14 "AND when Jesus was come into Peter's house, He saw his 15 wife's mother lying sick of a fever. And He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she arose, and ministered unto 16 Him. And when even was come, they brought unto Him many possessed with devils; and He cast out the spirits with 17 a word, and healed all that were sick; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our diseases."
29 "And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James 30 and John. Now Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever; 31 and straightway they tell Him of her; and He came and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
32 "And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were sick, and them that were possessed with devils. 33 And all the city was gathered together at the door. And He 34 healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and He suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him.
35 "And in the morning, a great while before day, He rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there 36 prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed 37 after Him; and they found Him, and say unto Him, All are 38 seeking Thee. And He saith unto them, Let us go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this 39 end came I forth. And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out devils.
40 "And there cometh to Him a leper, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, If Thou wilt, 41 Thou canst make me clean. And being moved with compassion, He stretched forth His hand, and touched him, and saith 42 unto him, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway the 43 leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean. And He strictly charged him, and straightway sent him out, and saith 44 unto him, See thou say nothing to any man; but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things 45 which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to spread abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was without in desert places; and they came to Him from every quarter."
12 "And it came to pass, while He was in one of the cities, behold, a man full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou 13 canst make me clean. And He stretched forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And 14 straightway the leprosy departed from him. And He charged him to tell no man; but go thy way, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But so much the more 15 went abroad the report concerning Him; and great multitudes came together, to hear, and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But He withdrew Himself in the deserts, and prayed."
NOTE.—The texts inclosed in marks of parentheses, while not essential to the lesson study, will be found to throw much light upon the lesson, and are suggested for those who wish to study further.
1. The house of Simon.—It appears that, altho Peter's home had shortly before been at Bethsaida (John 1:44), a little southwest of Capernaum, on the sea, he was at this time living in the house with his wife's mother, in the latter place. On this particular occasion James and John, as well as Andrew and Peter, were present.
2. When even was come.—Jewish tradition had placed so many restrictions around the Sabbath that none were supposed, on that day, to make a journey of more than two thousand paces. It was also considered unlawful to heal the sick on that day. Luke 6:7; 13:14; John 5:18; 9:16. These regulations gave the Saviour a short respite from labor. But from the report of the incident in the synagogue during the service of the day, every one was in expectation. All knew where Jesus was quartered, and as soon as the trumpet blast announced the Sabbath closed, all the people of that region flocked to Peter's house, bringing their sick with them. Every disease was there represented,—leprosy, fever, asthma, consumption, dropsy, palsy, deaf, dumb, and those possessed with devils.
3. There cometh to Him a leper.—Leprosy was a loathsome disease of that day, supposed by some to be similar to the worst form of modern elephantiasis. It began in small specks on the eyelids or hands, and spread until it affected every part of the body, causing angry swellings and putrefying sores. From the skin it ate through the tissues to the bones, rotting the entire body by degrees. When the malady arrived at this stage, death was a welcome messenger. The man in this case was "full" of the dread disease, which debarred him from approaching a member of the community, or permitting another to come toward him without his giving the warning cry, "Unclean, unclean." Faith alone in the saving power of Christ, after hearing of and perhaps seeing from afar His wonderful work, could possibly have induced him to be so bold.
4. Say nothing to any man.—It was too early in the ministry of Christ for so great a stir to be made as was sure to follow public announcement of such miraculous healing, as it would likely precipitate undue opposition from the priests, and this would interfere with the intended work of Christ. See Isa. 42:2-4. So the word was, "See thou say nothing to any man." Jesus knew that it was better to let the priest decide that the man's leprosy was departed, and so publish it, as the law required.
1 "Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe 2 also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place 3 for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there 4 ye may be also. And whither I go, ye know the way. Thomas 5 saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; how 6 know we the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one cometh unto the Father, but by Me. 7 If ye had known Me, ye would have known My Father also; 8 from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him. Philip saith unto Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth 9 us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and doest thou not know Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from Myself; 11 but the Father abiding in Me doeth His works. Believe Me 12 that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto 13 the Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that 14 will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask Me anything in My name, that will I do."
Golden Text: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life."
(1) In what condition of mind were the disciples after the last supper with Jesus? What words of encouragement did He speak to them? V. 1. Note 1. (2) What assurance did He give them in regard to His going away? V. 2. Note 2. (3) What further promise did He give? V. 3. Note 3. (4) What did He say of their knowledge? V. 4. (5) What did Thomas say to this? V. 5. (6) What did Jesus say in reply to Thomas? V. 6. Note 4. (7) What did He say about their knowing the Father? V. 7. (8) Then what request did Philip make? V. 8. (9) How did Jesus reply to this request? V. 9. Note 5. (10) What further question did He ask concerning Philip's faith? What did He say of His own words and works? V. 10. (11) What further proof did Jesus offer of the truthfulness of His words? V. 11. Note 6. (12) What assurance of power does He give to those who believe? V. 12. (13) What promise is given to those who prove their faith by asking of Him? What must be the actuating motive in asking? Vs. 13, 14. Note 7.
NOTES.
1. "Believe also in Me."—Practically the disciples did not believe in Jesus, that is, not in the true sense. They believed that He was the Messiah in the sense in which the Jews in general believed in a Messiah, namely, a brilliant leader who would deliver them from the Roman yoke and set up a universal kingdom. They were following Him in the hope of being on hand to get the first places when He should decide to begin aggressive operations. They did not believe in His death and resurrection and priestly rule in heaven as antecedents of His glorious reign as King on the new earth. As yet they were all unconverted men. Hence, when He spoke of going away, they were sorrowful not only for losing His companionship, but mainly because they felt that their expectations were all frustrated. This is shown by the fact that as soon as He permitted Himself to be arrested they gave up all hope.
2. "A place for you."—This verse would have been very comforting had the discouraged disciples believed the assurance. If the Master were going away from them for "a little while," it was on their behalf. It was to perfect the plan of salvation—to prepare a place in the many mansions of the Father's illimitable house, or domain, which comprises the universe.
3. "I will come again."—Another comforting word, but its force was all lost through unbelief. But the promise was not for them alone; it is for believers to-day, and is just as good as ever. As long as Christ exists the promises are sure; "for all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." 2 Cor. 1:20. "Receive you unto Myself."—Both the going away and the coming again are in behalf of His disciples, those who believe. Not only Christ, but all the heavenly host, are engaged in the work of salvation of sinful man. Of the angels it is said, "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?" Heb. 1:14, R.V. And their salvation will be complete when Christ comes again to receive them unto Himself. Matt. 25:31-34.
4. "I am the way."—Man's greatest need is to be reconciled to God. Naturally he is a stranger to God, being alienated by sin. And there is but one way of finding God and being at peace with Him. That way is Jesus Christ. "Now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace." See Eph. 2:12-14. Through Him we have access to the Father. Verse 18. It is not only through Him, but through Him only. Acts 4:12. He is "the truth," and it is through the truth we are to be sanctified. John 17:17. He is also "the life;" for "this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:11, 12.
5. "Hath seen the Father."—This was a hard saying to those who could not take the Lord at His simple word. And so it is yet. It took faith to see God in Jesus Christ; for the divinity was vailed or covered up, in humanity. Yet it was there, God was "manifest in the flesh" (1 Tim. 3:16), and in Christ "dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9).
6. Believe for the works' sake.—The works of God are always sufficient evidence of His being and of His wisdom and power. Those who reject God and His Word in full view of His works are "without excuse." See Rom. 1:19-21. And Jesus Christ did works that no other man had done previous to His coming, thereby leaving the Jews without excuse for not believing on Him. Yet because He was going to the Father, to be associated with and have access to all power, He would endue His disciples with power to do even greater works than He had done among them.
7. "Whatsoever."—That is a very expressive term; it marks no limit in itself. But the promise is limited to that which will glorify the Father. The purpose of granting whatsoever the disciple asks is "that the Father may be glorified." No doubt many disappointments are experienced in praying just because the petitioners lose sight of that fact. Anxiety is not faith, and earnest desire is not always unselfish. That deep, entire consecration which can desire only the glory of God in a petition is exceedingly rare, else there would be greater manifestations of the power of God among His professed followers.
