><>...JESUS THE CHRIST...><>
Back in Capernaum, Jesus demonstrated His authority to forgive sin by curing a paralytic and summoning Matthew, a much-hated tax collector, to become His follower (Luke 5:16–29). Matthew responded immediately. During a feast at Matthew's house, scribes and Pharisees criticized Jesus and His disciples for their self-indulgence. Jesus responded that they were rejoicing at the presence of the Messiah, not revelling in self-indulgence.
He alluded to His death and the mourning that would accompany it. But He promised that the mourning would be short-lived, for the spirit of the Gospel could not be confined to the “old wineskins” of Jewish legalism (Luke 5:30–39).
During this period Jesus began to meet increasing hostility from the high Jewish officials. While in Jerusalem for one of the Jews' annual feasts, He was attacked for healing a cripple on the Sabbath (John 5:1–16). He thus asserted His authority over the Sabbath and the Jews at once understood this to be a claim for divine authority. Jesus said that He knew God's mind, that He would judge sin, and that He would raise people from the dead. His critics pointed out that only God can do such things.
Back in Galilee, the Sabbath controversy continued as Jesus defended His disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath. Ultimately He claimed divine Lordship over the day. He healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. The Jewish religious authorities began plotting to destroy Him (Matt. 12:1–14; Mark 2:23–3:6; Luke 6:1–11).
Now Jesus singled out 12 of His disciples who were officially to carry on His ministry. The appointment of the Twelve inaugurated a new period of Christ's ministry, beginning with our version of the great Sermon on the Mount. Jesus delivered this message (also called the Sermon on the Plain) when He descended from the mountain with His newly appointed apostles (Luke 6:20–49; cf. Matt. 5:1–6:29).
Now we read of several interwoven incidents. Perhaps on the very day He delivered the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus healed a centurion's servant. This centurion, a Roman soldier, was sympathetic toward the Jewish religion (Luke 7:5) and apparently embraced Jesus as the true Messiah. The servant was healed “in the selfsame hour” that the centurion made his request (Matt. 8:5–13; cf. Luke 7:1–10).
At Capernaum, perhaps about 11 km. (7 mi.) from the site of the Sermon on the Mount, crowds continued to press upon Jesus. To escape this pressure, He set out for Nain (with many accompanying Him). At the city's entrance He restored a widow's son to life. This incident stirred the excitement of the crowd (Luke 7:11–15).
About this time messengers from John the Baptist came to ask Jesus if He was really the Messiah. Still imprisoned, John had grown perplexed with the course of Jesus' ministry; it was peaceful and merciful, rather than dramatic, conquering, and judgmental. Jesus commended John and denounced the Jewish authorities who had opposed him—indeed, He pointed out that the cities of Galilee that heard John had “repented not.” They had not truly come unto Him (Matt. 11:20–24; Luke 7:18–35; cf. 10:12–21).
In one of the cities Jesus visited (perhaps Nain), He was anointed by an outcast woman. He forgave her sins in the presence of His host, Simon the Pharisee. Simon was scandalized, but Jesus was happy to receive her love (Matt. 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50).
This brings us to Jesus' second tour of the Galilean cities (Luke 8:1–4). The Twelve and certain devoted women (Mary Magdalene; Joanna, wife of Herod's steward; Susanna; and “many others”) accompanied Him.
It was on this journey that He cured the demoniac and the Pharisees accused Him of being in league with the devil. For this, Jesus strongly rebuked them (Matt. 8:28–34; Mark 5:1–20; Luke 8:26–39). He emphasized the blessedness of those who “hear the word of God and do it” (Luke 8:21). This same day He spoke many parables from a boat.
The parable became Jesus' primary teaching tool, which both revealed and hid the truths He wanted to communicate (Mark 4:10–12; Luke 8:9–10). No doubt He repeated this and other sayings in different contexts, much as present-day ministers repeat their sermons and illustrations.
After preaching from the boat, Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee to the western shore. Before He departed, two men approached Him and asked to become His disciples (Matt. 8:18–22). But each made his request in an unrealistic and unworthy way, and Jesus rebuked them.
While crossing the sea, Jesus' life was threatened by a violent storm. He was asleep on a cushion in the stern of the boat, and so His disciples awakened Him. At once He stilled the storm, and the disciples exclaimed, “What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him” (Luke 8:25; cf. Mark 4:35–41).
James I. Packer, Merrill C. Tenney and William White, Jr., editors, Nelson's illustrated manners and customs of the Bible
To be continued |
