34-HEALING TO FULFILL ISAIAH
Matthew 12:15-21 Mk 3:7-12 Jesus
knowing this, withdrew with his disciples from there to the sea. And
many from Galilee followed him; also from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and
from beyond the Jordan and from the coast country of Tyre and Sidon. He
told his disciples that a small boat should stay near for him because of
the crowd, so they would not press on him; and he healed them all, and
warned them not to make him conspicuous, so that spoken by the prophet
Isaiah may be fulfilled:
"Behold my child whom I chose,
my beloved in whom my psyche is delighted.
I will put my spirit upon him,
and he shall declare justice to the Gentiles.
He will not struggle or cry aloud,
nor will any hear his voice in the streets;
he will not break a bruised reed,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he push justice to victory;
and in his name the Gentiles will hope."
Commentary: On the face of it, this seems like a remarkable prophecy.
Since the Gospel of Mark preceded that of Matthew, and Matthew includes 90%
of Mark, this is another example of the Mark compiler trying to authenticate
Jesus through prophecy. For a moment let's suppose that God had picked the
Norse land for the great demonstration and had Jesus do his best to comply
with selections of Norse prophecy. Hardly anyone would know of this
"prophecy" nor what to make of it.
One time, let's endeavor to debunk the details of
prophecy. Jesus DID cry out on the cross, his voice was no doubt heard in
the streets, maybe he didn't break a bruised reed but he DID curse and
wither a barren fig tree. And what justice did he push to victory? Enough
said.
35-THE NAMES OF THE TWELVE
Matthew 10:1-4 Mk 3:13-19 Lk
6:12-16 And having called near his twelve disciples he gave them
authority over foul spirits, so as to cast them out and to heal every
disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve apostles are
these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James
the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas
and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Commentary: Jesus had several followers, including women, but an
effort was made by the dominating males to feature twelve men–no women
allowed–to mirror the twelve tribes of Israel and the symbolism of the
number. The lists in the three Gospels are not identical.
36-HEALING BEFORE THE SERMON
Luke 6:17-19 And coming down with them he
stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great
multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coast country
of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be cured of their
diseases; and those having been tormented with foul spirits, and they
were healed. And all the crowd sought to touch him, because power went
out from him and healed them all.
Commentary: A reiterated anecdote by Luke that gives no additional
information or insight.
37-BEATITUDES
Matthew 5:1-12 Lk 6:20-26 Seeing the
crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples
came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught the males
[1] together, saying:
"Blessed are those males begging for the real meaning in life, because <for at the time> of these will really be
the kingship of heavens.
"Blessed are those males who will be
grieving, because <for at the time> of these males everyone shall be
invited to come in <or be persuaded to be included>.
"Blessed are the gentle, forbearing males,
because <for at the time> of these males they all shall receive
possession of the chosen land.
"Blessed are those males who are being famished and are thirsting for
reasonableness, because <for
at the time> of these males everyone shall be satisfied.
"Blessed are those weeping now,
because you{pl} will laugh.
"Blessed are those males having
compassion, because <for at the time> of these males they all shall
obtain mercy.
"Blessed are those males clear and clean in mind,
because <for at the time> of these males they all shall see God.
"Blessed are those males supporting
(causing) unity, because <for at the time> of these males they all shall
be called sons of God.
"Blessed are those males who are eagerly
endeavoring to acquire what they all deserve, because <for at the time>
of these will really be the kingship of the heavens.
"Blessed will you{pl} men be at the time
that men will reproach you{pl} and persecute you{pl} and will say every
miserable, lying thing against you{pl}, concerning me. You{pl} rejoice
then and celebrate, because<for at that time> the reward of everyone is
of great magnitude within heaven, for thusly did the men treat the
prophets which came before you.
"But woe to you{pl} that are rich, for
you{pl} have received your consolation. Woe to you{pl} that are full
now, for you{pl} shall hunger. Woe to you{pl} that laugh now, for
you{pl} shall mourn and weep. Woe to you{pl}, when all men speak well
of you{pl}, for so their fathers did to the false prophets."
Commentary: In the culture at the time of
Christ it was common to use the male/female symbolism as a linguistic or literary device. When
doing this the male or masculinity sometimes stood for logical
thought or reason versus feeling or intuition for the female or
femininity. Other contrasted meanings are ideal versus practical,
outer versus inner, objective versus subjective, obvious versus subtle,
conscious versus subconscious, consistent versus variable, rigid versus
supple, order versus chaos, real versus mystical, etc. Any time Jesus
talks about male or female he is using this symbology, and any
literal interpretation perpetrates and perpetuates the rank
sexism in which the roots of this symbolism was misunderstood.
Jesus sought to reconcile reason and intuition within the human
soul of both sexes, something not done by any previous religion.
In the third Beatitude, traditionally translated as "Blessed are the
meek", the word rather means gentle and forbearing, NOT what is implied by
the word "meek" today. " "Meek" is an atrocious translation of the Greek
word here.
In the fourth Beatitude, the word traditionally translated as
"righteousness" is of course translated as "reasonableness", which better
reflects the ancient meaning in modern terms.
In the seventh Beatitude, the words traditionally translated as
"pure in heart", are translated as "clear and clean of mind", which much
better reflects the ancient meaning in modern terms.
38-SALT AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Matthew 5:13-16 "You{pl} are the salt of the
earth; but if the salt be tasteless, by what shall it be salted? It is
now good for nothing except to be thrown out and to be trampled under
foot by men.
"You{pl} are the light of the
world. A city is not able to be hidden situated on a hill. Nor do men
light a lamp and place it under a bushel-basket, but on the lamp stand,
and it shines for all in the house. Thus let your{pl} light shine
before men, that they may see your{pl} good works and glorify your{pl}
Father in the heavens."
Commentary: An analogy that shows that the believers are to make the
difference in the world.
39-FULFILLING THE LAW AND PROPHETS
Matthew 5:17-20 "Do not think that I have come
to annul the scriptures and the prophets; I came not to annul but to
fulfill. For truly, I say to you{pl}, until heaven and earth pass away,
one iota or one point will in no way pass from the canon until all
things occur.
Whoever then dismisses one of the least of these precepts and teaches
men so, shall be called least in the kingship of the heavens; but
whoever ratifies and teaches them shall be called great in the kingship
of the heavens. For I tell you{pl}, if your{pl} reasonableness does not
exceed that of the theologians and Pharisees, you{pl} will in no way
enter the kingship of the heavens."
Commentary: The Old Testament scriptures were all the literature that
most people had at the time, and it was what they were familiar with. In the
above passage, Jesus is saying that he came to emphasize fulfilling rather
than annulling, but he is not saying that the
Old Testament is a valid basis for theology or beliefs (it clearly is
not), but that it presaged him, and its validity for this would stand
until "all things occur" at the crucifixion and the resurrection.
Old Testament theology has been quite delegitimized by Jesus himself.
40-GOOD ADVICE FOR THE TIME
Matthew 5:21-26 "You{pl} heard that it was said
to the ancients,
'Do not murder; and whoever murders shall be liable to the judgment.'
But I say to you{pl} that each one who is
angry with his brother without cause shall be liable to the judgment;
whoever calls his brother 'Worthless!' shall be liable to the council,
and whoever says,
'You fool!' shall be liable to the
Gehenna[3] of fire.
"If then you offer your gift at the
altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to
your brother, and coming, then offer your gift. Quickly be fair with
your adversary, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary
hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be
thrown into prison; truly, I say to you, in no way will you get out
until you pay the last penny."
Commentary: Gehenna refers to a literal dumping place of burning refuse in
the valley of Hinnom, a ravine outside of Jerusalem. Jesus used the term
specifically for the Jews of his time to apply to the sacking
and burning of Jerusalem in AD 70, a fate they could not
generally escape short of understanding him and his message and
laying hold of his promise of uninterrupted life. There is NO term equivalent to the
"Christian" concept of 'Hell' in the Gospels, and the only
reference to anything somewhat equivalent is in the parable of "The Rich Man
and Lazarus", a parable that has little authenticity and may not even have
Jesus as its source.
41-WORDS TO BE YES OR NO
Matthew 5:33-37 "Again you{pl} have heard that
it was said to the ancients,
'You shall not swear insincerely,
but shall deliver to the Lord your oaths.'
But I say to you{pl}, Don't swear at all,
neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God, nor by the earth, for it
is the footstool of his feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of
the great King; swear neither by your head, for you are not able to make
one hair white or black. Let your word be yes, yes, no, no. Anything
more is from the evil."
Commentary: Good, sound admonition.
42-EYE FOR AN EYE
Matthew 5:38-42 "You{pl} have heard that it was
said,
'An eye in place of an eye,
and a tooth in place of a tooth.'
But I say to you{pl}, do not resist the
evil. But who strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other
also; and he wishing to sue you and take your tunic, let your coat go as
well. And who forces you to go one mile, go with him two. From he
asking you to give, and he wanting to borrow from you, do not turn
away."
Commentary: "An eye for an eye" is hardly the right ethic to live by,
but the rest of it sounds a little extreme for Jesus to have said. Most of
it probably applies to how to deal with the Roman soldiers of the
occupation, who had the legal right to force a non-Roman to carry his gear
for a mile.
43-LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
Luke 6:27-36 Mt 5:43-48 "You{pl}
heard that it was said,
'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
But I say to those hearing, Love your
enemies, bless those cursing you{pl}, do good to those hating you{pl},
pray on behalf of those abusing you{pl} and insulting you{pl}, so that
you{pl} may be sons of your Father in the heavens; for he makes his sun
rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the
unjust. To those striking you{pl} on the cheek, turn also the other;
and from those taking away your coat do not withhold your tunic. Share
with every one asking you{pl}, and do not ask back from those taking
away your goods. And as you{pl} wish that men may do to you{pl},
you{pl} also do to them likewise.
"If you{pl} love those loving
you{pl}, what credit is that to you{pl}? Do not even the tax collectors
practice the same? For even sinners love those loving them. And if
you{pl} do good to those doing good to you{pl}, what thanks is there to
you{pl}? For even sinners do the same. And if you{pl} lend to those
from whom you{pl} hope to receive, what thanks is there to you{pl}?
Even sinners lend to sinners, that they may receive the same again. And
if you{pl} hail only your brethren, what is exceptional about you{pl}?
Do not even the tax collectors do the same? But love your enemies, and
do good, and lend, despairing nothing; and your reward will be great,
and you{pl} will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the
ungrateful and the selfish. Then be merciful, even as your Father is
merciful. You{pl} then, also be mature as your heavenly Father is mature."
Commentary: Another jumble of burdensome admonitions without context
and connection that Jesus may or may not have said, or that may or may not
be accurate enough to understand what was meant. The "Golden Rule" was not
original with Jesus, and he would have never presented it as a rule or
commandment. Praying on behalf of our enemies does NOT make us sons of the
Father. Probably some of these came from the self-righteous Pharisees. All
in all, the passage tends to instill guilt, something most undesirable. Men
cannot be pushed into the Kingship through guilt, and even trying to do some
of these things tend to make us hypocrites. Overall, the passage is not
inspirational, and should be expunged from consideration because it fails to
meet the reasonable standards of authenticity.
44-TREASURE IN HEAVEN
Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not accumulate for
yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust erode and where
thieves break in and steal, but accumulate for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust erode and where thieves do not break
in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."
Commentary: Another "preachy" passage without context that cannot be
taken as authentic.
45-SEEK FIRST THE KINGSHIP
Matthew 6:25-34 Lk 12:22-34 "Therefore I tell you{pl},
do not be concerned about your psyche <lifestyle or life content>, what you{pl} eat or what you{pl} drink, nor about your
person, what you{pl} put on. Is not the psyche <lifestyle or life
content> more
than food, and the person more than clothing?
"Look at the birds of the sky: they
neither sow nor do they reap nor gather into barns, and yet your
heavenly father feeds them. Rather by how much you{pl} differ from and
excel them! And which of you{pl} by being anxious can add one cubit to
his stature? If then you{pl} are not able to do such a little thing,
why are you{pl} anxious about the other things? Why are you{pl} anxious
about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they
labor not nor spin; yet I tell you{pl}, not even Solomon in all his
glory was clothed like these. But if God thus clothes the grass of the
field, existing today, and being thrown tomorrow into the oven, how much more you{pl}, puny-faiths?
"Therefore do not be anxious,
saying, 'What may we eat?' or 'What may we drink?' or 'What may clothe
us?' For all the world seeks these things. For your heavenly Father
knows that you{pl} need all these things. But seek first God's kingship
and his reasonableness, and all these things will be added to you{pl}.
"Stop fearing, little flock, because your Father
was pleased to share with you{pl} the Kingship. Sell your
possessions, and give alms; make purses for yourselves not growing old,
a treasure in the heavens not failing, where a thief cannot approach and
no moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart
be. Then don't be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious
for itself. Sufficient for one day is the trouble of it."
Commentary: This is another "collection" of things without context
that Jesus may or may not have said, or said in a context that would make
them sensible. This sounds more like the message of John the Baptist than
that of Jesus.
46-PEARLS BEFORE SWINE
Matthew 7:6 "You don't give the holy to
the dogs, nor throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them with
their feet, and turning they tear you{pl}."
Commentary: The context here is that of sharing the Gospel, and the
issue is whom to share it with. Jesus is not calling dogs or pigs all people that are not
open to the truth, but just using common sense to reason with the people.
Even Confucius said, "I do not open up the truth to one that is not seeking
knowledge."
47-JUDGE NOT
Luke 6:37,38 Mt 7:1,2 "Judge not,
and in no way be judged; condemn not, and in no way will you{pl} be
condemned; forgive, and you{pl} will be forgiven; give, and good measure
will be given to you{pl}, pressed down, shaken together, and running
over, they will give into your lap. For with the same measure you{pl}
mete, it will be measured back to you{pl}."
Commentary: While probably not totally accurate, one of the more
inspirational of such passages.
48-BLIND LEAD THE BLIND
Luke 6:39-42 Mt 7:3-5 He told them a
parable: "Is a blind man able to lead a blind man, won't they both fall
into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one
having been matured will be like his teacher. Why do you see the twig
in your brother's eye, but don't consider the log that is in your own
eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the
twig in your eye,' yourself not seeing the log in your own eye? You
hypocrite, first take the log out of your eye, and then you will see
clearly to take out the twig in your brother's eye."
Commentary: An acceptable passage depending on the application and
context.
49-BUILD ON THE ROCK
Luke 6:46-49 Mt 7:24-27 "Why do
you{pl} call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I say? Every one coming
to me and hearing my words and doing them, I will compare to a prudent
man, I will show you{pl} what he is like. He is like a man building a
house, who dug, and deepened, and laid the foundation upon rock. Down
came the rain with a flood happening, the winds blew and the stream
broke against that house, and could not shake it, it had been founded on
the rock. But he who heard my words and did not perform is likened to a
man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. Down came the
rain, the waters came up, the wind blew, and the stream broke against
that house, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was
great."
Commentary: In Matthew 16:18 when Jesus asked the disciples who they
thought he was, Peter exclaimed that he was the son of God. Jesus endorsed
this answer and characterized it as the "Rock" upon which he would build his
selected group. Given that, this is a very worthy parable.
50-HEALING CENTURION'S SON
Luke 7:1-10 Mt 8:5-13 When he
finished all his speech in the hearing of the people he entered
Capernaum. Now a certain son, of a centurion, who was dear to him and
having illness, was about to die. Hearing about Jesus, he sent to him
elders of the Jews, asking him that he might come and heal his son. Coming to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy to
have you grant him this. For he loves our nation, and he built the
synagogue for us."
And Jesus went with them. With him
not being far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying
to him, "Sir, do not trouble yourself. For I am not worthy that you
come under my roof; therefore I did not count myself worthy to come to
you. But say in a word, and let my son be cured. For I am a man set
under authority, having soldiers under me: and I tell one, 'Go,' and he
goes, and another, 'Come,' and he comes, and my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."
Hearing these things Jesus marveled
at him, and turning to the crowd following him, said, "I tell you{pl},
not even in Israel did I find such faith. I tell you{pl}, many will
come from east and west and will be with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in
the kingship of the heavens. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast
out into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; since you believed, let
it be done for you." And the son was healed in that hour. Returning,
those sent to the house found the son well.
Commentary: The son was a servant in Luke's account of this story. This
illustrates that certain details, sometimes inconsequential and sometimes
not, get changed
in the chain of telling by the time it gets to the Gospel compilers.
A very worthy and inspirational account. The "sons of
the kingdom" have to be the Israelites who neglected or rejected the message
of Jesus, which obviously was almost all of them including 10 of the 12
disciples.
51-RESURRECTION AT NAIN
Luke 7:11-17 And it was on the next day he
went to a city called Nain, and many of his disciples and a great crowd
went with him. As he drew near to the city gate, behold, the only son
of his mother, having died, was being carried out; this was a widow, and
a considerable crowd from the city was with her. And seeing her, the
Master had compassion for her and said to her, "Stop weeping." And
coming up he touched the casket, and those bearing stood still. And he
said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And the dead one sat up, and
began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Awe overcame them all;
and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!"
and "God has visited his people!" And this report concerning him spread
to all of Judea and all the neighboring country.
Commentary: It is somewhat puzzling and suspicious that this account
with such amazing content is not included in any of the other Gospels. A
resurrection done so publicly would have generated a storm of interest.
Probably a healing got exaggerated into a resurrection somewher along the
line befor it got to Luke.
52-JOHN DOUBTS
Luke 7:18-23 Mt 11:2-6 With John in
the prison having heard of the deeds of Christ, his disciples reported
to John all about these things. John, having called to him a certain
two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are you the coming
one, or shall we look for another?" And coming to him the men said,
"John the Baptist sent us to you, saying, 'Are you the coming one, or
shall we look for another?'" In that same hour he healed many of their
diseases and problems and evil spirits, and to many of the blind he granted sight.
And answering them, he said, "Upon
going, relate to John what you{pl} saw and heard: blind ones receive
sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, deaf ones hear, the dead are
raised, the poor are given the good news. And blessed is he whoever is
not offended by me."
Commentary: Ostensibly, John experienced the endorsement of Jesus
when he baptized him. How could he now doubt? Only because he was locked
into the old paradigm of the Messiah.
53-YESHUA TALKS ABOUT JOHN
Matthew 11:7-19 Lk 7:24-35 As the
messengers of John were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds
concerning John: "What did you{pl} go out into the wilderness to view?
A reed shaken by wind? What did you{pl} go out to see? A man clothed
in soft garments? Behold, those in splendid clothing and being in
luxury are in kings' palaces. What did you{pl} go out to see? A
prophet? Yes, I tell you{pl}, and more important than a prophet. This
is the one about whom it has been written,
'Behold, I send forth my messenger before your face,
who shall prepare your way before you.'
Truly, I say to you{pl}, among those born
of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; yet the
least in the kingship of the heavens is greater than he. From the days
of John the Baptist until now the kingship of the heavens suffers force,
and the forceful seize it.
For all the Prophets and the Mosaic Law prophesied until John; and if
you{pl} are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, he about to pass. He
having ears to hear, let him hear." All the people and the tax
collectors hearing this justified God, being baptized with the baptism
of John; but the Pharisees and the lawyers set aside the council of God,
for they themselves had not been baptized by him.
And the Master said, "To what shall
I compare this generation? It is likened to children sitting in markets
and calling to their playmates, 'We piped to you{pl}, and you{pl} did
not dance; we mourned to you{pl}, and you{pl} did not wail.' For John
came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'. The
Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous
man and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet
wisdom is justified by her children, her deeds."
Commentary: The salient point of Yeshua's remarks is that, as great as
John was considered to be, the least person in the Kingship is greater. The
forceful TRY to seize the Kingship, not that they are successful.
In the last paragraph, he is contrasting himself with
John, living more normally than John in many ways, such as living in an
apartment in Capernaum, going to parties, participating at the religios
festivals, going to the temple, eating a more normal diet, drinking wine,
etc.
54-WOMEN WITH YESHUA
Luke 8:1-3 Afterwards he traveled
through every city and village, preaching and announcing the good news
of the kingship of God, and the twelve with him, and also certain women
who were healed of psychological problems and infirmities: Mary, being
called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the
wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who
ministered to him from their means.
Commentary: An anecdote where Luke continues to take a lot of poetic
liberty to embellish his picture. Seven demons cast out from Mary?
55-PARABLE OF THE SOWER
Matthew 13:1-9 Mk 4:1-9 Lk 8:4-8 In that day
Jesus, going out of the house, sat down by the sea. And large groups
came together about him, so that he, entering into a boat, sat there,
and the whole crowd stood on the shore.
And he taught them many things in
parables, and in his teaching he said to them: "Listen! The one sowing
went out to sow, and in his sowing some seeds fell along the wayside,
and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on rocky places,
where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because of
having no depth of soil; but with the sun rising, they were scorched;
and because of having no root, they withered. Other seeds fell upon
thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell upon
the good soil and yielded fruit, some indeed, a hundredfold, some sixty,
some thirty. The one having ears, let him hear."
Commentary: Once again we see that Jesus by being in the boat has
chosen the LOWEST physical platform from which to address the people.
TOC
56-QUESTION ABOUT PARABLES
Matthew 13:10-17 Mk 4:10-12 Lk
8:9,10 Having come when he became alone, the disciples said to him,
"Why do you speak to them in parables?" And he answering said to them,
"To you{pl} it has been given to know the secrets of the kingship of the
heavens, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, it will be
given to him, and he will have abundance; but who has not, even what he
has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables,
because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, neither do
they understand. The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled by them, which
says:
'In hearing you{pl} will hear but in no way understand,
and seeing you{pl} will see but in no way perceive.
For this people's spiritual mind has grown gross,
and they heard heavily with the ears,
and their eyes they closed,
lest they see with their eyes,
and they hear with their ears,
and understand with their spiritual minds,
and be converted, and I heal them.'
But blessed are your eyes, for they
see, and your ears, for they hear. For I say to you{pl} truly, that
many prophets and reasonable men desired to see what you{pl} see, and
did not see it, and to hear what you{pl} hear, and did not hear it."
Commentary: Even though his words–whether because of retelling so
many times, whether because of translation difficulties, or any other
reason–are somewhat opaque, in the first paragraph Jesus is referring to
people that have a little open mindedness to the truth and don't pursue it,
even that little openness goes away. This has nothing to do with any
arbitrary action on God's part. The crowds of people were not ready for his
teaching, and so he deliberately told them parables that may have made them
think, without telling them his truth message more directly.
57-PARABLE OF SOWER EXPLAINED
Matthew 13:18-23 Mk 4:13-20 Lk
8:11-15 "Do you{pl} not understand this parable? Then how will
you{pl} understand all the parables? Hear then the parable of the
sower. The sower sows the word. Everyone hearing the message of the
kingship and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches
away what is sown in his heart. This is that sown along the wayside.
But for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one hearing the
message and immediately receiving it with joy; he has no root in
himself, and it is temporary, and when tribulation or persecution occurs
over the message, at once he is offended.
"And that sown among thorns, this is
the one hearing the message, but the cares of this age and the deceit of
riches and the desire for other things enter in and choke the word, and
it becomes unfruitful. But that sown on good soil, this is the one with
a good and reasonable mind hearing the message, who indeed understands
it and accepts it and bears fruit, and one produces truly a hundredfold,
another sixty, and another thirty."
Commentary: This is an important passage. The important implication
is that the "good soil" represents the man that is rooted in self. The
internal reference point of idealism, the spark of God, the final, ultimate
arbiter of what is good and right must be fanned into flame, must be
activated and set free to assess every idea and development. Almost no one
does this.
58-PARABLE OF GROWING GRAIN
Mark 4:26-29 And he said, "Thus is the
kingship of God, as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, and
should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow
as he knows not how, for the earth bears fruit of itself, first the
plant, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when it yields
the fruit, immediately he puts forth the sickle, because the harvest stands ready."
Commentary: An oblique parable giving just one clue as to the nature
of the Kingship of the Heavens.
59-GOOD SEED, BAD SEED
Matthew 13:24-30 Another parable he put before
them, saying, "The kingship of the heavens is likened to a man sowing
good seed in his field; but during the sleep of the men, his enemy came
and sowed darnel among the wheat, and went away. So when the plants
sprouted up and bore grain, then the darnel appeared also. Approaching,
the servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not
sow good seed in your field? How then has it darnel?' He said to them,
'An enemy, man, did this.' The servants said to him, 'Having gone out,
will you have us collect them?' But he said, 'No; lest in gathering the
darnel you{pl} may uproot the wheat along with them. Let both grow
together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers
to collect the darnel first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but
bring together the wheat into my granary.'"
Commentary: In this parable, the plants represent religious or
spiritual concepts and doctrines, NOT humans. The darnel represents bad
doctrines or conceptions (Sin) about God, and the wheat the good
doctrines or conceptions. The harvest for all
doctrines was at the crucifixion and resurrection, which put the lie to Sin,
and demonstrated the goodness of God.
60-PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED
Matthew 13:31,32 Mk 4:30-32 Lk
13:18,19 He presented them with another parable, saying, "The
kingship of God is like unto what? And to what may I compare it? The
kingship of the heavens is like a grain of mustard seed which, upon
taking, a man sowed in his field; it is the lesser of all seeds on
earth, but when it is grown is greater than all the plants, and becomes
a tree producing large branches, so that the birds of the sky come and
roost in its branches."
Commentary: Another clue to the nature of the Kingship of the
Heavens. It is the largest vision of the way things ought to be that we can
have.
61-PARABLE OF LEAVEN IN FLOUR
Matthew 13:33-35 Mk 4:33,34 Lk
13:20,21 He told them another parable. "To what may I compare the
kingship of God? The kingship of the heavens is like leaven which, upon
taking, a woman hid in three measures of flour, till it was all
leavened." All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables; he
told them the message in many such parables, even as they were able to
hear; he spoke nothing to them without a parable, so that spoken by the
prophet was fulfilled:
"I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden
since the foundation of the world."
Commentary: When you catch the conception of the Kingship of the
Heavens it will leaven every aspect of your life, and eventually the whole
world.
62-PARABLE OF THE WEEDS EXPLAINED
Matthew 13:36-43 After sending away the crowds
Jesus went into the house, and his disciples came to him, saying,
"Explain to us the parable of the darnel in the field." He answering
said to them, "The one sowing the good seed is the Son of man; the field
is the world, and these the good seed are the sons
of the kingship; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy
who sowed them is the diabolical one; the harvest is the finish of the
age, and the reapers are messengers. Therefore as the darnel is
collected and consumed in fire, thus shall it be at the finish of this
age. The Son of man shall send his messengers, and they will collect out
of his kingdom all causes of sin and those causing disorder, and throw
them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of
teeth. Then the reasonable
will shine forth like the sun in the kingship of their Father. He
having ears to hear, let him hear."
Commentary: This usage here does not mean
literal "sons", and the usage does not always
mean living beings. Here it means ideas or conceptions about God or
offspring from the diabolical one (Sin). The "finish of the age"
took place at the crucifixion and resurrection.
The reasonable are the righteous, in religious terminology.
63-LAMP OF UNDERSTANDING
Luke 8:16-18; 11:33 Mk 4:21-25 "No one having lit
a lamp covers it with a container, or puts it under a
couch, but puts it on a stand, that those entering may see the light.
For nothing is hidden which will not be revealed, nor secret, which will
not be known and come to be revealed. If anyone has ears to hear, let
him hear." Then he explained to them, "Be careful how and what you{pl}
hear. By what measure you{pl} measure it will be measured to you{pl}.
And it will be increased to you{pl}, the ones hearing. For whoever may
have, it will be given to him, and who has not, even what he seems to
have will be taken away."
Commentary: The nugget hidden in this parable is, "Be careful HOW you
hear, and WHAT you hear." It is crucial how we "measure" or evaluate the
truth of things. Those that let their idealism evaluate will gather more
insight and understanding, and those that don't will lose any chance of
understanding.
64-LAMP OF THE SOUL
Luke 11:34-36 Mt 6:22,23 "The lamp
of the body is the eye. So, when your eye is sound and focused, your
whole body is brightened; but if your eye is bad, your whole body is
dark. If then the light in you{pl} is darkness, how great the
darkness! Watch then, lest the light in you{pl} is darkness. If then
your whole body is brightened, having no dark part, all will be bright,
as when a lamp with its shining illumines you{pl}."
Commentary: For operation in the real world, the eye is the most
importan sensory organ, and we lose freedom and independence without sight.
65-WHO ARE MOTHER AND BROTHERS
Matthew 12:46-50 Mk 3:31-35 Lk
8:19-21 While he is speaking to the crowd, behold, his mother and his
brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him, but were not able to
reach him for the crowd. And he was told, "Your mother and your
brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you." But he replying
said to the man talking, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"
And stretching out his hand and looking around in a circle at his
disciples, he said, "These are my mother and my brothers! Those hearing
the message of my Father in the heavens and doing it are my brother, and
sister, and mother."
Commentary: Jesus makes it clear that our true spiritual "brothers"
become more important to us than our family members.
66-CALMING THE STORM
Mark 4:35-41 Mt 8:23-27 Lk 8:22-25 Evening having come on
that day, he got into a boat with his disciples,
and he said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." Upon
dismissing the crowd, they take him along with them in the boat. With
them sailing he fell asleep. And other small boats were with him. A
storm of strong wind arose, a great shaking took place in the sea and
the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was covered by the waves
and they were being filled and were in danger. But he was in the stern,
sleeping on the headrest; and they awaken him and say to him, "Teacher,
does it not matter to you that we are perishing? Master, save, we are
perishing!" Upon being awakened he said to them, "Why are you{pl}
afraid, puny-faiths?" And he rebuked the wind and the rough water, and
said to the sea, "Silence! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there
was a great calm. And the men were filled with great awe and they
marveled, and said to one another, "Who then is this one, that he even
commands the wind and the water and they obey him?"
Commentary: The disciples did NOT expect the Messiah to have this kind of power, and
this is a clear indication that they did NOT understand who Jesus really was at this time.
67-HEALING THE DEMONIAC
Mark 5:1-20 Mt 8:28-34 Lk 8:26-39 They came to the
other side of the sea, to the country of the
Gadarenes. Coming out of the boat, there met him out of the tombs a man
with an foul spirit, who did not wear a garment and who had his dwelling
among the tombs; and no one could bind him with chains, for he had often
been bound with fetters and chains, but the chains had been broken by
him and the fetters broken apart; and no one was able to subdue him.
Through all the night and day he was crying and cutting himself with
stones among the tombs and on the mountains.
And seeing Jesus from afar, he ran
and bowed the knee to him; and crying out with a loud voice, he said,
"What is for me and for you, Jesus, Son of God the Most High? I adjure
you by God, do not torment me", for he said to him, "Come out of the
man, you foul spirit!" And he asked him, "What is your name?" He
replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many." And he begged him
greatly that he would not send them out of the country.
A great herd of pigs was there near
the hill feeding; and all the demons begged him, saying, "Send us into
the pigs, that we may enter them." So Jesus immediately allowed them.
Upon coming out, the foul spirits entered the pigs and rushed the herd
down the bank into the sea, and about two thousand were drowned in the
sea.
However, those feeding the pigs
fled, and related this in the city and in the country. And they came to
see what is that having happened, and they come to Jesus, and look upon
the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his senses, the one having
had the legion; and they were afraid. And those seeing told them how it
had happened to the demoniac and about the pigs. And they began to beg
Jesus to depart from their territory.
Upon his getting into the boat, the
demoniac begged him that he might be with him. Nevertheless, Jesus did
not allow him and said to him, "Go to your house, to your friends, and
proclaim to them what the Lord has done for you, and favored you." And
he left and began to proclaim in Decapolis how much Jesus did for him;
and all men marveled.
Commentary: This account of the demoniac filled with demons is one of the
most variable stories in all of the Gospels, and it is tenuous or somewhat
specious and
questionable for many reasons. It is not that it didn't happen,
but that the disciples were probably not physically close enough
at the time to hear the words of Jesus and understand properly
what was really taking place.
The prevailing paradigm of the time was that evil
spirits caused these kinds of problems in people, and it induced or forced
the disciples and the compilers of the Gospels to interpret the incident,
embellish it, and tell the story this way.
68-HEALING JAIRUS' DAUGHTER
Mark 5:21-43 Mt 9:18-26 Lk 8:40-56 Upon Jesus crossing
over again in the boat to the other side, a big
crowd was collected by him; and he was beside the sea. And behold, one
of the rulers of the synagogue comes, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he
falls at his feet, and begs him fervently, saying, "My only born
daughter of about twelve is just now at her end, but coming, lay your
hand on her so that she may be restored, and live." Rising up, Jesus
went with him. And a big crowd followed him and pressed about him.
And a certain woman being with a
flow of blood for twelve years, suffering many things by many physicians
and having spent on physicians all her livelihood with nothing having
been gained but rather having come to the worse, hearing about Jesus and
coming behind him in the crowd, touched the hem of his garment. For she
said, "If I may touch just his garments, I will be cured." Instantly
the cause of bleeding ceased; and she felt in her body that she is
healed of her problem.
And right then, Jesus, knowing
within himself that out of him power had gone forth, turning to the
crowd, said, "Who touched my garments?" And his disciples said to him,
"You see the crowd pressing around you and you say, 'Who touched me?'"
And he looked around to see the one having done this. However, the
woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what happened to her, came and
fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said to her,
"Daughter, your faith has healed you; go in peace, and be free of your
problem."
While he was speaking, some came
with the synagogue chief, saying, "Your daughter has died. Why do you
still trouble the Teacher?" Right then Jesus, hearing this spoken
message, said to the synagogue chief, "Do not fear, only believe." And
he did not allow anyone to follow him except Peter and James and John
the brother of James and the father and mother of the child. And they
come into the house of the synagogue chief, and he sees the flute
players and the tumult, and all were weeping and bewailing her. Upon
entering, he said to them, "Why do you{pl} make a tumult and weep? The
child has not died[11],
but sleeps." And they laughed at him.
So, putting them all out, he takes
the child's father and mother and those with him, and passes into where
the child was lying. Upon taking hold of the child's hand he said to
her, "Talitha koumi"; which translated means, "Little girl, I say to
you, arise." Immediately the girl got up and walked, for in years she
was twelve. And they were astounded with amazement. And he earnestly
ordered them that no one should know this [12],
and told them to give her something to eat. And this report went out
into all that area.
Commentary: Jesus doesn't mean here that
the child hadn't literally died, but that she wasn't gone permanently to
her parents but only temporarily, like in a sleep, since he was then
going to restore her.
Crowds probably bothered and
interfered with Jesus, and he is saying here to tell no one of the crowd
at that time.
69-HEALING TWO BLIND MEN
Matthew 9:27-34 And with Jesus passing on from
there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud and saying, "Have pity
on us, Son of David." Entering the house, the blind men came to him,
and Jesus said to them, "Do you{pl} believe that I am able to do this?"
They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying,
"According to your faith let it be done to you." And their eyes were
opened, and Jesus strictly ordered them, "See, let no one know." But
going out, they spread the word through all that region. As they were
going out, behold, others brought to him a dumb, frenzied man. And with
the demon having been cast out, the dumb man spoke. The crowds
marveled, saying, "Never was this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees
said, "By the prince of demons he casts out demons."
Commentary: An anecdote of healing that shows the Pharisees were not
going to accept Jesus under any conditions or demonstration of power.
70-PRAY FOR REAPERS
Matthew 9:35-38 And Jesus went about all the
cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the
gospel of the kingship, and healing every disease and every infirmity in
the people. Seeing the crowds, he was moved by compassion for them,
because they were tired and scattered, like sheep not having a
shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "Indeed, the harvest is great,
but the workmen few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he may
send out workmen into his harvest."
Commentary: Jesus give a melancholy but apt description of the
people.
71-SENDING OUT THE TWELVE
Matthew 10:5-15 Mk 6:7-13 Lk 9:1-6 Having called
together his twelve disciples, Jesus sent these twelve out
two by two, having charged them, saying, "do not go among the Gentiles,
and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the sheep, the
lost of the house of Israel. Upon going proclaim, saying, 'The kingship
of the heavens has drawn near.' Heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise
the dead, cast out demons. Freely you{pl} received, freely give. Take
nothing along the way except a staff, no gold, nor silver, nor copper in
your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals; for
the worker is worthy of his food.
"And into whatever city or village
you{pl} enter, ask who is worthy in it, and remain there until you{pl}
depart. Upon entering the house, greet it; and if indeed the house be
worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your
peace return to you{pl}. And whoever will not receive you{pl} or listen
to your words, going out of that city or house, shake off the dust from
your feet for a testimony against them. Truly, I say to you{pl}, it
shall be more bearable on the day of justice
for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city."
And going out they went through the
villages, preaching the gospel,
and they preached that men should repent. And they cast out many
demons, and anointed many sick ones with oil and healed them.
Commentary: We do not have to subscribe to the idea that is was only
the twelve disciples that were appointed and sent out. This business of "The
Twelve" is a false convention that became entrenched in the thinking of the
early Christian church. And those that were sent out doubtlessly thought they
were more spiritually mature than they really were.
Apparently, the day or time
of justice is the next short spiritual age, a time when to everyone
everything will be revealed, including God's character, purpose, plan,
and values. God's brand of justice is for everyone to be healed
and saved. The part hard to bear is the agony of remorse some will
THEN feel when they realize the magnitude of the unnecessary
suffering and of which the wasted time that their rejection of the message
has been a part.
The gospel is always about equality and
the Kingship of the heavens, the realm of goodness.
72-JOHN BEHEADED
Mark 6:14-29 Mt 14:1-12 Lk 9:7-9 And King Herod
the tetrarch heard of the things happening all around
him, and was puzzled; for Yeshua's name had become famous. Some said,
"John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; this is why these
powers operate in him." But others said, "He is Elijah." And others
said, "It is a prophet, or as one of the prophets." But hearing this,
Herod said, "John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such
things? This is John the Baptist, he has been raised from the dead."
And he tried to see him.
For Herod himself, sending, had
seized John and confined him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife
of Philip his brother; because he had married her. For John said to
Herod, "It is not right for you to have the wife of your brother." So
Herodias held it against him, and wanted to kill him, but was not able,
for Herod feared John, knowing him as a just and holy man, and kept him
safe, and hearing of the many things he did, he heard him willingly.
With a suitable day coming, Herod on
his birthday made a feast for his nobles and the officers and the
leading men of Galilee. Herodias' daughter, entering and dancing,
pleased Herod and those relaxing with him; so the king said to the girl,
"Ask of me whatever you wish, and I will grant it to you." And he swore
to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give to you, up to half of my
kingdom." So, she going out, said to her mother, "What shall I ask?"
And she said, "The head of John the baptizer on a platter."
And coming in immediately with haste
to the king, she asked, saying, "I want you to give me the head of John
the Baptizer on a platter, now." Becoming especially grieved because of
the oaths and those partying together, the king did not want to break
his word to her. So the king, sending a guard at once, ordered his head
to be brought. He, going, beheaded him in the prison, and brought his
head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her
mother. Upon hearing this, his disciples came and took the corpse, and
placed it in a tomb, and told Jesus.
Commentary: A gruesome tale that shows the end result of judging and
condemning other people, which seems to be the tenor of Johns preaching.
This is not the fate of those who understand the Gospel.
73-FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND
Mark 6:30-44 Mt 14:13-21 Lk
9:10-17 The apostles, having returned to Jesus, told him all things
whatever they did and taught. And he said to them, "Come privately by
yourselves to a desert place, and rest a while." For those coming and
going were many, and they had no opportunity even to eat. And they
departed privately in the boat to a city called Bethsaida, a desert
place. Now the crowds saw them going, and many recognized him, and they
ran there on foot from all the towns, and came together there before
them. Jesus, going ashore, saw a large crowd, and had compassion on
them and healed their infirm, because they were like sheep not having a
shepherd. So he began to speak to them about the Kingship of God and to
teach them many things.
With evening coming, his disciples
came to him and said, "This place is desert, and now a late time; send
them away, that going into the surrounding country and villages they may
buy food for themselves. For they have nothing they may eat." But
Jesus answering them said, "They need not go away. You{pl} give them
something to eat." And they say to him, "Upon going, should we buy two
hundred denarii worth of bread and give to them to eat?" And he said to
them, "How many loaves do you{pl} have? Go and see." Upon finding out,
they said, "Five, and two fish."
Then he ordered them all to sit down
company by company upon the green grass. So they sat down group by
group, by hundreds and by fifties. Upon taking the five loaves and the
two fish he looked up to the heavens, and blessed, and broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples to set before the groups. And he divided
the two fish among them all. So all ate and were satisfied. And they
took up twelve hand baskets full of pieces and the fish. And those who
ate the loaves were five thousand men, apart from women and children.
Commentary: Notice that Jesus wanted to talk with them about his
favorite subject, the Kingship of the Heavens, because that is the heart of
the good news.
74-MORE HEALINGS
Mark 6:53-56 Mt 14:34-36 And
crossing over, they came to the land at Gennesaret, and drew to shore.
Landing, they got out of the boat, and immediately the people were
recognizing him; they ran about the whole area and began to bring those
with illness on their cots to any place where they heard he was. And
wherever he entered into villages or cities or fields, even in the
markets, they laid the sick and implored him that they might touch even
the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched were made well.
Commentary: Another anecdote showing the interest in physical healing
with no mention of interest spiritual healing
75-HYPOCRITES HONOR WITH LIPS
Mark 7:1-23 Mt 15:1-20 Then some of
the Pharisees and theologians coming from Jerusalem assembled, and
seeing that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is,
unwashed, they found fault and approach Jesus, saying, "Why do your
disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash
their hands when they eat food." For the Pharisees and all the Jews do
not eat unless they wash their hands to the wrists, holding to the
tradition of the elders. And they do not eat from market unless they
wash themselves; and there are many other things which they received to
observe, the washing of cups, and pots, and vessels of bronze, and
couches.
Then the Pharisees and the
theologians question him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to
the tradition of the elders, but eat the bread with unwashed hands?"
Replying, he said to them, "Isaiah prophesied well concerning you{pl},
you{pl} hypocrites! As it has even been written:
'This people with their lips honor me,
but their heart is far away from me;
and they worship me in vain,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'
So, forsaking the commandment of
God, you{pl} hold the tradition of men, washings of utensils and cups
and many other such things you{pl} do." And he said to them, "You{pl}
effectively set aside the commandment of God, that you{pl} may keep your
tradition! For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and,
'He speaking evil of father or mother, let him end by death'. But
you{pl} say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, Corban, that is,
an offering,'–whatever by me you would have gained–then you{pl} no
longer allow him to do anything for his father or mother, making void
the word of God by your tradition which you{pl} passed on.[15]
And many such things you{pl} do."
And calling all the people to him he
said to them, "Hear me, all of you{pl}, and understand: there is nothing
having entered into a man from the outside which is able to profane him;
nothing going into the mouth defiles the man, but that coming out of the
mouth, this defiles the man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him
hear." And when he entered the house, away from the crowd, his
disciples came and questioned him about the parable, "Do you know that
the Pharisees were offended upon hearing this saying?" But answering,
he said, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be
rooted up. Leave them; they are blind guides of the blind, and if the
blind leads the blind, both will fall into a pit." But Peter answering,
said to him, "Explain the parable to us."
And he said to them, "Then are
you{pl} also dense? Do you{pl} not perceive that whatever entering into
a man from outside cannot profane him, since it does not enter his
heart, but into his stomach, and then goes out into the waste bowl
purging out all the foods?" And he said, "That having passed out of a
man, that defiles a man; for the things coming from the mouth come forth
from the heart, those defile the man. For from within, out of the heart
of man, come evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts,
greeds, wickedness, deceit, wicked visions, slander, pride, foolishness–all these evil things come out from within and profane the man, but
to eat with unwashed hands does not profane the man."
Commentary: Under the pretext of putting
God first, the Pharisees and religious leaders encouraged the tradition
of Corban, a pronouncement that you were dedicating your property, income or
increase to the upkeep of the temple and its services. This
sometimes effectively cut off needy family members, engendering
a hypocritical situation as it always does when God or anything
associated with God is put before the tangible love of human beings.
Jesus is obviously railing against the old concepts and
paradigm of God. "That having passed out of a man, that defiles a man; for
the things coming from the mouth come forth from the heart, those defile the
man" applies to the thinking and teaching that is committed to mythology and
that comes from the old paradigm.
76-HEALING DEAF AND DUMB MAN
Mark 7:31-37 Mt 15:29-31 Then again
leaving from the region of Tyre and Sidon Jesus came to the Sea of
Galilee in the region of the Decapolis. And going up into the hills
he stayed there. Great crowds came to him having with them the lame,
blind, dumb, maimed and many others. They bring to him a deaf man,
hardly speaking; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking
him away from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and
spitting, he touched his tongue; and looking up to the sky, he sighed,
and says to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And instantly his
ears were opened, the bond of his tongue was released, and he spoke
correctly. And he ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered
them, the more they proclaimed.
And they flung others at his feet and
he healed them; so that the crowd had to marvel, seeing the dumb
speaking, the maimed sound, the lame walking, and the blind seeing.
They were exceedingly astonished and glorified the God of Israel,
saying, "He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and
the dumb speak."
Commentary: You would think that with all this marvelous and
miraculous healing that the people would pay more attention to his message
and teaching, but no, not even dramatic miracles could displace their
commitment to the old paradigm of God and open their minds to something
perfectly better.
77-HEALING BLIND MAN OF BETHSAIDA
Mark 8:22-26 And he came to Bethsaida. And they bring to him a
blind man and beg him to touch him. Laying hold of the blind man's hand, he
led him out of the village. And having spit
on his eyes and having laid hands upon him, he asked him if he sees
anything. And looking he said, "I see men, but as trees, walking."
Then again he placed his hands upon his eyes and made him look up. He
was restored and saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home,
saying, "You should not enter the village nor tell anyone in the
village."
Commentary: Why did Jesus spit? Probably
so we would not attach any special significance to any certain procedure or format of healing.
These healings had nothing to do with the format, say, of washing in the
Jordan or spit mixed with dust, etc., no plausible connection to some kind
of technology.
78-WALKING ON WATER WITH PETER
Matthew 14:22-33 Mk 6:45-52 Right
then Jesus made the disciples get in crowds. And
having dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain alone to pray.
With evening coming, he was there alone. However, the boat was now out
on the sea, being tossed by the waves; for the wind was against them.
So in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went toward them, walking on
the sea. But the disciples, seeing him walking on the sea, were
distressed, saying, "It is a phantom!" And they cried out in fear. But
Jesus spoke to them at once, saying, "Be comforted, have courage. I AM
THE ONE; have no fear."
And Peter answering him said, "Sir,
if you are, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come."
So getting out of the boat, Peter walked on the waters, to come toward
Jesus. But seeing the strong wind, he was frightened, and beginning to
sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately extending
his hand, caught him and says to him, "Puny-faith, why did you doubt?"
And while getting into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat
coming, worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And they
were exceedingly amazed beyond measure in themselves, and marveled. For
they did not understand through the loaves, because their minds were
hardened.
And crossing over, they came to the
land of Gennesaret and drew to shore. Upon recognizing him, the men of
that place sent some into all that region and brought to him all those
having sickness, and implored him that they might only touch the fringe
of his garment. And as many as touched were made perfectly well.
Commentary: This account of Jesus walking on the water is affirmed by
the eyewitness John.
Combined Synoptic Gospels Part 3 of 6
TOC