The Chain of Command is the Same Over Soldiers AND Mortal Illness

• Go!
• Come!
• Do This!

For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Jesus Was (and Is) a Friend to Soldiers, especially Those Who Respected His Authority

• Diseases
• Sicknesses
• Evil Spirits

It was a sight to see, even for the people who hadn’t been blind just moments before …

At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.

With Jesus, it is still ”that very time.”

Jesus Knew His Great Results Could Be Considered Unbelievable

• Blind Given Sight
• Lame Made to Walk
• Lepers Made Clean
• Deaf Given Hearing
• Dead Restored to Life

All Good News for the Poor … in Spirit, Health, and Hope

So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.  Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

Jesus’ Report Card Was (and Is) Impressive

• NOT … a Gentle, Fragile River Weed
• NOT … a Dapper Dandy
• a Prophet … and MORE

After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

She stood weeping … Tears fell on Jesus’ feet, then she …

• wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair
• kissed Jesus’ feet
• poured perfume on Jesus’ feet

… and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

… and ended in testimony.

• Simon
  • No Water/Towel for Foot-Washing
  • No Kiss of Traditional/Formal Greeting
  • No Oil of Welcome/Generosity
• The Woman
  • Wet/Wipe Feet with Her Tears/Hair
  • Humble, Submissive, Grateful Kissing of Feet
  • Valuable Oil “Wasted” as Perfume for Jesus’ Feet

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.  Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

The Smallest Expressions of Pride and Selfishness Create the Biggest Needs for Teaching and Forgiveness

• Life’s Worries
• Life’s Riches
• Life’s Pleasures

Hearing is NOT the Same as Believing

• Hear the Word
• Retain the Word
• Persevere in the Word

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Jesus Developed a Very Practical (and Literary) Metaphor in the Seeds and Soils Parable

Was He …

• John the Baptist Resurrected after Herod’s Execution Order?
• Elijah Re-Embodied in Jesus?
• One of the Other Great Prophets Re-Embodied in Jesus?

Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life.  But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.

The Truth about John’s Mission, Life, and Ministry was Even More Amazing than the Rumor-Claims, and the Truth about Jesus was– and IS– More Amazing Still

• Seize the Boy
• Throw the Boy into Convulsions
• Scarcely Ever Leave the Boy Alone

A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him.

A Boy was Screaming in Pain and Foaming at the Mouth in Convulsions from a Demon’s Ongoing Efforts to Ruin His Earthly and Eternal Existence

• He Rebuked the Spirit
• He Healed the Boy
• He Gave the Boy Back to His Father

Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father.

Absolute Power can be used with Absolute Purity