Matthew 8:14-27

14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever [GR lying sick and feverish].

15 And he touched [GR took hold of] her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

16 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:

17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself [GR He Himself] took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

20 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.

21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer [GR let, allow] me first to go and bury my father.

22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

26 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.

27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Having healed the Centurion’s son, Jesus continued to Peter’s home. There, his mother-in-law was sick. Jesus took her hand and she was healed “and ministered unto them” (Matthew 8:15).

In the evening, people brought those who were sick or had infirmities. He cast out devils. “And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy [GR paralysis]; and he healed them” (Matthew 4:24).

“As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

“And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel” (Matthew 9:32-33).

He healed the sick, fulfilling that which was written by Isaiah.[1]

A scribe came to Jesus and told him, “Master, I will follow thee withersoever thou goest” (Matthew 8:19).  Following Jesus requires a commitment. Nephi wrote, “And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father” (2 Nephi 31:10).

Mormon tells us if we follow Jesus, there is no middle ground. “For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil” (Moroni 7:11).

His response to the scribe gives us some insight into His life. “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” (Matthew 8:20).

“Throughout the Savior’s public ministry, He was an itinerant preacher. As far as we know, He owned no house and was not employed in a trade. Although those who heard Him preach in Nazareth asked, ‘Is not this the carpenter (tekton)[2]’ (Mark 6:3), there is no evidence in the Gospel accounts that He plied His trade during His public ministry, unlike some of His disciples who periodically returned to fishing … We also learn from His time in the wilderness that although He would later use His priesthood power to feed others, He refused to use it to satisfy His own physical needs.”[3]

Jesus and the twelve departed and went on a ship. While they were sailing across the Sea of Galilee, a storm arose. The ship was tossed to-and-fro. While the twelve panicked, Jesus slept. They woke Him and said, “Lord, save us: we perish” (Matthew 8:25). He rebuked them, saying, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith” (Matthew 8:26). He then commanded the Sea to be calm.

“These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

“For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

“They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

“They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

“Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

“He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still” (Psalm 107:24-29).

The twelve were amazed. “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him” (Matthew 8:27).

“We know who Jesus is, or at least we have an improved understanding that is informed by the light of the Resurrection and Restoration. Many of us grew up signing the hymn based on this story, ‘Master the Tempest is Raging;’ therefore, we know how the story ends and sometimes wonder why the disciples did not! They were, of course, on a journey of discovery – learning who He was every step of the way. They were, as we would have been too, full of wonder, amazement, and even fear: ‘Who is this man?’”[4]

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[1] “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4).

[2] The Greek word tekton primarily refers to someone who works in wood, but it can also apply to draftsmen of other materials such as stone or iron.

[3] Life and Teachings of Christ, From the Transfiguration Through the Triumphal Entry, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, Gaye Stratheran.

[4] Life and Teachings of Christ, From the Transfiguration Through the Triumphal Entry, Jesus Before Easter, Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and Thomas A. Wayment.