#64 Jesus Rejected Again at Nazareth

#64 Jesus Rejected Again at Nazareth

Please first read: Matthew 13:54-58 & Mark 6:1-6

Our Lord of the Gospels

President J. Reuben Clark Jr.

            “Jesus returns to Nazareth and teaches in the synagogue; the people marvel at him, his preaching, his works, they refer to the fact that his mother, his brothers, and sisters are still among them; he tells them a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, but he can there do no great works; “he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them;” he marvels because of their unbelief.”

Jesus the Christ

Apostle James E. Talmage

            “It will be remembered that, in the early days of His public ministry, Jesus had been rejected by the people of Nazareth, who thrust Him out from their synagog and tried to kill Him. It appears that subsequent to the events noted in our last chapter, He returned to the town of His youth, and again raised His voice in the synagog, thus mercifully affording the people another opportunity to learn and accept the truth. The Nazarenes, as they had done before, now again openly expressed their astonishment at the words He spoke, and at the many miraculous works He had wrought; never the less they rejected Him anew, for He came not as they expected the Messiah to come; and they refused to know Him save as “the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and Simon;” all of whom were common folk as were also His sisters. “And they were offended at him.” Jesus reminded them of the proverb then current among the people, “A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” Their unbelief was so dense as to cause Him to marvel; and because of their lack of faith He was unable to accomplish any great work except to heal a few exceptional believers upon whom He laid His hands. Leaving Nazareth, He entered upon His third tour of the Galilean towns and villages, preaching and teaching as He went.”

Doctrinal New Testament Commentary Volume 1

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie

            Mark 5 “He could there do no mighty work. According to the eternal laws which Jesus himself ordained in eternity, miracles are the fruit of faith. Where there is faith, there will be signs, miracles, and gifts of the Spirit. Where there is no faith, these things cannot occur. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 242-248, 459-461) The Master could not and would not violate his own law, and therefore most of his own townsmen were denied the blessings of his healing ministry. On the same basis men cannot be saved in their sins; (Alma 11:37) the Lord has ordained the laws by which salvation and all good things come, and until obedience prepares the way, the promised blessings are withheld. (D & C 88:21-24; 130:20-21; 132:5) Men can no more be saved without obedience than they can be healed without faith. All things operate by law; blessings result from obedience to law and are withheld when there is no obedience.”

A Companion to Your Study of the New Testament: The Four Gospels

Daniel H. Ludlow

            Matthew 13:54 “Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?” could have been translated, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these powerful works?”

            “By acknowledging that Jesus and his teachings and works were far beyond anything they had witnessed or imagined, the Nazarenes were witnesses against themselves when they failed to accept him as the Messiah and rejected his teachings.”

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Volume 1

Alfred Edersheim

            “It almost seems, as if the departure of Jesus from Capernaum marked a crisis in the history of that town. From henceforth it ceases to be the centre of His activity, and is only occasionally, and in passing, visited. Indeed, the concentration and growing power of Pharisaic opposition, and the proximity of Herod’s residence at Tiberias would have rendered a permanent stay there impossible at this stage of our Lord’s history. Henceforth, His Life is, indeed, not purely missionary, but He has no certain dwelling-place: in the sublime pathos of His own language, ‘He hath not where to lay His Head.’

            “The circumstances of the present visit, as well as the tone of His countrymen at this time, are entirely different from what is recorded of His former sojourn at Nazareth. (Luke 4:16-3) The tenacious narrowness, and the prejudices, so characteristic of such a town, with its cliques and petty family pride, all the more self-asserting that the gradation would be almost imperceptible to an outsider, are, of course, the same as on the former visit of Jesus. Nazareth would have ceased to be Nazareth, had its people felt or spoken otherwise than nine or ten months before. That His fame had so grown in the interval, would only stimulate the conceit of the village-town to try, as it were, to construct the great Prophet out of its own building materials, with this additional gratification that He was thoroughly their own, and they possessed even better materials in their Nazareth. All this is so quite according to life, that the substantial repetition of the former scene in the Synagogue, so far from surprising us, seems only natural. What surprises us is, what He marvelled at: the unbelief of Nazareth, which lay at the foundation of its estimate and treatment of Jesus. Upon their own showing their unbelief was most unwarrantable. If ever men had the means of testing the claims of Jesus, the Nazarenes possessed them.”

The One Bible Commentary

J.R. Dummelow

Mark 6:5 Faith was lacking on the part of the people involved. Their inability was moral. “He did not there many mighty works.” Only in a very few cases did Jesus waive this requirement.

Plutarch says, “You will find that few of the most prudent and wisest of mankind have been appreciated in their own country.”

Glenn R. McGettigan

June 2019

References

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” Volume 1. McConkie

“Your Companion Study of New Testament: The Four Gospels.”  Ludlow

“The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Volume 1. Edersheim

“One Volume Bible Commentary.” Dummelow     

#63 The Blind, Dumb, and Possessed are Healed

#63 The Blind, Dumb, and Possessed are Healed

Please first read: Matthew 9:27-34; JST Matthew 9:36

Jesus the Christ

Apostle James E. Talmage

            “Two other instances of miraculous healing are chronicled by Matthew as closely following the raising of the daughter of Jairus. As Jesus passed down the streets of Capernaum, presumably on His departure from the house of the ruler of the synagog, two blind men followed Him, crying out: “Thou son of David, have mercy on us.” This title of address was voiced by others at sundry times, and in no case do we find record of our Lord disclaiming it or objecting to its use. Jesus paused not to heed this call of the blind, and the two sightless men followed Him, even entering the house after Him. Then He spoke to them, asking: “Believe ye that I am able to do this?” and they replied, “Yea, Lord.” Their persistency in following the Lord was evidence of their belief that in some way, though to them unknown and mysterious, He could help them; and they promptly and openly confessed that belief. Our Lord touched their eyes, saying: “According to your faith be it unto you.” The effect was immediate; their eyes were opened. They were explicitly instructed to say nothing of the matter to others; but, rejoicing in the inestimable blessing of sight, “they spread abroad his fame in all that country.” So far as we can unravel the uncertain threads of sequence in the works of Christ, this is the earliest instance, recorded with attendant details, of His giving sight to the blind. Many remarkable cases [will] follow.

            “It is worthy to note that in blessing the sightless by the exercise of His healing power, Jesus usually ministered by some physical contact in addition to uttering the authoritative words of command or assurance. In this instance, as also in that of two blind men who sat by the wayside, He touched the sightless eyes; in the giving of sight to the blind indigent in Jerusalem He anointed the man’s eyes with clay; to the eyes of another He applied saliva. An analogous circumstance is found in the healing of one who was deaf and defective of speech, in which instance the Lord put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue. In no case can such treatment be regarded as medicinal or therapeutic. Christ was not a physician who relied upon curative substances, nor a surgeon to perform physical operations; His healings were the natural results of the application of a power of His own. It is conceivable that confidence, which is a stepping-stone to belief, as that in turn is to faith, may have been encouraged by these physical ministrations, strengthened and advanced to a higher and more abiding trust in Christ, on the part of the afflicted who had not sight to look upon the Master’s face and derive inspiration therefrom, nor hearing to hear His uplifting words. There is apparent not alone an entire absence of formula and formalism in His ministration, but a lack of uniformity of procedure quite as impressive.

            “As the two men, once sightless but now seeing, departed, others came, bringing a dumb friend whose affliction seems to have been primarily due to the malignant influence of an evil spirit rather than to any organic defect. Jesus rebuked the wicked spirit – cast out the demon that had obsessed the afflicted one and held him in the tyranny of speechlessness. The man’s tongue was loosened, he was freed from the evil incubus and was no longer dumb.”

Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord

R.C. Trench

            “We have here the first of those many healings of the blind recorded (Matthew 12, 20, 21; John 9) or alluded to (Matthew 11) in the Gospels; each of them a literal fulfillment of that prophetic word of Isaiah concerning the days of Messiah: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened.” (Isaiah 35)

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Alfred Edersheim

Several happenings occur here that should be noted.

1.      For the first time we observe the presence and murmuring of the scribes who will be bitter enemies of the Savior from now on.

2.      For the first time of record Jesus makes a “distinct declaration about the forgiveness of sins.” He does not claim power to do so, but a seed is planted.

3.      At a loss for a better reason Jesus’ opponents claim he is doing his works by the power of darkness, by satanic agency from the evil one. This is not new but is becoming more widespread. Some had already raised this against John the Baptist. Accusations against Jesus of working in league “through the ruler of the demons will intensify.” (Matthew 9:33-34)

Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Volume 1

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie

            “Messianic prophecies foretold that Jesus would work mighty miracles, heal the sick, raise the dead, cause the lame to walk, “the blind to receive their sight,” and the deaf to hear, and that he would cure all manner of diseases. (Mosiah 3:5)

            “Matthew 9:27-31 Frequently opening the eyes of the blind, Jesus, as here, coupled his spoken command with some physical act. On this and other occasions he touched the sightless eyes. (Matthew 20:30-34) In healing the man in Jerusalem who was blind from birth, he anointed the man’s eyes with clay made with spittle and then he had the man wash in the pool of Siloam. (John 9:6-7) The blind man of Bethsaida was healed by application of saliva to his eyes. (Mark 8:22-26) Similarly, in healing a deaf man with a speech impediment, Jesus both touched the man’s tongue and put his own fingers into the man’s ears. (Mark 7:32-37)

            “None of these unusual and dissimilar acts are essential to the exercise of healing power. Healing miracles are performed by the power of faith and in the authority of the priesthood. By doing these physical acts, however, the Master’s apparent purpose was to strengthen the faith of the blind or deaf person, persons who were denied the ability to gain increased assurance and resultant faith by seeing his countenance or hearing his words.”

Life and Words of Christ

Cunningham Geikie

Galilee was one of the most receptive areas for Jesus. Wherever he went multitudes sought after and followed him. He now returns to Peter’s house. Many greet him as the long-expected Messiah with “have mercy on us son of David.” Many lived under conditions that were deemed to be punishments from God against them for something done wrong. Destitute, uneducated, leprous, no family, childless, blind. Many of these were quick to profess faith that Jesus could heal and help them – and he did so. Many others considered them stricken of God, “dead,” by the hard Judaism of that day. Yet here is Jesus associating with them and healing all. “Either He or they must be totally wrong.”

Glenn R. McGettigan

June 2019

References

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord.” Trench

“The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Volume 1. Edersheim

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” Volume 1. McConkie

“Life and Words of Christ.” Geikie

#62 The Woman with an Issue of Blood

The scriptures for both #61 and #62 are woven together with each event having an influencing affect upon the other. Please first read the scriptures as a single unit to get the feeling of those who experienced both events. Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:22-43; and Luke 8:41-56.

#62 The Woman with an Issue of Blood

Our Lord of the Gospels

President J. Reuben Clark Jr.

            “Jesus going through the crowd is touched on the garment by a woman who for twelve years has had an issue of blood and had “suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse;” she has faith that if she touches only the garment of Jesus she will be healed; she touches his garment and is healed immediately; Jesus senses the touch for he says, “I perceive that virtue is gone out of me;” Jesus asks who touched him; the disciples saw no one, she then comes forward and falling down before him, tells all; he says “Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”

Jesus the Christ

Apostle James E. Talmage

            “While Jesus was walking to the house of Jairus with a great crowd of people thronging about Him, the progress of the company was arrested by another case of suffering. In the throng was a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with a serious ailment involving frequent hemorrhage. She had spent in medical treatment all she had owned, and “had suffered many things of many physicians,” but had steadily grown worse. She worked her way through the crowds, and approaching Jesus from behind, touched His robe; “For she said, If I may touch but his clothes I shall be whole.” The effect was more than magical; immediately she felt the thrill of health throughout her body, and knew that she had been healed of her affliction. Her object attained, the blessing she sought being now secured, she tried to escape notice by hastily dropping back into the crowd. But her touch was not unheeded by the Lord. He turned to look over the throng and asked, “Who touched me?” As the people denied, the impetuous Peter speaking for himself and the others said: “Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?” But Jesus answered: “Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.”

            “The woman, finding that she could not escape identification, came tremblingly forward, and, kneeling before the Lord, confessed what she had done, her reason for so doing, and the beneficent result. If she had expected censure her fears were promptly set at rest, for Jesus, addressing her by a term of respect and kindness, said: “Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace,” and as Mark adds, “be whole of thy plague.”

            “The woman’s faith was sincere and free from guile, nevertheless it was in a sense defective. She believed that the influence of Christ’s person, and even that attaching to His raiment, was a remedial agency, ample to cure her malady; but she did not realize that the power to heal was an inherent attribute to be exercised at His will, and as the influence of faith might call it forth. True, her faith had already been in part rewarded, but of greater worth to her than the physical cure of illness would be the assurance that the divine Healer had granted the desire of her heart, and that the faith she had manifested was accepted by Him. To correct her misapprehension and to confirm her faith, Jesus gently subjected her to the necessary ordeal of confession, which must have been made easier through her consciousness of the great relief already experienced. He confirmed the healing and let her depart with the comforting assurance that her recovery was permanent.

            “In contrast with the many cases of healing in connection with which the Lord charged the beneficiaries that they should tell none how or by whom they have been relieved, we see here that publicity was made sure by His own action, and that too, when secrecy was desired by the recipient of the blessing. The purposes and motives of Jesus may be but poorly understood by man; but in this woman’s case we see the possibility of stories strange and untrue getting afloat, and it appears to have been the wiser course to make plain the truth then and there. Moreover the spiritual worth of the miracle was greatly enhanced by the woman’s confession and by the Lord’s gracious assurance.

            “Observe the significant assertion, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” Faith is of itself a principle of power; and by its presence or absence, by its fullness of paucity, even the Lord was and is influenced, and in great measure controlled, in the bestowal or withholding of blessings; for He ministers according to law, and not with caprice or uncertainty. We read that at a certain time and place Jesus “could there do no mighty work” because of the people’s unbelief. Modern revelation specifies that faith to be healed is one of the gifts of the Spirit, analogous to the manifestations of the power of the Holy Priesthood.

            “Our Lord’s inquiry as to who had touched Him in the throng affords us another example of His asking questions in pursuance of a purpose, when He could readily have determined the facts directly and without aid from others. There was a special purpose in the question, as every teacher finds a means of instruction in questioning his pupils. But there is in Christ’s question, “Who touched me?” a deeper significance than could inhere in a simple inquiry as to the identity of an individual; and this is implied in the Lord’s further words: “Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.” The usual external act by which His miracles were wrought was a word or command, sometimes accompanied by the laying on of hands, or by some other physical ministration as anointing the eyes of the blind man. That there was an actual giving of His own strength to the afflicted who He healed is evident from the present instance. Passive belief on the part of a would-be recipient of blessing is insufficient; so also of one who ministers in the authority given of God, mental and spiritual energy must be operative if the service is to be effective.”

The Four Gospels

Daniel H. Ludlow

            “Jesus deliberately publicized this healing miracle. Rather than permit a story to go forth, from which spiritually illiterate persons might falsely suppose that the woman was healed by some virtue attaching to his clothing, or even his own person, Jesus required the woman to tell what she had done, to testify of the blessing received, and to receive from his lips the assurance that the healing grace had come to her because of her faith.”

The woman knew that her touching anyone would make them ceremonially unclean for the rest of the day, and doing so was forbidden by Jewish law. Would Jesus be angry with her? Jesus immediately raises the matter of “touching” for all to hear. (Luke 8:46-48).  He addresses any potential future speculation that it was by some satanic power that the healing occurred. He is the One responsible.

Other relevant thoughts:

History of the Church, Volume 4

In July of 1839, at Commerce (Nauvoo) Illinois, there was a large group of saints camped out with much sickness. Church leaders, including Joseph Smith, were also infected. No meetings were held on Sunday July 21. On July 22 the Prophet arose from his sick bed and began the work of healing. As other Brethren were healed they were commanded to administer to and heal others. “The sick were administered unto with great success, but many remained sick and many new cases are occurring daily.”

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie

            “Joseph Smith, under date of March 14, 1843, wrote in his journal: “Elder Jedidiah M. Grant inquired of me the cause of my turning pale and losing strength last night while blessing children. I told him that I saw Lucifer would exert his influence to destroy the children that I was blessing, and I strove with all the faith and spirit that I had to seal upon them a blessing that would secure their lives upon the earth; and so much virtue went out of me in the children, that I became weak, from which I have not yet recovered; and I referred to the case of the woman touching the hem of the garment of Jesus. The virtue referred to is the [Spirit of Life;] and a man who exercises great faith in administering to the sick, blessing little children, or confirming, is liable to become weakened.”

Glenn R. McGettigan

May 2019

References

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“The Four Gospels.” Ludlow

“History of the Church.” Volume 4

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” McConkie

           

#61 Raising of the Daughter of Jairus

The scriptures for both #61 and #62 are woven together with each event having an influencing affect upon the other. Please first read the scriptures as a single unit to get the feeling of those who experienced both events. Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:22-43; and Luke 8:41-56.

#61 Raising of the Daughter of Jairus

Our Lord of the Gospels

President J. Reuben Clark Jr.

            “Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, whose daughter lies dying, comes and asks Jesus to come and lay his hands on her that she may live; while they are on the way, messengers come saying the daughter is dead; Jesus bids Jairus have faith, saying all will be well; reaching the house Jesus tells the people there that the child is not dead but sleeps; they laugh him to scorn; taking Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother into the room with him, and putting all others out, he takes the daughter by the hand and commands her to rise; she rises straightway and he commands that they give her something to eat and charges them they shall tell no man what was done.”

Jesus the Christ

Apostle James E. Talmage

            “Jesus and his attendants recrossed the lake from the land of Gadara to the vicinity of Capernaum, where He was received with acclamation by a multitude of people, “for they were all waiting for him.” Immediately after landing, Jesus was approached by Jairus, one of the rulers of the local synagogue, who “besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.”

            “The fact of this man’s coming to Jesus, with the spirit of faith and supplication, is an evidence of the deep impression the ministry of Christ had made even in priestly and ecclesiastical circles. Many of the Jews, rulers and officials as well as the people in common, believed in Jesus; though few belonging to the upper classes were willing to sacrifice prestige and popularity by acknowledging their discipleship. That Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue, came only when impelled by grief over the impending death of his only daughter, a girl of twelve years, is no evidence that he has not before become a believer; certainly at this time his faith was genuine and his trust sincere, as the circumstances of the narrative prove. He approached Jesus with the reverence due One whom he considered able to grant what he asked, and fell at the Lord’s feet, or as Matthew says, worshiped Him. When the man had started from his home to seek aid of Jesus, the maiden was at the point of death; he feared lest she had died in the interval. In the very brief account given in the first Gospel, he is reported as saying to Jesus: “My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her and she shall live.” Jesus went with the imploring father, and many followed.

            “On the way to the house an incident occurred to hinder progress. A sorely afflicted woman was healed, under circumstances of peculiar interest; this occurrence we shall consider presently. No intimation is given that Jairus showed impatience or displeasure over the delay; he had placed trust in the Master and awaited His time and pleasure; while Christ was engaged in the matter of the suffering woman, messengers came from the ruler’s house with the saddening word that the girl was dead. We may infer that even these dread tidings of certainty failed to destroy the man’s faith; he seems to have still looked to the Lord for help, and those who had brought the message asked, “Why troublest thou the Master any further – ?” Jesus heard what was said, and sustained the man’s sorely taxed faith by the encouraging behest: “Be not afraid, only believe.” Jesus permitted none of His followers save three of the apostles to enter the house with Himself and the bereaved but trusting father. Peter and the two brothers James and John were admitted.

            “The house was no place of such respectful silence or subdued quiet as we now consider appropriate to the time and place of death; on the contrary it was a scene of tumult, but that condition was customary in the orthodox observances of mourning at the time. Professional mourners, including singers of weird dirges, and minstrels who made great noise with flutes and other instruments, had already been summoned to the house. To all such Jesus said, on entering, “Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead but sleepeth.” It was in effect a repetition of His comment uttered on a then recent occasion – Peace, be still. His words drew scorn and ridicule from those who were paid for the noise they made, and who, if what He said proved true, would lose this opportunity of professional service. Moreover, they knew the maid was dead; preparations for the funeral, which custom required should follow death as speedily as possible, were already in progress. Jesus ordered these people out, and restored peace to the house. He then entered the death chamber, accompanied only by the three apostles and the parents of the girl. Taking the dead maiden by the hand He “said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.” To the astonishment of all but the Lord, the girl arose, left her bed, and walked. Jesus directed that food be given her, as bodily needs, suspended by death, had returned with the girl’s renewal of life. 

            “The Lord imposed an obligation of secrecy, charging all present to refrain from telling what they had seen. The reasons for this injunction are not stated.”

Note: Peter, James, and John were the only three of the Twelve selected by Jesus to witness the raising of the daughter of Jairus. They will be the same three to witness the transfiguration of Jesus, and then the sole witnesses of our Lord’s agony in Gethsemane.

The Mortal Messiah, book 2

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie

            “[Jesus] has just spoken peace to a Galilean tempest and called a legion of devils out of a wracked and tormented body, acting in each case on his own authority, taking no steps to build up the faith of the beneficiaries of his goodness. Each of these miracles manifest the absolute power inherent in him; sometimes Jesus healed the sick because he had faith to heal and not because they had faith to be healed.  

            “But now in the case of Jairus’s daughter and the woman with the issue of blood, we are about to see healings because those who sought the blessing had faith to be healed. And in each instance we shall see the Blessed One – bearing in himself, as it were, the sicknesses and infirmities of his brethren – we shall see him, with tender solicitude, encourage and increase the faith of those who see his goodness; we shall see him strengthen their faith lest by any chance they fail to obtain the blessings they seek.

            “One of the first to meet Jesus as he came ashore was Jairus, “ruler of the synagogue” in Capernaum. We know Jesus had preached often and wrought miracles in that very house of worship, and we know that such preaching was done at the solicitation of the Jewish elders who held local synagogue rule. Thus Jesus and Jairus knew and respected each other; this devout Jew had heard Jesus preach, had believed his words, and had rejoiced in the knowledge of other miracles. Is it too much to suppose he was present on that glorious Capernaum Sabbath when Jesus cast the evil spirit from the man in the synagogue of that city?

            “But whatever their prior association, Jairus had faith in Christ, and coming this day, “he fell down at Jesus’ feet” “and worshipped him.” “My little daughter lieth at the point of death,” he said. “I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.”

            “Can anyone doubt the faith of Jairus? Or that he knew and understood the ordinance of administration to the sick? “Come and lay thy hands on her,” he pled, “and she shall live!” “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.” (James 5:14-15) “And the elders of the church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name.” (D & C 42:44)

Glenn R. McGettigan

May 2019

References

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“The Mortal Messiah. Book 2.” McConkie

#59 Stilling The Storm

#59 Stilling The Storm

Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25

Apostle James E. Talmage:

It is at Jesus’ direction that he and his disciples launch the boat and head for the other side of the lake. “Jesus found a resting place near the stern of the ship and soon fell asleep. A great storm arose and still he slept. He was subject to fatigue and bodily exhaustion from other causes as are all men; without food he grew hungry; without drink he thirsted; by labor he became weary. He was in a good state of health. No where do we find record of Jesus having been ill. He lived according to the laws of health, yet never allowed the body to rule the spirit. Sleep after toil is necessary. The day’s work done, Jesus slept.

“The disciples were terror stricken; yet through it all Jesus rested peacefully. In their extremity of fear, the disciples awakened him, crying out, according to the several independent accounts, ‘Master, Master, we perish;’ ‘Lord save us: we perish’; and, ‘Master, carest thou not we perish?’ They were abjectly frightened, and at least partly forgetful that there was with them One whose voice even death had to obey. Their terrified appeal was not wholly devoid of hope nor barren of faith. ‘Lord save us’ they cried. Calmly he responded to their piteous call, ‘Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?”

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie:

“The Sea of Galilee is thirteen miles by seven miles wide. It is a lake of fresh, fish-filled water, 695 feet below sea level, at a base of rugged hills and mountains. This combination causes sudden atmospheric downdrafts and tempestuous winds resulting in sudden and violent storms on the lake. This storm was unusually fierce. Waters beating over the ship. The danger of sinking is very real.”

In Jesus’ chastising words is the feeling of an unspoken message, that if their faith had been strong enough they would have, could have, stilled the storm themselves. (Perhaps by praying in Jesus name.) Jesus was a God before coming to this earth. He was a God while on the earth and continues a God throughout all eternity. Notwithstanding this, he partook in full the experiences of mortality, and to a degree beyond our comprehension.     

The disciples knew Jesus had divine powers and could save them even from the raging tempest. Because of their fear they were themselves devoid of that confidence and assurance which could have enabled them to still the storm; yet, almost instinctively, they knew their Master would do what they hesitated to attempt.

            “As with almost all men in their divers walks, greater faith should have been evidenced by the disciples as their ship struggled in the surging waves of the Galilean sea. “O ye of little faith,” and “Where is your faith?” [the Master challenged.]

            “Implicit therein is the assurance that by faith they also could have commanded the elements and had them obey. By faith all things are possible, and when the Lord’s servants rise in the full majesty of their callings, they have “power to command the waters.”” (D&C 61:27)

                                          

Thoughts of Interest from Other Writers:

In spite of all the miracles of healing, including restoration of life itself, the disciples seem unable to accept the fact that Jesus has control of all the elements. They say, “What manner of man is this? For he commands even the winds and water and they obey him!” However, they still refer to him as ‘man.’ (Geikie)

There seems to be some connection between the miracle of healing, the teachings of that day and the miracle of rescue from the storms of that evening. Jesus has done much healing, has rebuked fever (Luke 4:39) and the paroxysm of the demonized (Mark 9:25) and now rebukes the winds of the sea as the Jehovah of old. (Psalms 106:9) Awake or asleep, Jesus is Master. (Edersheim)

Always after a storm and the winds die down there is a period of time before the sea swells become quiet. This time however they stop immediately. (Shepherd)

Travelers are often endangered by these sudden fierce storms that seem to spring up almost from nowhere. (Farrar)

In the common Greek language in use in that day, when Jesus told the elements, “Peace! Be Still!” It was a command to ‘muzzle,’ literally, “I Muzzle You.” (Farrar)

The Apostles reaction to these events testifies that they believed they did happen. The three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and John testify of their truth and agree on their description and details. (Howick)

Jesus and his disciples would be heading to the opposite (northeast) side of the lake. There would be a small town where they could get food and a place to rest. (Pentecost)

In the close circle around Jesus were those fishermen whose families made their living from the sea of Galilee. They would be well experienced in gauging the seriousness of a storm at sea and speak accordingly. Luke writes, “they were in grave danger.” (Luke 8:23) (Pentecost)

Dr. Thompson (The Land and the Book) gives a description founded on his personal experience on the shores of the lake: “I spent a night in that Wady Shukaiyif, some three miles up it, to the left of us. The sun had scarcely set when the wind began to rush down toward the lake, and it continued all night long with constantly increasing violence, so that when we reached the shore next morning the face of the lake was a huge boiling cauldron. The wind howled down every wady from the northeast to the east with such fury that no efforts of rowers could have brought a boat to shore at any point along that coast. . . . To understand the causes of these sudden and violent tempests, we must remember that the lake lies low – six hundred feet lower than the ocean; that the vast and naked plateaus of the Jaulan rise to a great height, spreading backward to the wilds of the Hauran, and upward to snowy Hermon; and the water-courses have cut out profound ravines and wild gorges converging to the head of this lake, and that these act like gigantic funnels to draw down the cold winds from the mountains.”

Glenn R. McGettigan

March 2019

References

“Miracles of Jesus the Messiah.” Howick

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” Volume 1. McConkie

“The Mortal Messiah.” Volume 2. McConkie

“The Life of Christ.” Farrar

“The Words and Works of Jesus Christ.” Pentecost

“The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Volume 1. Edersheim

“The Christ of the Gospels.” Shephard

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“The Life and Words of Christ.” Geikie

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark

“Scriptural Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith.” Smith

                                                               

#51 Beelzebub Charge

#51 Beelzebub Charge

Please first read: Matthew 12:24-37; Mark 3:22-30; Luke 8:1-3

Jesus can no longer move around anonymously in any of the main Jewish areas. His fame seems to have spread everywhere … Judea, Samaria, Galilee, Decapolis, and Perea. His miracles and teachings are very challenging to the existing spiritual and political leadership, and opposition to him has become strong. On one hand there are numerous healings of all kinds. Sick, diseased, and broken bodies are made well, blind eyes see, deaf ears hear, the dumb speak, evil spirits are cast out, and (unbelievable) sins are forgiven! On the other hand are individuals and forces whose existence is now being threatened, and they are reacting against Jesus and his followers.   The Sanhedrin, Scribes, Pharisees, the Sadducees, leaders of Synagogues, Rabbinism, and others who view Jesus as an enemy are watching and following very closely. For them this is undermining their very livelihood and way of life. Spies are in the crowds. The actual miracles could not be disputed. One line of attack among these opposed to Jesus was to encourage the populace to turn their attention away from the actual miracle, and debate about the source of the power involved (i.e. Satan). This became a strong argument for many even though it defies logic.   The conclusion Edersheim draws in “Life & Times of Jesus the Messiah” is, “They could believe in the miracles and yet not believe in the Christ.”  

Jesus along with many followers, including the Twelve and other Brothers and Sisters, now continues his traveling through the cities and villages of Galilee. There is much preaching and healing being done and we can assume that others of his party are actively participating in these activities. Included in the things Jesus needs to accomplish is the preparing of those who will continue in the Gospel after his departure from them.  

In Capernaum there is brought to him for healing one who is blind and dumb … he cannot see, hear or speak. One of the fallen spirit followers of Satan has taken possession of this individual.   The miraculous healing takes place and is now an established and verified fact.

For some, and maybe many, the elimination of such a hideous power under which this man was held captive was something they had never before witnessed. For some, and maybe many, their thoughts were in another direction … we have heard this may be the Deliverer we have been waiting for. Can this man be the Son of David? The Messiah? The Son of God? Maybe, and why not?

The Jews have long believed there are only two sources of power in the world:  Evil and Satan; Good and God. The power for this healing must come from one of these two sources. If Jesus casts out devils by the power of Satan, it will fail. If he has done this by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God is with them in the form of Jesus, the Messiah. This is both proof, and a sign. They also believed that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand … it will fall. They had experienced this in their own history. When the tribes disagreed and fought against each other this invited other nations to invade them.

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie:

“These Jews believed both in devils and in an organized kingdom of evil spirits which was presided over by the prince of devils, Beelzebub, one of the name titles of the devil.  It was also applied in ancient Israel to a heathen god.” (Matthew 12:24) (2 Kings 1:3)

“Satan: Literally, adversary; a formal Hebrew name for the devil, which signifies that he wages open war with the truth and all who obey its principles.” Satan cannot cast out Satan. “Devils are not cast out except by the power of faith and the authority of the priesthood. Lucifer’s ministers exercise the power to perform many miracles in imitation of those done by the Lord’s authorized servants. But no one, acting pursuant to a delegation of authority from the devil, ever casts one of his kindred spirits out of the mortal tenement such spirit has unlawfully inhabited. Satan is not divided against himself any more than angelic ministrants of the Lord are rebelling against each other.” (Matthew 12:25-26)

Apostle James E. Talmage:

“At the time of our Lord’s earthly ministry, the curing of the blind, deaf, or dumb was regarded as among the greatest possible achievements of medical science or spiritual treatment; and the subjection or casting out of demons was ranked among the attainments impossible of Rabbinical exorcism. Demonstrations of the Lord’s power to heal and restore, even in cases universally considered as incurable had the effect of intensifying the hostility of the sacerdotal classes; and they, represented by the Pharisaic party, evolved the wholly inconsistent and ridiculous suggestion that miracles were wrought by Jesus through the power of the prince of devils, with whom He was in league.”

Jesus seems now to have moved away from preaching in the synagogues and is teaching the crowds in the open air.  There are probably several reasons for this:

1.      Leaders of synagogues are among those feeling public pressure to conform to the traditional spiritual themes of religious instruction. Jesus, of course, is not doing this.

2.      There were a number of women in Jesus’ entourage. These women disciples were a source of both spiritual and financial strength to the group and traveled with them. The Rabbis (leaders of the synagogues) refused to teach women; they held inferior places in the synagogue.

3.      Jesus welcomed all to come and hear him … Jew, Gentile, men women, children.   Geographically, trade and traffic came through the area from all over that part of the world … all races and levels of humanity. This caused problems within the synagogues.

Jesus is constantly in demand … large crowds and long days … many sick and ailing individuals all wanting to be healed. All this activity is increasing the hostility of the ecclesiastical authorities who are losing members of their congregations. Any religious movement or activity that did not originate in the Rabbinical schools was suspect and opposed by the Rabbis. What was originally something deemed insignificant and of no concern had now grown in popularity and was a threat to their religious authority. Jewish history bordered on fanaticism for the Law, the Scribes, Rabbis, and the Temple. This was now being threatened by a new order.

The Pharisees seem to be the leaders of the opposition against Jesus and claim he is working with Satan. They believe that within the satanic kingdom there is a well-organized and sustaining structure of various powers. Jesus indicates that this is true. The demonic realm is very much an active power on the earth and Satan is “master of the house.” Matthew 12:30-39

There is no such thing as “middle of the road.” One is either for the Lord or against him. Jesus cautions the Pharisees against going too near the point of sinning against the Holy Ghost. He again calls them a “generation of vipers” (evil, wicked, venomous snakes.) Can that line be crossed when one is actively plotting to kill Jesus?

Other Points of Interest:

·         Jesus has dealt with Satan on the earth before … beginning with Herod trying to kill him when he was born … to Satan testing him in the wilderness … and now in his earthly ministry until his resurrection.

·         These confrontations between Satan and Jesus showed the source of Jesus’ power was always superior to that of Satan.

·         Both Jesus and John the Baptist singled out the Pharisees, accusing them of special workings of evil. Both referred to them as a “generation of vipers.”

·         Mary called Magdalene was among those traveling with Jesus. She was walking proof, having been healed of seven evil spirits, as were other women there who had experienced the same healing from the Lord.

·         Jesus’ enemies were all men. There is no gospel record of a woman taking action against Jesus.

·         Beelzebub” (Canaanite.) From the Hebrew Bible (2 Kings 1:2.) Baal, The Prince: he is “Lord of the Earth.” He later became the chief of demons in early Jewish demonology.

·         Jewish belief was that evil was personified in individual spirits. Satan was the chief of these and also the head of the dominion of evil.

These scriptures also refer to others casting out devils. From the Inspired Versions of Matthew, Mark, and Luke we learn these were other persons “who had gained the Spirit of God, that is they had been baptized, were members of the Church, held the priesthood, and were walking uprightly and faithfully before the Father. False ministers have not, do not, will not, and cannot cast out devils.”

Glenn R. McGettigan

April 2016

References:  

“Life & Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Edersheim

“Life & Words of Christ.” Geike    

“Life of Christ.” Farrar

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” McConkie

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage    

“Complete Biblical Library – Luke & Matthew.”

“Communicator’s Commentary – Matthew & Luke.”

 “New Testament Commentary – Matthew, Mark & Luke.” Tyndale

“Anchor Bible – Matthew, Mark & Luke”