Healing of the Centurion’s Bondman: Greater Faith than Any in Israel (7:1-10)

CHAPTER 7

1 And when he had completed all his words in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion’s bondman who was dear to him was ill and about to die; 3 and having heard of Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, begging him that he might come and save his bondman. 4 But they, being come to Jesus, besought him diligently, saying, He is worthy to whom thou shouldest grant this, 5 for he loves our nation, and himself has built the synagogue for us. 6 And Jesus went with them. But already, when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent to him friends, saying to him, Lord, do not trouble thyself, for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof. 7 Wherefore neither did I count myself worthy to come to thee. But say by a word and my servant shall be healed. 8 For “I” also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers, and I say to this one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my bondman, Do this, and he does it. 9 And Jesus hearing this wondered at him, and turning to the crowd following him said, I say to you, Not even in Israel have I found so great faith. 10 And they who had been sent returning to the house found the bondman, who was ill, in good health.

The Widow’s Son is Raised in Nain (7:11-17)

11 And it came to pass afterwards he went into a city called Nain, and many of his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 And as he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she a widow, and a very considerable crowd of the city was with her. 13 And the Lord, seeing her, was moved with compassion for her, and said to her, Weep not; 14 and coming up he touched the bier, and the bearers stopped. And he said, Youth, I say to thee, Wake up. 15 And the dead sat up and began to speak; and he gave him to his mother. 16 And fear seized on all, and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet has been raised up amongst us; and God has visited his people. 17 And this report went out in all Judaea concerning him, and in all the surrounding country.

Biblical Accounts of Resurrection. There are ten Biblical accounts of people returning to life in the past (although many more are promised in the future); three are in the Old Testament, and seven are in the New Testament.

Elijah raised the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-22).
Elisha raised the son of the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:32-35).
The man whose body touched Elisha’s bones (2 Kings 13:20-21).
Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15).
Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus (Luke 8:41-55).
Jesus raised Lazarus (John 11:1-44).
Jesus was raised (Matt. 28:5-8; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:5-6).
Many saints at the resurrection of Jesus arose (Matt. 27:50-53).
Peter raised Dorcas (Acts 9:36-41).
Paul raised Eutychus (Acts 20:9-10).

In every case except one, those who were raised died again. Those who were raised to life experienced 'revivification', but did not come into the glorified condition of the body. Only Jesus was raised in a glorious condition (Phil. 3:21), and thus He is said to "become the firstfruits of them that slept" (1 Cor. 15:20). The Lord Jesus today stands alone in the first resurrection, but He will be joined by millions at the rapture! Those whom Jesus raised as a man on the earth were raised but not glorified. Those whom Jesus will raise as a glorified man will be raised and glorified!¹

Jesus’ Commendation of John (7:18-35)

Doubts by John, Miracles Done by Jesus, His Answer to John (vv.18-23)

18 And the disciples of John brought him word concerning all these things: 19 and John, having called two of his disciples, sent to Jesus, saying, Art “thou” he that is coming, or are we to wait for another? 20 But the men having come to him said, John the baptist has sent us to thee, saying, Art “thou” he that is coming, or are we to wait for another? 21 In that hour he healed many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and to many blind he granted sight. 22 And Jesus answering said to them, Go, bring back word to John of what ye have seen and heard: that blind see, lame walk, lepers are cleansed, deaf hear, dead are raised, poor are evangelized; 23 and blessed is whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Commendation of John by Jesus (vv.24-30)

24 And the messengers of John having departed, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken by the wind? 25 But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in delicate garments? Behold, those who are in splendid clothing and live luxuriously are in the courts of kings. 26 But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and what is more excellent than a prophet. 27 This is he concerning whom it is written, Behold, “I” send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee; 28 for I say unto you, Among them that are born of women a greater prophet is no one than John the baptist; but he who is a little one in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 29 (And all the people who heard it, and the tax-gatherers, justified God, having been baptised with the baptism of John; 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rendered null as to themselves the counsel of God, not having been baptised by him.)

The Capriciousness of the Multitudes (vv.31-35)

31 To whom therefore shall I liken the men of this generation, and to whom are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the market-place, and calling one to another and saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. 33 For John the baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and ye say, He has a demon. 34 The Son of man has come eating and drinking, and ye say, Behold an eater and wine-drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners; 35 and wisdom has been justified of all her children.

Anointed by a Sinful Woman, The Lord Rebukes Simon (7:36-50)

36 But one of the Pharisees begged him that he would eat with him. And entering into the house of the Pharisee he took his place at table; 37 and behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, and knew that he was sitting at meat in the house of the Pharisee, having taken an alabaster box of myrrh, 38 and standing at his feet behind him weeping, began to wash his feet with tears; and she wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the myrrh. 39 And the Pharisee who had invited him, seeing it, spoke with himself saying, This person if he were a prophet would have known who and what the woman is who touches him, for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. And he says, Teacher, say it. 41 There were two debtors of a certain creditor: one owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty; 42 but as they had nothing to pay, he forgave both of them their debt: say, which of them therefore will love him most? 43 And Simon answering said, I suppose he to whom he forgave the most. And he said to him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And turning to the woman he said to Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house; thou gavest me not water on my feet, but “she” has washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with her hair. 45 Thou gavest me not a kiss, but “she” from the time I came in has not ceased kissing my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint, but “she” has anointed my feet with myrrh. 47 For which cause I say to thee, Her many sins are forgiven; for she loved much; but he to whom little is forgiven loves little. 48 And he said to her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that were with them at table began to say within themselves, Who is this who forgives also sins? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith has saved thee; go in peace. v.47 Her love for Christ manifested that she was forgiven.

A Summary of His Ministry and the Women who Helped (8:1-3)

CHAPTER 8

1 And it came to pass afterwards that “he” went through the country city by city, and village by village, preaching and announcing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God; and the twelve were with him, 2 and certain women who had been healed of wicked spirits and infirmities, Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to him of their substance.

Parable of the Sower (8:4-15)

4 And a great crowd coming together, and those who were coming to him out of each city, he spoke by parable: 5 The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the way, and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it up; 6 and other fell upon the rock, and having sprung up, it was dried up because it had not moisture; 7 and other fell in the midst of the thorns, and the thorns having sprung up with it choked it; 8 and other fell into the good ground, and having sprung up bore fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things he cried, He that has ears to hear, let him hear. 9 And his disciples asked him saying, What may this parable be? 10 And he said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest in parables, in order that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. 11 But the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 But those by the wayside are those who hear; then comes the devil and takes away the word from their heart that they may not believe and be saved. 13 But those upon the rock, those who when they hear receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a time, and in time of trial fall away. 14 But that that fell where the thorns were, these are they who having heard go away and are choked under cares and riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 15 But that in the good ground, these are they who in an honest and good heart, having heard the word keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Parable of Lamp (8:16-18)

16 And no one having lighted a lamp covers it with a vessel or puts it under a couch, but sets it on a lamp-stand, that they who enter in may see the light. 17 For there is nothing hid which shall not become manifest, nor secret which shall not be known and come to light. 18 Take heed therefore how ye hear; for whosoever has, to him shall be given, and whosoever has not, even what he seems to have shall be taken from him.

The Lord’s True Mother and Brethren (8:19-21)

19 And his mother and his brethren came to him, and could not get to him because of the crowd. 20 And it was told him saying, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, wishing to see thee. 21 But he answering said to them, My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God and do it.

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Resurrection follows the condition of Christ. Lazarus was raised while Christ was living here in the flesh, and Lazarus is raised to life in the flesh. When Christ in glory raises us, He will raise us in glory. And even now that Christ is hid in God, our life is hid with Him there. - Darby, J.N. Synopsis of the Books of the Bible. John 12.