Category: Christ’s earthly ministry

Great Faith Among the Gentiles #3

Thursday, June 13, 2013

“When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Matthew 8:10 KJV).

Let us scrutinize the context in order to see some marvelous Bible truths associated with today’s Scripture, especially why Jesus said what He did.

Once the centurion (commander of 100 Roman soldiers) heard that Christ had entered his town of Capernaum, he sent Jewish elders to ask Him to heal his sick and dying servant; moreover, the elders affirm that this Gentile is worthy of the miracle being granted because he has loved and blessed Israel (Luke 7:1-5). Jesus agrees, and as He approaches the centurion’s home, the centurion sends friends to Jesus, informing Him that he is not worthy to have Jesus enter his home: he admits that he was not worthy enough to even come to Jesus personally (Luke 7:6,7). This is where today’s Scripture picks up the account (again, Matthew omits details that only Luke provides).

When Jesus Christ is even closer to the house, the centurion evidently comes out and repeats to Jesus face-to-face what he had sent his friends to tell Him earlier: “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it” (Matthew 8:8,9). Today’s Scripture says that our Lord Jesus is amazed at this centurion’s statements—this Gentile has more faith than God’s people, Israel!

The centurion knows that there is power in Jesus Christ’s words. Just as this centurion commands servants to “do this” and “do that,” he knows that Jesus Christ can command the paralysis to depart from his dying servant! He knows Jesus can just speak the word from a distance, and his servant would be healed. Let us finish the narrative now….

Great Faith Among the Gentiles #2

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

“When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Matthew 8:10 KJV).

Let us scrutinize the context in order to see some marvelous Bible truths associated with today’s Scripture, especially why Jesus said what He did.

Comparing today’s Scripture and its context (Matthew 8:5-13) with their companion passage (Luke 7:1-10) provides greater details. Note Luke 7:3-5: “And when he [the centurion] heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: for he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.”

As soon as the Roman centurion (commander of 100 soldiers) who has a sick and dying servant, hears of Jesus’ entrance into Capernaum, he himself does not approach Jesus. Actually, the centurion knows that he can only access God through Israel, as per the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12:3. He knows that Jesus was sent to the nation Israel and not to Gentiles such as him (Romans 15:8). Thus, he sends some Jewish elders to Jesus on his behalf. Note the centurion loved Israel and he even built the Jews a synagogue. He is one of the few Gentiles who are not saturated with paganism—he recognizes Israel’s God is the true God! (Hence Jesus’ response in today’s Scripture.)

Jesus follows the Jewish elders to the centurion’s house, “And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee…” (Luke 7:6,7a). Note the centurion still knows he is too unworthy to speak with Jesus personally: he sent Jewish elders and then friends instead. It is not until Jesus comes even closer to the house that the centurion shows himself.

Before we get to this, however, let us go back a bit….

Great Faith Among the Gentiles #1

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

“When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Matthew 8:10 KJV).

Let us scrutinize the context in order to see some marvelous Bible truths associated with today’s Scripture, especially why Jesus said what He did.

Matthew 8:5-7 begins: “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry is underway. He has entered the city of Capernaum, on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, in northern Israel. This Roman centurion (a commander of 100 soldiers) begs Jesus to heal his servant who is greatly suffering with paralysis. In fact, Luke 7:2 says this servant is “dear unto him” and “ready to die.” This centurion loves this dying servant, and he desires the Lord to heal him before he passes away. Jesus declares He will come and heal the dying servant.

Matthew 8:8,9 continue: “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.”

These statements from the centurion prompt Jesus Christ’s response found in today’s Scripture: “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Exactly what does Jesus Christ find so profound about the centurion’s comments?

Firstly, this centurion is a Gentile, a non-Jew, someone who does not belong to God’s nation, Israel. Yet, this Gentile man is more aware of the value of Jesus Christ and His earthly ministry than His own people are!

Twice Healed

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house” (Matthew 9:6,7 KJV).

Many today emphasize Jesus’ miracle-working power, but few ever grasp why He performed those healings….

In the context of today’s Scripture (Matthew 9:2-8), and its parallel passages of Mark 2:3-12 and Luke 5:18-26, four people carry a man who is “sick of the palsy” (paralyzed, although plagued with involuntary tremors) and bring him to Jesus Christ in order to be healed. The Lord Jesus declared, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2; Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20).

Some of Israel’s religious leaders are now irritated: “And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth” (Matthew 9:3; Mark 2:6-7a; Luke 5:21). “Who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mark 2:7b; Luke 5:21). Jesus, God manifested in human flesh, read their minds (Matthew 9:4; Mark 2:8; Luke 5:22)! Today’s Scripture (cf. Mark 2:10,11; Luke 5:24) is Jesus’ response to their disbelief. His reply affords us an opportunity to see why He healed sick people during His earthly ministry.

Jesus commanded the paralytic to arise from his bed and go to his house: the Bible says the man “immediately” jumped up and walked home (today’s Scripture; cf. Mark 2:12; Luke 5:25)!

Just as illness hinders the physical body from functioning properly, so sin disrupts the soul and spirit from doing what God designed them to do. Those crippled people the Lord Jesus Christ healed depicted Israel’s spiritual condition (impotent due to sin and laden with pagan idolatry), unable to be His vessels to the equally sinful Gentiles.

Why did Jesus heal sick physical bodies? The Jews needed a sign (1 Corinthians 1:22): “That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” To prove to Israel that He could heal their souls (forgiveness). The paralytic’s healing demonstrated that Jesus Christ indeed could deliver Israel from the greatness sickness of all—sin!

A Creature of Darkness Not in Darkness

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

“And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God” (Luke 4:33,34 KJV).

Israel may not recognize her Messiah, but this devil does!

You would think that, after almost 2,000 years, the Church the Body of Christ would know its doctrine, duty, walk, and destiny. Alas, darkness prevails—as if Paul’s epistles were never written! The Body of Christ cannot adequately affect the culture around it for God’s glory because, like the lost world, not even most professing “Christians” know sound Bible doctrine.

Sadly, Satan and his cohorts usually know more about what the Lord Jesus Christ is doing, than His own people. Satan knows God is not dealing with Israel as He did before Paul’s salvation (many Christians still do not understand that). The devil knows that Paul is our apostle (many Christians still do not know that). Satan knows about false “bibles” (many Christians are still oblivious to that). The devil is aware that God is currently administering grace and not law (many Christians still do not understand that). The devil knows we the Church the Body of Christ are not “spiritual Israel” (many Christians do not know that either).

Spiritual ignorance also plagued Israel, as the LORD affirmed: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… thou hast forgotten the law of thy God” (Hosea 4:6). Hundreds of years later, we read in today’s Scripture that while Israel does not recognize Jesus as her Messiah, a fallen angelic spirit of Satan says to Jesus, “I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.” That devil was more aware of God’s program than Israel, God’s earthly people, was!

We who have trusted Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour are “children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). Hence, let us walk in spiritual light: let us walk by faith in sound Pauline Bible doctrine and not be in darkness….

Good Riddance! #5

Saturday, April 13, 2013

“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you” (1 John 3:13 KJV).

God’s people have never been welcome here in “this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4) because He has never been welcome here. In short, if lost people could utter two words to us Christians after we have been raptured out, it would be, “Good riddance!”

The context of today’s Scripture uses the historical narrative of Cain and Abel to reinforce the doctrine the Holy Spirit is communicating through the Apostle John: “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you” (1 John 3:11-13).

John, writing to believing Jews who will live after our Dispensation of Grace—that is, who will live during the seven-year Tribulation—uses material the Bible already taught to further educate them. We can gain two main points from this passage.

Firstly, John reminds them of the kingdom doctrine Jesus Christ uttered to His little flock (believing Israel) during His earthly ministry: “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12). These Jewish believers are to love one another, just as Jesus Christ loved them (contrast this with today’s Scripture).

Secondly, John reminds believing Israel that just as unbelieving, disobedient Cain murdered his brother, Abel, the man of faith and God’s prophet, so her unbelieving brethren (that is, apostate Israel) will seek to persecute and kill her. Remember, Jesus Christ warned “a man’s foes shall be they of his own household” (Matthew 10:32-42). Speaking of the Tribulation, Jesus predicted His Jewish followers would not only be hated by the unbelieving Gentiles, but also by unbelieving Israel (who are all following Satan’s evil world system and the antichrist’s apostate religious system).

John, in today’s Scripture, reminds his audience suffering in the Tribulation, that Satan’s world system and its members have always hated the Lord Jesus Christ’s people. They should not be shocked, nor should they lose heart….

Good Riddance! #1

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you” (1 John 3:13 KJV).

God’s people have never been welcome here in “this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4) because He has never been welcome here. In short, if lost people could utter two words to us Christians after we have been raptured out, it would be, “Good riddance!”

Our Lord Jesus Christ was certainly unpopular with the religious and political leaders of His day because they dared not submit to Him, the God of creation, and His righteousness. They hated His message, so they attempted to get rid of Him any chance they got. Ultimately, they were quite pleased to have Him hanging on Calvary’s cross and slowly dying, during which time they mocked Him, laughed at Him, and reviled Him!

Just hours before that crucifixion, Jesus reminded His Jewish followers: “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me” (John 16:1,2). Ironically, the Jews, only about half a day later, would kill Jesus because they believed He was an imposter, and they believed their JEHOVAH God would want Him to be put to death. Imagine their horror when He resurrected and started preaching again!

The Apostle Paul was called a “pestilent fellow” (Acts 24:5)—he was not just annoying to the hell-bound pagans to whom he preached, but he was also a “mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.” Paul’s lost critics could not figure him out: he was a former Jewish religious leader who had hated Jesus Christ, and yet, for the past 25 years, he has constantly preached against Israel for killing her Messiah (Jesus), and unbelieving Israel had attempted to get rid of him for years! (For instance, read about the Jews fatally stoning Paul years earlier in Acts 14:19,20.) Regardless of who he was, he had to go, too!

We should not be surprised to experience the lost world treating us the same way….

Messiah’s Joy Amidst Calvary’s Grief #1

Friday, March 29, 2013

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 KJV).

Do you ever wonder what our Lord Jesus Christ was thinking about while He hung there on Calvary’s cross?

Psalm 22:1-21 provides us with a glimpse of Jesus’ thoughts as He endured that awful crucifixion: He is greatly tormented physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Various verses in Psalm 69 provide additional insight, especially as death begins to close in on His soul. Written about 1000 B.C., these and other “Messianic psalms” graphically describe assorted events in our Lord’s earthly life (in this case, His crucifixion)… centuries before they occurred!

What Jesus Christ thought about while suspended on Calvary’s cross was the Holy Scriptures. He had faith in the Old Testament passages that applied to Him. No matter what happened to Him, He knew it was His Father’s will, and His Father would be glorified. As He stated earlier, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup [of Thy wrath; Revelation 14:10] from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36). “…The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29bc).

Do you realize what today’s Scripture is saying? Jesus Christ felt immense physiological and spiritual pain, but He thought about the overall view: “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame” (cf. Psalm 16:8-11). Yes, the Old Testament spoke of His suffering, and those Scriptures must be fulfilled, but it also testified of His glorious kingdom that would follow, and those Scriptures also were to be fulfilled in due time! “…The sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11). While it did not diminish the extent of His distress and suffering, Jesus Christ kept in memory the glory His Father would give Him once He had endured the crucifixion (Philippians 2:8-11). It gave Him such joy. He felt grief unspeakable, but He also had joy unfathomable!

The Spirit of God and the Word of God #6

Sunday, March 24, 2013

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

As today’s Scripture demonstrates, the Spirit of God never operates apart from the Word of God.

Without the Holy Spirit, we would not have the completed Holy Bible.

The doctrine of Bible inspiration is best described by Jesus Christ in Matthew 4:4: “It is written [Deuteronomy 8:3], Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (cf. Luke 4:4).

In Acts 1:16, the Apostle Peter says about the Old Testament Scripture he is quoting, “which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake….” The Apostle Paul, also quoting the Old Testament, says in Acts 28:25, “Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers….” Jesus Christ Himself, when He quoted the Old Testament, commented: “For David himself said by the Holy Ghost…” (Mark 12:36). Our Lord Jesus asked, “Have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God…?” (Matthew 22:31).

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20,21).

Thus, the Bible says of itself in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” Interestingly enough, the root spir in inspiration means “breath, air.” The Greek word translated “inspiration of God” in 2 Timothy 3:16 is theopneustos. The root pneu forms the Greek word pneuma, meaning “spirit, air.” Pneuma is paired with hagion (“holy”), thus becoming pneuma hagion, translated as “Holy Spirit” or “Holy Ghost.” When we say the Holy Bible is “inspired of God,” did you know we are actually emphasizing the Person (the Holy Ghost) who gave it to us? Wow!

But, the Holy Spirit also plays a role in preserving those inspired words of God, so we could have them and understand them today….

The Spirit of God and the Word of God #4

Friday, March 22, 2013

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

As today’s Scripture demonstrates, the Spirit of God never operates apart from the Word of God.

About a week after the Lord Jesus Christ left planet earth in Acts chapter 1, the Holy Spirit came to earth in Acts chapter 2 to take His place, as He had promised weeks earlier in John 14:26: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he [a Person, not a force!] shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

The Holy Spirit enabled Israel’s believing remnant to remember what Jesus Christ taught for three years, causing them to write the Four Gospels of His earthly ministry. Also, the Holy Ghost revealed to them additional doctrine regarding their prophetic (kingdom) program, which they would later use to write their other New Testament Scriptures (Hebrews through Revelation).

Eventually, the ascended Lord Jesus Christ initiated a new program—our Dispensation of Grace—by saving Saul of Tarsus and making him Paul the apostle of the Gentiles. God had now begun forming a new group of believers, the Church the Body of Christ, who would do in the heavenly places what the nation Israel would do in the earth. The Apostle Paul received the doctrine for this dispensation by a direct revelation from Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11,12; Ephesians 3:1-4).

Moreover, via Paul’s audible preaching and his written epistles, Romans through Philemon, the Holy Spirit was the Person of the Godhead responsible for revealing that secret (mystery) program and its respective doctrine to God’s holy apostles and prophets: “[The Dispensation of Grace] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Ephesians 3:5). Even today, the Holy Spirit enables us to understand God’s Word (today’s Scripture).

Let us see how else the Holy Spirit works….