IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

"What Kind of Man is This?"

Date: May. 14, 2015

Passage

Matthew 8:23-34  (ESV)

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 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. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 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?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 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. 33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 8:27

And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

In these two stories Jesus' divinity is revealed.

First, Jesus rules over nature (23-27). Jesus' disciples, who were fishermen, were powerless and terrified before a furious storm. But Jesus was sleeping, confident in God's care. After they woke him, Jesus first rebuked his disciples for their fear rooted in little faith. Then he rebuked the storm and it was completely calm. Jesus is Almighty God, to whom even winds and waves submit.

Second, Jesus rules the spiritual realm (28-34). These two men were ruled by demons, powerless to help themselves, and a danger to society. But demons were powerless before Jesus. Jesus allowed the demons to go into pigs to show the men he values them more than pigs. Jesus' power over the spiritual realm was clearly demonstrated.

Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus who rules over every area of our world. Forgive my fear and unbelief. Help me trust in him and his power today.

One Word: Jesus is almighty

Daily Bread

King Manasseh’s Sin

2 Kings 21:1-26

Key Verse: 21:7

And the carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the LORD said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.

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