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Lesson 8 Helps for November 16 - 22
Memory Text: (Mat 4:23 NKJV) And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973,1978 & 1984 by the International Bible Society: Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House."
Sabbath Afternoon (Helps)
(Mat 9:34 NRSV) But the Pharisees said, "By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons."
(Mat 9:34 NIV) But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."
(Luke 7:33-35 NIV) For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' {34} The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."' {35} But wisdom is proved right by all her children."
Sunday (Helps)
Healing Religious Leaders
(Luke 7:36-50 NIV) Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. {37} When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, {38} and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. {39} When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner." {40} Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. {41} "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. {42} Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" {43} Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. {44} Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. {45} You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. {46} You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. {47} Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." {48} Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." {49} The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" {50} Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
(Mat 26:1-13 NIV) When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, {2} "As you know, the Passover is two days away--and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." {3} Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, {4} and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. {5} "But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people." {6} While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, {7} a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. {8} When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. {9} "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." {10} Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. {11} The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. {12} When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. {13} I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
(John 12:1-9 NIV) Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. {2} Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. {3} Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. {4} But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, {5} "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." {6} He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. {7} "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. {8} You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." {9} Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
(John 12:3 NIV) Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
(Mat 26:6 NIV) While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper,
(Luke 7:36 NIV) Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.
(Mat 23:15 NIV) "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
(Lev 13:45-46 NIV) "The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' {46} As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.
Monday (Helps)
Healing Common Believers
(Luke 8:40-42 NIV) Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. {41} Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house {42} because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.
(Luke 8:49-56 NIV) While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher any more." {50} Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed." {51} When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother. {52} Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep." {53} They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. {54} But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" {55} Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. {56} Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
(Luke 4:31-37 NIV) Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. {32} They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. {33} In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, {34} "Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" {35} "Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. {36} All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" {37} And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
(Mark 2:1-12 NIV) A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. {2} So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. {3} Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. {4} Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. {5} When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." {6} Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, {7} "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" {8} Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? {9} Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? {10} But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, {11} "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." {12} He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
(Luke 7:1-10 NIV) When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. {2} There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. {3} The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. {4} When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, {5} because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue."
{Luke 7:6-10) So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. {7} That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. {8} For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." {9} When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." {10} Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
(Mark 5:22 NIV) Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet
(Luke 8:41 NIV) Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house
(Luke 8:50 NIV) Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."
(Luke 7:13-14 NIV) When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." {14} Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!"
(Luke 7:16 NIV) They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people."
Tuesday
Healing Outcasts
(Lev 15:19-30 NIV) "'When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening. {20} "'Anything she lies on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean. {21} Whoever touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. {22} Whoever touches anything she sits on must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. {23} Whether it is the bed or anything she was sitting on, when anyone touches it, he will be unclean till evening. {24} "'If a man lies with her and her monthly flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days; any bed he lies on will be unclean. {25} "'When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period. {26} Any bed she lies on while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period. {27} Whoever touches them will be unclean; he must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. {28} "'When she is cleansed from her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean. {29} On the eighth day she must take two doves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. {30} The priest is to sacrifice one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way he will make atonement for her before the LORD for the uncleanness of her discharge.
(Lev 15:31 NASB) "Thus you shall keep the sons of Israel separated from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by their defiling My tabernacle that is among them."
(Lev 15:31 NIV) "'You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.'"
Medical Missionary Work in the Great Cities - The Lord desires His people to move into the country, where they can settle on the land and raise their own fruit and vegetables, and where their children can be brought in direct contact with the works of God in nature. Take your families away from the cities, is my message.--Letter 182, 1902. Work for the Outcasts Of late [1899], a great interest has been aroused for the poor and outcast classes; a great work has been entered upon for the uplifting of the fallen and degraded. This in itself is a good work. We should ever have the Spirit of Christ, and we are to do the same class of work that He did for suffering humanity. The Lord has a work to be done for the outcasts. There is no question but that it is the duty of some to labor among them and try to save the souls that are perishing. This will have its place in connection with the proclamation of the third angel's message and the reception of Bible truth. But there is danger of loading down everyone with this class of work because of the intensity with which it is carried on. There is danger of leading men to center their energies in this line when God has called them to another work. The great question of our duty to humanity is a serious one, and much of the grace of God is needed in deciding how to work so as to accomplish the greatest amount of good. Not all are called to begin their work by laboring among the lowest classes. God does not require His workmen to obtain their education and training in order to devote themselves exclusively to these classes. The working of God is manifest in a way which will establish |confidence that the work is of His devising, and that sound |principles underlie every action. But I have had instruction from |God that there is danger of planning for the outcasts in a way |which will lead to spasmodic and excitable movements. These |will produce no really beneficial results. A class will be |encouraged to do a kind of work which will amount to the least in |strengthening all parts of the work by harmonious action.
Wednesday (Helps)
Healing Foreigners
(Luke 7:4-5 NIV) When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, {5} because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue."
(Luke 7:5 NRSV) for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us."
(Luke 7:6-8 NIV) So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. {7} That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. {8} For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
The Centurion - It is thus that every sinner may come to Christ. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." Titus 3:5. When Satan tells you that you are a sinner, and cannot hope to receive blessing from God, tell him that Christ came into the world to save sinners. We have nothing to recommend us to God; but the plea that we may urge now and ever is our utterly helpless condition that makes His redeeming power a necessity. Renouncing all self-dependence, we may look to the cross of Calvary and say,-- "In my hand no price I bring; Simply to Thy cross I cling." The Jews had been instructed from childhood concerning the work of the Messiah. The inspired utterances of patriarchs and prophets and the symbolic teaching of the sacrificial service had been theirs. But they had disregarded the light; and now they saw in Jesus nothing to be desired. But the centurion, born in heathenism, educated in the idolatry of imperial Rome, trained as a soldier, seemingly cut off from spiritual life by his education and surroundings, and still further shut out by the bigotry of the Jews, and by the contempt of his own countrymen for the people of Israel,--this man perceived the truth to which the children of Abraham were blinded. He did not wait to see whether the Jews themselves would receive the One who claimed to be their Messiah. As the "light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9) had shone upon him, he had, though afar off, discerned the glory of the Son of God. To Jesus this was an earnest of the work which the gospel was to accomplish among the Gentiles. With joy He looked forward to the gathering of souls from all nations to His kingdom. With deep sadness He pictured to the Jews the result of their rejection of His grace: "I 318 say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Alas, how many are still preparing for the same fatal disappointment! While souls in heathen darkness accept His grace, how many there are in Christian lands upon whom the light shines only to be disregarded.
Thursday (Helps)
Healing Unbelievers
(Mat 15:23 NIV) Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."
(Mat 5:22 NIV) But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
(Mark 7:27 NIV) "First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
Barriers Broken Down - Christ knew this woman's situation. He knew that she was longing to see Him, and He placed Himself in her path. By ministering to her sorrow, He could give a living representation of the lesson He designed to teach. For this He had brought His disciples into this region. He desired them to see the ignorance existing in cities and villages close to the land of Israel.
The Desire of Ages, p. 400 (continued)
The people who had been given every opportunity to understand the truth were without a knowledge of the needs of those around them. No effort was made to help souls in darkness. The partition wall which Jewish pride had erected, shut even the disciples from sympathy with the heathen world. But these barriers were to be broken down. Christ did not immediately reply to the woman's request. He received this representative of a despised race as the Jews would have done. In this He designed that His disciples should be impressed with the cold and heartless manner in which the Jews would treat such a case, as evinced by His reception of the woman, and the compassionate manner in which He would have them deal with such distress, as manifested by His subsequent granting of her petition. But although Jesus did not reply, the woman did not lose faith. As He passed on, as if not hearing her, she followed Him, continuing her supplications. Annoyed by her importunities, the disciples asked Jesus to send her away. They saw that their Master treated her with indifference, and they therefore supposed that the prejudice of the Jews against the Canaanites was pleasing to Him. But it was a pitying Saviour to whom the woman made her plea, and in answer to the request of the disciples, Jesus said, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house 401 of Israel." Although this answer appeared to be in accordance with the prejudice of the Jews, it was an implied rebuke to the disciples, which they afterward understood as reminding them of what He had often told them,--that He came to the world to save all who would accept Him.
(Mat 15:25 NRSV) But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me."
(Mat 15:25 NIV) The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.
(Rom 10:12-13 NRSV) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. {13} For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
(Rom 10:12-13 NIV) For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, {13} for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Friday (Helps)
(Mark 5:1-19 NIV) They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. {2} When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. {3} This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. {4} For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. {5} Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. {6} When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. {7} He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" {8} For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" {9} Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." {10} And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. {11} A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. {12} The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." {13} He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
{Mark 5:14-19} Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. {15} When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. {16} Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man--and told about the pigs as well. {17} Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. {18} As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. {19} Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."
(Mark 7:31-37 NIV) Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. {32} There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man. {33} After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. {34} He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!"). {35} At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. {36} Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. {37} People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
The Ministry of Healing, pp. 17 - 28 (not included with help)
The Desire of Ages, pp. 399 - 403 (not included with help, see page 6 - 7 for p 400)
The Ministry of Healing, p. 25
Our Example - Christ came to this world to show that by receiving power from on high, man can live an unsullied life. With unwearying patience and sympathetic helpfulness He met men in their necessities. By the gentle touch of grace He banished from the soul unrest and doubt, changing enmity to love, and unbelief to confidence. He could say to whom He pleased, "Follow Me," and the one addressed arose and followed Him. The spell of the world's enchantment was broken. At the sound of His voice the spirit of greed and ambition fled from the heart, and men arose, emancipated, to follow the Saviour. Brotherly Love Christ recognized no distinction of nationality or rank or creed. The scribes and Pharisees desired to make a local and a national benefit of the gifts of heaven and to exclude the rest of God's family in the world. But Christ came to break down every wall of partition. He came to show that His gift of mercy and love is as unconfined as the air, the light, or the showers of rain that refresh the earth. The life of Christ established a religion in which there is no caste, a religion by which Jew and Gentile, free and bond, are linked in a common brotherhood, equal before God. No question of policy influenced His movements. He made no difference between neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies. That which appealed to His heart was a soul thirsting for the waters of life. He passed by no human being as worthless, but sought to apply the healing remedy to every soul. In whatever company He found Himself He presented a lesson appropriate to the (p. 26) time and the circumstances. Every neglect or insult shown by men to their fellow men only made Him more conscious of their need of His divine-human sympathy. He sought to inspire with hope the roughest and most unpromising, setting before them the assurance that they might become blameless and harmless, attaining such a character as would make them manifest as the children of God.