Pam Padgett ... teacher
When John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to inquire of Jesus,
Jesus told them to tell John of the mighty works they saw and heard of
Jesus ...
Luke 7:19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to
Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for
another? 20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John
Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should
come? or look we for another? 21 And in that same hour he cured
many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and
unto many that were blind he gave sight. 22 Then Jesus answering
said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have
seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers
are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the
gospel is preached. 23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in
me.
After telling of the works He did, Jesus said that those who are not offended by Him are blessed.
offend: cause to feel upset, annoyed, resentful, displeased
Those who were blessed by God believed in Jesus and humbled themselves, and were not upset,
annoyed, or resentful at the works He did. But those who did not
believe continued in their own ways and were offended. In Luke 7 we see examples of both.
A centurion sent asking Jesus to
heal his servant, not because he considered himself to be worthy, but
because he believed Jesus had the authority to heal his servant. The
centurion was blessed as he humbled himself
and believed that Jesus could do this if it was HIS will to just speak that the servant be healed. Jesus acknowledged his great faith and healed the
servant ...
Luke 7:2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him,
was sick, and ready to die. 3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent
unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come
and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought
him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do
this: 5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the
house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord,
trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter
under my roof: 7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come
unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 8 For
I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I
say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh;
and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9 When Jesus heard
these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said
unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found
so great faith, no, not in Israel. 10 And they that were sent,
returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
The only son of a mother, a widow, had died and was being carried out of
the city. Jesus went to her in compassion before many people who were with
her. And Jesus told this mother to not weep (which likely seemed
impossible given the situation) and touched the bier. The men carrying the bier stood still, and Jesus told the the young man who was dead to arise, which he did. Instead of ridiculing or ignoring what Jesus instructed and did, they stopped, submitting to
Jesus, and were greatly blessed as the young man was raised from the
dead ...
Luke 7:11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city
called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much
people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold,
there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and
she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And
when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her,
Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare
him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15
And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered
him to his mother.
And those who saw what Jesus did were blessed, being shown that God Himself had done these things among them ...
Luke 7:16 And there came a fear on all: and they
glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us;
and, That God hath visited his people.
When Jesus was invited to the home of a Pharisee, the Pharisee did not believe Jesus was truly of God when a woman known to be a sinner washed Jesus' feet.....
Luke 7:36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him.
And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37 And,
behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that
Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box
of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began
to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her
head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39
Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within
himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known
who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a
sinner.
But the woman was blessed. She greatly loved Jesus,
believing in Him and humbling herself before Him, and Jesus forgave her sins ..
Luke 7:40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat
to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a
certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred
pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he
frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will
love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to
whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly
judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest
thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water
for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them
with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this
woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46
My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed
my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which
are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is
forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins
are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say
within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he
said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Those who heard Jesus and were not offended were blessed.