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Following Jesus – The One Who HEALS! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the February 23, 2025 sermon, “Following Jesus: The One Who Heals!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Matthew 8

“When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.”
Matthew 8:16 (NIV)

As one called by Jesus to “Come, follow me”, Matthew gives us great teaching on what it looks like to live a life which follows Jesus.  As Matthew’s gospel continues, we find Jesus encountering many people who had great needs.  As Jesus met those needs, we discover that following Jesus includes knowing the One who . . .

  • Hears:  Matthew 8:1-7

    • Jesus is one who hears both what we say and what we don’t say.  There is great healing which takes place through the powerful act of being listened to.  Jesus could hear both the spoken request to be healed and the unspoken request to be touched.  We become more like Jesus when our following of Him leads us to listen for the purpose of hearing. 

  • Examines:  Matthew 8:8-13

    • Jesus is one who examines the motives of our heart even more than the actions of our hands.  As one who examines, Jesus encourages us to grow in faith as we move our belief in God from words to trust.  We can know the healing of Jesus when He examines our life and finds great faith.  We become more like Jesus when we examine, by the truth of His Word and His Spirit, our faith and find it growing.

  • Acts:  Matthew 8:14-16

    • Jesus is one who acts according to what is good and right and just.  The One who heals does so not only through hearing and examining, but by acting upon what was heard and noticed.  Our desire to be like Jesus ought to lead us to a greater awareness, and practice, of how we should act toward one another.  We become more like Jesus when we act like those who have been healed by His blood.

  • Loves:  Matthew 8:17

    • Jesus is one who loves above all others and sets the example of how we should love one another.  His love is not only evident in the laying down of His life to pay the penalty we deserve from sin, it is also evident in His living life as one of us and enduring the hardships and troubles that we ourselves encounter.  We become more like Jesus when our love is not only willing to die for others, but is willing to live a life of sacrifice for them.  

  • Saves:  Matthew 8:23-27

    • Jesus is the one who saves when no one else can.  When we find ourselves overwhelmed in the turmoil of life, the healing that we need is greater than a simple physical healing.  When the waves of worry and trouble crash over us, we can find comfort and healing when we cry out to Jesus to save us.  While the body we live in will not last forever, when Jesus saves us we have an eternal healing that will never fade.  We become more like Jesus when we share the good news of Jesus as the One who saves.

Today, how will you reflect the One who HEALS?