The Faith of the Centurion
(Matthew 8:5–13; John 4:43–54)
When Jesus had concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. Mat 8:5-13Luk 7:1-10Mat 7:28-29 There a highly valued servant of a centurion was sick and about to die. 2Ki 5:2-3Gen 24:27Jhn 4:46-47Col 3:22Gen 24:2-14Gen 24:35-49Gen 35:8Gen 39:4-6 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask Him to come and heal his servant. Mat 8:5Jhn 4:47Luk 9:38Phm 1:10Luk 8:41 They came to Jesus and pleaded with Him earnestly, “This man is worthy to have You grant this, Luk 7:6-7Mat 10:11Mat 10:37-38Rev 3:4Luk 20:35Mat 10:13 for he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 2Ch 2:11-121Ch 29:3-91Jn 3:141Jn 3:18-191Jn 5:1-31Ki 5:1Ezr 7:27-28Gal 5:6
So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. Mrk 5:24Gen 32:10Jas 4:6Luk 8:49Mat 3:11Act 10:38Luk 15:19-21Luk 5:8 That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to You. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. Psa 107:20Psa 33:9Luk 4:36Mrk 1:27Deu 32:39Luk 5:131Sa 2:6Exo 15:26 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” 1Ti 6:1-2Act 10:7-8Act 22:25-26Act 23:17Col 3:22Act 23:23Act 23:26Act 24:23
When Jesus heard this, He marveled at the centurion. Turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” Mat 15:28Mat 8:10Rom 3:1-3Mat 9:33Rom 9:4-5Psa 147:19-20 And when the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant in good health. Jhn 4:50-53Mat 8:13Mat 15:28Mrk 9:23
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples went with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. Act 10:38 As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. Luk 8:42Luk 8:521Ki 17:121Ki 17:181Ki 17:91Ti 5:4-52Ki 4:162Ki 4:20
When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.” Isa 63:9Psa 103:13Heb 4:15Lam 3:32-33Psa 86:15Jer 31:20Luk 8:52Psa 86:5 Then He went up and touched the coffin, 1 and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!” Jhn 11:43-44Jhn 5:25Act 9:40-41Jhn 11:251Ki 17:21Jhn 5:28-29Luk 8:54-55Jhn 5:21 And the dead man sat up and began to speak! Then Jesus gave him back to his mother. 2Ki 13:211Ki 17:23-242Ki 4:32-37
A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said. “God has visited His people!” Mat 9:8Jer 33:9Luk 1:68Luk 7:39Exo 4:31Luk 1:65Luk 2:20Luk 5:26 And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding region. Luk 7:14Mat 4:24Mat 9:26Mat 9:31Mrk 1:28Mrk 6:14
John’s Inquiry
(Matthew 11:1–6)
Then John’s disciples informed him about all these things. Jhn 3:26Mat 11:2-19 So John called two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?” Isa 9:6-7Jhn 4:25Act 10:7-8Dan 9:24-26Deu 18:15-18Gen 22:18Gen 3:15Gen 49:10
When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?’” Luk 7:19
At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind. Mrk 3:101Co 11:30-321Ki 8:37Heb 12:6Jas 5:14-15Mat 4:23Mrk 5:29Mrk 5:34 So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers 2are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Isa 35:5-6Isa 61:1-3Luk 4:18Isa 29:18-19Jas 2:5Act 14:8-10Act 26:18Luk 7:14-15 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me. 3” 1Pe 2:7-8Isa 8:14-15Mat 11:6Rom 9:32-33Mat 13:57-581Co 1:21-281Co 2:14Jhn 6:60-66
Jesus Testifies about John
(Malachi 3:1–5; Matthew 11:7–19)
After John’s messengers had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? Eph 4:14Jhn 1:23Luk 1:80Luk 3:22Co 1:17-202Pe 2:172Pe 3:17Jas 1:6-8 Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear elegant clothing and live in luxury are found in palaces. 1Ki 10:52Ki 1:82Sa 19:35Est 1:11Est 1:3Est 4:2Est 8:15Isa 59:17
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. Luk 1:76Jhn 5:35Luk 20:6Jhn 3:26-30Luk 16:16Mat 11:9-14 This is the one about whom it is written: Mal 3:1Luk 1:76Mrk 1:2Jhn 1:23Luk 1:15-17Mal 4:5-6Mat 11:10Isa 40:3
‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You,
who will prepare Your way before You.’ 4
I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Heb 11:39-40Mat 11:11Mat 13:16-17Col 1:25-271Pe 1:10-12Eph 3:8-9Luk 10:23-24Luk 9:48
All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John. Luk 3:12Luk 7:35Act 18:25Act 19:3Mat 21:31-32Mat 3:5-6Psa 51:4Rev 15:3 But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John. Luk 13:342Co 6:1Jer 8:8Mat 22:35Act 20:27Eph 1:11Gal 2:21Rom 10:21
“To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like? Mat 11:16-19Lam 2:13Mrk 4:30 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: Mat 11:16-19Jer 5:3-5Pro 17:16Isa 28:9-13Isa 29:11-12Zec 8:5
‘We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not weep.’
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ Luk 1:15Mrk 1:6Act 2:13Jer 16:8-10Jhn 10:20Jhn 8:48Jhn 8:52Mat 3:4 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Luk 15:2Luk 7:36Jhn 12:2Luk 14:1Luk 19:7Mat 9:11Jhn 2:2Luk 11:37 But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.” Pro 8:32-36Mat 11:191Co 2:14-15Hos 14:9Pro 17:16Luk 7:29
A Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus
(Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; John 12:1–8)
Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. Mrk 14:3-9Mat 26:5-6Luk 14:1Jhn 11:2-16Luk 11:37Luk 7:34 When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume. Mrk 14:3-9Mat 26:6-13Luk 5:30Luk 7:37-39Mat 21:311Pe 4:181Ti 1:9Jhn 12:1-8 As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume. Psa 126:5-6Psa 51:17Gen 18:4Ecc 9:8Isa 61:3Luk 7:44-46Psa 6:6-82Co 7:10-11
When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!” Luk 7:16Luk 15:2Isa 65:5Mrk 7:21Pro 23:72Ki 5:20Jhn 4:19Jhn 7:12
But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” Ezk 33:31Jhn 13:13Jhn 16:19Jhn 16:30Jhn 3:2Luk 18:18Luk 20:20-21Luk 5:22
“Tell me, Teacher,” he said.
“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, 5 and the other fifty. Luk 7:47Mat 18:28Mat 6:12Rom 5:201Jn 1:8-10Luk 11:4Rom 3:231Ti 1:15-16 When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?” Act 13:38-39Col 3:13Dan 9:18-19Eph 1:7Eph 4:32Gal 3:10Isa 43:25Isa 44:22
“I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. Psa 116:16-181Co 15:9-101Ti 1:13-162Co 5:14-15Luk 10:38Luk 7:47Mrk 12:34
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 1Ti 5:10Gen 18:4Gen 19:2Jdg 19:21Gen 43:241Sa 25:41Jas 2:6 You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived. 2Sa 15:5Rom 16:161Th 5:262Sa 19:391Co 16:20Gen 33:4Mat 26:48Gen 29:11 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume. Psa 23:5Ecc 9:8Mat 6:172Sa 14:2Dan 10:3Psa 104:15Rut 3:3Amo 6:6 Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” 1Jn 4:191Jn 3:18Gal 5:6Isa 1:18Rom 5:20Jhn 21:15-17Eph 6:24Isa 55:7
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Mat 9:2Mrk 2:5Luk 5:20
But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Luk 5:20-21Mat 9:3Mrk 2:7
And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Mrk 5:34Luk 8:48Luk 18:42Mat 9:22Mrk 10:52Eph 2:8-10Rom 5:1-2Jas 2:14-26