Matthew 9: Connected To Our Healer

I wrote a post HERE that references what I've learned from the beginning of this chapter.

Also this time through v. 15 taught me that one of the purposes of fasting is to feel our Savior near.  The Pharisees ask why the disciples aren't fasting and Christ answers that He is right there, teaching them, filling them.  When He leaves, they will need to fast to maintain that connection.

This time as I read through the story of the woman who touched the Savior's robe I felt particularly touched. 
She wants to be healed, but for a reason we don't know, doesn't want to ask for that.
She has faith, she knows the Savior can heal her, but maybe she feels unworthy, maybe she doesn't want to take his time, maybe she is shy... whatever.
She tries to be healed just through touching Him.


I think it's significant that the Savior stopped.  I'm sure He knew and could've kept going, but He stopped.

I don't think it was to make sure everyone knew there was no getting anything past Him... I think it was because He wanted to see her.  He wanted her to know Him.  Part of the power in His healing is that it isn't some magical thing dissociated to one particular.  It is Him, it is our Savior who heals us.  When we try to reach Him, He will connect with us. 

He wanted this woman to not only be healed, but to feel connected, loved, whole, recognized.  He wanted her to feel valuable despite the crowd of people. 

We can all have healing, forgiveness, connection, comfort, peace... all the good stuff...  when we need it, when we reach to Him.
If anything is 'magical' it's that we all get it we don't have to wait in line, we don't have to be anything special, we don't have to pay for it... he knows us and wants to see us... we just have to seek Him.

Matthew 8 - Faith and Knowing Jesus Christ

I wrote a little bit about what I learned in Matthew chapter 8 HERE.

v. 26 - I think that of course the apostles had some sort of faith.  They were following the Savior, learning from Him.  They believed Him, were ministering with Him.
I don't know that they were doubting per say, but just didn't have knowledge of just how much power the Savior has.

Often it is the same for us.  It may not be that our faith is doubting, but that we don't have a full knowledge of just what the Savior can and will do for us.

How do we find out?  Ask him.  Go to Him.

v. 29 - Even the evil spirits know who Christ is.  They recognize him... as the Son of God... in this verse. 
- I think this speaks to a pre-existence, where we all knew our Savior.  These spirits don't have bodies, they are possessing other bodies, still they know Him, more so than anyone does at this time... they are still learning and gaining faith that He actually is the Savior.
- This speaks to agency for me.  Although all may at some point come to a knowledge of the Savior, they may never choose to follow Him.  Knowing who He is, doesn't magically make us have faith.
- Although we are all subject to the presence of Satan and his followers in this life... the Savior has power over all... Be Not Afraid!!!

Matthew 6 - Eternity with the Savior

Of course this chapter has a ton of great insight with the beatitudes.
This time through this chapter I pondered on these scriptures...

19 ¶Lay not up for yourselves ^atreasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves ^bbreak through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves ^atreasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor ^bsteal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

Recently our bishop quoted someone he knows that said something to the effect of spending just 20 minutes a day with our Savior will result in an eternity with him... or something like that.

image via

 

Treasures in heaven.  It is true that believing we are working for something, beyond just this life affects our choices, what we choose today.

 

Not only does seeking my savior, spending time in scripture study, prayer and pondering, benefit me right now, (making me feel good inside, changing who I am, how I behave, what I'm learning and growing into) but I believe it ultimately will affect my afterlife. 

 

I don't think we will magically be something different when we cross the veil.  I believe what we have worked to become in this life is what we will still be when our spirit moves on.  What is important to us now will be the case later. 

 

So, now is the time to lay up our treasures, to make sure things of eternal importance are right there at the top of our lists.  Spending time each day with my Savior benefits me in this mortal journey, but also is where my heart really desires to be, where my treasure lies.  It's where I want to be when my life here on earth is finished.

 

Spencer W. Kimball

"No father, no son, no mother, no daughter should get so busy that he or she does not have time to study the scriptures and the words of modern prophets.  None of us should get so busy that we crowd out contemplation and praying."

 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine ^aeye be ^bsingle, thy whole body shall be full of ^clight.

 

This has become one of my most favorite scriptures, of all time...

 

The light of our body is in the eye... the eyes are the window to the soul, our spirits.

The light of our body is our spirit.  When our eye is single to the glory of God, when we keep that in focus it will fill our body with light. 

Have you received His image in your countenance?  I think this is a real thing!  When someone is full of faith, eye single to the glory of God, you can see it in their physicality.

 

Also, reading D&C 93:28 footnote... as we keep an eye single (to the glory of God) we are filled with light and knowledge.

 

What better reward than light and knowledge? 

The more I understand God and His plan, my Savior Jesus Christ and the mysteries of His gospel, the deeper my devotion, the more sincere my conviction, the more anxiously engaged I am in my own change and betterment.  

Matthew 4... Fasting

Satan came to tempt Christ when he perceived Him to be at His weakest.
He'd been fasting, was subject to hunger and thirst, human/body weakness.

2 And when he had ^afasted ^bforty days and forty nights, ^che was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the ^atempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made ^bbread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, ^aMan shall not ^blive by ^cbread alone, but by every ^dword that proceedeth out of the ^emouth of God.

Sometimes in a very real way, our human/body weaknesses really do leave an opening for Satan to tempt us. 
We can become frustrated, angry, sad, when our bodies are injured, broken, damaged, when we make unholy choices with our bodies... that range from what we put in it, to what we do to it.
Those feelings are not very Godlike, but can bring me humbly to my Savior, asking Him for relief.  If that is the case I am made whole and feel peace.
But, often when we feel angry, sad, negative we seek resolve on our own and turn to things of the world, that leave us feeling empty and sad still, with no resolve, which is the goal of the adversary.

What Satan was hoping for was this weakness.  He was hoping the Savior would break through this physical weakness.
What Satan may not have seen is the additional power the Savior had.  Because he was fasting, he was physically weak, but His spirit was strengthened by that same act of faith.
He would not give in to temptation.
Our spirits have power over our bodies, this is the important reminder of fasting... reaching to our Father in Heaven for that reminder, through this sacrifice.

I need to do better at fasting.  I know I'm not tapping into blessings and power via this wonderful opportunity.  Do better!

Matthew Chapter 3 - John the Baptist

- Why is it noted what he is wearing?
He was not wearing fancy, comfortable robes of those that worked in the temple and synogoges.  He didn't eat fancy food.  He was a man of the desert, rough and simple.  Much like the prophets of old, one with God, taught of Him one on one in the desert (Moses).

 - He warns the Pharisees and Sadducees who had been caught up in the ceremonialism so much that their spirituality had 'withered almost to death in the hearts of the people'.   His warning is to soften their hearts for repentance. 

- He is trying to help them see that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone, and Christ was on His way.  You don't just walk into the kingdom of God because of your lineage.  You have to be worthy of that, and that the promise of Abraham is for all who repent, enter the waters of baptism and receive the Holy Ghost, which he knew he didn't have the authority to give at that time. 

Matthew Chapter 2

- The wise men made Herod aware of Christ's birth.  They came seeking Him, that made Herod aware of his birth.

- His priests confirmed a birth in Bethlehem, or at least that was what was written, the prophecy.

- Herod enquires diligently, the wise men.  He wants to know when the star first appeared.  He hadn't been paying any attention, he didn't see the sign.  Many of us are looking down at the humdrum of life in front of us.  Are we watching for the signs?  Are we seeking?  Would we know if something happened, if a sign were to be given today? 
Thankfully we can look to a living prophet today along with his apostles to help us see signs happening in our day.
There are many signs, prophecies fulfilled with regards to the Second Coming of our Savior.... I think much of the world today is how Herod was, unaware of what was going on around him, because he wasn't looking.  Looking and seeking take the element of faith.

- Don't know how many wise men there were.

- They didn't find Christ in a manger, they found him at home.  He wasn't a baby, he was a young child.

Matthew Chapter 1

The lineage of Joseph, Christ's earthly father... and Mary...
- I'm amazed at the record keeping, the genealogy, what a treasure that these people kept records.

What do I learn from this?
- Joseph was of royal lineage.  The Jews of course did not recognize that.
There are two genealogies in the four Gospels. Matthew’s account lists the legal successors to David’s throne. It is not necessarily a genealogical list in a strict father-to-son sense, for, as is true in many kingly histories, the eldest surviving heir may be a grandson, a great-grandson, or even a nephew or other relative of the reigning monarch. Luke’s record, however, is a father-to-son listing linking Joseph to King David. Of course, Jesus was not Joseph’s son, but Joseph’s genealogy is essentially Mary’s genealogy, for they were cousins; Jesus inherited from his mother, Mary, the blood of David and therefore the right to David’s throne. Jesus was born in the royal line, and as Elder James E. Talmage has explained, “Had Judah been a free and independent nation, ruled by her rightful sovereign, Joseph the carpenter would have been her crowned king; and his lawful successor to the throne would have been Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (Jesus the Christ, p. 87; see also pp. 83–86, 89–90; McConkie, DNTC, 1:94–95.) via

- Reminded that Isaiah prophesied of this situation (Isaiah 7:14)
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a ^asign; ^bBehold, a ^cvirgin shall conceive, and bear a ^dson, and shall call his name ^eImmanuel.
I wonder if Joseph recalled these words from this ancient prophet.  I wonder if he could believe that he and Mary would be the ones to fulfill this prophecy.  I'm sure the angel that visited him confirmed this to him.