Thursday, September 24, 2009

LITN VII, Verses 1 - 17

1. When Jesus finished this important and revolutionary teaching, He entered Capernaum.

2. There in the city was a Roman Centurion's servant, whom his master valued very highly, and this servant was sick and at the point of death.

3. So when the Centurion heard of Jesus, he sent some elders of the Jews to Him to ask Him to come and heal his servant.

4. So they did as he requested, and when they came to Jesus, they were insistent that He help the man. They said, "Look, this man deserves to have you do this...

5. You must help him because he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue!"

6. So Jesus was persuaded, and went with them. But when He got near the Centurion's house, the man sent friends to Him with this message: "Lord, I didn't mean for You to trouble yourself...it wasn't even necessary for you to come in person...in fact, it's not even appropriate, since I don't worship Your God."

7. That's why I didn't even consider myself worthy to come to You. I am just asking that You say the word, because I know that if You do, my servant will be healed.

8. See, I myself am a man under authority, with a hundred soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes...I don't ever have to worry that one of my men won't carry out my orders...and to another one I say, 'Come,' and he comes...I never have to do any guesswork about it...I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it...no questions asked."

9. When Jesus heard this message, He was amazed at the man's ability to perceive the concept of authority, and the abstract idea of the power and function of words. So He turned to the crowd following Him and said, "I tell you, I have not found faith this great even in Israel." Then He sent the Centurion's friends back to him with the same message.

10. When the men who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant completely well.
11. Right after this, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and His disciples and a big crowd accompanied Him.

12. As He neared the gate of the city, He saw that a dead person was being carried out to be buried. Upon inquiry, He discovered that the body was that of a mother's only son, and that she was a widow. A large group of people from the town made up the funeral entourage.

13. This crowd of mourners was too big to be missed, but when He finally saw the grieving mother, His heart immediately went out to her and made a compassionate connection. Without hesitation He walked right up to her and said, "Dear lady...please don't cry."

14. Then He walked over and touched the bier on which they were carrying her son's lifeless body, and the pallbearers froze in their tracks. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up right now!"

15. And the boy sat up and began to talk, virtually in mid-sentence, as if he had only been gone for a second or two. Then Jesus personally escorted him over to his amazed mother, and presented him to her.

16. Of course, all the people who witnessed this were completely awestruck, and began to praise God, saying, "A great and mighty prophet has appeared among us! God has come to personally help His people!"

17. And this news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country like wildfire.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

v-5...because he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue!
Bishop, this verse reminds me of you because you love us and have built us a beautiful place of worship. I am so blessed to be a part of CITN.
Sissiedo

Anonymous said...

Dave Rogers said...

Thank you Bishop that word for to day is just what I needed to hear. Praise God!!!!

Izumi/JOY said...

v. 9 - Wow... wonder how it feels to amaze Jesus. He heard, found faith, was amazed, and sent His own faith back.

"What'd you do?"

Moses: "Miracles. Used my staff - tapped the Nile waters. Whew, big mess. How about those frogs, gnats, flies, plagues, boils, thunders, lightnings, hail, locusts, darkness, and firstborn? Did a road trip with a bunch of whiners; divided the waters. You?"

King David: "Killed a bear and lion; and, oh, about 10,000 Philistines. You?"

Samson: "Eh, smote a thousand with a jawbone of an ass. Tied 300 foxtails together. Joined 'em to some firebrands, set 'em loose on some Philistines. You?"

Elijah: "Held back the rain. Outran Ahab's chariot. Raised the dead. Called down fire from heaven. Rode a whirlwind. You?"

Izumi JOY: "Just trusted Him."

Love how the name, Nain means, "green pastures", and, "lovely". Reminds me of Psalm 23:2.

Unknown said...

IzumiJOY...what a great question... and personally thought-provoking scene you painted.

v.6..."so Jesus was persuaded"...This is cool because it points to the perspective that Jesus came first to the House of Israel...

But v.9..."the man's ability to perceive the concept of authority, and the abstract idea of the power and function of words"...clear, concise and if you want more read MITN VIII v.9...together they make me even MORE aware of my words, my obedience (or lack thereof--thank you for your forgiveness) and point me to greater works and power.

wordver: optivu...optimum view...yep!

Izumi/JOY said...

Thanks Avatar. :) (just love wondering what those in the great cloud of witnesses discuss)

Cool wordver!! Mine's womist - "woman in the mist" - Woohoo! (like in creation - yeah... I like it!)