Learning from Unbelief and Temptation

So often I read the Bible from the perspective, “What do I need to learn, change, understand here personally?”  We, however, also need to read from a collective point of view.  What message is there in this chapter that we as a community in Christ need to hear?

The Healing of the Demon Possessed boy (v14-29)

1. Jesus did not just rush in and heal the boy in this case.  Jesus asked questions to clearly understand (or so that we would clearly understand) all that was going on.

2. In the NET is says that Jesus gently took his hand and raised him to his feet.  Jesus heals in many ways, sometimes with a word, a touch, a command.  How can we as a group exemplify the gentle, personal touch of Christ?  

3. Many conditions are contagious. In this passage, arguing and unbelief were shared/spread in the crowd.  Collectively, what do we spread?  We can spread faith in our crowd, instead of unbelief!

4. Prayer can change everything. I believe the disciples remembered this as demonstrated in Acts 1:14, 2:42, 4:24 (just to reference a few examples). Do we believe and remember this when we face obstacles?

Temptations to Sin (v42-50)  

This is a challenging passage as I instinctively think about making sure that I don’t get condemned to Hell, but let’s look at this passage from the communal perspective.  How can we preserve and protect our spiritual connections as the body of Christ, with Jesus as our head?  Sin separates, and from a Hebrew perspective, salt and fire (v. 49) are used to purify offerings to the Lord.  Jesus is making some very important points about sin.  Don’t cause anyone else to sin and be willing to cut off anything that causes you to sin, even if you think it is essential! Jesus points to a child to make his point, (noteworthy in light of v. 17 and v. 37).  We collectively, should take such great care not to cause anyone to sin, even those we might be tempted to think are ‘insignificant’.   We need to examine our hearts as a community, when it comes to issues of opinion like politics, mask policy, vaccinations etc. – the inflammatory issues today, and heed Jesus’ words here:  do not cause others to sin!  We are also to look at our own hearts.  What do we need to cut off in order to avoid sinning?  Notice that Jesus did not instruct the disciples to part with their land, livestock, family, clothes, or money.  Jesus points to parts of our body that would significantly limit what we can do, be extremely painful to have amputated, and the loss never forgotten. Entering heaven is that important!  Collectively, let’s protect our hearts and our community of believers from greed for a better job or more money, bitterness or faithlessness in a situation, the immediate gratification of impurity, the love of self, or self-righteousness.  Let’s be diligent in allowing ourselves to collectively be salted with the fire of the gospel and be purified and spiritually preserved.  Let’s ‘have salt in ourselves and be at peace with one. (v. 50 RSV)