c) Mary His mother was there, so were Jesus and some of His disciples. (Jn. 2:1-2)

d) When the wine gave out Mary spoke of it to Jesus. (Jn. 2:3)

e) He told her it was not time for Him to reveal Himself yet. (Jn. 2:4) [See Ryrie note on Jn. 2:4- Woman was used as a term of respect, Jesus used this term when He gave Mary into John's keeping when He was on the cross. (Jn. 19:26) In the John 2:4 passage He had tried to tell His mother Mary that His time had not yet come to show Himself as Messiah. (Jn. 7:6,8,&30 ; Jn. 8:20)]

f) Nevertheless she continued by telling the servants to do Jesus' bidding. (Jn. 2:5)

g) There were six stone water pots and Jesus told the servants to fill them with water. (Jn. 2:6-7)

h) Then they were to draw some out and take it to the head waiter. (Jn. 2:8)

I) The waiter told the bridegroom usually at the end of the feast is when the poorer wine is brought out, but you have saved the best for last. The waiter said all this not knowing where the wine had come from. (Jn. 2:9-11)

j) John refers to Jesus' miracles by calling them signs. (Jn. 2:11) [See Ryrie note on Jn. 2:11- John called them signs to emphasize the reason for the miracles, rather than the miracles themselves. Here it was to emphasize His glory.]

Editor's note: There are many who make the unconscionable statement that the "wine" in this miracle was actually grape juice. Such a statement stems from some who entertain some legalist mentality that Jesus certainly would have never produced wine, that evil beverage; or else stems from one who, with clear conscience, has no knowledge of the ordinary customs of the Jews in those ancient times. To declare that Jesus would have made a nonalcoholic"wine" is to rob the miracle of its miraculousness. Any person, saved or unsaved, could have produced grape juice in a country known for its wine production. Such a "miracle" would have required no more than a few bunches of grape, material to strain the juice, and a ready foot to crush the grapes. Had the wine been no more than grape juice the master of the feast had access to many servants who would have been more than willing to produce the needed juice. This miracle was miraculous because water had been translated, by the power of God, into fine wine, the best quality wine, a vintage wine. This was not an action that a human could counterfeit by human means, for the fermentation action of wine takes time, weeks - months - and in some cases years. Jesus duplicated what would have taken a great deal of time with a spoken word - and so amazed the master of the feast as well as Christ's Disciples. Who but God could convert plain water into fermented, fine wine?

(From Easton's) "When [wine] is drunk, water is generally mixed with it, and this was the custom in the days of Christ also. The people indeed are everywhere very sober in hot climates; a drunken person, in fact, is never seen", (Geikie’s Life of Christ). The sin of drunkenness, however, must have been not uncommon in the olden times, for it is mentioned either metaphorically or literally more than seventy times in the Bible.

Several emphatic warnings are given in the New Testament against excess in the use of wine #Lu 21:34 Ro 13:13 Eph 5:18 1Ti 3:8 Ti 1:7"

(From Smith's Bible Dictionary) "The use of wine at the paschal feast was not enjoined by the law, but had become an established custom, at all events in the post-Babylonian period. The wine was mixed with warm water on these occasions. Hence in the early Christian Church it was usual to mix the sacramental wine with water. (The simple wines of antiquity were incomparably less deadly than the stupefying and ardent beverages of our western nations. The wines of antiquity were more like syrups; many of them were not intoxicant; many more intoxicant in a small degree; and all of them, as a rule, taken only when largely diluted with water. They contained, even undiluted, but 4 or 5 percent of alcohol.—Cannon Farrar.) "

b) Jesus left Capernaum and went to Jerusalem for the Passover. (Jn. 2:13)

c) From Jerusalem He went to Judea where some of His disciples were and they were baptizing. (Jn. 3:22)

d) To avoid problems with the Pharisees, Jesus left Judea and went back towards Galilee by way of Samaria. (Jn. 4:1-4)

e) Jesus has come back to Galilee, a royal official from Capernaum has heard that Jesus is back. He seeks Jesus out, asking Him to come and heal his son who is near to death. (Jn. 4:46-47)

f) Jesus tells the official, no one believes without miracles. (Jn. 4:48)

g) The official again ask Jesus to heal his son. (Jn. 4:49)

h) Jesus tells the official to go back home that his son is healed. The official believes and begins his journey home. (Jn. 4:50)

I) While on his way home he meets his servants coming to find him. They quickly tell him that his child is well. He inquires of them the time when this good thing happened, they tell him the day before at the seventh hour. (Jn. 4:51-52)

j) Thus did he know that it was the self same hour that Jesus was speaking with him, he and his whole house did rejoice and believe. (Jn. 4:53)

k) This was the second sign Jesus did perform having come out of Judea. (Jn. 4:54)

(American Tract) "Capernaum - A chief city of Galilee in the time of Christ, not mentioned before the captivity in Babylon. It lay on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, about five miles from the Jordan and on the frequented route from Damascus to the Mediterranean. This seems to have been the residence of Christ, during the three years of his ministry, more than any other place. The brothers Andrew and Peter dwelt there; Christ often taught in the synagogue, and wrought mighty works there. #MT 17:23 Mr 1:21-35 Joh 6:17,59; and it is called "his own city," #MT 4:12-16 9:1 Mr 2:1. Its inhabitants were thus "exalted unto heaven;" but their unbelief and impenitence cast them down to destruction, #MT 11:20-24. The very name and site of Capernaum have been lost. Dr. Robinson, however, finds them at Khan Minyeh, on the northern border of the fine plain of Gennesareth, where ruins of some extent still remain, and a copious fountain not far from the sea. "

(John 4:48 KJV) "Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe."

Jamieson-Faucett-Brown: "1. a feast of the Jews—What feast? No question has more divided the Harmonists of the Gospels, and the duration of our Lord’s ministry may be said to hinge on it. For if, as the majority have thought (until of late years) it was a Passover, His ministry lasted three and a half years; if not, probably a year less. Those who are dissatisfied with the Passover-view all differ among themselves what other feast it was, and some of the most acute think there are no grounds for deciding. In our judgment the evidence is in favor of its being a Passover, but the reasons cannot be stated here."

People's NT Notes: "There was a feast of the Jews. Probably the second Passover attended by the Lord after his ministry began. Such is the view of Irenaeus, Eusebius, Lightfoot, Neander, Gresswell, Andrews and Dr. Wm. Milligan."

b) Near the sheep gate there is a pool, which in the Hebrew is called Bethesda. (Jn. 5:2) [See Ryrie note on Jn. 5:2- The placement of the gate is found in Nehemiah 3:1 & 12:39. There were five columns or porticoes to provide shelter for the sick.]

c) The sick congregated around this pool because it was a healing pool. Periodically an angel would come down and stir the waters, the first one to enter the water after this happened would be healed. (Jn. 5:3-4)

(Hitchcock's Bible Names) "Bethesda, house of pity or mercy "

(Nehemiah 3:1 KJV) "Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel."

(Nehemiah 12:39 KJV) "And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate."

d) There was a man there who had been ill for thirty eight years. Someone always made it to the water before him because he was lame. Jesus, knowing the man's problem, asked him if he wanted to be healed. The man replied some one always gets there first. Jesus told him to "arise take up his bed and walk". (Jn. 5:5-8)

e) The man got up and walked. (Jn. 5:9)

f) The Jews saw this and all they could say was you shouldn't be carrying your pallet. (Jn. 5:10) [ See Ryrie note on Jn. 5:10- It was considered work for the man to carry his bed. (For a further reference look up the note on Mt. 12:2.- It was not lawful to work on the Sabbath. You could gather grain for food to sustain you, but not as a normal course of work. (Deut. 23:25 ; Ex. 20:10)

Also we have a Ryrie note on Jn. 7:23- If a man can be circumcised on the Sabbath why are you angry with Me for healing a man on the Sabbath. (In Lev. 12:3 it tells us that it was permissible to circumcise on the Sabbath.)]

g) The man replied I have only done what the man that healed me told me to do. (Jn. 5:11)

h) The Jews sought to find out who had done the healing but Jesus had faded into the crowd. Jesus later found the man in the temple and told him not to break the Sabbath in that way any more. (Jn. 5:12-14)

I) When the Jews found out that it was Jesus who had healed the man, they persecuted Jesus because it was done on the Sabbath. (Jn. 5:15-16)

Editor's note: This passage of Scripture clearly illustrates the emptiness that the legalist or the ritualist has in his or her life. These Jews, rather than glorifying God at the miraculous recovery ofd this poor man, condemned the man for carrying his bed - and by inference condemned Jesus for telling him to pick up the bed (actually, bedclothes - similar to our "sleeping bag" in weight and size). The Holy Scripture was written in order to guide the Christian into a life of joy:

(1 John 1:4 KJV) "And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full."

(1 Peter 1:8 KJV) "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:"

The religionist, however, lacking a relationship with the Savior follows after ritual without reality. He does what he does, not out of a love for God, but out of a love for self and a love for his own flawless performance. You can see the religionist skulking on the outskirts of every Christian gathering. If the song service was joyous, these embittered lost people will complain that the music was too loud, or too exuberant, or too "unholy". If the worship was focused on joy in Christ, these sad creatures look for any flaw they can find - the leader needed a haircut or a shave, the floor was not shiny enough, the decorations were not in keeping with the "holiness" of that place. If the sermon preached tweaked their conscience, the preacher's suit was ill fitting, or his demeanor not holy enough. Shunning the sins that do not interest them, they puff themselves up with pride over their ability to walk on water and over the inability of their neighbors to achieve the greatness they have earned. Of these the Apostles said:

(2 Peter 2:17-19 KJV) "These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. {18} For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. {19} While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage."

(Jude 1:11-13 KJV) "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. {12} These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; {13} Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever."

And of whom our Jesus said:

(John 7:23-24 KJV) "If a man on the Sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the Sabbath day? {24} Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

j) Jesus' reply to them was that His Father was working and so was He. (Jn. 5:17)

k) The Jews sought Jesus even harder after this because He was claiming equal deity with God. (Jn. 5:18) (See also further background passages in (Jn. 5:19-39 ; Jn.10:33-38)

l) The sign or miracle itself was found in John 5:1-8, we see the Jews reaction to the miracle in John 5:9-18.

Editor's note: Is the Christian under the Sabbath? See our studies here and here for an answer.

a) A multitude of people were listening to Jesus on the shores of lake Gennesaret. (Lk. 5:1)

[See Ryrie note on Lk. 5:1- Lake Gennesaret was also known as the sea of Chinnereth or the sea of Galilee. (Num. 34:11; Lk. 5:1)]

b) There were two fishermen cleaning their nets, with their boats alongside them. Jesus came and stepped into one of the boats - which happened to belong to Simon [Peter]. Jesus asked Simon to push Him a little ways out from the land and then Jesus sat and taught the multitude of people. ((Simon and his brother Andrew were the two fishermen (Mk. 1:16) (Lk. 5:2-3))

'Taught'. Imperfect active, picturing Jesus teaching from the boat in which he was seated and so safe from the jam of the crowd. "Christ uses Peter’s boat as a pulpit whence to throw the net of the Gospel over His hearers" (Plummer)."

c) When Jesus finished teaching, He told Simon to go a little further out in the water and to let down his nets and gather a catch of fish. (Lk. 5:4)

d) Simon replied, Master we have caught nothing all night, but for You I will let the nets down again. (Lk. 5:5)

e) Such a quantity of fish were caught that the nets began to break with the load. (Lk. 5:6)

f) Simon and Andrew called out to their partners who also came and both boats were near to sinking with the load. ((James and John the sons of Zebedee were their partners. (Mk. 1:19 ; Lk. 5:10) (Lk. 5:7))

g) When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying "leave me for I am a sinful man". ((Peter realizes that he is a sinner and that only God could have caused such a great amount of fish to enter the net.) (Lk. 5:8))

h) He and his companions (Andrew, James and John) were amazed at the catch of fish. (Lk. 5:9)

I) James and John the sons of Zebedee were partners with Simon. ((Jesus tells Simon you will become catchers of men. (Mt. 4:18-19 ; Mk. 1:16-17) (Lk. 5:10)

j) When they got back to land they left everything and followed Jesus. ((Peter and Andrew(Mt. 4:20 ; Mk. 1:18) James and John left their father with the servants and went and followed Jesus.(Mt. 4:21-22 ; Mk. 1:19-20) (Lk. 5:11))

[These are extra notes of interest for this miracle- See Ryrie note on Mt. 4:21- James the son of Zebedee was the first of the Apostles to be martyred. He was killed by Herod Agrippa in the book of Acts. Also see Ryrie note on Mk. 1:21- Peter, Andrew, James, and John all lived in the city of Capernaum.]

Editor's note: Peter uses the term "Master", (Strong's Lexicon - epistates: Greek reference 1988), which means "commander" or "one appointed over". Peter did not know Jesus as Messiah, though he reckoned Him to be a great Person of great importance. Following the miracle Peter tells Jesus:

(Luke 5:8 KJV) "When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord."

And turned from calling Jesus "commander" to kurios, or "Lord", a term that showed Peter's heart recognized Jesus as God in the flesh. This is further highlighted by the fact that Peter tells the Lord God Jesus to leave his presence, for he - Peter - recognized himself as a sinner. This brings to mind the teaching of our Savior in:

(Luke 18:10-14 KJV) "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, And the other a publican. {11} The Pharisee stood And prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. {12} I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. {13} And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. {14} I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; And he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

If you think that your "good works" are going to get you to Heaven, your own holiness, your own abilities, you are sadly mistaken And as lost as a needle in a haystack. True salvation comes only when we recognize our sinfulness And repent of our own means, throwing ourselves on the merciful provision of Jesus Christ our Lord And Savior. Those who think they are "good enough" will find themselves in eternal damnation with Satan, Hitler, Anton Levey, the Son of Sam, Manson, Mohammed, Buddha, And every other evil thing that has walked this earth since the beginning of time. Salvation only comes by accepting Christ as Savior (John 14:6).

b) They went into Capernaum And Jesus began teaching. (Mk. 1:21 ; Lk. 4:31) [See Ryrie note on Mk. 1:21-Capernaum was located on the North West shore of lake Galilee. It was an important town for several different reasons, it was on a major trade route, it was a tax office(Mt. 2:14), it also had a Roman garrison(Mt. 8:5-13).]

c) Jesus taught with authority (Mk. 1:22 ; Lk. 4:32)

d) There was a man in the synagogue with an unclean spirit. (Mk. 1:23 ; Lk. 4:33)

e) The spirit cried out to Jesus, have You come to destroy us, We know You are "the Holy One of God". (Mk. 1:24 ; Lk. 4:34)

f) Jesus rebuked the spirit And told him to come out of the man. When the spirit left the man it caused him to have convulsions, but didn't do him any lasting harm. (Mk. 1:25-26 ; Lk. 4:35)

g) The people who saw this were much amazed at this "Teacher", who had such power And authority that He could command spirits And they would obey Him. (Mk. 1:27 ; Lk. 4:36)

h) Jesus was the talk of the town, news about Him was traveling every where. (Mk. 1:28 ; Lk. 4:37)

i) This miracle demonstrated Jesus' power over demons.

The town is not named in the Old Testament, although the presence of a spring And the convenience of the site make it probable that the place was occupied in old times. Quaresimus learned that the ancient name was Medina Abiat, in which we may recognize the Arabic el-Medinat el-baidtah, "the white town." Built of the white stone supplied by the limestone rocks around, the description is quite accurate. There is a reference in Mishna (Menachoth viii.6) to the "white house of the hill" whence wine for the drink offering was brought. An elegy for the 9th of Abib speaks of a "course" of priests settled in Nazareth. This, however, is based upon an ancient midhrash now lost (Neubauer, Geogr. du Talmud, 82, 85, 190; Delitzsch, Ein Tag in Capernaum, 142). But all this leaves us still in a state of uncertainty.

2. Position And Physical Features:

The ancient town is represented by the modern en-Nacirah, which is built mainly on the western And northwestern slopes of a hollow among the lower hills of Galilee, just before they sink into the plain of Esdraelon. It lies about midway between the Sea of Galilee And the Mediterranean at Haifa. The road to the plain And the coast goes over the southwestern lip of the hollow; that to Tiberias And Damascus over the heights to the Northeast. A rocky gorge breaks down southward, issuing on the plain between two craggy hills. That to the West is the traditional Hill of Precipitation (#Lu 4:29). This, however, is too far from the city as it must have been in the days of Christ. It is probable that the present town occupies pretty nearly the ancient site; And the scene of that attempt on Jesus’ life may have been the cliff, many feet in height, not far from the old synagogue, traces of which are still seen in the western part of the town. There is a good spring under the Greek Orthodox church at the foot of the hill on the North. The water is led in a conduit to the fountain, whither the women And their children go as in old times, to carry home in their jars supplies for domestic use. There is also a tiny spring in the face of the western hill. To the Northwest rises the height on which stands the sanctuary, now in ruins, of Neby Sa‘in. From this point a most beautiful And extensive view is obtained, ranging on a clear day from the Mediterranean on the West to the Mountain of Bashan on the East; from Upper Galilee And Mt. Hermon on the North to the uplands of Gilead And Samaria on the South The whole extent of Esdraelon is seen, that great battlefield, associated with so many heroic exploits in Israel’s history, from Carmel And Megiddo to Tabor And Mt. Gilboa.

3. Present Inhabitants:

There are now some 7,000 inhabitants, mainly Christian, of whom the Greek Orthodox church claims about 3,000. Moslems number about 1,600. There are no Jews. It is the chief market town for the pastoral And agricultural district that lies around it.

4. Labors of Jesus:

In Nazareth, Jesus preached His first recorded sermon (#Lu 4:16 ), when His plainness of speech aroused the homicidal fury of His hearers. "He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief" (#MT 13:58). Finding no rest or security in Nazareth, He made His home in Capernaum. The reproach implied in Nathanael’s question, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (#Joh 1:46), has led to much speculation. By ingenious emendation of the text Cheyne would read, "Can the Holy One proceed from Nazareth?" (EB, under the word). Perhaps, however, we should see no more in this than the acquiescence of Nathanael’s humble spirit in the lowly estimate of his native province entertained by the leaders of his people in Judea.

5. Later History:

Christians are said to have first settled here in the time of Constantine (Epiphanius), whose mother Helena built the Church of the Annunciation. In crusading times it was the seat of the bishop of Bethscan. It passed into Moslem hands after the disaster to the Crusaders at Chattin] (1183). It was destroyed by Sultan Bibars in 1263. In 1620 the Franciscans rebuilt the Church of the Annunciation, And the town rose again from its ruins. Here in 1799 the French general Junot was assailed by the Turks. After his brilliant victory over the Turks at Tabor, Napoleon visited Nazareth. The place suffered some damage in the earthquake of 1837.

Protestant Missions are now represented in Nazareth by agents of the Church Missionary Society, And of the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society.

W. Ewing"

b) Jesus was visiting Peter's house And found his mother in law to be ill. She was sick with a high fever. (Mt. 8:14 ; Mk. 1:29-30 ; Lk. 4:38)

c) Jesus touched her on the hand And she became well And got up And waited on them. (Mt. 8:15 ; Mk. 1:31 ; Lk. 4:39)

d) The book of Matthew tells us that Jesus fulfilled prophecy when He healed the sick And cast demons out of people. (Mt. 8:17)

e) It was written in Isaiah "Jesus bore our grief's And took away our sorrows." (Isa. 53:4)

f) This demonstrated Jesus' power over diseases.

Editor's note: Our Lord Jesus said:

(Matthew 28:18-20 KJV) "And Jesus came And spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven And in earth. {19} Go ye therefore, And teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, And of the Son, And of the Holy Ghost: {20} Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

The commission that Jesus gave His disciples And in turn His Church, He preceded that Commission with a declaration of His power. Our Lord Jesus demonstrated His abundance of power in His earthly ministry. He raised the dead, healed the sick, caused the blind to see, cleansed the leper. The power that Jesus was given by the Godhead, "all power in Heaven And on earth", is what gave Him the authority - the Right - to order His Apostles And we who would be His Church to preach His Gospel throughout all the world. We need not fear preaching this Gospel - Jesus, Who has all power, has ordered that we preach And baptize everywhere that we can reach on this earth.

b) Jesus reached out And touched the man saying, "I am willing", And the man was healed. (Mt. 8:3 ; Mk. 1:41 ; Lk. 5:13) [See Ryrie note on Lk. 5:12- Anyone that had leprosy was considered unclean And had to live outside the town. When any one approached them they had to call out that they were unclean, so that no one would touch them.]

c) Jesus told the man to be silent about what had happened, but to go to the priest And offer his offering to show that he was clean. ((For further references on leprosy see Leviticus chapters 13 &14 ; And for the offering to the priest Leviticus 14:4-32) (Mt. 8:4 ; Mk. 1:42-45 ; Lk. 5:14))

d) This displayed Jesus' power over defilement.

(1) that the hairs of the affected part turn white And

(2) that later there is a growth of "quick raw flesh."

This disease in an especial manner rendered its victims unclean; even contact with a leper defiled whoever touched him, so while the cure of other diseases is called healing, that of leprosy is called cleansing (except in the case of Miriam (#Nu 12:13) And that of the Samaritan (#Lu 17:15) where the word "heal" is used in reference to leprosy). The disease is described in the Papyrus Ebers as ukhedu (the Coptic name for leprosy is tseht). It is also mentioned in ancient Indian And Japanese history. Hippocrates calls it "the Phoenician disease," And Galen names it "elephantiasis." In Europe it was little known until imported by the returning soldiers of Pompey’s army after his Syrian campaign in 61 BC; but after that date it is described by Soranus, Aretaeus And other classic authors.

1. Old Testament Instances:

The first Old Testament mention of this disease is as a sign given by God to Moses (#Ex 4:6 (Jahwist)), which may be the basis of the story in Josephus’ Apion, I, 31, that Moses was expelled from Heliopolis on account of his being a leper (see also I, 26 And Ant, III, xi, 4). The second case is that of Miriam (#Nu 12:10), where the disease is graphically described (EP2). In #De 24:8 there is a reference to the oral tradition concerning the treatment of lepers, without any details, but in #Le 13; 14 (Priestly Code) the rules for the recognition of the disease, the preliminary quarantine periods And the ceremonial methods of cleansing are given at length. It is worthy of note that neither here nor elsewhere is there any mention of treatment or remedy; And Jehoram’s ejaculation implies the belief that its cure could be accomplished only by miracle (#2Ki 5:7).

The case of Naaman (#2Ki 5:1) shows that lepers were not isolated And excluded from society among the Syrians. The leprosy of Gehazi (#2Ki 5:27) is said to have been the transference of that of Naaman, but, as the incubation period is long, it must have been miraculously inflicted on him. The four lepers of Samaria of #2Ki 7:3 had been excluded from the city And were outside the gate.

The leprous stroke inflicted on Uzziah (#2Ki 15:5; 2Ch 26:23) for his unwarrantable assumption of the priestly office began in his forehead, a form of the disease peculiarly unclean (#Le 13:43-46) And requiring the banishment And isolation of the leper. It is remarkable that there is no reference to this disease in the prophetical writings, or in the Hagiographa.

2. Leprosy in the New Testament:

In the New Testament, cleansing of the lepers is mentioned as a specific portion of our Lord’s work of healing, And was included in the commission given to the apostles. There are few individual cases specially described, only the ten of #Lu 17:12, And the leper whom our Lord touched (#MT 8:2; Mr 1:40; Lu 5:12), but it is probable that these are only a few out of many such incidents. Simon the leper (#MT 26:6; Mr 14:3) may have been one of those cured by the Lord.

3. Nature And Locality of the Disease:

The disease is a zymotic affection produced by a microbe discovered by Hansen in 1871. It is contagious, although not very readily communicated by casual contact; in one form it is attended with anesthesia of the parts affected, And this, which is the commonest variety now met with in the East, is slower in its course than those forms in which nodular growths are the most prominent features, in which parts of the limbs often drop off. At present there are many lepers to be seen at the gates of the cities in Palestine. It is likewise prevalent in other eastern lands, India, China, And Japan. Cases are also to be seen in most of the Mediterranean lands And in Norway, as well as in parts of Africa And the West Indies And in South America. In former times it was occasionally met with in Britain, And in most of the older English cities there were leper houses, often called "lazarets" from the mistaken notion that the eczematous or varicose ulcers of Lazarus were leprous (#Lu 16:20). Between 1096 And 1472, 112 such leper houses were founded in England. Of this disease King Robert Bruce of Scotland died. There was special medieval legislation excluding lepers from churches And forbidding them to wander from district to district. Leprosy has been sometimes confounded with other diseases; indeed the Greek physicians used the name lepra for the scaly skin disease now called psoriasis. In the priestly legislation there was one form of disease (#Le 13:13) in which the whiteness covers all the body, And in this condition the patient was pronounced to be clean. This was probably psoriasis, for leprosy does not, until a very late stage, cover all the body, And when it does so, it is not white. It has been surmised that Naaman’s disease was of this kind. Freckled spots (Hebrew bohaq), which were to be distinguished from true leprosy (#Le 13:39), were either spots of herpes or of some other non-contagious skin disease. The modern Arabic word of the same sound is the name of a form of eczema. the Revised Version (British And American) reads for freckled spot "tetter," an old English word from a root implying itchiness (see Hamlet, I, v, 71)."

a) Four men were trying to bring a paralytic to Jesus. There was such a crowd in the room that even near the door there was no room. So his friends removed part of the roof, to let him down while he was lying on his bed. Seeing the faith of the sick ones' friends, Jesus told the man who was ill, "your sins are forgiven". (Mt. 9:2 ; Mk. 2:1-5 ; Lk. 5:18-20)

b) The scribes were discussing what had happened And were saying this man Jesus blasphemes. (Mt. 9:3 ; Mk. 2:6-7 ; Lk. 5:21)

c) Jesus asked them why they thought evil thoughts. (Mt. 9:4 ; Mk. 2:8 ; Lk. 5:22)

d) Jesus asked them which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven, or get up And walk. (Mt. 9:5 ; Mk. 2:9 ; Lk. 5:23)

e) To prove that He had full authority, Jesus told the paralytic to rise up And take his bed home. (Mt. 9:6 ; Mk. 2:10-11 ; Lk. 5:24)

f) Then the man arose And took his bed home. (Mt. 9:7 ; Mk. 2:12 ; Lk. 5:25)

g) When the crowds saw this they glorified God, seeing what power He had given man. They agreed they had never seen anything like it before. (Mt. 9:8 ; Mk. 2:12 ; Lk. 5:26)

h) This miracle showed Jesus' ability to pardon And showed His power over a defective body.

Editor's note: In this miracle Jesus made two statements that prove He believed Himself to be equal with God. First, He said "your sins are forgiven". This occurs here, And in Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20; And Luke 7:48-49. This was not an isolated incident - Jesus repeatedly forgave sin in His earthly ministry. Sin offends God alone, as David stated:

(Psalms 51:3-4 KJV) "For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me. {4} Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest."

And as sin is technically an offense against God's person, only God can forgive sin. Jesus forgave sin - thus proved He believed Himself to be God. Second, Jesus knew the thoughts of these heathen - And only God knows our thoughts And mind. Jesus proved Himself to be God.

(Matthew Henry) "The faith of the friends of the paralytic in bringing him to Christ, was a strong faith; they firmly believed that Jesus Christ both could And would heal him. A strong faith regards no obstacles in pressing after Christ. It was a humble faith; they brought him to attend on Christ. It was an active faith. Sin may be pardoned, yet the sickness not be removed; the sickness may be removed, yet the sin not pardoned: but if we have the comfort of peace with God, with the comfort of recovery from sickness, this makes the healing a mercy indeed. This is no encouragement to sin. If thou bring thy sins to Jesus Christ, as thy malady And misery to be cured of, And delivered from, it is well; but to come with them, as thy darlings And delight, thinking still to retain them And receive him, is a gross mistake, a miserable delusion. The great intention of the blessed Jesus in the redemption he wrought, is to separate our hearts from sin. Our Lord Jesus has perfect knowledge of all that we say within ourselves. There is a great deal of evil in sinful thoughts, which is very offensive to the Lord Jesus. Christ designed to show that his great errand to the world was, to save his people from their sins. He turned from disputing with the scribes, And spake healing to the sick man. Not only he had no more need to be carried upon his bed, but he had strength to carry it. God must be glorified in all the power that is given to do good. "

a) Jesus departed And went to their synagogue. (Mt. 12:9 ; Mk. 3:1 ; Lk.6:6)

b) They found there a man whose right hand was withered. The Pharisees questioned Jesus, saying can you heal on the Sabbath They were only seeking a reason to accuse Jesus. (Mt. 12:10 ; Mk. 3:1-2 ; Lk. 6:6-7)

c) If you own sheep And one was to fall in a pit on the Sabbath, would you not go And rescue it even then. Jesus told the man to rise And come to Him. (Mt. 12:11 ; Mk. 3:3 ; Lk. 6:8)

d) Jesus looked at the Pharisees And said isn't a man more valuable than a sheep. "So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath" "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or bad, to save a life or kill." (Mt. 12:12 ; Mk. 3:4 ; Lk. 6:9)

e) Jesus was angry at the Pharisees for their hardness of heart. (Mk. 3:5)

f) Jesus told the man stretch out your hand, the man did And it was whole like the other. (Mt. 12:13 ; Mk. 3:5 ; Lk. 6:10)

g) This demonstrated Jesus' power over deformity.

Editor's note: The Law offered provision to return a lost animal to a neighbor, no matter what day of the week it was:

(Exodus 23:4-5 KJV) "If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. {5} If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, And wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him."

(Deuteronomy 22:4 KJV) "Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, And hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again."

And this applied even if the owner was an enemy of yours. If an animal can be saved on the Sabbath, Jesus reasoned, how much moreso a man?

This type of fuzzy thinking is evident among the heathen And the religious in our time. The animal rights activist will endanger or even kill a human, if necessary, in order to protect the animal. Though animals are afforded rights without end, human children are aborted from the womb. When the Law becomes greater than that which it was designed to protect, dehumanization usually occurs.

a) Jesus came to Capernaum And found a centurion there. ((A centurion was in charge of a hundred soldiers.) (Mt. 8:5 ; Lk. 7:1-2))

b) The centurion said "I have a favorite servant who is paralyzed And in great pain, in fact he is near death". (Mt. 8:6 ; Lk. 7:2)

c) The centurion sent Jewish elders to speak to Jesus about his servant. The elders told Jesus that the centurion was a good man And that he was worthy of being helped. Jesus agreed to come with them And see the servant. (Lk. 7:3-6)

d) Jesus said "I will heal your servant". (Mt. 8:7)

e) The centurion said I am not worthy for You to come to my house, if You say he is healed, then it will be so. (Mt. 8:8 ; Lk. 7:6-7)

f) For when I tell soldiers to go, they go, And servants obey me. (Mt. 8:9 ; Lk. 7:8)

g) Jesus marveled And said I have not seen such faith as this even among the children of Israel. (Mt. 8:10 ; Lk.7:9)

h) They shall come from the East And the West to eat with Abraham And Isaac, in the kingdom of heaven. (Mt. 8:11)

I) But the sons shall be cast out And will weep And gnash their teeth. (Mt. 8:12)

j) Jesus told the centurion to go that it would be done as he believed. (Mt. 8:13)

k) When the elders returned, they found the servant healed. (Lk. 7:10)

l) This sign showed Jesus' power over distances And sickness.

Editor's note: This was a foreshadow of the entrance of Gentiles (non-Jewish people) into the Plan of God And His Church. When Jesus first came to earth, He came for Israel - not the Gentiles:

(Matthew 10:5-6 KJV) "These twelve Jesus sent forth, And commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, And into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: {6} But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

And focused on performing His miracles among Israel, God's chosen people:

(Matthew 15:22-28 KJV) "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, And cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. {23} But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came And besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. {24} But he answered And said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. {25} Then came she And worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. {26} But he answered And said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, And cast it to dogs. {27} And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. {28} Then Jesus answered And said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."

However, Israel rejected Christ as Messiah:

(John 1:11 KJV) "He came unto his own, And his own received him not."

So the Gentiles were grafted into the Grace of God.

(Romans 11:17-22 KJV) "And if some of the branches be broken off, And thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, And with them partakest of the root And fatness of the olive tree; {18} Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. {19} Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. {20} Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, And thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: {21} For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. {22} Behold therefore the goodness And severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off."