August 31, 2026 - Matthew 8-9

Immediately after preaching, Jesus came down from the mountain and large crowds followed him.  They were always following him.  A leper said to him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean” (8:2).  “Reaching out his hand he touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be made clean’” (8:3).  Of course!  Jesus is always willing to show mercy and grace to those who come asking.  Always!  Really, really, really good news!  Then, “a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him” (8:5) on behalf of his paralyzed servant.  Jesus responded to his faith, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed” (8:13).  Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law.  The disciples, in a storm tossed boat, cried, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing” (8:25), and Jesus calmed the storm in response.  Jesus cast the demons from two men, and he healed the paralytic whom his friends had brought and even forgave him his sins.  To the woman with the discharge of blood, Jesus said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well” (9:22).  Jesus gave life to a dead daughter, he healed two blind men, and he enabled another to speak.  Jesus is willing!  To those who ask, who sincerely seek him, to them he comes and does what he does; he heals, he gives life, he forgives.  This is our Savior!

Your hand, O Lord, in days of old

was strong to heal and save;

it triumphed over pain and death,

o’er darkness and the grave.

To you they came, the blind, the mute,

the paralyzed and lame,

the lepers in their misery,

the sick with fevered frame.

Your touch then, Lord, brought life and health,

gave speech and strength and sight;

and youth renewed and frenzy calmed

revealed you, Lord of light.

And now, O Lord, be near to bless,

almighty as before,

in crowded street, by beds of pain,

as by Gennes’ret’s shore.

O be our great deliv’rer still,

the Lord of life and death;

restore and quicken, soothe and bless,

with your life-giving breath.

To hands that work and eyes that see

give wisdom's healing pow’r

that whole and sick and weak and strong

may praise you evermore.   -- E. H. Plumptre (1866)