
Luke
in
their
stories
give us
much
more
detail
than
Matthew
he
tells us
how
Jesus
performed
the
exorcism
the name
of the
demon
the
legion
he
gives
details
about
how
the
delivered
demon
life
was
transformed
and how
he
became
a
witness
for
Jesus
in
the
region
the
gentile
the
cop
!
Matthew
doesn't
tell us
any
of
that
but
he
does
tell us
that
there
were
two
so
that's
the
literary
reason
for
Matthew
including
two
characters
but
there's
also
theological
reason
why
Matthew
does
this
Matthew
is
the
writer
who
tells us
specifically
in
Matthew
18
19
if
two
of you
agree
on
earth
about
anything
they
ask
it
will
be
done
for
them
by
my
father
in
heaven
Matthew
is
hearkening
back
to
the
Old
that
the
testimony
of
two
or
three
witnesses
is
necessary
to
establish
a
judicial
verdict
a
legal
verdict
it
so
happens
that
in
both
of
these
stories
where
Matthew
has
two
people
where
Mark
and
Luke
only
have
one
the
people
involved
bear
important
testimony
regarding
who
Jesus
is
Matthew
includes
two
pairs
of
stories
about
two pairs
of blind
men
being
healed
in
his
gospel
in
chapter
9
here
and
then
later
in
chapter
20
and
in
both
cases
the
blind
men
bear
witness
to
the
fact
that
Jesus
is
the
son
of
David
which
is
a
messianic
time
and
then
here
with
the
story
of
the
gathering
demoniacs
they
are
the
first
to
declare
that
Jesus
is
the
son
of
God
so
by
mentioning
two
individuals
rather
than
bolstering
the
credibility
of
these
testimonies
regarding
who
Jesus
is
it's
not
just
one
but
two
who
say
these
names
so
now
let's
dive
into
what
actually
happened
verse
20
it
says
that
the
two
demon
possessed
men
came
out
of
the
tomb
to
meet
Jesus
they
reside
in
the
tombs
which
is
a
ritually
unclean
space
which
is
quite
fitting
because
these
are
fallen
angels
they
are
demons
!
unclean
is
kind
of
a
misnomer
since
demons
don't
actually
own
anything
all
creation
believers
and
unbelievers
are
owned
by
God
to
belong
to
him
he
is
the
potter
who
makes
both
vessels
of
mercy
and
vessels
of
wrath
to
display
his
patience
and
holiness
and
justice
for
from
him
and
through
him
and
to
him
are
all
things
there's
not
a
thing
in
this
world
that
the
demon
owns
the
demons
own
so
demons
don't
possess
anyone
in the
sense
of
owning
them
the
bible
does
however
teach us
that
people
can
have
demons
within
them
and be
controlled
by
them
which
is
why
they
have
to
be
cast
out
so
Jesus
does
over
and
over
again
throughout
the
gospel
later
in
Matthew
12
I think
I have
this for
you guys
on the
screen
from
verse
43
to
44
she says
that
when the
unclean spirit
has gone
out of
a person
it passes
through
waterless places
seeking rest
but finds
none
then it says
I will return
to my house
from which
I came
unclean
spirits
seek
rest
they long
to be
housed
demons
and
we
know
from the
story
of the
gathering
demoniacs
that
both
humans
and
animals
are
capable
of
housing
demons
housing
spirits
perhaps
it's
because
it's
the
animals
and
humans
that
have
the
breath
of
life
in
them
according
to
Genesis
1
30
and
2
7
so
that's
how
we
ought
to
understand
the
word
demon
possession
not
possessed
by
demons
Old
by
demons
but
possessed
with
demons
having
demons
within
them
the
Greek
word
behind
demon
possessed
can be
translated
more literally
simply
as
demonized
it's
just
a
verbal
form
of
the
noun
demon
and
it
means
to
come
under
the
influence
of
demons
the
same
word
is
sometimes
translated
in
the
ESD
the
English
Standard
Version
as
being
oppressed
!
by
a
demon
so
whether
it
says
in
the
Bible
that
you
read
they
were
oppressed
by
demon
or
possessed
by
a
demon
the
underlying
it
is
actually
the
exact
same
word
the
demonization
can vary
in its
intensity
and its
extent
and in
the worst
cases
like this
gathering
demoniac
the demons
can exercise
such
control
so much
control
it almost
seems like
a puppeteer
controlling
a puppeteer
but to
lesser
degrees
demons
can also
attack
and
influence
Christians
Satan
it says
sifted
Peter
like
wheat
according
to
Jesus
in
Luke
22
31
and
it
says
a
messenger
of
Satan
continually
harassed
even
the
apostle
Paul
in
his
flesh
according
to
2nd
Corinthians
12
verse
7
this
is
why
Christians
are
commanded
repeatedly
in
the
Bible
to
resist
the
devil
to
stand
firm
in
our
faith
and
resist
the
devil
if
we
could
not
be
attacked
no
point
for
resisting
Ephesians
4
26
to
27
tells
us
not
to
let
the
sun
go
down
on
our
anger
because
holding
on
to
anger
will
give
an
opportunity
to
the
death
literally
the word
opportunity
there
means
a
place
you
hold
on
to
your
anger
your
bitterness
your
unforgiveness
you
are
giving
room
real
estate
to
demons
evil
spirits
in
your
heart
and
in
your
mind
these
two
demonized
men
had
done
precisely
that
unclean
spirits
had
taken
lodging
in
them
and
they
were
so
severely
under
demonic
influence
that
the
demons
spoke
through
them
like
a
ventriloquist
what
have
you
to
do
with
us
oh
son
of
God
have
you
come
here
to
torment
us
before
the
top
it's
an
incredible
confession
the
demons
through
their
hosts
acknowledge
that
Jesus
is
the
son
of
God
and
they
also
concede
that
Jesus
has
the
authority
to
torment
them
in
verse
31
these
demons
would
maintain
a
reign
of
terror
in
the
cemetery
so that
no one
could
pass
that
way
now
beg
Jesus
that
you
cast
us
out
send
us
away
to
the
earth
kings
hear
the
helpless
resonation
in
their
voices
as
they
plead
with
Jesus
as
they
beg
Jesus
because
they
know
that
they
are
powerless
to
resist
him
and
they
know
that
their
tenure
their
stay
in
these
demoniacs
is
coming
to
an
end
cast
can
you
please
cast
us
out
into
the
pigs
which
is
also
thinnick
as
pigs
are
unclean
animals
Jesus
command
is
majestic
simple
and
singular
God
amazing
God
and
the
spirits
go
out
of
the
men
and
into
the
pigs
and
the
successful
exorcists
is
confirmed
by
the
herd
of
pigs
the
successful
exorcist
is
confirmed
by
the
herd
of
pigs
all
of
a
sudden
stampeding
down
off
a
cliff
running
down
the
steep
edge
and
running
and
drowning
in
the
water
you
think
that
after
this
that
Jesus
would
receive
heroes
welcome
and
that
everybody
in the
gathering
area
would
want
to
spend
time
with
him
and
be
around
him
but
instead
the
herdsmen
the
owners
of the
pigs
the pigs
were their
livelihood
they
are
unhappy
with
what
Jesus
has
done
and
they
beg
Jesus
to
leave
the
region
this
is
another
illustration
of what
Jesus
said
before
these
two
illustrations
foxes
at
holes
birds
have
nests
but
the
son
of
man
has
no
place
to
lay
his
head
leave
the
dead
to
bury
their
own
dead
it's
happening
again
in
Jesus
life
following
Jesus
he's
illustrating
again
from
these
stories
it will
mean
rejection
it will
sometimes
mean
you have
no
home
no
place
it means
having to
go to
unclean
places
dealing
with
unclean
spirits
it means
being rejected
by men
so why
should we
be
Jesus
disciple
because
again
as Matthew
tells
Jesus
no
ordinary
son
of
man
he's
not
the
same
sort
of
man
that
we
are
he
is
truly
a
man
but
he's
not
only
a
man
he
is
also
the
son
of
God
whom
even
the
demons
obey
think
about
that
demons
are
fallen
angels
right
they're
disobedient
rebellious
spirits
and
yet
when
Jesus
speaks
they have
no
choice
but to
obey
and do
as
Jesus
says
Jesus
doesn't
have
a
five
step
exorcism
process
he
orders
no
incantations
he
sprinkles
no
oil
he
plays
no
music
he
just
says
one
word
go
it's
exactly
what
the
centurion
said
in
the
preceding
passage
I
say
to
one
go
and
he
goes
and
I
say
to
another
come
and
he
comes
Jesus
spares
the
demons
for now
he
doesn't
send
them
into
torment
because
their
time
for their
judgment
is not
yet
but
Revelation
20
verse
10
prophesies
of the
coming
day
when
the
devil
Satan
and
all
of
his
minions
the
demons
will
be
thrown
into
the
lake
of
fire
and
soft
and
they
will
be
tormented
day
and
night
forever
and
ever
and
Jesus
holds
the
cosmic
authority
over
even
the
realm
of
the
spirit
which
is
why
the
demons
asked
have
you
come
here
to
torment
us
before
the
time
isn't
that
an
interesting
phrase
that
raises
a
good
time
before
the
time
of
judgment
that's
appointed
Jesus
will
return
and
after
his
second
coming
Jesus
will
judge
the
world
but
Jesus
came
before
that
time
in
his
first
coming
Jesus
came
not
to
condemn
the
world
to
judge
the
world
but
to
save
the
world
it
says
in
John
3
17
Jesus
spent
his
earthly
ministry
proclaiming
the
kingdom
of
God
and
calling
sinners
to
repentance
he
was
criticized
for
calling
tax collectors
sinners
to
follow
him
and
for
calling
them
to
be
his
disciples
but
Jesus
responded
to
people's
criticism
by
saying
this
those
who
are
well
have
no
need
of
a
physician
but
those
who
are
sick
for
I
came
not
to
call
the
righteous
but
sinners
so
if
you
are
here
this
morning
and
you
know
that
you
are
a
sinner
and
this
is
good
news
for
you
and
me
we
too
can
be
a
disciple
of
Jesus
we
can
follow
him
he
calls
us
follow
me
the
son
of
man
and
son
of
God
died
on
the
cross
to
pay
for
our
sins
because
he
was
truly
a
man
he
can
rightly
represent
us
he
was
man
that
sinned
and
brought
brokenness
and sin
into the
world
and so
a man
had to
bear
the
punishment
and so
1 Timothy
2
5
says
for
there
is
one
God
and
one
mediator
between
God
and
man
the
man
Christ
Jesus
had to
be
man
in order
to
save
us
but
Jesus
was
also
truly
God
he
was
the
son
of
God
and
therefore
he
could
rightly
represent
God
and
make
an
acceptable
atoning
sacrifice
for
sin
Psalm
49
verses
7
to
9
says
this
truly
no
man
can
ransom
another
or
give
to
God
the
price
of
his
life
for
the
ransom
of
their
life
is
costly
and
can
never
suffice
that
he
should
live
on
forever
and
escape
death
because
the
wages
of
sin
is
death
and
all
men
have
sin
so
the
price
of
redemption
is
too
high
for
any
man
to
be
able
to
afford
but
then
this
song
continues
in
verse
15
but
God
will
ransom
but
God
will
ransom
my
soul
from
the
power
of
shield
for
he
will
receive
me
no
man
can
ransom
a
soul
but
God
can
Jesus
can
because
he
is
not
only
God
having
died
for
the
sins
of
people
Jesus
was
raised
from
the
dead
and
ascended
to
the
right
hand
of
the
father
having
received
all
rule
and
authority
and
power
and
dominion
and
that's
why
in
the
cult
worship
this
morning
that we
read
from
Daniel
7
13
to
14
which
is
the
prophecy
concerning
the
one
like
a
son
of
man
that
Jesus
is
now
applying
how
can
a
man
deserve
that
it's
because
that
man
is
Jesus
who
is
son
of
man
and
son
of
God
he
is
the
savior
of
sinners
like
you
and
me
so
will
you
trust
in
him
will
you
follow
him
before
you
say
yes
too
quickly
take
stock
and
count
the
cost
following
Jesus
is
not
a
hobby
it's
not
a
gig
it
demands
your
everything
it
rapidly
reprioritizes
your
life
requires
you to
risk
your
own
skin
forsake
even
your
family
are
you
willing
to
give
up
this
entire
world
and
surrender
your
whole
life
to
follow
Jesus
are
you
ready
to
stop
trying
to
lead
God
and
start
following
him
are
you
willing
to
say
not
my
will
but
your
will
be
done
I
don't
promise
you
that
your
life
will
be
easy
and
I
would
never
ask
you
to
follow
anyone
else
in
this
matter
but
Jesus
is
worthy
of
it
because
he
is
the
son
of
God
do
not
fear
those
who
kill
the
body
but
cannot
kill
the
soul
rather
fear
him
who
can
destroy
both
body
and
soul
in
hell
for
whoever
would
save
his
life
will
lose
it
but
whoever
loses
his
life
for
my
sake
Jesus
says
will
fight
it
let's
pray
together
father
raise
the
bar
in
our
minds
right
now
of
what
discipleship
looks like
but
even
as
you
raise
that
bar
raise
even
higher
father
our
esteem
of
Jesus
our
regard
for
Jesus
your
son
your
only
son
that
no
matter
how
high
the
cost
of
discipleship
no
matter
how
steep
the
loss
that
we
must
endure
they
will
see
that
it
is
worth
forsaking
all
to
find
help
us
to do
that
in
Jesus
name
we
pray
amen