(Original oil painting of Christ on the Cover by Mrs. Vivian Page

Wheeler)

LIFE OF CHRIST SERIES

Volume VI

Christ’s Early Ministry in

Galilee

by Gordon Lindsay

Published by

Christ For The Nations

Dallas, Texas

Litho U. S. A.

Reprinted 1978

All Rights Reserved

Contents

Chapter I

The Woman of Samaria. ..............................................................5

Chapter II

The Visit at Nazareth and Cana. ................................................13

Chapter III

The Demoniac in the Synagogue. ..............................................19

Chapter IV

The Healing of the Leper. .........................................................29

Chapter V

The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant. ...................................35

Chapter VI

The Raising of the Son of the Widow of Nain. .........................41

Chapter I

The Woman of Samaria

1

He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. And

he must needs go through Samaria. Then cometh he to a

city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel

of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s

well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his

journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth

hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water:

Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples

were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the

woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a

Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria?

for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. (John

4:3-9).

At the time of which we are speaking, most Jews had ceased

taking the route through Samaria because of the bad feelings

between Jews and Samaritans. These people of Samaria were of

mixed blood, part heathen and part Israelite. At the time of the

early captivities, they had been brought over by the Assyrian

king to re-people the country (II Kings 17:26-27). Their religion

was a mixture of Judaism and heathenism. The sacred record

declares, “So these nations feared the Lord, and served their

graven images, both their children, and their children’s

children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day” (II

Kings 17:41).

In the days of Nehemiah, they had volunteered their services

to help build the walls of the city of Jerusalem; and since their

services were refused, they had become the implacable enemies

of the Jews.

Shortly after the birth of Christ, a new feud developed

between the Samaritans and the Jews. The Samaritans had

always refused to recognize the primacy of Jerusalem and

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Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

claimed that their sacred Mount Gerizim was the place to

worship. But beyond this, the Samaritans minded their own

business. Then a serious incident occurred. During the days of

the Passover, the custom of closing the gates of the city of

Jerusalem at night was not observed because of the many

visitors who had come long distances and had no place to lodge

except outside the city walls. Some of the Samaritans, resolving

to defile the temple, brought in fragments of dead bodies and

scattered them about the temple area. Nothing could have

angered the Jews more than this. From that time on, the

Samaritans were excluded from the temple grounds. The

incident resulted in a complete estrangement of the two peoples.

They no longer had dealings with one another of any kind. Most

Jews when making the journey north to Galilee did not take the

shorter way through Samaria, but took the longer route up the

Jordan valley. But Jesus decided to go on the old way. John

records the statement that “he must needs go through

Samaria.”

Starting early in the morning in order to secure as many

hours of daylight as possible, He and His disciples left the

Jordan area on their journey north, stopping at length for rest

and refreshment at a well located near the town of Sychar in

Samaria. This well was famous in that it had been dug by the

patriarch Jacob many centuries before. The well was a hundred

feet deep, but its waters were unusually excellent and the

inhabitants of the city preferred the quality of its water over that

which came from the calcareous springs of Mt. Ebal. Jesus,

being wearied with His journey, sat down on the well under the

shelter of an alcove built overhead. Since it was the noon hour, it

was arranged that the disciples should continue on into the city

to purchase provisions (John 4:8).

While Jesus was waiting for the return of the disciples, His

solitude was broken by the approach of a Samaritan woman.

Turning about, He saw the woman coming to the well to draw

water, her earthen vessel gracefully poised on her head. The

woman’s appearance at this hour was unusual, for ordinarily the

people of the East draw their water in the morning or the

6

The Woman of Samaria

evening. The fact that she came at high noon indicated that she

was not on good terms with the women of the city. She was

apparently an outcast of society, having been married five times,

and at that time was consorting with a man who was not her

husband. She must still have had traces of beauty, or she would

not have attracted so many husbands. But there was also a look

of sadness and disillusionment upon her face as of one from

which hope had faded.

The Lord hailed her approach. Thirsty and fatigued Himself,

He observed her pitcher and since He had no means of reaching

the cool water that glimmered below, He said to her, “Give me

to drink.” The attire of Jesus and His accent were sufficient to

show the woman that Jesus was a Jew. This startled her, and half

in surprise and half in irony, she responded saying, “How is it

that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a

woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with the

Samaritans.” Jesus responded saying, “If thou knewest the

gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, Give me to

drink; thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have

given thee living water.” She pointed at the well, a hundred

feet deep. He had no vessel to draw with, how then would it be

possible for Him to draw water? Was He greater than their

father Jacob who had dug the well and drank of it? Jesus had

met the same unimaginative dullness among the learned, but

spiritually unperceptive. The woman could only think of

common water, while He was speaking of the water of

everlasting life that quenched thirst forever.

This seemed to be a sheer absurdity, yet though the woman

was puzzled by his words, and despite her own prejudices, she

found herself beginning to have confidence in the stranger. So

she said, “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither

come hither to draw.” If she could drink of this wonderful

water, it would not be necessary for her to come all the way

from the village at the hot noontide to draw water from this well.

At this moment, the Lord made what appeared to be a

startling change of conversation. He asked her to go and call her

7

Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

husband and return. In the decorum of the East it was improper

for Him to hold a conversation with a strange woman. But the

purpose of His request was to awaken the conscience of the

woman. For He could not give her the water of life, until that

was accomplished. Jesus’ words forced her to answer that she

had no husband, and the Lord acknowledging her confession,

bared her loose and sinful life.

The woman answered and said, I have no husband;

Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no

husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom

thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

(John 4:17-18).

Here we see the working of the gift of the Word of

Knowledge. Christ as a man did not have omniscience, but the

gift in its operation disclosed pertinent information about the

woman which would be helpful in the arousing of her

conscience. Jesus was not there to accuse and condemn her.

Nevertheless, it was necessary that her conscience be awakened

before He could help her.

The woman was then convinced that Jesus was a prophet.

Not eager to linger on the facts of her own history, her mind

leaped to the great question that agitated the passions of her

people, and which was the basis of the fierce controversy

between her race and the Jews. It was, as it were, the age-old

question that has been fought over thousands of times, “Which

church is the true church?”

Since chance had given her this golden opportunity to speak

to a prophet, was not this, she thought, the time to settle the

question whether Gerizim, the place where Joshua had uttered

the blessings, or Jerusalem, where Solomon had built the temple,

was the place where men ought to worship? Her question

received an answer, but one different from what the woman

expected:

Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say,

that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh,

8

The Woman of Samaria

when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at

Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not

what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the

Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true

worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in

truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a

Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in

spirit and in truth. (John 4:20-24).

The Jews were unquestionably right in their contention that

Jerusalem was the place where God had chosen to put His name.

Compared to Judaism, the worship of Samaria was hybrid and

defective. But Jesus skillfully avoided the controversial issue

and carried the matter beyond the temporal and provincial aspect

by saying that the time had come when true worshippers might

worship God at any place and any time.

The woman was deeply moved, but how could she change

her whole belief on the words of a passing stranger? She merely

sighed and said, “I know that Messiah cometh, which is called

Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things” (John

4:25).

Then in sudden and startling revelation, Jesus chose to

reveal to this outcast the secret of His identity and the reason for

His coming into the world! He said, “I that speak unto thee am

he.”

At this moment, the disciples had returned with the

provisions they had procured at the village. They stood aghast as

they listened to Jesus conversing with the Samaritan woman.

Ordinarily, a Jew might not talk to a woman on the street, even

if she were his own wife or daughter. The downgrading of

women is one of the features of Judaism, as well as the heathen

religions. In the Vinaya a Bhikshu of Buddhism, a man is not

only forbidden to speak to a woman, but he may not hold out his

hand to his own mother if she should be drowning. The

disciples, therefore, might well marvel that the Master would

converse with this Samaritan woman. Yet accustomed to His

strange and unexpected ways, they did not remonstrate with Him

or make comment on His conversation with her.

9

Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

The woman herself gave the disciples no heed.

Overwhelmed by the tidings she had heard, she hurried away,

forgetting to take her water-pot. The disciples after producing

the provisions they had brought, invited Jesus to partake. But all

hunger had been satisfied in His exaltation of winning a soul. He

merely said, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of” (Verse

32). Here was the explanation of the words He had spoken when

the evil one tempted him, “Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

The disciples still did not know what He was referring to,

and they asked each other, whether while they had been absent

someone had brought Him food. Patiently the Lord explained

what He meant. He pointed to the people of the city of Sychar

who were now coming out to Him because of the Samaritan

woman’s testimony, “Come, see a man, which told me all

things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” (Verse 29).

Jesus told His disciples not to say to themselves that there

were four months yet before the harvest, but to look at the fields

already white unto harvest. Jesus intimated that while He sowed

in sorrow, they would be joyful reapers of the harvest in time to

come.

Now this woman (who incidentally was the first woman to

preach the gospel in the Christian dispensation) in the joy of her

discovery, forgot the ostracism and scorn to which she had been

subjected, and went boldly to the people and told them that she

had found the Messiah. Her words apparently made a

remarkable stir. It should also be remembered that a few months

before, the whole region had been moved by the preaching of

John the Baptist. The people had probably heard John’s

announcement that the Messiah had come. Therefore, upon

hearing the words of the woman that a wondrous prophet had

come to their neighborhood, they poured out to meet Him.

When Jesus saw the people rushing toward Him, and saw

their eager faces, He longed to bless them. It was a welcome

contrast to the poor reception He had received in Jerusalem.

When He saw the hunger in their hearts, He no doubt chafed at

10

The Woman of Samaria

the limitations of His mission that confined His ministry to that

of Israel. He scarce could refrain from putting in the sickle, then

and there, as He longed for the day when the river of His grace

could break all bounds and stream out to a thirsty world. But it

was only His to sow; later the disciples would reap.

I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no

labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their

labours. (John 4:38).

Thus, in these words Jesus congratulated the disciples that

for them was reserved this high ministry, this great hope and

consummation for which the prophets had dreamed and toiled.

Nevertheless, so great were the importunities of the people

that Jesus consented to tarry with them two days. Although He

performed no miracles there, the people received Him joyfully

and believed that He was the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

And many more believed because of his own word;

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of

thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know

that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

(John 4:41-42).

Those two days that Jesus tarried bore abundant fruit, and

the results were firstfruits of the great Gentile harvest that was to

come. No doubt it was the teaching of these two days that played

a large part in the rich harvest of souls that took place a few

years later when Philip went down to Samaria and preached

Christ to them (Acts 8). Jesus might have tarried longer in

Samaria, and other cities in that vicinity might have received

Him just as enthusiastically. But a public demonstration in His

favor in Samaria at this time would surely have prejudiced His

future work in Jewry; so reluctantly He bade them goodbye, and

He turned His footsteps toward Galilee.

11

Chapter II

The Visit at Nazareth and Cana

2

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought

up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on

the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was

delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And

when he had opened the book, he found the place where it

was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he

hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath

sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance

to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set

at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable

year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it

again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all

them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture

fulfilled in your ears. (Luke 4:16-21).

Jesus and His disciples continued their journey northward

until they reached Galilee. It appears that He stayed there only a

short time, and then went on to Nazareth. He was well received

in Galilee, for some of the people had been in Jerusalem at the

Passover Feast, and they had seen the miracles that Jesus had

performed there. Upon returning to Capernaum, they had spread

His fame abroad (John 4:45).

This was not altogether to Christ’s liking. He was becoming

known as a “wonder-worker” before He had an opportunity to

preach to them the gospel of the Kingdom. People were wanting

healing for their bodies before healing for their souls. He did not

desire to become an object of gaping wonderment. He decided,

therefore, before He settled down in Galilee, that He would first

go to His home town of Nazareth. Leaving His disciples behind

so they could catch up on their fishing, He made the seven-hour

journey.

In the years that Jesus had spent in Nazareth, it had been His

13

Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

custom to attend the synagogue on each Sabbath. Upon the next

Sabbath day, He went with the others there to worship. Since He

had previously been a reader in the synagogue, they brought out

the scroll and gave it to Him to read. He took it and unrolled it

until He came to Chapter 61 of Isaiah. Then the whole

congregation stood to their feet while He read. Jesus did not read

the whole passage, but stopped with an exquisite preciseness at

the words, “the day of vengeance of our God.” That part of the

prophecy was not to be fulfilled at that time. This was not the

day of vengeance, but “the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Jesus went on to explain to the people that no prophet is

acceptable in his own country. He reminded them that miracles

were not limited to a geographical area, and He gave them

examples of the healing of Naaman the Syrian, and the

multiplying of the meal and oil for the widow at Sarepta, both

Gentiles.

As He continued His discourse, it appeared to the people at

Nazareth that He was saying that they were no better than

Gentiles and lepers. This struck hard at their racial pride. It was

intolerable that a mere carpenter grown up in their village should

talk to them in this way. Their anger burst out into a flame.

Rising up, some of the more vengeful citizens probably

demanded an apology for His words, and securing none, “thrust

him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill

whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down

headlong” (Lk. 4:29). His hour, however, had not yet come; and

suddenly Jesus asserted His mastery. “He passing through the

midst of them went his way.” It was not exactly a miracle, yet

it was a demonstration of personal power. Something about His

bearing overawed them. Under the spell of His presence, the

mob which had intended violence involuntarily bowed before

Him.

There would be other times when the Jews would take up

stones to kill Him, but somehow each time they would fail to

carry out their design. It was this same power that prevented the

officers from arresting Jesus after they had been given a charge

14

The Visit at Nazareth and Cana

to do so by the Sanhedrin. It was that dominion of His Spirit that

caused the soldiers to fall backward when they came to take Him

after Judas had betrayed Him.

But was there no boyhood friend in Nazareth to stand by

Him? Seemingly none. There were friends, however, in Cana of

Galilee only a few miles away. That was the village where He

had performed His first miracle of the turning of water into

wine. At Cana He would probably stay at the home of

Nathanael, one of His first disciples. Yes, at Cana He would find

a friendly reception awaiting Him. The little maiden whose

wedding He had honored by His presence would be glad for His

visit there. Those who were present at the wedding feast would

all want to see Him. No doubt there was a great indignation at

Cana when the news reached them of how rudely He had been

treated by the citizens of Nazareth. The people of Cana had little

use for those of Nazareth. Nathanael’s response to Philip’s news

about the One who came from there was, “Can there any good

thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).

The Healing of the Nobleman’s Son

Jesus had not been in Cana long when a visitor from Herod’s

Court, hearing of His arrival, sought Him to come at once to

Capernaum to heal his son. Not all of Herod’s court had shown

the spirit of Herodias. We know that Manaen, the foster-brother

of Herod, was in after-years a believer, and indeed a prophet

(Acts 13:1).

We also know that Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s

steward, was among the women who ministered to Jesus of their

substance (Luke 8:3). It has been conjectured with some

probability that the nobleman was none other than Chuza

himself.

So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he

made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman,

whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that

Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto

him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal

15

Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus

unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not

believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere

my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son

liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had

spoken unto him, and he went his way. (John 4:46-50)

It was at one o’clock in the afternoon when the nobleman

arrived. This courtier was in sore trouble. His only son was lying

sick of a deadly fever at Capernaum. The fame of Jesus’

miracles at Jerusalem as well as those performed already in

Galilee had inspired the father with a desperate hope. He had

left the bedside of his dying child and had searched until he had

located Jesus in Cana. Now he implored Him to come and heal

his son.

The request did not altogether please Jesus. Everywhere the

talk of His miracles had spread, and it seemed to Him that there

was no recognition or thought of the conditions by which

healing might he received. And what about this courtier from

Herod’s court? Herod had just taken John the Baptist and

imprisoned him in the fortress of Machairus. Although the

nobleman seemed sincere, nevertheless, it was important that

Jesus make clear that He was no mere miracle-worker or

physician, ready to place His supernatural powers at the beck

and call of anyone who wanted Him. It appeared that the

nobleman’s trip to see Him was a desperate resort after

everything else had failed.

Every minister who prays for the sick has many such people

to deal with. Some are desperate; they can think of nothing but

the fact that their loved one faces death. They have to be shown

that “healing is the children’s bread,” and that it is

appropriated by faith.

Therefore, Jesus said unto him, “Except ye see signs and

wonders, ye will not believe” (Verse 48). That was Herod’s

case. He had a sort of superstitious belief in the supernatural.

When he heard of Jesus’ ministry, he was sure that He was John

the Baptist raised from the dead (Matt. 14:1-2). Later, when

16

The Visit at Nazareth and Cana

Jesus was on trial, Herod wanted Him to perform a miracle for

him, which had He done so, Herod no doubt would have

released Him. Jesus, however, would perform no signs to gratify

the vulgar curiosity of the monarch.

Nevertheless, the nobleman’s passionate entreaty caused

Jesus to yield to his request, which illustrates how importunity

will move the heart of God. The nobleman had more desperation

than real faith, but even that desperation begat faith for healing.

Jesus told the nobleman that his son would live.

It appears that Jesus’ words calmed the anxieties of the

father, for instead of going directly to Capernaum, he slept

somewhere that night while on the road. He could have gotten

back within five or six hours, but he believed the words of Jesus.

The following day, while still on the way, he met his servants

who brought him the wondrous news that his son was

recovering. The father asked them when he began to amend. The

servants replied that it was at the seventh hour of the previous

day, the hour when Jesus spoke the word (John 4:51-53).

There is a great truth in this incident. Not all sick persons

have faith for instantaneous miracles. But if they will only

believe the word that is spoken, they will, as the nobleman’s

son, begin to amend from that hour.

17

Chapter III

The Demoniac in the Synagogue

3

From Cana Jesus went to Capernaum on the sea of Galilee,

making the trip soon after the nobleman’s son was healed. There

has been some dispute as to where Capernaum was located, but

it is generally believed that it was situated at the northwest

corner of the Sea of Galilee. The lake is some 13 miles long and

8 miles wide, and shaped somewhat like a harp. It lies 682 feet

below the level of the Mediterranean Sea, and thus basks in

tropical heat. The water is crystal clear and teems with edible

fish. In the Lord’s day, the surface of the lake was dotted with

the boats of fishermen of whom were Andrew and Peter and

James and John. On its banks were thriving cities, Tiberias,

Bethsaida, Chorazin, Capernaum, Magdala, and others.

Capernaum means Village of Nahum, and tradition claims it was

the burial place of the prophet.

Capernaum was a city of unusual prosperity. First of all, it

was the principal center of the fishing industry. A suburb of the

town was given to the salting of fish, which were packed in kegs

and exported. South of the city is a fertile plain which brought

forth figs, grapes, olives, and nuts in luxurious abundance.

One other important circumstance contributed to

Capernaum’s prosperity, and that was the fact that several of the

great trade routes converged at this point. Caravans from the

East and West, as well as from the North and South, crossed

near Capernaum. This heavy stream of traffic made the city a

great trade center. It was, therefore, more than a provincial town

in Jesus’ day; it was in fact fast becoming a cosmopolitan city.

Capernaum, therefore, was well adapted and situated for the

purposes of the Lord’s ministry. Nowhere else could He have

secured so extensive a hearing, except perhaps at Jerusalem,

which, however, as we have already noted, responded only

reluctantly to His revolutionary teaching.

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Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

It will be noted presently, the great number of sick people

that were brought to Christ for healing, while He was in Galilee.

Not far from Capernaum at Tiberias were hot springs where

many sick folk congregated. The nobleman no doubt let it be

known in Tiberias, how his son was healed. The news that this

distinguished family had professed faith in Jesus would spread

rapidly, and it is not surprising that the sick gathering around

these spots would seek to have Christ lay hands upon them for

healing.

The Meeting in the Synagogue

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on

the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and

taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he

taught them as one that had authority, and not as the

scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an

unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what

have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou

come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy

One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy

peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit

had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of

him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they

questioned among themselves saying, What thing is this?

what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth

he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey Him. (Mark

1:21-27).

Christ’s disciples, as we have noted, seem not to have been

with Him at Nazareth and Cana, with the possible exception of

Nathanael who lived in Cana. Apparently they remained in their

homes while He went on to Nazareth. We find them at

Capernaum and active in their occupations when the Lord

returned.

Jesus stayed at the home of Peter for a time, but later it

appears that He had His own house. Perhaps someone healed

through His ministry asked Him to use it for the time (Mark 2:1-

2). Regardless of who owned the house, it apparently suffered

20

The Demoniac in the Synagogue

damage, when four men broke open the roof to let a palsied man

down for healing (Mark 2:1-4).

After establishing His headquarters in Capernaum, Jesus

began regular attendance at the local synagogue, where He was

often invited to speak (Luke 4:31). The structure was of white

limestone, some sixty feet wide and eighty feet in length, and

was one of the finest synagogues in the land. It had been built by

a wealthy centurion who was a friend of the Jewish people

(Luke 7:4-5). The synagogue was later destroyed, perhaps by an

earthquake, and built again only to suffer another devastation.

But the stones are still there today, and the site is considered

one of the best authenticated places in Israel.

There was a women’s gallery in the synagogue which was

supported by stone pillars. The women and girls did not enter

the lower part of the building to reach this gallery, but ascended

an outside stairway of stone.

On the day that Jesus made His first appearance in the

synagogue at Capernaum, we can fairly well trace the order of

events. The morning service would have been at nine o’clock.

Shortly before that hour, people from every part of the city could

have been seen making their way to the new white synagogue.

Farmers and fisher-folk came with their families. Zebedee

arrived with his wife and their full-grown sons, James and John.

Andrew came with Peter and his family. Perhaps Jesus walked

along with them. Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, was there

with his wife and daughter. It is not improbable that “the

nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum” and whom Jesus

healed was present. Many people had heard that the stranger

who had been performing wonderful miracles was in town and

was expected at the synagogue. By nine o’clock the place was

crowded to the doors.

The service began. The chief minister rose to begin prayers.

The whole congregation bowed their heads. When prayers were

over, one of the rolls was taken out of the ark, and a rabbi or

prominent person began to read. After that, the chief minister

looked toward the visitor sitting next to Peter, and told Him that

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Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

if He had a word of exhortation to come forward and speak.

Jesus accepted the invitation and went to the front and sat in the

chair of the rabbi. Every eye was fixed on Him as He began to

speak. People had heard many rumors concerning Him. Who

was He? What was His teaching? As Jesus began to speak, it

was not in the dull conventional tone of the scribes. His words

went forth with power and authority.

We do not have a record of the actual words Jesus spoke that

day. But it is probable that His message was along similar lines

to that which He preached on the Mount of Beatitudes. The

reaction of the people to the sermon was nearly the same as that

which occurred when He came down from the Mount (Matt.

7:28-29; Mark 1:27).

It was not the intention of Jesus that the people should get

the idea that He was coming to overthrow the Law. He said,

“Think not that I am come to destroy... but to fulfill” (Matt.

5:17). But He did show that He was lifting the Law to a higher

and nobler plane. The following is probably an example of what

He said:

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time,

Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in

danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That

whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall

be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to

his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but

whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell

fire.... Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time,

Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That

whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath

committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Matt.

5:21-22, 27-28).

Jesus thus took the people far above the letter of the Old

Law, telling them to “Love your enemies, bless them that

curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them

which despitefully use you, and persecute you....” (Matt.

5:44).

22

The Demoniac in the Synagogue

Suddenly, while Jesus was in the midst of His discourse,

there was a wild disturbance. A demon-possessed man had

slipped into the congregation. Apparently this unfortunate

person was not violent, except at times. However, when the evil

spirit was disquieted, it would throw him into a spasm. Demons

are very sensitive to the presence of divine power, as anyone

who has had experience in casting out these evil spirits well

knows. We can understand that the presence of Christ would be

quickly felt in the spirit world. Demons writhe in agony when

the power of the Holy Spirit is manifested in their vicinity. The

evil spirit realized that his own security was threatened, and he

cried out saying:

... Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou

Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know

thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. (Mark 1:24).

We notice that some who write on the life of Christ doubt

the existence of evil spirits. David Smith in The Days of His

Flesh says:

The idea is of course simply a fantastic notion of a dark

age unskilled in natural science, and it was nothing strange that

people in the New Testament should have entertained it. But it

is disconcerting that it seems to have been entertained by Jesus

also. He would address the supposed demon, rebuking it and

commanding it come out of the man! That He should thus

share the limitation of His age is at first blush somewhat of a

shock of faith; yet, even if it be allowed, there is perhaps no

real occasion for disquietude. When the Lord of Glory came

down to earth, He assumed the nature of the children of men,

being made at every point like unto his brethren, and it might

be accepted as a welcome evidence of the reality of the

Incarnation if He were found to have shared the scientific and

metaphysical conceptions of His contemporaries.

This weird exegesis on demons is a pitiful one, written as it

is by one who evidently has had no practical knowledge of the

reality of the spirit world. The activities of demon forces in the

earth today have become so widespread that to deny their

existence can only mark a professed Christian as a person of

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Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

incredible ignorance. The above “explanation” is a miserable

attempt to make Christ an ignoramus who fell in with the

delusions of His time.

As the people of Capernaum that day listened to the speaker

with mute astonishment, hanging on to His words with deep

reverent admiration, the demon in the man disturbed by the

presence of Christ, cried out in fear. Perhaps the evil spirit

hoped to break up the meeting and thus bring discredit upon the

speaker.

Many times in the writer’s experience, we have witnessed

demons distressed by the presence of an anointed minister. They

may rave against him, demanding to be let alone. But Jesus

recognized the source of the disturbance and spoke to the evil

spirit, commanding it to come out of the man. Immediately the

demoniac fell to the floor in a fearful paroxysm, screaming and

convulsed. But it was soon all over. The man arose wonderfully

healed and in his right mind.

It was a thrilling moment for the congregation. The ruler of

the synagogue, as well as the other officials, had sat transfixed

by this strange occurrence. They had seen the man, his face

twisted and distorted, collapsing and writhing on the pavement.

They heard the shriek of the baffled and tormented devil, while

women in the gallery cried out with fear and terror. But the man

was now in his right mind and could talk to the people in normal

conversation. The deliverance of the demoniac was so

remarkable as to command the astonishment and admiration of

the entire audience.

The Healing of Peter’s Mother-In-Law

The news of what happened, spread like wildfire through the

community. People from a distance went back to tell other

friends. By evening the whole region had heard about it. In the

meanwhile Jesus returned to Peter’s house with James and John.

And forthwith, when they were come out of the

synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and

24

The Demoniac in the Synagogue

Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother

lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And he

came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and

immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto

them. (Mark 1:29-31).

Peter lived with his wife and her mother in a little house by

the seashore. When Jesus and the group reached the door of the

home, they were met by Peter’s wife, who had distressing news

to tell. The mother-in-law, who had been feeling badly enough

not to have attended the synagogue services, had become ill with

a raging fever. Peter having witnessed the miracle at the

synagogue, lost no time in requesting Jesus to come into the sick

woman’s room. Jesus complied, and speaking to the mother,

took her by the hand and lifted her up. It is to be noted that Jesus

did not pray for the afflicted one. He exercised His authority and

commanded the sick to be well. The Lord in this case recognized

the presence of a spirit of oppression, and as Luke 4:39 declares,

“He... rebuked the fever.” The woman at once felt the flow of

strength into her body, and at the same moment, the fever left.

Obeying the command to arise, she got up out of bed and

began to help prepare the dinner. “She arose and ministered

unto them.” Faith is an act. The act of Peter’s mother-in-law

may well be emulated by other sick persons. When they receive

healing, they should begin to repay the Lord with their grateful

service.

The Lord then enjoyed a few hours of relaxation. It was the

Sabbath day and the rules of traveling about on that day were

very strict. Nevertheless, when the sun was set and the Sabbath

was over, there was great excitement in the city of Capernaum.

The eager multitude began to press about the doors of Peter’s

home, bringing with them their sick and diseased.

When the even was come, they brought unto him many

that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits

with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might

be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet,

saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our

sicknesses. (Matt. 8:16-17).

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Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

What a strange scene it was. Only a few steps away was the

Sea of Galilee, one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the

world, reflecting the glow of the evening sunset. But all around

the door were the hideous results of sin—not necessarily the sin

of the individual, but the sin of the race. For there was no

sickness before the fall of man. How many times have we beheld

similar heart-rending scenes of a multitude of sick folk who have

come to a meeting where people are ministered to for healing?

How sad is the sight—cripples, water-head babies, imbeciles,

mongoloids, paralytics, demon-possessed lunatics, others

wasting away with an incurable disease. There are those who

would tell such people that they are suffering for the glory of

God. Peter, who saw Jesus heal that day, knew better. When he

preached his sermon at the house of Cornelius, the apostle

explained that sickness owed its origin to Satan rather than to

God. He said that Jesus “went about doing good, and healing

all that were oppressed of the devil.”

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy

Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and

healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was

with him. (Acts 10:38).

Far into the deepening twilight Jesus ministered to the sick

and diseased. Tortured souls were brought forward. The evil

spirits repeated the words of the one in the synagogue. They

cried out saying, “Thou art Christ, the Son of God” (Luke

4:41). They had known Jesus in the ages before, when they were

holy beings. The terrible recollection of lost opportunity must

have swept through their minds in a paroxysm of despair and

hopelessness; for they well knew they had long since crossed the

line whereby no process of redemption could ever save them.

Rejected of God, their corrupted natures had become

irreversibly fixed. To come into the presence of Christ was,

therefore, unspeakable torture, and they cried out in their

anguish.

Jesus could do nothing for these evil spirits. They were

beyond mercy, and it was His duty to close their mouths, lest

26

The Demoniac in the Synagogue

they call attention prematurely to His deity. He, therefore,

“suffered them not to speak.” What a warning to sinners who

carelessly ignore the call of Christ, who stands at their heart’s

door knocking. For the time must come when they too, if they

reject His call, will be forever outside the pale of mercy, with

the demons and lost spirits.

Jesus was touched with the infirmities of the afflicted, and

laboring into the night, He ministered until every sick person

had received deliverance. Matthew makes a significant remark.

He says that Jesus healed these people “that it might be

fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying

Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (Matt.

8:17). The meaning is unmistakable. Jesus bore our sicknesses

upon Himself, even as He did our sins. Divine healing is in the

atonement! Christ bore our sicknesses, and we need not bear

them again!

At last Jesus had completed His task. He turned to the

doorway of the house of His friend, Peter. But when He retired

that night, it was not to sleep. He faced a problem that every

man who has success in the healing ministry faces. That day He

had been unexpectedly called upon to deliver a demon-possessed

man. This led to the great multitude of sick folk coming for

healing. Consequently, He had been unable to give any teaching

concerning the kingdom. He knew that if that continued, people

would soon come to look upon Him as a mere wonder-worker

instead of “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the

world.”

Healing of the soul must ever come before healing of the

body. Healing is the children’s bread. Yet deliverance of the sick

was a part of Christ’s ministry. It expressed God’s compassion

for the afflicted and the suffering. Moreover, it opened a great

door, for it brought the people to Him.

Early the next day, long before sunrise, Jesus arose from His

bed and without disturbing the rest of the household, departed

for a solitary place. He needed communion with His Heavenly

Father at that important moment.

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Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

And in the morning, rising up a great while before

day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and

there prayed. And Simon and they that were with him

followed after him. And when they had found him, they

said unto him, All men seek for thee. And he said unto

them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach

there also: for therefore came I forth. And he preached in

their synagogues throughout all Galilee and cast out devils.

(Mark 1:35-39).

When daybreak came and Peter and the other disciples

arose, they found people already gathering at the door, but Jesus

was nowhere to be found. We can understand Peter’s dilemma

when inquirers began trying to exact a promise from him that

Jesus would minister to them.

What a crowd there must have been that morning on the

street in front of Peter’s house. No wonder when he and James

and John finally found Jesus they said, “All men seek for thee.”

Jesus replied that it was necessary for Him to go to the other

cities round about—although it may be that He yielded to the

importunity of the multitude to minister to them before He and

His disciples departed.

28

Chapter IV

The Healing of the Leper

4

Up until this time, the disciples of Jesus had not gone out

into the full-time ministry. They accompanied the Lord on

certain trips and then returned to pursue their fishing occupation.

Now they were back again in Capernaum. Sometimes they

worked at their trade far into the night, possibly to get caught up

financially. On this particular occasion, they had toiled all night

and had taken nothing.

Jesus in the meantime had secured a few hours of much

needed rest. But while He slept the people surrounded the place

where He was, and when He awakened, He found that a large

audience was waiting to hear Him. Realizing that the house was

not a convenient place to give the people instruction, He made

His way to the seashore where some of His disciples had

beached their boats after a fruitless night of labor.

But even there He could not speak with liberty. The people,

eager to catch every syllable, or to touch Him for healing, began

to crowd in closer and closer. Seeing that Peter’s boat was

nearby where he and his brother were washing their nets, Jesus

beckoned to him to push his boat out a little from the land so

that He might use it as a pulpit. Then as the people congregated

along the shore, Jesus began to teach them the Word of God.

When He had finished His discourse, Jesus turned to Peter.

Since there were no fish in either of the boats, He knew that

Peter and his partners had spent an unprofitable night. He then

requested that they push out into the deep a little way from the

shore and cast in their nets one more time. Impetuous Peter

always ready to say the first thing that came into his mind,

reminded the Lord that they had toiled all night and had taken

nothing. Nevertheless, at Christ’s word, they would try once

more.

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Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

When they brought up the net, they found that they enclosed

a great multitude of fishes, so that the net began to break! They

motioned for their partners, James and John, to come to their

assistance, and soon they filled both boats with fish until the

small craft were actually about to sink.

When they got the boats to the shore, Peter began to

consider the extent of the miracle. What did he do? Did he give

thanks to the Lord for the great catch? No, in his impetuosity he

realized as he had not before, that Jesus was the very Son of

God, and by contrast he was a sinful man. Indeed Peter had been

a rough fisherman, one not above cursing when things did not go

right. A flash of conviction told Peter that He was totally

unworthy to be a companion of the Lord. Impulsively he cried

out saying, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O

Lord.” Yet, that was the last thing that Peter wanted—for the

Lord to depart from him.

How differently the hearts of men react to the gospel! One

of the thieves on the cross mocked the Lord, calling Him in

effect an impostor. But the other, deeply penitent, rebuked the

first and said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when thou

comest into thy kingdom.” One thief went to the region of lost

spirits, the other to paradise (Luke 23:42-43).

Herod wanted Jesus to perform a miracle to gratify his

vulgar curiosity. There was no thought on his part of taking

Christ as his Saviour. On the other hand, the miracle of the

draught of fishes had the effect of making Peter aware of his

sinfulness, and it filled him with self-loathing. Today miracles

still have this dual effect, depending upon the individual. Some

consider them as mere wonders to excite curiosity. Others see

the hand of God in the miracle and are brought to the point of

deep conviction of their sins.

But the words that came from Jesus to Peter were not those

of self-reproach, but of great gentleness. He said, “Fear not;

from henceforth thou shalt catch men” (Luke 5:10). It was

Christ’s call to Peter to leave everything behind and launch out

into the full-time ministry. But there was work to do first. The

30

The Healing of the Leper

boats had to be cleaned, the nets mended. The fish had to be

packed in boxes for the caravans which would carry them north

to Jerusalem or west toward the ships of the Great Sea. Finally,

their task completed, they were ready to leave all and set out

with Jesus in the great adventure of reaching a lost world for

God.

The Healing of the Leper

We should note at this point that there is a difference of

opinion among Bible scholars as to the exact chronological order

of some of the events which transpired at this particular period

in our Lord’s ministry. One such instance is that of the healing

of the leper. We believe, however, that the exact sequence in

which the miracle occurred is of no great moment. It is enough

to know it happened at this particular time when Jesus was

making a tour of the Galilean cities. The Lord had just come

down out of the mountain where He had been teaching the

multitude and had entered a town—probably Bethsaida or

Chorazin. At this moment, He was met by a most forlorn

creature, a man who was afflicted with the disease of leprosy. At

one time the man had enjoyed good health and probably never

thought that he would become the victim of so foul a plague.

Then one day he noticed an inflamed spot on his flesh. What

could it be? He dared not think of what it might mean; but

before long, his worst fears were realized. Others noticed it, and

he was reported to a priest, who after examining him,

pronounced him a leper. From then on, he was doomed to a

living death, cast out from the presence of others. For the rest of

his life he would have to make his living as a beggar. Only death

could give him surcease of his misery.

Then one day news came to him of the young man from

Nazareth. He heard of people with incurable afflictions who had

been healed by Jesus. A wild hope sprang up in his breast! But

the question was, how could he meet Jesus? Because he was a

leper, he was not allowed to mingle among the crowd. He could

not go into the town. People would flee in horror if he

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Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

approached them. Even the rabbis would throw stones at him if

he came near them. The Pharisees when they saw a leper would

cry, “Away to thine own place, lest thou pollute others.”

Leprosy is a type of sin. It holds a fearful and tragic fate,

once the disease gets seated in the blood. But the wild hope

would not leave the poor beggar. He would watch for the

moment when Jesus was separated from the rest of the people;

then he would go up to Him and make his desperate appeal. And

that is what he did. He cried out in a pleading voice, “If thou

wilt, thou canst make me clean.” And to his unbounded joy,

the Lord put forth His hand without a moment’s hesitation, and

touching the leper said, “I will; be thou clean.” Thus we see

Christ’s expression of God’s will concerning sickness and

disease. Some in their ignorance of the Scriptures, have taught

that it is not God’s will to heal. Thousands of sick and afflicted

have gone through life patiently suffering because they have

been told that God has sent the sickness upon them for some

mysterious reason. Yet, Jesus taught that sickness was of the

devil (Luke 13:11, 16). The apostles taught that Jesus healed

those that were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). The

Scriptures teach that sickness is a curse (Deut. 28) and that Jesus

Christ was revealed to redeem men from the curse (Gal. 3:13).

So Jesus Christ not only healed the leper, thus inferring it

was God’s will to do so, but He plainly said, “I will; be thou

clean.” The fact is that if sickness were the will of God, every

physician who attempts to cure would be violating the divine

will and every hospital would be a house of rebellion.

Yet it seemed a dangerous thing for Jesus to reach out and

touch the man. According to the Law, He contracted ceremonial

pollution. In pronouncing the man clean He had trespassed upon

the province of the priest, and given the rulers a pretext for

accusing Him of violating the Law. As has been said, it was a

glorious violation of the letter of the Law, but it was at the same

time a glorious illustration of the spirit of the Law, which

declares that mercy is better than sacrifice. Christ was not

polluted by touching the leper, but instead the whole body of the

32

The Healing of the Leper

leper was healed and cleansed by the hand of Christ. So it is that

Christ touching man’s sinful nature cleansed it; yet at the same

time He remained without sin.

Nevertheless, Jesus, even while healing the people, must

fulfill the Law by perfect obedience. The miracle had not been

witnessed by the multitude. He told the man to say naught to

anyone, but to go and show himself to the priest and to offer the

things commanded by the Law of Moses, and to secure the

certification that he was clean.

The rites pertaining to the sacerdotal cleaning of the leper

are fully described in Leviticus 13-14. The priest took the leper

outside the town and performed an elaborate ceremony before

pronouncing him clean. The man made an offering, shaved off

his hair, bathed, and remained seven days out of his house. The

ceremony was so elaborate and occupied a considerable period

of time so that there would be no dispute over his actual

cleansing.

Christ told the leper to show himself to the priest for a

witness. For one thing, Jesus wanted to give the religious

authorities of the nation ample evidence that His mission was of

God. On the other hand, He enjoined the leper to say nothing to

the people. There were two reasons for this. The people had

already witnessed many of His miracles. There was danger of an

over-emphasis, that people would get to look upon Him more as

a miracle man than as a Saviour.

He healed the leper because of His compassion for him, but

considered it advisable that nothing be said about the matter. He

did not want to put such accent on miracles that men would be

carried away by the spectacular and forget that He was calling

them to humility and self-effacement.

There was another reason. This miracle would excite the

emotions of the people; they would press upon Him until He

would no longer be able to minister to them. Jesus had no

modern auditorium to preach in; there was no well-trained band

of ushers to rope off the crowd; nor was there a waiting

limousine which would pick Him up and whisk Him away to a

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Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

place of rest.

Unfortunately, the leper in the exuberance and joy of

deliverance overlooked this admonition. Failure to understand

that obedience is better than sacrifice, the man instead of

carrying out the Lord’s instructions began to publish the news of

his cleansing to everyone who would listen. As a consequence,

“Jesus could no more openly enter the city, but was without

in desert places” (Mark 1:45). Even so, we are told that the

people came from every quarter.

34

Chapter V

The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant

5

While Jesus was carrying on His ministry in the various

cities of Galilee, He preached a sermon which is known as the

Sermon on the Mount, on a hill north of Capernaum. In bringing

His sermon to a conclusion, Jesus made some searching remarks

that must have given His hearers serious thought:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall

enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the

will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me

in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy

name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy

name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess

unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that

work iniquity. (Matt. 7:21-23).

Lest the people suppose that supernatural demonstrations

were always proof of holiness, or even of the person’s right

relationship with God, Jesus pointed out that on the day of

judgment there would be some who would come to Him and say

that they had prophesied in His name and cast out devils and did

many wonderful works, but He would have to tell them to depart

from Him, for they were workers of iniquity.

Many questions have been raised concerning these matters,

and some frankly say that they cannot see how this could

possibly be true, although since Jesus spoke the words they must

be. That such cases exist, however, was proven by the acts of a

man who was standing at the time a few feet from Jesus,

listening to all He said. His name was Judas Iscariot.

We have every reason to believe that Judas healed the sick

and cast out devils as did the other disciples. Acts 1:17

specifically declares that Judas “had obtained a part of this

ministry.” Jesus gave the sign of true discipleship, saying, “By

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Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:20).

The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant

Now we are told that following His Sermon on the Mount,

the Lord returned to Capernaum. Upon entering the city, He was

met by certain elders of the Jews, who informed Him about the

servant of a certain centurion who was ready to die.

Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience

of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain

centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and

ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him

the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come

and heal his servant. (Luke 7:1-3).

There are those who take exception to the accuracy of the

story at this point, because of a trivial variation between the

Luke and Matthew narratives. This, they claim, is a proof

against the verbal inspiration of the Scriptures. They point out

that Luke says that the elders of the Jews brought the message to

Jesus, whereas in Matthew 8:5, it declares that it was the

centurion that came to Him.

Those who find a contradiction here, merely quibble over

words. That there are variations proves that there was no

collusion of witnesses in the writing of the gospels. In the same

chapter, it speaks of Jesus’ healing the multitude at eventide

(Matt. 8:16). Luke 4:40 says this took place when the sun was

setting. Of course we know that the sun was not setting in the

technical sense—it was the earth rotating on its axis that caused

the effect. But does not everyone know what is meant?

A lawyer writes a legal document that spells out every

technicality. God knew that the Bible would be more easily

understood if it were written as it is, rather than as a legal or a

scientific document. Words are skeletons of the thought. For

example, John 4:1 says:

When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had

heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than

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The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant

John.

This verse states that Jesus baptized. Was this true? In the

sense that Jesus permitted His disciples to do it, it was true. But

that He actually performed the act Himself, technically, was not

true, as the next verse states. “Though Jesus Himself baptized

not, but his disciples” (Verse 2). The present instance is a

similar case. The Matthew account tells about the centurion’s

request—for it was his request—but the Luke account goes into

detail and explains that the centurion did not actually go

personally, but sent certain elders of the Jews as his messengers.

It also explains why the centurion had not gone himself (Verse

7). But we are ahead of our story. Let us return to the elders who

met Jesus as He entered the city of Capernaum.

The news of Jesus’ return to Capernaum had brought joy to

the heart of this officer who was not a Jew himself. He was a

centurion of Herod’s army who had probably heard of the

miracle of the healing of the nobleman’s son. Perhaps he had

also been present in the synagogue on the Sabbath when Jesus

had healed the demoniac. The centurion without actually

becoming a proselyte, had reverence for the Jewish faith, for he

had built for the people this beautiful synagogue, and had

thereby won their gratitude.

There is another circumstance which shows the centurion to

have been an unusually kind and gracious man. He treated his

servants not as slaves as was common in those days, but almost

as members of his family. The text says that a “servant, who

was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die” (Luke 7:2). So

when the news went through the town that Jesus had returned,

the centurion immediately called for certain of the elders of the

Jews to entreat Jesus to come and heal his servant.

The elders being much indebted to the centurion for his

beneficence in building them a place of worship, could hardly do

otherwise than respond to his request. It was still early in the

ministry of Christ, and the rulers of the Jews had not yet taken a

public stand against Him. There are some who believe that these

Jews feigned approval of the centurion’s purpose and agreed to

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Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

the request only because they did not wish to offend their

benefactor. However, we hardly think this view is correct, for

apparently the ministry of Christ at this time had deeply

impressed the people of Capernaum. One of the rulers of the

synagogue was Jairus who shortly would be seeking the services

of Jesus to heal his daughter from a fatal malady.

At any rate, the deputation of elders met Jesus as He was

entering into Capernaum. They informed Him about the

centurion and to strengthen their petition, they said, “That he

was worthy for whom he should do this; For he loveth our

nation, and he hath built us a synagogue” (Luke 7:4-5).

Jesus made no comment on this extraordinary explanation as

to why He should heal the centurion’s servant. Nevertheless, He

consented to go with them. It is true that by works men show

forth their faith, but works are not a basis for receiving the gift

of God, which is entirely by grace. No puny efforts of man can

possibly purchase God’s blessings.

It is not uncommon even today to hear people seeking

healing or salvation on a similar basis. There are those who

think God should answer their petition because they have been a

Sunday school teacher, or have given to the poor, or performed

other good works. No one is healed, or for that matter, saved by

their good works. Nevertheless, Christ in His condescension

overlooked their faulty understanding of the ways of God. Since

He could not commend their theological views, He said nothing.

In His own spirit, Jesus felt that the centurion was ready to

receive His blessing, although not for the reason mentioned. And

so He said, “I will come and heal him” (Matt. 8:7).

Now the centurion would likely have been horrified if he

had heard the plea that the elders had made on his behalf. It

seems that the delegation had scarcely left his house before he

had misgivings. The soldier, although perhaps not well versed in

the Scriptures, nevertheless, seemed to have an intuitive

understanding of what was right and proper.

It occurred to him that he, a centurion engaged in

commanding a band of Roman soldiers was not worthy that

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The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant

Jesus should come under his roof.

Then 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:

Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto

thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

For 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. (Luke 7:6-8).

The centurion had faith. Being under the direct authority of

Herod, and familiar with those of Herod’s court, he undoubtedly

knew about the case of the nobleman’s son, how Jesus had said

the word and the boy was healed. His reasoning was that

although he had only one hundred men under him, nevertheless,

within the limits of his authority, he could speak the word and

his command would be obeyed. Therefore, if Christ was Lord

over principalities, did He not have power to issue a command

and it would be obeyed? Let Jesus speak the word and

ministering angels would carry out His orders.

Some have considered the centurion’s statement “a

grotesque and heathenish conception.” But Jesus regarded it as a

manifestation of faith greater than any that He had found in

Israel. After telling the centurion’s messengers that the servant

was healed, Jesus made a most extraordinary remark:

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the

east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac,

and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of

the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there

shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matt. 8:11-12).

In these words, Jesus foresaw the self-righteous Jews

rejecting the message of repentance and being cast away into the

outer darkness, while on the other hand, Gentiles from the east

and the west would come and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and

Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

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Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

This statement of Jesus was obviously disturbing to the ears

of the Jews. They conceded that the centurion who had built

them a synagogue was worthy of some consideration, but to

declare that Gentiles would be on par with Abraham, Isaac and

Jacob, was to them a most unorthodox statement. It served to put

them on the alert to watch Jesus carefully for any further

statements of this nature.

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Chapter VI

The Raising of the Son of the Widow of

6

Nain

When the messengers of the centurion returned to the house,

they found that the servant was made completely whole. It was

impossible that this miracle occurring in such a prominent home,

should not come to the attention of the whole city. Jesus could

not stay long in Capernaum, so the next day (perhaps the

translation “subsequently” is better), Jesus set out on the trip to

the little city of Nain. He could not escape the people, for as He

and His disciples made their way, “much people” followed

Him.

The distance from Capernaum to Nain is about twenty-five

miles. It lies on the west slope of Little Hermon not far from

Endor where the witch who was visited by Saul once lived. By

leaving early in the morning and sailing to the southern part of

the lake, and then walking the rest of the way, they probably

reached their destination some time in the afternoon.

A person standing on an elevated position near the city of

Nain that day would have noted an interesting circumstance.

There was a procession in the city that was making its mournful

way toward the city gate, and another that was following Jesus;

both groups were so moving that when they reached the gate,

they would meet.

The procession moving out of the city was a funeral train

making its way to some ancient burial caves which incidentally

may still be pointed out today; they are located about a mile

from the city.

A funeral is always a sad scene, but this procession had a

pathos deeper than usual, for the young man being carried out

was the “only son of his mother, and she was a widow.” On

the wicker bier lay the body of the dead lad. Even at a distance

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Christ’s Early Ministry in Galilee

the wails of the mourners could be heard. The Jews, as was their

custom at funerals, expressed their anguish for the poor widow

in doleful cries.

The followers of Jesus stood aside to let the cortege pass.

The broken-hearted mother tottered by. She had no eyes for the

Man who stood watching the sorrowful sight. The light had gone

out of her life, and she was quietly sobbing out her grief.

Jesus looked on the tortured woman, and her grief moved

upon His heartstrings. The sight of her sorrow appealed

irresistibly to Him. Pausing only to say to the mother, “Weep

not,” He approached the dead lad. As He touched the bier,

something about His presence caused the pallbearers to stand

still. Then He spoke to the dead and said, “Young man, I say

unto thee, Arise” (Luke 7:14). These words of authority went

out into the spirit world calling the departed soul back into the

body.

It was a moment of breathless drama. For a few seconds no

one moved. The mourners ceased their wailing. The watchers

were transfixed by the strange scene. Then it happened! As if

awakened from a deep sleep, the lad sat up and began to speak.

What a dramatic moment it was as Jesus delivered the youth to

his mother! Tears of grief were suddenly turned into tears of

uncontrollable joy. It was a rehearsal for the resurrection day

when loved ones are brought together again. This great truth of

life beyond the grave, Jesus unequivocably taught:

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the

which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And

shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the

resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the

resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28-29).

And what about the audience? What indescribable awe must

have settled upon them! Death is that veil that conceals from

human vision that which goes on beyond the grave. Yet that veil

had parted at the words of the man of Nazareth!

And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God,

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The Raising of the Son of the Widow of Nain

saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and

that God hath visited His people. And this rumour of Him

went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the

region round about. (Luke 7:16-17).

The writer once saw a young boy that had been killed in an

accident, brought back to life through the prayer of faith. It was

a scene that baffled description. He can understand something of

the tremendous emotional experience the people must have had

that day as they witnessed this amazing scene of the widow’s

son being brought back to life.

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Document Outline

- Christ's Early Ministry in Galilee

- Contents

- 1 The Woman of Samaria

- 2 The Visit at Nazareth and Cana

- The Healing of the Nobleman’s Son

- 3 The Demoniac in the Synagogue

- The Meeting in the Synagogue

- The Healing of Peter’s Mother-In-Law

- 4 The Healing of the Leper

- The Healing of the Leper

- 5 The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant

- The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant

- 6 The Raising of the Son of the Widow of Nain

Table of Contents

The Woman of Samaria.

The Visit at Nazareth and Cana.

The Demoniac in the Synagogue.

The Healing of the Leper.

The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant.

The Raising of the Son of the Widow of Nain.

Christ's Early Ministry in Galilee

Contents

The Healing of the Nobleman’s Son

The Meeting in the Synagogue

The Healing of Peter’s Mother-In-Law

The Healing of the Leper

The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant