In Matthew 8 and 9, the gospel writer, in one masterful brushstroke after another, paints a rich, multi-layered portrait of Jesus. Through dramatic storytelling, Jesus is King above all - including leprosy, sickness, fevers, thunderstorms, demons, paralysis, sins, bleeding, blindness and even death. Interwoven in and through these stories are little portraits of discipleship. Matthew not only wants us to see Jesus for who he really is, but wants us to become disciples, so that we might become people with eyes that see and tongues loosened to confess and proclaim Jesus as Lord.
Here are three scenes from these dramatic chapters in Matthew's gospel: Matthew 9:18-26 "Gently Raised" / Matthew 9:18-26 "Desperately Seeking" / Matthew 8:28-34 "Conflict of Interest"
Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross are depictions of the final hours (or Passion) of Jesus on the day of his crucifixion. The purpose is to help believers make a spiritual pilgrimage to the important places of Christ’s sufferings and death. Commonly, a series of images are arranged in a numbered order along a path, and people will travel from image to image, stopping to reflect and pray. Meditation upon the stations can be done at any time, but is most common during the season of Lent, especially on Good Friday.