"Not every one that saith unto me, 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 devil? 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" Matthew 7:21-23

In case the people were to think that supernatural
signs were proof of holiness. Or even proof of ones
relationship with God, Jesus pointed out that on
the day of judgment there would be those who
would come to Him and say that they had done all
these things, but Jesus would have to tell them to
depart for they were workers of iniquity.

Judas Iscariot (who betrayed Him later) was among
those listening. Jesus gave the signs of true disciple-
ship saying, "By their fruits ye shall know them"
Matthew 7:21

He is looking for holiness, righteousness, gentleness,
meekness and all the fruits of the spirit.

"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

This servant was dear to this centurion because
he had treated him like family. Many of them
treated their servants well and like family. So
the centurion was glad to hear Jesus was in the
area and had heard of the many healing taking
place in His ministry.

By sending the elders to Jesus and asking Him
just to speak the word and his servant would be
healed showed Jesus the faith he had in Him.
In fact, Jesus said He had not seen such faith
as this man had.

Of course, Jesus spoke the word that he was
healed and the servant lived.

Jesus violated the Law by touching the leper.
Which gave the rulers and the priest a reason
to accuse Him of violating the Law.

It was a glorious violation that showed that
mercy is better than sacrifice.

Jesus was not contaminated by touching the
leper but the leper's body was cleansed and
healed by Jesus touching him.

Just as it is with Jesus touching our sinful
natures and cleansing us, He still remains with
out sin.

The leper was told to go to the priest to be
ceremonial declared clean (an elaborate cerem-
ony) and to offer things commanded by the Law
of Moses. He also was told not to say anything to
anyone about it. But the leper in his joy of being
healed did just the opposite and told every one
that would listen.

Because of it "Jesus could no more openly enter
the city, but was without in the desert places."
Mark 1:45

But we see that people came where ever He was.

Another

miracle

that Jesus

performed

shortly

after leaving

to preach the

gospel was

healing

a leper.

This man

was doomed

to living life

as a begger.

He could not be among people or in the cities.

But he heard of Jesus and that He was some

where near. With hope, He waited until most

of the others were gone....then he cried, "If

thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."

To his joy, the Lord put forth His hand and

touched him saying, "I will; be thou clean."

Here we see Jesus showing that it is God's

will to heal sickness and disease. Some have

taught that it is not God's will to heal. So

thousands of sick and hurting people have

had to go through life suffering. Even some

have been told that God gave them the sick-

ness for some unknown reason.

Others have been told that God can work

wonderfully in their lives with their infirm-

ities causing them not to seek any further

for healing.

But Jesus taught that sickness and disease

and infirmities are of the devil.

(Luke 13:11,16)

As we saw Peter's reaction to the miracle of the
catch after Jesus told them to cast their nets
again, it was one of anger at his own sinfulness.

(Men's hearts react differently to the gospel.
One of the thieves on the cross was repentant,
while the other didn't see Jesus as God at all.)

But Jesus' words back to Peter were very
gentle. He said, "Fear not; from henceforth
thou shalt catch men." Luke 5:10

It was His call to Peter to leave everything
behind and to go with Him into the ministry full-
time.

But I am sure they took care of the fish, cleaned
the boats, and mended the nets first before they
headed out to reach the lost world for God.

The disciples
were not into
full-time
ministry yet.
They had
only gone
with Jesus on
some of His
trips but always
returned to do
their fishing.


To catch up they fished all night but had caught
nothing.

Jesus had come down to the seashore the same day
that they had just returned without fish.

As always Jesus had gathered a crowd so He got
into the boat and preached to the people.

When He was finished He turned to Peter, knowing
they had caught no fish and told him to cast their
nets one more time. Peter was about to object but
said nevertheless, at Christ's word they would.

The nets became so full they were about to break.
He motioned to the others to help. The catch filled
both boats until they were about to sink.

When Peter saw the extent of the miracle. He
forgot to even thank Jesus but felt His own
unworthiness. "Depart from me; for I am a
sinful man, O Lord."

"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 Peter, James and John saw the large crowd
that had already gathered at Peter's house to see
Jesus in the morning, they had to go looking for
Him.

But Jesus wanted to start preaching in the other
towns. It's not told here but surely He ministered
to the crowd before leaving, for He always had
compassion on them.

After ministering to the sick, that night at Peter's
house, He had not been able to teach concerning
the kingdom.

He didn't want to be a miracle-worker instead of
"the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of
the world."

Salvation (healing) of the soul must always be
more important than healing of the body. But
healing of the sick was a large part of His minis-
try. Healing is the children's bread.

It showed God's compassion for the suffering.
And it brought the people to Him.

Still at

Peter's

home

late at

night

ministering

to the

people,

Jesus was

touched by

their

infirmities

and healed all that were sick.

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." Matthew 8:17

Jesus bore our sicknesses Himself just as He did

our sins. Healing is part of the atonement.

Because He bore our sickness, we do not have to

bear them.

Many evil spirits were cast out besides those
needing physical healing.

The terrible fact that the demons knew they
had lost every opportunity in inherit life must
have filled their minds with despair and hope-
lessness. They knew they had crossed the line
of any hope of redemption. They cried out in
agony when in the presence of Jesus.

Jesus couldn't do anything the the evil spirits.
They were beyond mercy and He had to shut
them up so that they wouldn't reveal His deity
too early.

But His mercy went to the person they had
oppressed or possessed to set them free.

Later that day at Peter's home after healing
the mother-in-law,......
" 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."
Matthew 8:16-17

His ministry was so full of healing and delivering
the oppressed.

"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

So we know He was doing the will of God or God
would never have anointed Him or been with
Him to heal all that were sick and oppressed of
the devil.

So much for those who think healing is of the
devil and that God doesn't do that any more
because Jesus said that "greater works would
we do because He goes to the Father"

Jesus, James and

John arrived at

Peter's house and

was met by Peter's

wife with the news

that her mother

was sick.

"And forthwith,

when they were

come out

of the synagogue, they enterd into the house

of Simon and 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

Here we see that He didn't even pray but

acted on His authority by taking her hand

and lifting her up causing her to become well.

Faith is an act. We can learn from this woman

that when she responded to Jesus it caused her

to receive her healing.

It wasn't Jesus' intention to give the people
the idea that He was coming to overthrow
the Law.

He said, "Think not that I am come to destroy,..
but to fulfill the Law." Matthew 5:17

The law said:
"You have heard that it was said to the people
long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who
murders will be subject to judgment.'
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his
brother will be subject to judgment. Again,
anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, ' is
answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who
says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of
hell.....
"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not
commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone
who looks at a woman lustfully has already
committed adultery with her in his heart."
Matthew 5:21-22 27-28

But Jesus took them above the old law by
telling them to "Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despite-
fully use you, and persecute you...."
Matthew 5:44 With love no one would
commit the acts against the law thus they
would fulfill it.

Not Forgotten!!

Jesus went to Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee.
It was a very prosperous city. There were a
lot of people brought to Him for healing while
He was there.

"And they went into Capernaum; and straight
way 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 them
selves, saying,What thing is this? what new
doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth
he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey
him. And immediately his fame spread abroad
throughout all the region round about Galilee."
Mark 1:21-28

He not only spoke with authority but He also
had authority over evil spirits. The powers He
had before He came to earth were showing in
His ministry by now.

"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 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

This father had heard of the miracles that Jesus

had been doing. He left his dying son to come

looking for Him.

Jesus wasn't really pleased of the man's request

wanting Him to come and heal his son.

Not because He didn't want to heal the child but

because Jesus had to make clear the importance

that He was not a miracle-worker and that faith

was part of receiving.

So Jesus spoke the word of faith and the father

believed and went his way. He was calmed by

Jesus' words.

The next day while on his way home he was met

by his servants that told him that his son was

recovering. The father asked them when did he

start to amend and they said the same hour that

Jesus spoke the word. (John4:51-53)

Jesus went from there to Cana where He

would find friends waiting for Him. For sure

there would be a lot of indignation when

they heard about how badly He was treated

by those in Nazareth.

"Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto

him, We have found him, of whom Moses in

the law,and the prophets, did write, Jesus of

Nazareth,the son of Joseph. And Nathanael

said unto him, Can there any good thing come

out of Nazareth?

Philip saith unto him, Come and see." John 1:46

While living

in Nazareth

Jesus

attended the
synogogue

on the

sabbath.

This particular
sabbath He went with the others to worship.

He had read from the scrolls before, so they
brought out the scrolls for Him to read.
He unrolled it to Isaiah 61 and began to read.

"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 explained to them that no prophet is
acceptable in his own country.

As He talked, it looked like He was saying that
they weren't any better than lepers and

Gentiles. It didn't set well with them.

They couldn't tolerate this from a carpenter

who grew up in their village.

"And all they in the synagogue, when they

heard these things, were filled with wrath,

And rose up, and 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." Luke 4:29

"But he passing through the midst of them went
his way," Maybe not a miracle but it showed a
personal power. Each time they would try to kill
or harm him, some how He was able to escape
them and go on His way.

After Jesus and His disciples continued

their journey, they went to Galilee. He was

received by the people because some of them

had been in Jerusalem for the Passover and had

seen the miracles that He had done there. His

fame had been spread abroad. (John 4:45)

He did not like being looked upon as a "wonder-

worker" before He had a chance to preach the

Gospel of the Kingdom.

The people were wanting their bodies healed,

not realizing they needed healing for their souls.

And He did not want to be considered a show

attraction.

" I sent you

to reap that

whereon ye

bestowed

no labour:

other men

laboured, and ye are

entered into their labours." John 4:38

Jesus let the disciples know that they were

honored with the high ministry of fulfilling

what the prophets had worked and dreamed

of.

The people there received Him and believed

that He was the Saviour of the world.

John 4:41-42 "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."

The days that He was there was the first of

the great Gentile harvest.

The Samaritan woman

returned with a crowd

saying, "Come, see a

man, which told me all

things that ever I did:

is not this the Christ?

Then they went out of the city, and came

unto him."John 4:29-30

Jesus told His disciples that there was four

months until the harvest, but to look at the

fields already white unto harvest.

Jesus intimated that while He sowed in

sorrow, they would reap in joy in the time

to come.

This woman was the first woman to preach

the gospel. She had forgotten that she was

restricted in public and the others were

excited to hear what she had to say.

That area had hear John the Baptist not

long before announcing the coming of the

Messiah.

As they came to Him, He longed to bless

them.

The disciples had returned from the village
to find Jesus talking to this woman. Ordinarily
Jews did not talk to women out about even if
they were his wife or mother. This custom
was part of Judaism and the heathen religions.

But they had become accustom to His strange
ways and didn't say anything. Excited by
hearing Him she left in a hurry.
The disciples brought out the food they had
brought so Jesus could eat but He was so
distracted by her visit that he was no longer
hungry.

"I have meat to eat that ye know not of"
John 4:32

The disciples still did not know what He was
talking about and asked each other if some one
had brought Him food while they were gone.

"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, 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

He was letting her know that even though what

she had said was true....there was a time coming

in which true worshippers would worship God at

any time and any where.

How could she trust the words of a stranger.

"The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias

cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come,

he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I

that speak unto thee am he."

This woman from Samaria found herself
trusting this stranger and said,"Sir, give
me this water, that I thirst not, neither
come hither to draw,"

Here Jesus changed the subject and asked
her to go call her husband. It was not proper
for Him to be talking to a strange woman.
His words forced her to answer that she had
no husband, and He acknowledged her
confession.

Jesus was not omniscience but the gift of the
Word of Knowledge was operating through
Him revealing the truth of her life.
Read John 4:17-18

This convinced her He was a prophet.