Growing Deeper Garrett and Melissa

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

After Jesus healing so many, he looks on the crowds and his heart goes out to them. They have been longing to be cared for but their leaders have left them feeling tired and thrown away. So Jesus looks on them with compassion, which doesn't mean he just feels for them but that he does something about it.

Matthew has demonstrated Jesus' authority over various things; illnesses, demons, nature, and sins. But as the old adage goes "two things are always certain. Death and taxes." Is there anything that more certainly has a hold over us than death? So what happens when Jesus' authority is put up against death itself? 

Continuing the theme of authority, Jesus claims the authority to forgive sins. But, of course, there's no way to know if he's telling the truth right? Further, there is only one being that can forgive sins and that is Yahweh alone!

The cost of following Jesus is high. Every potential follower of Jesus should know that. It is precisely because the disciples follow Jesus that they find themselves in the middle of a massive storm. But with a word Jesus rebukes the sea and it becomes calm. Who is this that the winds and the sea obey him!?

After completing the Discourse on Discipleship, Matthew highlights interactions that Jesus has with various people. What is notable about the first three is that they would be considered outsiders among Matthew's primary audience. Why would Matthew bring these to the forefront and what do these healings say about what Jesus is like and who he is?