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If this is the first page you clicked on check back to the first day of the ninety-two day chronological reading plan of the New Testament. Go to ---->"DAY ONE" If you want the whole plan day by day and not wait find it here at Shalom in the wilderness 

Day Eleven: Matthew 8:1-13, Luke 7

I think you will find like I did, some pretty amazing accounts of faith shown in this reading. It starts with a man with leprosy asking Jesus if he didn't mind making him clean since he knew that he could. Wow, amazing what believing in something does for this man, how much more will God do for you for believing and not seeing a miracle before your eyes? It is hard for me to fathom people who do not believe in the words of Jesus Christ. I know it is easy to deny something you have not seen, I can understand to an extent, how can you see what you don't believe. This is what this story reminds me of. I see because I believe, I hear because I believe and I understand because I believe. I do not have faith because I have seen, I have faith because I believe in the unseen. Although I have seen accounts of the Holy Spirit in life, I do not think I would have seen unless I believed and was open to the possibility of something great happening. We must be open, and surrender all we are in order to receive and this is what grows our faith.

2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. 

The next man that approaches Jesus in the chapter asks for healing through him when his servant lays paralyzed. I understand why Jesus would want to heal the servant. What I do not understand is what he says to the man about the kingdom of heaven and saying there will be a feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob where the "Subjects" "Children" or "Sons" of the kingdom will be thrown into the pit. Is he warning the Centurion because he is ruler over his servants? Thoughts?

10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour. 

Luke 7 starts talking about the Centurion again but moves on to a inspirational story about resurrection and reuniting the dead to their loved ones. Pretty cool if you ask me. How much weeping has gone on for the loss of children? Rachel's weeping has been heard for generations and continues because the only solution to the problem of death is the end of death itself, since there is no comfort because the dead are gone away from the living. I could get deeper but I am not going to at the moment. Lets look upon the widow who lost her son and right before her eyes he rose and was given back to his mother. What a beautiful thought that God loves us so much that he returns the dead to their loved ones because he is the God of life, the helper and redeemer of those who believe.

15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." 

 John the baptist wanted confirmation of who Jesus was so sent two men to ask him if he is the one he goes before or if there is another. With out directly saying it Jesus tells the men to report back to John:

22 So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." 

 27 This is the one about whom it is written: " 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' 28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."  

I also wanted to note the above two verses because John is the messenger that was sent ahead of Jesus. In reality, they are what we call cousins, but brothers in the Holy Spirit. Here we note that there is no women greater than John but someone who is the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is considered greater than he. What this says to me is that there are Great women which have a high stature but he still is greater than these women. It also tells me that although he is greater than women on earth even the least of women in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Wow, that is pretty great, why do you think this is other than the superiority of men, the submission and seeking there after a husband, and the oppression in the world of equality. Although women are more equal to men, there are still nations that this is not the case. Unfortunately, although I believe in equality, I know I myself that I could not do a man's work of labor, and I do not feel oppressed by men other then their sexuality and dominance of what they want for me and themselves. The will of God suggests that we endure this life but doesn't suggest that we be treated badly or take abuse since we are called to love each other as heavenly father does and treat others the way you would want to be.

Lastly we see Jesus goes to the house of the Pharisee where he has dinner. There is one women who is just so overwhelmed with emotion that she cries all over him. She literally hides her face by sitting behind him on his side washing his feet with expensive perfume and her tears, wiping them with her hair. The pharisee showed himself thinking she was a sinner and didn't understand why he was letting her do this. I love how Jesus knows the hearts of man and when he does he usually tells a story to display what is going on in a different light. He simply shows the Pharisee that even though she has done a lot of sinful things by nature she is forgiven in faith and because she has been forgiven of much she is capable of so much more love then someone who is forgiven a little. This women shows more hospitality and service to Jesus than the Pharisee and it is his house.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner." 40 Jesus answered him,"Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. 41 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

We see in all these accounts of faith, mercy shown. Jesus has mercy on people who he meets everywhere he ministers. He doesn't show anything but love for those who come to him in need, or show him their hearts.

47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."