The Bible teaches us that though no man has seen God at any time, the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him (Jn. 1:18). This only begotten God, Jesus Christ, who for our sakes came down to earth and became flesh revealed His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (Jn. 1:14). It is further written of Him that He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature (Heb. 1:3). If therefore we can learn something of the nature of God, the life of Jesus is one authentic source. While all four Gospels reveal the glory of our Lord and thus the nature of God, I am using just one chapter to bring this out, the eighth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew.
In the story of Jesus’ interaction with the leper, we see the willingness of God (Mt. 8:2-4). God is not only our ever present help in time of need (Psa. 46:1), but is also ever willing and ready. Here is why as God’s children, we must make God our first, nay our only choice and run to Him for help. He delights in those who put their trust in Him (Psa. 147:10, 11; Isa. 31:1; Psa. 118:8, 9). Such will never be disappointed nor put to shame (Rom. 10:11). God is honoured when we seek Him as our source of help. Through Christ Jesus, having now been made children of the living God, we have bold access to the Sovereign Almighty. Let us run to Him with confidence, therefore, all the time remembering that our God is not only able, but is willing to help those who call unto Him.
The second glimpse of the glory of Jesus comes through in the narrative of the Roman Centurion with Jesus. This man, though not a Jew and probably unfamiliar with the ways of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob saw Jesus as one who had authority. Earlier verses tell us that great multitudes followed Him, yet the Holy Spirit records for us that Jesus marvelled at the faith of this gentile. What Matthew reveals of the glory of Jesus is the fact that He is indeed one who has authority – not the authority of men, but that of the One who rules in majesty, sovereignty and power forever and ever.
In a strikingly similar narrative, yet one that reveals authority and power that extends to the winds and the sea, yea even to all of creation, is the story of the disciples and Jesus in a boat in a storm. The Apostle Matthew describes to us the reaction of two sets of people – the disciples and Jesus. One was fearful and the other at peace. (It was peace that surpassed understanding for in the midst of a terrible storm where the boat was covered with waves, our Lord could still be asleep.) For the second time Jesus revealed how grievous it was to Him when we displayed unbelief (Mt. 8:10-12; 26). In fact there seems to be a tinge of anger when He chided, “Why are you timid, you men of little faith?” God is repeatedly, throughout scripture, showing us His power, His authority and His limitlessness. Stories after stories in the Old Testament and in the New make this amply clear. Yet, our minds are so conditioned with what we see around us that we try to fit God and His abilities into our understanding (Prov. 3:5). The Holy Spirit seeks daily, through His working in us, to transform our mind by a renewing (Rom. 12:2).
In the relationship we share with God, through Jesus, let us honour Him by not limiting Him. Let us constantly remind ourselves until it seeps deep into our soul that our God is God Almighty. He is a God of great deeds. There is nothing that He cannot do. Let us not limit Him with our feeble intellect and unbelief. Matthew is reminding us again in this chapter that our God is a Sovereign God. All authority is His. All power is His not only over some of creation but over all of creation, things in heaven, on earth or under the earth.
Another facet of the glory of Christ Jesus is brought out in verses 14 to 17; that of God’s kindness. The Apostle through four brief verses tries to capture this attribute of Jesus. Tired and exhausted that our Lord may have been as He entered Peter’s home, He did not stop doing good. First He showed His kindness to Peter’s sick mother-in-law and then to many who were brought to Him. With great power He relieved all who were oppressed and weighed down. He showed that God’s loving kindness endures forever (Psa. 136). It is worth remembering at least four aspects of this love and kindness that God shows to us so that we may be rooted in it through all times. One, His love is everlasting (Psa. 136:1). Two, it is unfailing (Psa. 33:18 NIV). Three, it is boundless (Eph. 3:8) and four; it is impartial (Eph. 6:9).
The account of the demoniacs in Gadarenes brings out the aspect of the care and concern that God has for us, who have been created in God’s image and likeness (Gen. 1:26). Among all of His creation, He has bestowed unmerited favour on man. He purposed from long ago that man would worship Him and rule with Him through all eternity; a master plan which was fashioned in God’s heart even before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). So determined in purpose was God that He sent His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour that we may be restored once again to the plan that we had forsaken and lost (Eph. 2:12, 13). He made us perfectly, for with God there are no imperfections. Sin brought on us the curse that we see being manifest in the sufferings of men today. Through the death of Jesus on the cross, the curse of sin is broken in all those who believe in Him and His work in faith (Gal. 3:13, 14). It is not in the heart of God to see man suffer. Deliverance, healing and a complete restoration is what God has desired for each one of us in the gospel. Jesus, said, “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly (Jn. 10:10). A life that is not only beautiful and blessed in heaven but even one on earth.
So when we read the story of Jesus and the demoniacs, we can’t help but see the care the Lord had for this man. Mark and Luke’s account of the incident describes this in a little more detail. So desirous was Jesus to see that man experience life in the manner he has been created for*, He sent the legion of demons into a herd of swine. There is great encouragement in this for us here. What the Lord Jesus has revealed to us is that we are more precious to God than swine and sparrows and lilies (Mt. 6:26, 30). There is nothing that can separate us from the love that God has for us in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:35-39).
There is one more aspect that the Apostle Matthew brings out from the life of Jesus in the eighth chapter of his account and that is that Jesus set His mind on the things that are above and not on the things of this earth (Col. 3:2; Heb. 12:2). The two short conversations that are documented from verses 19 to 22 bring this out clearly. Further down in this article I hope to bring out the contrast in attitude that we have from that which was in our Lord.
Having written of the glory of Jesus that the Holy Spirit reveals to us in this chapter (Jn. 16:14), we find a few characteristics that is ever so prevalent in man, that is in our flesh. Yet, in Jesus, we are now a new creation and must be submissive to allow God to deliver us from such attributes occupying a place in our lives. Here are at least four characteristics that I found in my reading of this chapter.
The faith of the Centurion stood out in stark contrast from that of the multitudes that followed Jesus. It was more exemplary than normal. Jesus’ rebuke in verses 11 and 12 brings out this ‘rare’ faith in no uncertain terms. We can have all the knowledge of God, we may be able to quote scripture by the back of our hand, we may have a great lineage where our parents and grandparents and even great grandparents were mighty servants of God, yet if we do not have the faith of the Centurion, it profits us nothing.
Verses 18 to 22 reveals another characteristic of man – his adulterous nature. We think we can flirt with two masters. Scripture has made this amply clear that we cannot love God and the world (Mt. 6:24; 1Jn. 2:15). In fact James writes that such persons make themselves and enemy of God (Jas. 4:4). Yet, are we listening?
A third characteristic that we need to constantly guard our hearts from is that of fear and anxiety. We need to remind ourselves that fear is not from God. The heart that trusts in God and the sovereign power, infallible wisdom, boundless love and overflowing care and compassion that flows from our Maker will always rest with the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. This is exactly what Paul is trying to drive home in his letter to the Philippians (Php. 4:6, 7). This is what our Lord Jesus demonstrated with utmost ease. He slept in the midst of the storm because He knew that He was safe in the hands of His Father (Mt. 8:24). In stark contrast we see the fear and anxiousness in the disciples who were with their Master. It’s a nature that is in all of us. Yet, God is able to deliver us from this nature for it only reveals unbelief and insults the Person of God.
Finally, there is the fact that man cannot stand before God’s awe. Instead he hides himself in the shadows believing it is safer there. This is exactly what the citizens of the town of Gadarenes did. They asked Jesus to leave because they were gripped with great fear (Lk. 8:35, 37). What a great loss it was for them. What a great loss it is for us when we, unable to face up to the truth and the light of God’s word, take refuge in the shadows of self-appraisal, excuse and self-denial.
Matthew Chapter Eight has not only revealed the glory of Jesus but has cast light on our nature as well. Let us listen to what the Spirit of God is trying to show us. In Him there is hope and salvation to enable us to be overcomers (Rev. 2:7; 11; 17; 26; 3:5; 12; 21).
*You may want to read the article I wrote titled, “Why Am I Here?” also found in this blog. It attempts to explain the purpose of our existence on earth.
