A Roman centurion's servant was sick and near death. The centurion heard about Jesus and sent the elders to Him to ask Him to come heal His servant. This centurion had loved the Jewish nation and even helped build them a synagogue.
While Jesus was on the way to the centurion's house, his friends came to Jesus and told Him that the centurion said he was not worthy for Jesus to come into his house, but if He would only say the word, his servant would be healed. Jesus marveled at his faith and told those around Him that "He had not found such great faith, not even in Israel." By the time the friends returned home, the servant was well.
Jesus encountered the funeral for a young man, the only child of a widow. The Lord had compassion on her and told her not to weep. He touched the open coffin and told the young man to arise, and he sat up and began to speak. Everyone who saw was afraid and glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us; and God has visited His people."
Meanwhile, John the Baptist was in prison and asked his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Coming One, or should they look for another. Jesus then did many miracles, healing the sick and casting out demons, and giving sight to the blind, and He instructed them to go back to John and tell them the things they witnessed: "the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them."
Later, Jesus told the people about John, that he was the greatest prophet born of women; "but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." Those baptized by John justified God, but the Pharisees rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by John.
Jesus criticized His generation:
To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace calling to one another...
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say He has a demon. the Son of Man has come eating and drinking and you say, Look a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! But wisdom is justified by all her children.
One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to dinner, and Jesus went. There was a woman who came and stood behind him, crying, and her tears fell on Jesus' feet. She then wiped His feet with her hair, kissing His feet, and anointing them with expensive oil. But the Pharisee complained within himself that if Jesus was a prophet, He would know who this woman was, for she was a sinner.
Jesus knew what the man was thinking and responded with a parable. Two men owned money to a creditor. One owed 500 denarii and the other 50. When they had nothing to repay, the creditor forgave both of them. Therefore, who will love him more? The Pharisee said, the one who owed more. Jesus told him he was correct.
Then Jesus turned to the woman and said to the Pharisee that when He entered his house, he gave Jesus no water for His feet, but the woman washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. He gave Jesus no kiss, but she has not stopped kissing His feet. And he did not anoint His head with oil, but she anointed His feet with oil. Therefore, her sins are forgiven, for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven the same loves little. And He told the woman her sins were forgiven.
All those at the table pondered: "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
And Jesus told the woman: "Your faith has saved you. God in peace."
COMMENTARY
What did it mean that John the Baptist sent disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Coming One?
While John was in prison, he had doubts. He had been looking for the Messiah, "expecting Christ to establish the kingdom in all of its glory and power." But since that event had not occured, yet, he sent his disciples to ask if Jesus was the One, or should they look for another.
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John the Baptist in prison |