King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 16 notes
1Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
2And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
3And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
4And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
Why did Jesus have to be besought?
Could be that, like the Syrophenician woman, this man was not a Jew, and thus Jesus was not compelled to help him.
But he had a compelling reason, in that he helped the people of God.
Just like the sons of Midian helped Moses in the desert 🏜 and partook in the blessings,
here this man was worthy of partaking in the Jewish blessing.
5For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
They besought and pressed Jesus that he had to go heal this man's servant.
You get the idea that it was not everywhere that Jesus went.
He was being pulled everywhere, and he couldn't be everywhere at once, so he went where he could.
6Then Jesus went with them. 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:
7Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
8For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
What did this centurion see about Jesus for him to conclude that Jesus had authority to command his servants to go and come at will, just like himself?
Jesus did not have any servants,
but he had authority, and he had command and power over creation and angels.
Indeed all these were subject to him. But how did this man know this?
9When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
10And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
Oh, the value of a good servant.
Ordinarily the servant would likely have died, but his master, whom he had helped, now used all of his influence to procure healing for his servant.
Leaving a mark in the lives of others is a very strong bargaining chip.
11And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.
Jesus often traveled with a convoy. Not of his own making, but because of the grace he carried.
12Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
14And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
15And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
16And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
A great prophet had risen, but Jesus was more than a prophet, and this is proven in the next sentence when they said,
God has visited his people 🙏, and indeed he had.
The people meant it figuratively, but it was literal.
Also, there was a general expectation of the Messiah to come, so for this to be said could be in reference to that expectation, and this would mean they believed Jesus was the Christ to come.
17And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judæa, and throughout all the region round about.
18And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.
What exactly was the nature of the report for John to question 🙋 Jesus thus ⚡?
19And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
20When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
21And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
22Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
23And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Here we have John's disciples again. This time not questioning 🙋 about fasting, but the authenticity of Jesus as Messiah.
Why would John, the forerunner of Jesus, act thus?
Was it that he expected Jesus to be more accommodating? To come around more often for them to do ministry together?
I have heard some preachers say that John was at this time in prison and was surprised 🤨 Jesus did not visit and seek to set him free.
Whatever the case may be 🐝, he was offended about something.
Offended enough to send to Jesus to question 🙋 the very ministry that he had helped authenticate and establish.
Yes, that might have been it. After all that he had done and sacrificed for the ministry of Jesus, he was being ignored 🤷♂️.
He was growing less significant by the day.
24And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
25But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.
26But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
27This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
28For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
29And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
30But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
31And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
32They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
34The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
35But wisdom is justified of all her children.
36And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.
37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
Why was she called specifically a sinner, seeing we are all sinners?
Likely it was an obvious public sin or sexually related.
How else could Simon the Pharisee have known she was one?
She being a sinner was common knowledge, for Simon knew.
I can imagine how ostracized she might have felt.
Being shunned by everyone because they knew her sins.
Now she came to Jesus, this holy man of God.
To take away her reproach and shame.
38And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
Jesus was unusually good at reading 📖 man... Both their thoughts 💭 and intentions.
41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Here again we have another example of Jesus forgiving sins and associating with sinners.
Hm 🤔... So she might have heard that the son of David ✡, the Messiah, had come.
She being a sinner needed this prophet and man of God to set her free from her guilt and shame.
And she came with an offering in hand 🖐️... Oh, what a beautiful thought 💭 and heart ♥.
She knew she was a sinner, and this holy man of God, whom she was not worthy of, was in town.
She came in her humility of heart ♥ and brought an offering... Not just the oil, but also a broken 💔 and contrite heart.
This woman 👨🏿, this sinner, what did she really want that she came thus to Jesus?
The whole scene is disconcerting and quite uncomfortable, kissing 😘, crying and using her hair all over Jesus.
I do not know if it's a cultural thing, will check it; looks sensual in a sense.
Did she come because of her sins being many? So she needed forgiveness.
If so, who did she think Jesus was, God?
How then did she come to such a conclusion?
More likely she knew Jesus was a holy man of God and needed him to pray for her possibly and intercede to God on her behalf.
Or she had heard he was likely the Messiah and had come to seek pardon 🙏
49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
She came to be forgiven of her sins and set free from the guilt of it.
This Jesus discerned and restored her and brought salvation and peace to her.
Only God knows how much guilt and trouble of mind she had.
Now she was set free, and he whom the Son sets free is free. Indeed.
Her situation is so much like the paralytic man who was also forgiven and made whole from his sickness.
This woman had broken protocol and come in contact with a holy man like Jesus, and faced shame being a known sinner.
But her faith made her whole.