27As Jesus went on from there...

27As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"

28When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied.

29Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you";
- P30

33And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." - P31

35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

- P31

Two blind men follow Jesus, crying out for the Son of David to have mercy on them. They acknowledge who Jesus is—the long-awaited Messiah with the power and authority to bring healing and salvation. Jesus asks whether they truly believe that He can heal them, and when they respond with confidence in Him, Jesus affirms that their sight will be restored according to their faith. - P32

Jesus is not indifferent to the prayers of those who trust Him. He is the Savior of the world, and His mercy is ever ready to welcome whoever comes to Him in faith. - P32

When our faith meets His mercy, our eyes are opened to know Him as He is.
- P32

This passage builds a bridge between the work of the kingdom and thecalling of the disciples to continue it. All of Jesus‘ ministry-teaching, proclaiming, and healing is rooted in His compassion for the harassed andhelpless, those who are like sheep without a shepherd.  - P32

Now, Jesus invites thedisciples to join Him in His mission. This requires not only doing the worksthat Jesus did, but also having a heart of compassion toward the lost.  - P32

Kingdom ministry is a ministry of compassion, and we are all called to align withour Father‘s heart and willingly offer ourselves for the harvest of His field.
- P32

Remember, there are still who need the good news of Jesus Christ. - P32

In today‘s passage, Jesus likens the work of the kingdom to the harvestingseason. When the time is right for harvest,
t, the farmer needs to recruit manyworkers to gather the crops. If the harvest is delayed, the crops will spoil andgo to waste.  - P33

God has already sown the gospel in this world and into manypeople‘s hearts. Now is the time for workers to step up and gather thosewho are ready to enter Hikingdom. The time is now, but the workers arefew; more workers are needed in the harvest field. What would you do ifJesus asked you today, "Will you join Me in My mission of harvestingWherever we are and whatever our calling may be, we can all say "yes" andtakepart in His mission. - P33

Lord Jesus, I see Your compassion for the lost and Your desire to restore them. As I have received Your mercy and grace, help me to have a compassionate heart and join in the healing and saving work of Your Kingdom. In Your name, amen. - P33

18While he was saying this, a...

18While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live." - P26

22Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed at that moment. - P27

23When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes,

24he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him.

- P27

Both the synagogue leader and the bleeding woman approach Jesus in faith,
confident that He can heal. Their situations are extreme. The woman hassuffered for twelve years and her condition has made her ritually unclean;she is expected to stay away from others. The synagogue leader‘s daughterhas already died, and when Jesus says that she is sleeping, the crowd laughsat Him.  - P28

But both the sick woman and the dead girl are completely restoredwhen Jesus steps in.  - P28

There may be obstacles, social pressure, doubt, or fearthat discourage us from drawing near to Jesus. However, when we reach outto Him in faith, we can trust that He sees us and will reach out to us.  - P28

Wemust not allow stigma or unbelief to keep us from seeking Him, for His touch still restores today. - P28

John the Baptist’s disciples ask Jesus why His disciples do not follow the common practice of fasting, and Jesus explains that His followers will fast when He ascends and is no longer with them on earth. Spiritual disciplines have their proper time and place. If they are done simply for the sake of following tradition, they become meaningless and unhelpful. - P28

In our faith journey, there will be different seasons of deep devotion, joy, rest, hard work, endurance, and celebration. As we remain close to God, we can discern each season and the areas that we are to grow in during that time. Then we can apply our spiritual disciplines with intentionality and find wholeness in Christ. - P28

Dear Jesus, thank You for Your love and grace. I desire to draw closer to You each day. Help me to come to You in faith without hesitation and to trust in Your plans for me. In Your name I pray, amen. - P28

5Which is easier: to say, ‘Yo...

5Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

6But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, take your mat and go home."

- P22

9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.

11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

- P23

12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

- P23

Some of the teachers of the law accuse Jesus of blaspheming because Heproclaimed the paralyzed man‘s sins were forgiven, something only Godcould do. They do not realize that Jesus is the Son of God.  - P24

The Phariseesalso question why Jesus would eat with tax collectors, who are known fortaking bribes and charging more than they should. Jesus points out that thePharisees care more about rituals and outward displays of piety than caringfor people. Jesus treats sinners with compassion rather than contempt,
recognizing their need for forgiveness and mercy.  - P24

He not only forgives sinbut also offers physical healing and restoration. Remembering the forgiveness we received for our sins encourages us to have compassion rather thancontempt for the people around us who struggle with sin and need therestoration Jesus gives. - P24

yerDear Jesus, thank You for Your mercy and grace. Keep us humble and teachus to follow Your ways with sincere hearts. Help us show mercy to others asYou have shown mercy to us. In Your name, amen. - P25

26He replied, ˝You of little ...

26He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

27The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" - P152

30Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding.

31The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."

32He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.

33Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.

34Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
- P153

When the disciples are caught in a sudden storm, they cry out to Jesus tosave them. He questions why they are afraid and have so little faith, and totheir amazement, Jesus calms the wind and waves. Sometimes we feel likewe are caught in the storms of life, and we may wonder whether God evencares about us. We may feel so distraught that we do not even cry out toHim.  - P154

Yet, like the disciples, we can call out to the Lord and expect that Hecan save us from any situation. He is sovereign over all, even down to thesmallest detail of our lives. In any storm, we can call out to Him in faiththat He can save us. - P154

Jesus heals two men of demon possession, but the townspeople ask Himto leave. They experience a miracle, but they are afraid of Jesus, and theycare more about the loss of the whole herd of pigs than having a powerfulmiracle worker in their midst.  - P154

Many today likewise recognize that God ispowerful, but they will avoid or even reject Him when they feel that theircomfort is threatened. God freely invites all to come to Him, but many willnot receive His salvation because they idolize their own comfort.  - P154

May wenot allow our comfort to prevent us from appreciating our salvation, andthat may we pray that others would do the same. - P154

Dear God, I choose to trust in You no matter what storms I may face. When circumstances are uncomfortable, help me to remember that You are in control and that You have already shown how much You care for me. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P154

17This was to fulfill what wa...

17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases." - P148

18When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.

19Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."

20Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

21Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

22But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." - P149

Jesus heals Peter‘s mother-in-law of fever. He heals many others and drivesout spirits, fulfilling Isaiah‘s prophecy. Jesus then gives orders to cross thelake. A teacher of the law and another disciple approach Him and share theirintention to follow Him. Jesus teaches about the cost of following Him. - P149

Jesus heals not only Peter‘s mother-in-law but also all the sick and manydemon-possessed people, fulfilling what was prophesied through Isaiah.
Matthew confirms once more that Jesus is the expected Messiah who isfulfilling every prophecy about Him. This includes caring about physicalailments as well as spiritual infirmities caused by sin.  - P150

If we are to be likeJesus in this world, we, too, should care about the physical well-being ofothers as well as their spiritual health. May we encourage all to go to Jesusfor whatever healing they may need and to do our part in caring for thephysical, emotional, and spiritual needs of others. - P150

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."
-Jim Elliot - P150

Dear Lord, thank You that You care about my physical and spiritual health. I under-stand that following You can be costly. Please protect and sustain those who facelife-threatening situations for following You. In Your name I pray, amen. - P151