Matthew 8:1-4, Zechariah 6:12-13, Evidence (2)

Hebrews 2:4 uses four words to describe the events of Matthew 8-9.

·        Signs: the events pointed to the truth of Jesus’ offering of Himself as Israel’s King.

·        Wonders: the events were amazing, things that could only be done by God.

·        Miracles: the word means powers; these were demonstrations of God’s power.

·        Gifts: the word is actually distributions, meaning Jesus’ did these things according to the will of the Holy Spirit.

Why were such proofs necessary?  To answer this question let us use one of the OT prophecies of the Messiah that formed the Messianic expectations of the Jews.  Zechariah 6:12-13 is one such passage, one that was readily accepted by Jews as speaking of the Messiah.  It tells us several things about the Messiah:

·        It speaks of His humanity, as the Branch, the descendent of David (cf. Isa. 11:1).

·        It speaks of His dual role as King and Priest.  This is amazing since the King must always be from David’s line and the Priest from Aaron’s line. 

·        It speaks of His deity, being the one who bears the glory. 

At the same time, these miraculous events were not just proof; they were a picture why Jesus came.  Matthew had told us He came to save His people from their sins (Mt. 1:21).  We will see this in each of the stories in Matt. 8-9.

Ø Healing the leper, 8:2-4.

Leprosy is a disease thought to date back to early Egypt, and throughout history was a most feared disease.  Leprosy (known today as Hansen's Disease) first produces pain, followed by skin that becomes thick, glossy and scaly.  Its primary effect is to produce a numbness to pain, taking away the body's natural warning system to danger.  Thus, the leper likely dies from diseases caught because of the weakness leprosy produces, or from terrible injuries inflicted on the unaware leper.  Leprosy is an ideal picture of sin: it is a terrible, grotesque disease; it produces insensitivity or numbness to danger; and it is incurable apart from a miracle.

Note the picture we have of Jesus.  First, He is willing to heal the man.  Second, He is loving.  He touched the man though He only needed to speak.  No one ever touched a leper.  It might have been years since the leper had experienced that simply blessing.  Third, He is able to heal.  Jesus speaks the word, be cleansed, and it was done. 

Why did Jesus tell the man to tell no one?  Some suggest it was so that he would not be distracted but would immediately go to the temple to offer the sacrifice of a cured leper (Lev. 14:4-7).  Others think Jesus was avoiding the “showboat” approach seen in false Messiah’s of His own day.  I would suggest it was Jesus’ attempt to prevent confusing His message.  As we have said, the healing is evidence of who He is!  It was all too easy for the people to seek Jesus for the healing or the bread (John 6:26).  In going to the priest the man would be testifying to the priest that this Man Jesus was the One God sent as Messiah and Savior.