First, we see the reason why no one respects a prophet locally. Second, we have seen that Jesus can heal people who are dying from afar with words. Jesus knows the importance of signs and wonders, but the important thing is His Word, believing in Him, not looking at miracles, and thus don’t put the cart before the horse! Third, through the miracle of Jesus healing the sick man who had been lying for thirty-eight years due to his sin, we also from what God tells us through the Bible is consistent to examine whether the records and translations in the ancient scrolls are correct. Finally, we see that Jesus kept the true meaning of the Sabbath, not the legal Sabbath time. Although He gave us an example that what we should abide by is the true meaning of the Law rather than the letter, the Jews at that time did not understand it and instead nailed Him to the cross, which actually achieved salvation.
1. No one respects a prophet locally
“After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast.”(John 4:43-45)
Please note that after He left Samaria, He did not return to His hometown, but to Galilee, because a prophet was not respected there. Similar verses are in Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:4, and Luke 4:24, so this matter is mentioned in the four Gospels, which also represents its importance. The reason is that from a human perspective, people in His hometown thought they were too familiar with Jesus. How could they believe that Jesus could perform miracles? (See Matthew 13:53-57) The scripture says very clearly, “When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.”(Mark 6:2-3) At that time, even his brothers did not believe (see John 7:5). “And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.”(Mark 6:6) No wonder He didn’t go back to His hometown!
By the way, although the Bible does not clearly say that all His brothers and sisters believed in Him after His death and resurrection, at least the Bible clearly says, “But I (Paul) did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.”(Galatians 1:19) James not only believed but became an apostle.
After Jesus preached, this was the first time He went to Jerusalem. He went up for the Passover. “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs (G4592) which He was doing.”(John 2:23) The Galileans were among them, and they received Him for this reason.
2. Jesus healed a person people who were dying remotely with His words
“Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.”(John 4:46-54)
This miracle (sign) is recorded very clearly, and it also shows that Jesus could use the words He spoke to heal his dying son from afar. From a human perspective, you must find Jesus while one is still alive. In fact, Jesus can resurrect the dead. In this passage, we see, “Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.””(John 11:21-22) When “Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.””‘(John 11:23), her response was, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”(John 11:24) She did not expect that on that day, Jesus would accomplish what He said with His words. (See John 11:25-45)
Jesus knew the importance of signs and wonders, because “So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.””(John 4:48) We see, “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”(John 2:23-25) Because He knew that miracles were used to work for salvation, “…After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”(Hebrews 2:3-4) He also knew very well, “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”(Matthew 24:24) People are often confused by supernatural things, so they must be discerned. What is important is His Word, believing in Him, rather than looking at miracles. We see that during the time when He was incarnate, “But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.”(John 12:37)
We also see,”…many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.”(Acts 2:43) Paul made it very clear, “For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed.”(Romans 15:18) He also said, “I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.”(2 Corinthians 12:11-12) So, Paul performed miracles too. We must pay attention to the fact that signs and wonders have their own importance. We just need to distinguish supernatural things and let the Word be the main thing. Miracles and wonders are only to confirm His Word. Don’t put the cart before the horse!
Finally, let’s take a look at faith of the royal official. First, his son was in Capernaum. He believed in advance that Jesus could heal his son, so he ran a long way to Cana to see Jesus. When he saw Jesus, he believed His words again and expressed it with an act of faith: “Going down!” What’s more, the message brought by the servant confirmed that Jesus used words to heal his son remotely. After experiencing such a miracle, do you think a normal person would not believe it? No wonder he and his whole family believed it.
3. Jesus healed a sick man who had been lying there for thirty-eight years
“After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons (G2540) into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time (G5550) in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.”(John 5:1-9)
This miracle is a very clear which recorded that the lying sick man was healed by the words of Jesus. Obviously, water can move. He saw others being healed but he was too late, so he had to wait there. He waited for thirty-eight years, which was the punishment for his sin since “Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.””(John 5:14) We can see the horror of sin! Although the Bible does not clearly state what kind of sin he had committed, there are thirty-eight punishments, and it will not be a small sin, because God is merciful and gracious. Notice, he was healed immediately.
Jesus knew that he wanted to be healed, but he still asked him that. It showed that the Lord had mercy on him and that He had the authority to forgive sins. It is just like the case that these verses say, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.” And he got up and went home.”(Matthew 9:5-7) We know that neither is easy and neither of us can do it. He demonstrated His sovereignty by doing both!
In the age of the New Testament, as long as we repent, we will not be punished spiritually, because “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(1 John 1:9) In this world, we still have to pay a price, just like the thief who was crucified with Jesus. “And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.””(Luke 23:43) This obviously refers to spiritual things. In the earthly world, he was still crucified and died, obeying Roman law, just as Jesus was crucified and died.
Finally, let’s judge whether there is anything wrong with the records in the ancient scrolls stated in the brackets? We have said that water can move. This obviously does not mean that the wind moves the water. Satan and his servants will not stir the water. Therefore, it is the angels who stir the water. This is correct. Two original words are used in this scripture, G5550 and G2540. These two words were compared in the Strong’s Concordance. The former refers to an indefinite period of time, so here it means a long time, and the latter refers to a fixed time or a special time. It can be translated as ‘at certain seasons’ or refers to ‘the occasion of Bethesda.’ If the time is fixed, those people only need to come at the fixed time. If it refers to the Bethesda’s occasion, the water movement will happen at any time! Judging from what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, they should not know it in advance. There are many such examples. For example, this is like when Samuel anointed David.
Let’s look at the event of the anointing of David. The Lord said to Samuel, “You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.””(1 Samuel 16:3) You see here, Samuel believed in Him first and had acts of faith to show his faith, and then Jehovah showed him.
Finally, “Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.””(1 Samuel 16:10-12) You see, Samuel didn’t even know in advance who he was going to anoint. He went forward in faith, knowing that the LORD would instruct him in the last minute.
In real life, the work of the Holy Spirit is often done at the last minute. We must move forward in faith. I have experienced many such things. Take this topic-wise Bible study as an example. I was not fully prepared until this morning. If you ask me why I didn’t prepare in advance, I tried, but nothing happened. At one time I prepared a week in advance, but put together a small part of the two week speeches. From then on, it depends on the situation, usually it takes until Friday for the words to come out, sometimes earlier, because in reality there are other things to do sometimes and thus I must be prepared in advance. So far, God has never missed anything. This is what I have emphasized before. Only by letting the Holy Spirit lead can we not forcefully interpret the Bible. Otherwise, you will be just like me before, unable to understand the Bible. So I prepare it not only for everyone else but also for myself, because of the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I can understand some things what I didn’t understand before. For example, I didn’t notice the two original words G5550 and G2540 before, whose difference were discussed earlier. Even today, I can’t read it out from the Bible completely. There will be times when I read it in. Once I find my mistakes, I have to correct them, just like the corrections I made in some topic-wise Bible studies in the past.
Everyone can be led by the Holy Spirit. Think about the church in Laodicea in the Book of Revelation. Jesus was shut out of the door, but He still said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”(Revelation 3:20) The Holy Spirit in the Trinity likes to see that everyone is truly willing to open their doors in hearts.
4. The true meaning of Jesus’ Sabbath keeping
“So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk’?” But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.”(John 5:10-18)
We see that Jesus kept the true meaning of the Sabbath, not the time of the Sabbath in the Law. We have discussed this point before in “4. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath
” of “1050 The call of Matthew, fasting, and Sabbath -The image of Jesus (5),“ so I won’t say more. After going to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/“, please click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article. In the verse, it says, ” For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”(Matthew 5:18) From what the Bible tells us is consistent, it refers the true meaning of the Law, not the letters.
Please note that Jesus obviously did not want to use this miracle to become famous for He had slipped away. There are some such examples in the Bible, which you can take a look for yourself. Here, although Jesus gave us an example, what we should keep is the true meaning of the law rather than the letter, but the Jews at that time did not understand it. It is clearly mentioned here that the Jews were rebellious and murderous, and it is also mentioned here the reason why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him. And it was basically the reason why He was ultimately crucified.
When He was arrested after Judas’ betrayal and was tried by the high priest Caiaphas, we see that “Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!””(Matthew 26:65-66) “Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.”(Matthew 27:1-2) It was sent to Pilate because the Jews at that time did not have the authority to kill.
Pilate could not find any reason for his death in Roman’s law. This can be seen from the scripture, “Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.””(Luke 23:13-16) This passage will talk about Herod, because when Pilate “…learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time.”(Luke 23:7) If you look at the corresponding scriptures, you will know why Herod sent Him back.
Under the pressure of the crowd, “When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas (a criminal ) for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”(Matthew 27:24-26) Pilate washed his hands, but he could not wash away the sins he knowingly committed! But salvation was accomplished through the crucifixion of Jesus, “…through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”(Hebrews 9:12) On the road to sanctification, one will fail to sin. We rely on the precious blood of Jesus to repent. We should not be people who knowingly commit sins, but people who can repent at any time when we need to repent.
(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)
(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)
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