Matthew 8:28 says, And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.  After Jesus had crossed to the other side to get away from the multitudes for awhile and had calmed the stormy sea, He encountered another obstacle.  There were two possessed with devils, who were evidently living in the grave yard, who would have blocked the way Jesus was going.  I believe that what we need to understand is that just because we have been successful in overcoming problems by our faith in Christ, that does not mean that we will never face another problem.  The opposite may be true.  If we are being successful in witnessing for Christ, Satan will notice and attempt to stop us.  Verse twenty-nine says, And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?  These two, possessed by devils, recognized Jesus for Who He is.  That was more than the religious leaders of God's people did.  They asked what Jesus, the Son of God, had to do with them.  They may have felt that they were just too evil for Jesus to redeem them, so they wondered if He had come to torment them.  We need to understand that no one is ever to evil to be redeemed by Christ, and that He never comes to torment people, but to save them.  Verse thirty states, And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.  Swine were really considered as unclean to the people of Israel, so they would likely have been of no real significance to Jesus.  Verse thirty-one states, So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.  We should first recognize that these devils that possessed these two men acknowledged the power of Jesus over them.  They did not say cast us out if you are able to do so.  They simply said to Jesus that if He cast them out that they be allowed to enter the swine.  Like these demons, Satan knows that he is powerless against God.  Though Satan may rule a person completely, if that person calls on Jesus for salvation, then Satan's rule over that person will be over.  Verse thirty-two states, And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.  Jesus allowed the demons to enter the swine, but their escape was brief.  The whole herd of swine ran violently into the sea and drowned.  I am not sure why the demons were not able to escape the swine, but I think it was because they had submitted to the authority of Jesus.  Satan and his disciples really do have limited power in the world.  Verse thirty-three says, And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.  Those who had kept the swine went into the city and told what had happened to the swine and to the two who had been possessed of the devils.  Verse thirty-four declares, And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.  Evidently the people were not happy about the two who were restored to sanity.  They were evidently more concerned about the loss of the swine.  For whatever reason, the whole city came out to Jesus to ask Him to leave their coasts.  There are whole countries today where Jesus is not welcome.  In some places, it is because they worship another god, and some places it is because they claim there is no God.  Even if miracles occur, they will never welcome Jesus.

Matthew 8:23 says, And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.  When Jesus was leaving the multitudes, He got into a ship.  We are not told who the ship belonged to, but possibly one of the disciples.  We can be certain that Jesus did not just take someone's ship without having the right to do so.  We likewise cannot just take what belongs to someone else and claim that as a follower of Christ we have a right to do so, even if we are doing something for God.  The disciples followed Jesus onto the ship.  They did not know where He was going, but they were following Him wherever He was going.  We need to always follow where Jesus leads us.  Verse twenty-four states, And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.  We might think that where Jesus is that all would be calm, but a great storm arose.  I believe that we should be ready for storms to come to our lives today if we are following Christ.  As the storm was raging, Jesus was sleeping, which implies that He was at peace in the storm.  I believe we can have that same peace in the storms today, if we put our faith in God.  Verse twenty-five states, And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.  The disciples, though physically with Jesus, were afraid that they were going to die.  They at least went to the right source for deliverance: Jesus.  When we are in the storms of life today, we must look to Jesus for deliverance.  Verse twenty-six declares, And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.  The disciples thought they had to wake Jesus up to be delivered from the storm.  Jesus declared them to have little faith.  We need to have faith that the Holy Spirit is always with us and knows our needs, even in the storms when it may not seem to be true.  Jesus rebuked the winds, and there was a great calm.  Jesus can bring that great calm to our lives today, if we live by faith in Him.  We should never focus on the storms, but on the One Who can calm the storms.  Verse twenty-seven declares, But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!  We should marvel at Jesus, because He is able to calm all the storms of life if someone only puts their faith in Him.  Even when the storms rage around us, we are secure for the rest of eternity if we keep our faith in Jesus.  Jesus is the One Who secures us for all eternity, no matter what storms we face in life.  Had the faith of the disciples been strong enough, they would not have feared the storm, since Jesus was with them.  Neither should we fear the storms as long as we are following Christ by faith.

Matthew 8:14 says, And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.  First, we see that Peter was married.  Yet, when Jesus called Peter, he followed Jesus.  Second, we see that Jesus came to Peter's house.  I am not sure how the dynamics of Peter's marriage and his relationship to Jesus worked, but I can be certain that Jesus never called on Peter to do anything that was against the law of God.  We will never be called to do anything that goes against God's law either, but we will always be called to put following Christ first.  Finally, we see that Peter's mother-in-law was very sick.  Verse fifteen states, And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.  The touch of Jesus healed her completely and immediately.  Though this was a physical healing, we can be certain that Jesus will heal us completely and immediately spiritually when we accept Him by faith when He comes to us to give us salvation.  Peter's mother-in-law then ministered to them.  When Jesus heals us, we must minister to those around us who are in need.  Verse sixteen says, When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:  The word that Jesus was healing those who were physically sick spread, and many sick people were brought to Him.  Sometimes today, people will come to Jesus simply seeking physical healing.  This is not why Jesus came.  He came to bring spiritual reconciliation between people and God.  Verse seventeen states, That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.  Though physical healing was not the primary role of Jesus His healing sickness does fulfill a prophecy.  Again, not that Jesus healed people just to fulfill the prophecy.  He healed people out of compassion for them, but this was but a temporary healing, that could only last in this lifetime.  Jesus came to bring an everlasting spiritual healing.  Verse eighteen says, Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.  Jesus gave the command to depart from the great multitudes.  He could not afford to be distracted from His task for too long.  Verse nineteen states, And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.  This scribe may have been caught up in the power that Jesus had to heal and the number of people that were coming to Him.  Verse twenty declares, And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.  I believe that Jesus was telling this scribe, and anyone else, not to follow Him expecting material blessings.  Jesus could have profitted from healing people if He chose to do so, but that was not His purpose.  We should never attempt to profit materially from our relationship with Christ.  Verse twenty-one says, And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.  Then in verse twenty-two Jesus replies, But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.  I don't believe that Jesus was being cold-hearted in this statement.  I believe that He was simply saying to not put conditions on following Him.  Jesus came for the living, and once a person is dead, no matter how elaborate a funeral they may have, their everlasting destination is already determined.  We must put following Jesus above everything else.

Matthew 8:1 says, When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.  Jesus at times removed Himself from the multitudes, but then He would go into the midst of them again.  We may need time to remove ourselves from the pressures of the world, but ultimately we have to get back into the midst of the world.  We cannot simply withdraw and hope to reach the lost.  Verse two says, And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.  This leper, one who could not even be touched by normal people, came to Jesus in faith.  No matter how unclean a person may be, they can always come to Jesus for cleansing and healing.  Verse three states, And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  Touching a leper made a person spiritually unclean under the law, but Jesus not only touched the leper, but He healed him as well.  The leper had to have faith in the healing power of Jesus to be healed, just as we must have faith in the healing power of Jesus to be spiritually healed.  There was no delay in the healing of the leper.  I believe that when God heals a person, physically or spiritually, that it begins with faith in His ability to do so.  The leper did not come to Jesus asking what he had to do or even if it were possible for him to be saved.  He came by faith stating that he knew Jesus could heal him.  Verse four says, And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.  Jesus gave the man, who was no longer a leper, instructions to follow.  In this case, it was to not tell anyone what had happened.  I believe this was for two reasons.  One was that Jesus did not want people to follow Him simply for material reasons, and a physical healing would be one such reason.  Jesus still does not want people to follow Him simply for material reasons.  Second, Jesus did not come for the purpose of blessing people materially.  This has to do with the purpose of Jesus coming and not with the perception of those around Him.  Jesus came to bring everlasting spiritual restoration to anyone who will put their faith in Him, and not for a temporary physical healing.

Matthew 7:24 says, Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  Here, Jesus distinguishes between just hearing His word and doing His word.  We might say that this means that if we are going to talk the talk, then we must walk the walk.  It is not enough to simply claim to follow Christ without living by faith in what He teaches us.  Jesus says that those who keep His sayings are like wise men who build their houses on the rock, or a firm foundation.  There is no other foundation that we can build our lives on but the foundation of Christ, if we want our house to stand.  Jesus is our Rock.  Verse twenty-five declares, And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  Jesus did not say if the rain and winds come but when they did come.  If we are going to withstand the storms of life today, then our lives must be founded on our faith in Christ.  When we build our lives on our faith in Christ, nothing can ever tear us away from Him.  Verse twenty-six declares, And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  This is the only other possibility.  Either we hear and do the will of Christ through faith in the salvation He offers, or we hear and do not believe.  Then, when we do not believe, or follow the teachings of Christ we are like foolish men who build their houses on the sand.  Just like them, we have no foundation if we are not building on our faith in the rock of Christ.  Verse twenty-seven states, And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.  When a person builds on a foundation that is not solid, then when the storms come there is a very good likelihood that the building will not stand, no matter how impressive it might be.  When we attempt to build our religious lives on any foundation other than faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, then they will ultimately crash.  Jesus also said that the fall was great.  There can be no greater fall in life than the one that comes from rejecting Christ as the Rock that we build our lives on.  Verse twenty-eight says, And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:  We are told that people were astonished as the teachings of Jesus, and I believe they still are today.  Some write His teachings off all together, some say that He was another prophet, but those who put their faith in Him know the truth.  This is stated in verse twenty-nine which says, For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.  Jesus is indeed the One Who can teach with authority, and is the only Rock upon which we can build anything of lasting importance.

Matthew 7:15 says, Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  There are many false prophets, or preachers and teachers, in the world today.  They proclaim another way to God other than by faith in Christ alone.  Some proclaim other gods, and some proclaim a modified gospel, adding to what is necessary to be saved, which is to be restored to a right relationship with God.  Anytime someone adds anything to the way to salvation other than Jesus Christ, crucified, resurrected, and Lord, then they are false prophets.  They may look like sheep, but they are really ravenous wolves.  We may be accused of being close minded by proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, but this is one principal that cannot be compromised.  Verse sixteen says, Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  The only way that we as followers of Christ can bear fruit is by leading others to faith in Him as their Savior and Lord.  If we try to bear fruit by any other method, it will not be the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Verse seventeen declares, Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  Jesus tells us that the good tree brings forth good fruit.  Jesus did not say that the good tree might possibly bring forth good fruit, but that it will bring forth good fruit.  Jesus expects us to be fruitful in reaching the lost world with His gospel.  By proclaiming the gospel of Christ alone can we bear fruit for Him.  Those who are rooted in any other religion or who add to salvation through Christ cannot bear good fruit.  Verse eighteen states, A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Jesus tells us that if we are rooted in our faith in Him, if we are a good tree, then we cannot bring forth evil fruit.  If we are truly saved by faith in Christ, then we should be led by the Holy Spirit and will always proclaim Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation, which is the good fruit.  If someone bases their belief on anything other than salvation through Christ alone, then the can only bring forth evil fruit.  Verse nineteen declares, Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  This may not happen in this lifetime, but anyone who looks for salvation by any means other than by faith in Christ will ultimately be hewn down and cast into the fire.  Verse twenty states, Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  Jesus tells us that we will be known by our fruits, so we have to ask what fruit are we bearing for Him.  I believe that as long as we are living by the leadership of the Holy Spirit and proclaiming Christ to the world that we are bearing fruit for Him, even if we don't always know it.  Verse twenty-one declares, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  This does not mean that someone who truly accepts Jesus and Savior and Lord will not go to heaven, but means that some who profess to follow Jesus do not truly put their faith in Him alone.  When we truly follow Jesus, we will do the will of the heavenly Father.  Verse twenty-two says, Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  This implies that some people are going to be surprised when they are not admitted to heaven.  They will speak of the works they have done in Jesus' name, but salvation does not come from works, but from a relationship with Jesus Christ.  No matter how many good works we may do, if they are not done under the leadership of the Holy Spirit through our relationship with Jesus Christ, they are of no benefit to us spiritually.  Verse twenty-three says, And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  Just because a person proclaims to know Christ and does good things does not mean that person has a real relationship with Him.  We will be judged by our relationship with Christ, and nothing else.  Being a good person is not enough.

Matthew 8:5 says, And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,  Jesus was traveling about.  He was going to the people around Him.  While doing so, a centurion, or soldier came to Him.  As we follow Christ today, we must be ready to meet people around us who may have a need.  Though our priority is to share the gospel, we must be willing to help meet their pressing physical needs if possible.  This does not mean that we can meet all the needs of all people at all times, but if someone comes to us in distress, then we must care enough to listen to them and do whatever God enables us to do to help them.  Jesus did not judge the cenrturion, but took the time to really listen to him.  Verse six says, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.  The centurion had a great need and he came to Jesus to share that need.  When we as followers of Christ have a great need in our lives today, the first thing we need to do is bring that need to Jesus.  Fortunately, unlike the centurion, we do not have to physically go to Jesus, because He is already with us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, if we are His followers by faith.  The centurion was not there for spiritual healing for himself, but for a physical healing for his servant.  He was concerned for his servant's health.  The centurion had more faith in the ability of Jesus than most of those who called themselves God's people did.  We must not allow that to be the case with us today as followers of Christ.  Verse seven states, And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.  Jesus offered to go and heal the servant.  I believe that God already stands willing to meet our needs when we come to Him in faith.   Verse eight states, The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.  The centurion recognized his own unworthiness.  Even as followers of Christ today, we are unworthy of His presence in our lives, but fortunately His presence is not dictated by our worthiness, but by our faith.  Verse nine says, For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.  The centurion, as a man in position of power, did not have to physically go somewhere to have his orders, or will, to be done, and he recognized that Jesus had that same authority.  We should never limit the power and ability of Christ.  Verse ten declares, When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.  Jesus marvelled at the faith of the centurion, which He said was greater than He had found in anyone in Israel, God's chosen people.  We need to have a faith that Jesus marvels at today, especially as followers of Christ.  Verse eleven declares, And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus said that people from all over the world would come to Him, and that is what we need to understand today.  God values all people, and Christ died for all people everywhere.  All anyone has to do is come to Him in faith.  This is why we who are not of the Jewish faith have salvation made available through Christ.  Verse twelve says, But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  This does not mean that everyone born into the Jewish faith is doomed, but that those who refuse to accept Jesus as the Messiah will be.  Anyone relying on who they are by fact of their birth, and not on faith in Christ, will be cast out of the kingdom of God.  Verse thirteen states, And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.  The centurion had faith in the power of Jesus, and that faith was rewarded.  We need to have that same type faith.