Got to Tell Somebody

There are many twists and turns in this short story about Jesus healing a man from leprosy. The story is found in Matthew 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45, and Luke 5:12-14. Let's pick up the story in Mark: "Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, 'If You are willing, You can make me clean'" (v. 40).

A man who was suffering from leprosy came to Jesus, took a knee and bowed down before Him to honor and perhaps even worship Him. Yes, to worship Jesus. It would appear that this unnamed man had at least some understanding of who Jesus is. He had some measure of faith, however small that faith may be. This is revealed in the man's statement: "If You are willing, You can make me clean" (v. 40b). He at least knew that Jesus, and Jesus alone, possessed the power to heal him.

Jesus recognizes even a little faith and He encourages that faith to grow. "Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, 'I am willing; be cleansed'" (v. 41). Jesus didn't hesitate. He reached out and touched this man. He laid His hands on him and healed him. People would have gasped because of the fear of this disease.

Actually, Leprosy is a long-term infection which, if left untreated, can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. The nerve damage can cause an inability to feel pain, resulting in loss of a person's extremities through repeated injuries or unnoticed wounds. Though it spreads between people, extensive contact is necessary. Of people who contract the bacteria, 95% do not develop the disease (Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia).

"As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed" (v. 42). In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, this man was cleansed! He was healed! Such is the power of Jesus. He has such compassion. But Jesus "strictly warned him and sent him away at once" (v. 43). What is this about?

Jesus said, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them" (v. 44). Jesus knew that the people would want to make Him king, but it wasn't His time yet. So He sent him away quickly to present himself to the priest to fulfill what was commanded and make the necessary offerings. He was to let that be his "testimony to them" (v. 44b).

"However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction" (v. 45). I can just imagine that this man tried the best he could to keep quiet, but it didn't work. As he tries to keep quiet he kept thinking, "Got to tell somebody." "Got to tell somebody." "I got to tell somebody!" And so he did.

How about you? Do you feel the same? Do you have to tell somebody about what Jesus means to you? Well, now we can feel free to spread the good news of Jesus. Go and tell somebody about Jesus. Amen.

What a Word This Is!

Luke 4:31 begins, "Then He (Jesus) went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths." Capernaum, just off the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, was the home of Peter, as well as the other fishermen, such as John and James. It was the headquarters of Jesus' ministry. "Sabbaths" (v. 31b), being plural, indicates that He had spent some time there, at least a few weeks, teaching the people in the synagogue. As He taught them we are told, "And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority" (v. 32).

Luke continues, "Now in the synagogue there was a certain man who had a spirit of an unclean demon" (v. 33a). The demon spoke with the voice of this man, "And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!'" (vv. 33b-34). Note here that the demon refers to himself as "us," "we," and "us" again (v. 34). So it would appear that there were multiple demons possessing this man.

Jesus responded with the voice of authority and "rebuked him, saying, 'Be quiet, come out of him!' And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him" (v. 35). Mark clarifies, "And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him" (Mark 1:26).

Everyone was astonished! "Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, 'What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out'" (Luke 4:36). Mark adds, "What new doctrine is this?" (Mark 1:27). "Doctrine" (v. 27) refers to "teaching," so it could be translated, "What new teaching is this?" What Jesus did in casting out these demons was new to the people in the synagogue. They had never seen anything like this before.

The authority with which Jesus acted gave further proof to the people that He was none other than the Son of God, our Savior and Lord. Luke closes, "And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region" (Luke 4:37). Mark says, "And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee" (Mark 1:28). With this show of authority and power, it was no wonder that His fame spread everywhere. He is the One we must believe in and trust by faith. Amen.

The Endless Buffet

What a day it was; a day no one would ever forget. Jesus, assisted by His twelve disciples, offered up the first buffet, an endless buffet. Bread and fish for everyone! All you can eat! And it was no small crowd: "A great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased" (John 6:2). They followed Jesus because of all the healing and miracles He performed. Why not follow Him wherever He went?

"Jesus went up on the mountain" and "sat with His disciples" (v. 3). We are then told that "the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near" (v. 4). Why this comment? It seems to come out of nowhere. But it makes sense to mention this here for two reasons: (1) it helps explain the great numbers of people that had gathered because most were headed for Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover; and (2) these people were anticipating a great feast, and so a great feast Jesus gave them.

"Seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, 'Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?'" (v. 5). He was testing Philip "for He Himself knew what He would do" (v. 6). Philip responded and pointed out, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little" (v. 7).

The answer came quickly. "One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, 'There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?'" (vv. 8-9). It didn't seem to be an answer at all. The lunch of one boy, a boy who planned ahead albeit, to feed thousands of people! Hardly. But for Jesus it was simple.

Jesus told His disciples, "Make the people sit down" (v. 10a). It is noted, "Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand" (v. 10b). In that society only the men would be numbered. Add in wives and children, and you probably have at least fifteen thousand people being fed by Jesus.

"And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted" (v. 11). All you can eat! And there were leftovers: "So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, 'Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost'" (v. 12). And when all was said and done, "they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten" (v. 13).

Jesus meets our needs, whatever those may be. Not only does He heal various diseases and cast out demons, but He also feeds the hungry. A very timely message with food becoming so costly. Note what the people concluded about Jesus: "Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, 'This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world'" (v. 14). He is the Son of God; He is the Creator God who loves you, watches over you, and cares for you, meeting your every need. Trust Him. Amen.

The Nobleman's Son

Jesus "came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine" (John 4:46a). We are told that this is "the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee" (v. 54). So the first two miracles of Jesus as recorded in Scripture were both done in Cana of Galilee. The first, of course, being at the wedding reception when He turned water into wine. The second now is the healing of the nobleman's son. Let's pick up the story from here.

We are told "there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum" (v. 46b). "Nobleman" in New Testament Greek referred to hereditary rank or to certain dignitaries. Literally, it refers to "an officer of the king's court" (studylight.org/commentary/john/4-46.html), or an officer serving in the court of Herod Antipas.

This man's son was sick and they feared he would soon die. So this nobleman sought out Jesus because of His reputation for healing the sick and making them well. He was right to come looking for Jesus because He was the only one who could help the boy.

He came to Jesus and "implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death" (v. 47). But Jesus replied, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe" (v. 48). Jesus responded in this manner because so many people just wanted a show to entertain them, nothing more, like Herod (Luke 23:8).

The nobleman passionately replied, "Sir, come down before my child dies!" (v. 49). Seeing the passionate concern for his son and understanding that this man wanted no entertainment, but only His help, Jesus told the man, "Go your way; your son lives" (v. 50a).

Jesus honored what little faith he had and healed his son. But "the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way" (v. 50b). He believed Jesus at His word! His faith was growing! On his way, "his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!" (v. 51).

What joy filled this man's heart! He could only respond one way. His faith grew several times that day. "Then he inquired of them the hour that he got better. And they said to him, 'Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.' So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, 'Your son lives.' And he himself believed, and his whole household" (vv. 52-53).

What joy filled that household! This great miracle of Jesus convinced this man and his entire household, servants and all, to believe in Jesus. He is indeed the Christ, the Savior in whom we must put our faith. Follow the footsteps of this nobleman and his family. Trust in Jesus, that is all! Amen.

Rise Up and Walk!

"Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem" (Luke 5:17a). Mark clarifies that Jesus was in "Capernaum" (Mark 2:1a). People "heard that He was in the house" (v. 1b), likely Peter's home. "Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door" (v. 2a). And Mark continues, "And He preached the word to them" (v. 2b).

Luke notes: "The power of the Lord was present to heal them" (Luke 5:17b). It would seem that there are two reasons to assume that Jesus was healing many of these people. One, Jesus "preached the word to them" (Mark 2:2b). Where the word is faithfully preached, there is power. Two, with this preaching of the word and the presence of Jesus, "the power of the Lord was present to heal them" (Luke 5:17b). When Jesus is surrounded by a throng of people, many of whom have various illnesses, Jesus heals!

"Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus" (vv. 18-19).

What faith! Faith that Jesus recognized and rewarded. Going to such lengths as to remove the tiles and uncover the roof where Jesus was and to let this man down by ropes tied to the corners of his bed, takes great faith in the Lord Jesus. Seeing the great faith of these men, "Jesus said to him, 'Man, your sins are forgiven you'" (v. 20).

Of course, "the scribes and the Pharisees" who were there "began to reason, saying, 'Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?'" (v. 21).

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"-He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house" (vv. 22-24).

"Immediately he rose up," took up his bedroll, "and departed to his own house, glorifying God" (v. 25). Giving God the glory was the right response because it was God who healed him. Everyone was amazed at what they had just witnessed, "and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, 'We have seen strange things today!" (v. 26). And indeed they had. No one could have imagined that they would witness such a miracle that day.

But note the faith that Jesus saw. People often think that when someone prays for healing and it doesn't happen, it is the lack of faith on the part of that person that is the problem. But in this case, Jesus didn't heal this man based on his faith. No. Jesus healed this man because of the faith of his friends.

James 5:16 says, "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." When a righteous person prays, when someone who walks faithfully with Jesus every day prays, God moves mountains. He performs miracles, if necessary, not only for the healing of the one prayed for, but for strengthening the faith of those who witness the miracle. May you be so strengthened in your walk with Jesus. Amen.

The Light of the World

Jesus and His disciples were walking along and came across a blind man; a man "blind from birth" (John 9:1). He has never had the privilege of ever seeing anything. The encounter led to a timely discussion. The disciples asked, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" (v. 2). That was the question most on the minds of the people. They couldn't conceive of any other reason. Someone surely sinned and this was the punishment of God.

Jesus, however, begged to differ, saying, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned" (v. 3a). He then added, "This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him" (v. 3b). Jesus concluded with the declaration, "I am the light of the world" (v. 5b).

With that, Jesus illustrated what He meant with a real life miracle: "He spat on the ground and made clay" (v. 6a). Then "He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay" (v. 6b). And Jesus "said to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam' (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing" (v. 7).

"The neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind" (v. 8a), were downright amazed. They asked, "How were your eyes opened?" (v. 10). He answered, "A Man called Jesus" (v. 11) healed me. And the people wanted to find Jesus, but the man did not know where He was (v. 12).

Then the Pharisees questioned the man that had been born blind (v. 13). "Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes" (v. 14). That fact caused "some of the Pharisees" to conclude, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath" (v. 16a). "Others said, 'How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?' And there was a division among them" (v. 16b).

The Pharisees again asked the blind man, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?" (v. 17a). The man answered, "He is a prophet" (v. 17b).

Not believing that the man had been blind, they called in his parents (v. 18) and asked them how this could be? (v. 19). They confirmed that he was their son who "was born blind" (v. 20), but beyond that they deferred to their son, "He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself" (v. 21).

"So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this man is a sinner" (v.  24). His response: "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see" (v. 25).

They pressed him again as to how he was healed (v. 26), and he said, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?" (v. 27). They claimed to be disciples of Moses (v. 28), and added, "We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from" (v. 29).

The man was amazed and replied, "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing" (vv. 31-33). Then he was cast out of the synagogue (v. 34).

Jesus came and asked him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" (v. 35). He replied, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" (v. 36). "It is He who is talking with you," said Jesus (v. 37). "Then he said, 'Lord, I believe! And he worshiped Him'" (v. 38).

The man who was healed began to talk of Jesus simply as, "A Man called Jesus" (v. 11). When questioned, he came to say of Jesus, "He is a prophet" (v. 17b). Upon further consideration he began to realize that Jesus was definitely "from God" (v. 33). Finally, he talked with Jesus again and came to believe in Him as his Lord! (v. 38). Jesus is the Lord of the universe. He is my Lord. How about you? Amen.

Four Days Late

Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were good friends of Jesus (a brother and two sisters). Lazarus was sick (John 11:1) so the sisters sent for Jesus (v. 3). Jesus responded, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it" (v. 4). Then Jesus stayed where He was for "two more days" (v. 6).

Jesus knew what He was about to do. That is why He said, "This sickness is not unto death" (v. 4a). Though He knew Lazarus would die, it would not be permanent. It was all for the glory of Jesus. After the two days, they headed back to Judea where Bethany was located (v. 7).

The disciples questioned the wisdom of this trip (v. 8), so Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead" (v. 14). Then Jesus added, "Let us go to him" (v. 15b). So they headed out for Judea, for the town of Bethany.

Upon arriving in Bethany, Jesus discovered that His friend Lazarus "had already been in the tomb four days" (v. 17). Jesus was four days late, yet He was right on time!

Martha came to Jesus (v. 20), and said, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (v. 21). She continued, showing her faith, "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You" (v. 22). Four days late, yet right on time!

Jesus told Martha, "Your brother will rise again" (v. 23). Martha knew he would rise again at the end of time (v. 24), but Jesus was referring to something a little sooner. He said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (vv. 25-26). Martha responded with great faith, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world" (v. 27).

Then Mary came and said, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (v. 32b). Four days late, yet right on time!

Even the Jews who had gathered said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?" (v. 37). Four days late, yet right on time!

When Jesus stood before the tomb, He said, "Take away the stone" (v. 39a). Martha said, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days" (v. 39b). Four days late, yet right on time!

Jesus, speaking to Martha, said, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (v. 40). So "they took away the stone" (v. 41a). Then Jesus prayed, "Father, I thank you that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me" (vv. 41b-42). Then Jesus cried out, "Lazarus, come forth!" (v. 43). And Lazarus waked out of the tomb, or more likely hobbled out of the tomb, as he was "bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth" (v. 44a). And Jesus said, "Loose him, and let him go" (v. 44b). Four days late, yet right on time!

And what happened? "Many of the Jews," having "seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him" (v. 45). Salvation all around! Four days late, yet right on time!

Often when we pray, it seems Jesus delays in answering our prayer. We are impatient and we think Jesus is late, maybe four days late, maybe longer. But when the answer does come, when Jesus acts, maybe even answering our prayer with a miracle, we realize that Jesus was right on time. Jesus is never late. He is always right on time. Amen.