While He was saying these things to them, a synagogue official came and bowed down before Him, and said, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live." Jesus got up and began to follow him, and so did His disciples. Matthew 9:18-19.
And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented." Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." Matthew 8:5-6.
We must always remember the most important subject of the last two articles, of those that preceded and of those that will follow is Jesus because He is Lord. In each text that I used Jesus chose to follow for a reason, by design and not by necessity. He is Lord.
In the Matthew 9:18 Jesus is asked to visit the official’s home because his daughter has recently died. There is something of great importance in the verses that follow. Jesus stops along the way and attends to a lady who is and has been ill for a very long time….He heals her.
Matthew does not indicate this, but I would assume that the official is growing in anxiety and perhaps is a bit irritated, too. He most likely is not accustomed to being put off, even for a moment. With all of this commotion along the way, the journey continues….. When Jesus came into the official's house, and saw the flute-players and the crowd in noisy disorder, He said, "Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep." And they began laughing at Him. But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.
Look at the words of the Lord, "Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep." Matthew does not tell us, but could it be that God’s Spirit has preceded and healed the girl from death? I say this because the Bible is true in fact. Jesus tells the gathering that she is not dead, but simply asleep! Certainly the father’s words are true, "My daughter has just died…” and he pleads for Jesus to come to his home and heal her. We must be silent where the Bible is silent, but could it be that the healing of this child took place before the Christ arrived? Remember that Christ does say that “….the girl has not died, but is asleep."
Jesus has followed, but the official was NOT in the lead. The Lord was leading all the way. And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented." Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." Matthew 8:5-6.
Note: Jesus agrees to come to the centurion’s home to heal his servant before the question is asked. However, the story quickly reveals the humility of the centurion, But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. Matthew 8:8.
The Christ is prepared to follow, but is asked rather to simply speak the words of healing at a distance. And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed that very moment. Matthew 8:13.
In this account, the centurion could have physically lead the Christ to his home, but because of his words of humility, he simply asks the Lord to follow his plea. Jesus follows his quest and heals the servant.
Again, Jesus has followed, but the centurion is not in the lead, the Christ is.
My suggestion that Jesus follows us is erroneous. However, He does fulfill our request when we ask in faith and in humility. Yes, the Lord does follow us in our requests, but He never follows. He always precedes our request.
The two passages that I have presented demonstrate the following truth:
"If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:26.
Jesus may follow, but we serve and He always leads because He is Lord.
Jesus is Lord
BobW
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