Matthew 9:1-17

“Notice what you notice.” Today we have three events taking place at Capernaum – the healing of the paralytic, the calling of Matthew/Levi, and the issue of fasting. Today’s reading covers all three of those events in Matthew’s Gospel. The next six days will break down each of these events into Mark’s and Luke’s coverage of each. With those accounts covered separately we can see differences and similarities in all three events.

I had a number of “notices”, but wanted to focus most on Matthew’s calling. Here again we have Matthew’s seemingly immediate response to Jesus’ call: As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed Him (v. 9). We dealt with these immediate “Follow me” responses earlier in the calling of the Peter, Andrew, James, and John and saw that there was probably more history behind those calls than what was reported in John, Matthew, and Mark. The same is probably true of Matthew’s call.

First, a bit of geography. I’ve always wondered at Capernaum becoming Jesus’ home base, since He was raised in Nazareth, some 25-30 miles away. It’s true that Peter lived there and may have had a fairly large house in which Jesus may have resided. But also, look at the map below. Capernaum is located on a major road from Damascus, Caesarea Philippi, or Tyre to Jerusalem (although there were other routes that travelers could have taken). Coming from Galilee and not yet ready to deal with Jerusalem, Capernaum was an ideal location for ministry. It was probably one of the largest cities in Galilee and would have given Him ready access to other locations. It would also have been a good location for a tax collector to maintain an office or to travel to other locations!

We have already seen that Jesus’ activities in Capernaum had generated a large following (Mark 1, Luke 4). Matthew would surely have known of Jesus and likely may have been one of those who witnessed Jesus’ healing powers. Just a few days ago we saw in Mark 1:33 …that the whole city was gathered together at <Peter’s> door for that Sabbath healing event. Matthew could well have been one of those gathered. That is, when Jesus called Matthew, it was probably more than a “seemingly immediate response to Jesus’ call”.

Slava Bohu!!

Luke 5:12-16

“Notice what you notice.” Luke has two items that are not included in Matthew or Mark, and both jumped out at me. In verse 12 the man who approached Jesus was full of leprosy (NKJV, ESV). And verse 16 says that Jesus …would withdraw to desolate places and pray. What to make of these distinctions?

As to the first, I’m not surprised that Luke the physician would be more complete in his description of the ailment. But how would he know that? For me, I often wonder if Luke was an early disciple (but not an apostle) who followed Jesus, maybe even from very early in Jesus’ ministry? We know Luke was an excellent historian, but if he knows even the small details like covered with leprosy (NASB), how would he have gotten that information? In the introduction to his Gospel, Luke writes, Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us… (Luke 1:1-2). Although Luke does not include himself among those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses, a strong indication that he was not an early follower, still I wonder.

As to the second, Mark also mentions crowds pushing in on Jesus such that He could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places (Mark 1:45). Mark doesn’t mention Jesus praying in that particular verse, but earlier we saw that Jesus, …rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark … went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed (Mark 1:35). We have no doubts about Jesus’ prayer life!

Slava Bohu!!

Mark 1:40-45

“Notice what you notice.” I’m developing a new respect for Mark’s Gospel. A few days ago he added while it was still dark (v. 35) that the other writers had omitted. Today he adds Moved with compassion/pity… (v. 41) at the plight of the leper and his approach to Jesus – kneeling before Him and imploring Him – If you are willing (v. 40). No doubt Jesus was a compassionate man, and with crowds seeking healing it was probably the case that He was compassionate toward each sick person. Mark simply reminds us of that.

I have long known that I am a judgmental person – I think it comes with the profession! However, it has hit me a number of times that my immediate reaction of judgment has moved to a point of prayer and compassion. It happens a lot with people who are quite overweight – and I have no room to talk! But so often in recent years my immediate reaction of judgment has quickly moved to compassion, and that reaction is so much more welcome!

One other phrase that I noticed in Mark did not appear in the other two Synoptics, but it’s more a translation thing than content-worthy. In his last verse Mark says that people were coming to Him from every direction (NKJV, v. 45). Some translations have people coming from everywhere. There’s something about “every direction” that’s just more powerful than “everywhere”!

As we read and pray and reflect on these short readings, I feel like I am being pulled into the story in a manner that I’ve never felt before. It was that way when I first read the Book of Acts – I felt like I was on ship with Paul! And it’s often just those little things that are different this time around. BTW, as I am typing and sending and posting this item it’s still dark outside… HeeHee!

Slava Bohu!!

Matthew 8:1-4

“Notice what you notice.” When much of these Gospel writings are so familiar, some days it’s hard to “notice what you notice”. That was the case today for me. Still, one item was confusing to me: …go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them (v. 4b). Those last few words, “for a proof to them” or “as a testimony to them” – I wondered why Jesus needed the man’s “proof”. But then again, the issue of proof stands out.

Some thoughts… (1) If the man goes to the priest and offers his gift for his cleansing, how does the priest know that he ever had leprosy in the first place? Would the priest have known the man already? Was the man a Synagogue regular, even with his leprosy? (2) Was Jesus proving Himself by establishing the man’s proof? But that doesn’t make sense, since Jesus also told the man not to tell anyone else. (3) Was Jesus’ focus the priest and his belief? That is, in Jerusalem Jesus is regularly doing battle with the Temple leaders. But up in Galilee, away from Jerusalem, did Jesus wonder whether the Synagogue priests might be ripe for seeking His kingdom? (4) Was Jesus establishing the man’s faith by asking him to go one step further, thereby fulfilling the Law?

I tend to like #3, but it seems awfully far-fetched to imagine that Jewish priests, Galilean or Judean, would be fertile soil for Jesus’ Gospel. I like the thought of it all, but not the reality. Again, questions and no real answers…

Slava Bohu!!

Luke 4:42-5:11

“Notice what you notice.” As I pointed out Wednesday, the Matthew reading from two days ago would have been better placed somewhere else in our “lectionary”. Whereas Matthew’s writing is very general in nature, both Mark and Luke are more specific – Jesus comes from the Synagogue to dinner to His Sabbath healings. I spoke yesterday how I was struck by Jesus’ rising early in the morning…while it was still dark (Mark 1:35). It turns out that Mark is the only writer who notes this particular behavior. Luke simply says And when it was day… (v. 42). I’m glad for Mark’s contribution!

Both Mark and Luke have Jesus moving on to other towns – an item that Matthew covered in much greater detail two days ago. All three Gospels have Jesus’ fame spreading as he preaches His “good news” and heals the sick throughout all of Galilee (or Judea, depending on your translation).

Today’s reading is a second case where I could have been more careful in putting the readings together, splitting off Luke’s 5^th chapter material from the rest of the reading – actually putting Mark 1:35-39 and Luke 4:42-44 together on one day would have worked nicely, then Matthew 4:23-25, then Luke 5:1-11. More info for next time…!

In addition to what all three Gospels are covering the past three days, Luke also has the calling of the disciples – Peter, James and John. We’ve already seen earlier activity of Jesus and (at least some of) these disciples in John 1:35-51, then later in Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 1:16-20. Matthew and Mark are in complete agreement in their Gospels as to Jesus’ calling of Peter, Andrew, James, and John, while Luke’s account goes into much greater detail. Because there are substantial differences, it would take a lot of words to build one coherent picture.  Instead, we can either see these two accounts occurring on different days or we can just accept two different accounts of the same activity.

I’ve never imagined these to be large boats with which Peter and Andrew and James and John were fishing, rather something like larger than a bass boat or a 16’ jon boat. However, verses 9 and 10 imply something larger: For he <Simon Peter> was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John… I think the phrase “all that were with him” implies more than a few; otherwise Luke might have said “the other two” or “the other three”. But “all … ” seems bigger. And “all …” clearly excludes James and John; they are mentioned in the next verse. So when the four disciples left their business behind with Zebedee and followed Jesus, it must have been a larger enterprise than I had previously imagined. Naturally the question always follows – what have we left behind to follow Jesus?

Slava Bohu!!

Mark 1:35-39

“Notice what you notice.” February 14, Valentine’s Day, a normal work day for most people. But if you’re related to a flower shop, well, it’s a bit more – actually, much more than “a bit more”. So that accounts for the late post, but that’s not all. Read on…

So today, And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed (v. 35). What struck me was rising very early… while it was still dark. We’ve read that and heard it preached on many times, how Jesus rose early and prayed. But this passage really is different. Why? Go back two days in our readings. Jesus came out of the synagogue, had dinner, then healed many, many people who had come to him after sunset on the Sabbath. That is, He was already up late the night before, with all of Capernaum looking for healing. Now after being up late with healing, He rises early while it was still dark to pray. That’s more than your average “getting up early to pray”.

This really struck home this Valentine’s Day. Carol has been helping Rachel all week, getting flowers prepared and then making arrangements. Yesterday was the real crunch day. Rachel and Carol worked late, late, late! Truly, Carol did not climb into bed until 2:50 am, then was up at 6:45 am to go after it again! This while we are reading of Jesus late Sabbath healings and then rising early while it was still dark. Carol was modeling Jesus’ behavior, in real time!! A real awakening…! The passage screams at us to get our prayer house in order!

More on the rest of this reading tomorrow when we read Luke’s account…

Slava Bohu!!

Matthew 4:23-25

“Notice what you notice.” In putting these readings together I’ve mostly followed the ordering in The Chronological Study Bible (edited only for length of passage). However, today is the first case I’ve found where I could have done better. It’s a small matter, but…

In today’s reading Matthew speaks in broad generalities with respect to (a) Jesus’ activities, they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them (v. 24) and (b) His geography, And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan (v. 25). Mark and Luke are more specific in the next two days’ readings, however, following the past two day’s readings with Now in the morning (Mark 1:35) and Now when it was day (Luke 4:42). So my re-ordering of readings would be the 14^th and the 15^th, then the 13^th.

Beyond that, the one item that I noticed today was that Jesus was proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom (v. 23). Back in verse 17 His preaching had been Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Is there a difference here? We think of the Gospel, the “good news” as the salvation message, much of what verse 23 would imply. By contrast, verse 17 is word-for-word John the Baptist’s message of repentance (Mt. 3:2). Sorry, no wisdom here, just an observation…

Incidentally, my other Study Bible notes that the phrase, “kingdom of heaven” is mentioned only in Matthew, but that it occurs 32 times therein. Mark and Luke refer to “kingdom of God”, a phrase used only four times in Matthew. Again, is there a difference?

Slava Bohu!!

Luke 4:38-41

“Notice what you notice.” So today we have the third of the Synoptics’ accounts of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law. And the accounts are in agreement as to that healing and as to Jesus healing the sick and casting out demons. Mark and Luke also have Jesus leaving the Synagogue (on the Sabbath; this we know from readings three and four days ago). In addition, all the accounts have the people coming to Jesus after sunset with their sick and demon-possessed.

Luke, however, paints a slightly different picture of these Sabbath healings. Matthew and Mark separate the needy into two groups, those who were sick/ill and those who were demon-possessed. Mark has Jesus healing “many” of the people in those two groups. Matthew has Jesus healing “all” who were sick and is unclear as to “many” or “all” of the demon-possessed. Luke has only one group: …all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many… (vv. 40-41a). That is, Luke the physician (a) has Jesus healing “every one” of those who were brought to Him and (b) has the demon-possessed included among those who “were sick with various diseases”.

So, could one build a case today that much illness in our world today is the work of demons? That is, viruses, infections, “bugs”, etc., are they all manifestations of demons within us? The cold and congestion that I am trying to shake right now…? Carol and I pray for me to be healed quickly because of my surgery in ten days. Should we be praying against demons within me? I’ve been a part of one demon battle, I don’t look forward to another. Lord, have mercy…!!!

Slava Bohu!!

Mark 1:29-34

“Notice what you notice.” I wondered to myself before I began reading today’s passage how I could possibly see something new when we were repeating an event from Matthew yesterday and looking at only six verses. But right away on my first read I noticed a number of items. First, Matthew had Jesus simply going into Peter’s house while Mark has Jesus (a) leaving the synagogue and going into (b) Simon and Andrew’s house (c) with James and John. Quite a few differences right there! And after the events of today’s reading, Mark has Jesus rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed (Mark 1:36). That is, Mark is absolutely distinct with Jesus’ movements. Makes me begin to watch Mark’s chronology more than Matthew’s…

A second difference was more explanatory than anything else, and peculiar to my NKJV Chronological Bible. That translation begins Matthew’s second half of today’s story with When evening had come (Matthew 8:16) while Mark’s second half begins with At evening, when the sun had set (v. 32). Yesterday I had easily passed over the word “evening” in Matthew’s writing but clearly noticed “when the sun had set” in Mark’s writing. The point is, it was the Sabbath. Jesus and His disciples had come from the synagogue to Peter’s house and had a meal and only after the sun had set did the townspeople bring the sick and demon-possessed to Jesus. They were following the Jewish Sabbath laws and waiting until after sunset.

That gives us a little picture into the Capernaum culture, that they were following Jewish Sabbath laws from Moses’ time, some 1300-1700 years earlier! Though they were far removed from their spiritual center, the Temple in Jerusalem, they still honored and followed historic teachings. It makes me wonder about the extent of the (Jerusalem) Jewish leaders’ influence over the spiritual life of the Galileans.

Finally, Mark’s verse 33 says, And the whole city was gathered together at the door. So naturally, I wondered how many people would that have been? A Wikipedia site gave a Capernaum population of 1500 in Jesus’ time, one-fourth the size of Wilmore, one-sixth the size of Versailles – still quite a few people! Clearly his fame was growing!

Slava Bohu!!

Matthew 8:14-17

“Notice what you notice.” If we were reading through our Chronological Bibles four or five pages at a time, we’d might never have noticed that we jumped from chapter 4 in Matthew to chapter 8. Essentially we skipped the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7) plus a few verses before and after. Both Mark and Luke maintain the flow, however, with their accounts of today’s reading, staying within the chapters that we have been reading. It could also be true that if we were reading Matthew in “linear” fashion, we may not have known that his account of Peter’s mother-in-law’s healing was also covered in Mark and Luke. Again, we are blessed with our reading of only a few verses each day. I’ll save comparisons with the other accounts for another day.

Today I was struck by verse 16, That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. I’m trying to imagine the extent of demon possession back in those days. Capernaum was probably one of the largest cities in Galilee (if not the largest), so as Matthew reports, there were “many” who were demon possessed or were ill. In addition, the readings the last few days have closed with a report of the extensive “coverage” Jesus’ ministry was getting in Galilee, And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region (Luke 4:37), so people were also flocking to him from nearby towns, all seeking healing. So, ill and needing healing, yes, I can understand. But demon possession…??!! We have a few graphical accounts of Jesus casting out demons, one from yesterday’s reading even, with the healing of the Gerasene demoniac being the most prominent (Mark 5:1-17).

So I wonder what was meant by “demon possession” back then. Was it a form of mental illness? Possibly, but there were also physical manifestations. Mark’s account of the Gerasene demoniac has him breaking chains and cutting himself (Mark 5:4). Demon possession seems to be all too common in Jesus’ time. I will find myself watching for it as we read further.

But I also wonder about demon possession in our own time. I wonder how common it might be. Before Carol and I were married my roommates and I encountered one such violent possession; it was quite scary. I’m sure evangelists and missionaries have many such stories. Thankfully we have a Savior who has overcome these evil spirits and to Whom we can turn. Glory!

Slava Bohu!!