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A Man Approved by Miracles Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among
you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst
of you, Richard Suraci Miracles described in the Bible provide us with super-natural exhibitions of God’s power. A miracle has been defined as a work wrought by divine power for a divine purpose, by means beyond the reach of mortal man. The dictionary definition is: “An event or action that apparently contradicts known scientific laws and is hence thought to be due to supernatural laws, especially to an act of God.” In the three-and-a-half years of Jesus’ ministry Jesus performed thirty-five known and individually recorded miracles. This would be equivalent to approximately one miracle every thirty-six days. However, the Bible provides only a partial list of Jesus’ miracles. The Scriptures state that “He healed them all.” This statement appears ten times in Matthew and a few times in the other gospels. This means there were many more miracles than those individually recorded in the gospels (Luke 6:19; Matthew 8:16,17). “Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and ... a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”—Matthew 3:16,17 While Jesus’ baptism was not a miracle, the begettal of the holy spirit without measure and the opening of the heavens followed by God’s voice, was. The holy spirit enlightened Jesus’ mind and brought to mind his pre-human relationship with his Father, and the miracles of creation. So while on earth Jesus became “Christ, The [Anointed] Miracle Worker.” Compassion The word compassion was closely related with many of Jesus’ miracles: “[And he] had compassion on them” (Matthew 20:34). He was so much like his heavenly Father! The word “compassion” appears twenty times in the Old Testament. In the New Testament it appears twenty-one times, mostly referring to Jesus. The word means love in action. It is translated, to love, pity, be merciful. “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86:15). Compassion is literally a feeling with and for others. It is a fundamental quality of the biblical conception of God’s character. Compassion was the foundation of Israel’s faith in God. It was out of God’s compassion that he delivered them from Egyptian bondage and called them to be his own people. The Israelites gloried in his compassion, especially after they felt God’s chastening judgments (Psalm 78:38; 86:15; 111:4). God’s own declaration of himself sums up his wonderful compassion: “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Exodus 34:6, 7, NIV). Because compassion was an integral part of God’s character, the prophets declared that compassion was an essential requirement for God’s people: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6, RSV). God manifested his love and compassion for his people throughout the Old Testament. Isaiah 35 speaks of the earth’s renewal as well as God’s therapeutic vengeance and salvation: “The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing” (Isaiah 35:5,6). The miracles that Jesus performed were vivid illustrations of what God’s kingdom on earth will be like. This reminds us that God is faithful and his word never returns to him unfulfilled but accomplishes his grand designs (Isaiah 55:10,11). The Miracle at Cana The miracles of Jesus were performed in twenty-one locations; the first miracle occurred at Cana and the last at Jerusalem (healing Malchus’ ear, see John 18:10 and Luke 22:51). Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding to which he, his mother, and disciples, were invited. His group and a few servants knew about this miracle: When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” His mother [being aware of his miraculous birth and the angels’ statement: “He shall be called the Son of God”] said to the servants: “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons [some authorities claim nine gallons each]. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water,” so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.—John 2:3-11, NIV This miracle was an eye opener to his disciples and helped establish their faith in Jesus’ gospel. In contrast with the ministry of Moses who turned water into blood as a sign of God’s judgment (Exodus 7:14-24), Jesus brings joy through the water of truth leading to the transformation (wine represents joy) of his kingdom. Jesus’ Second Miracle Jesus’ second miracle took place in Capernaum when he healed an official’s son (John 4:46-54). The official may have been Chuza, Herod’s steward, whose wife, Joanna, ministered to Jesus. He pleaded with Jesus that he go home with him and heal his son who was dying. Jesus said: “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” The man’s faith was firm and he said: “Sir, come down ere my child die.” This was a pathetic heart-felt request. Jesus said, “Go thy way; thy son liveth.” This man believed Jesus’ words and went home. He had come a day’s journey to see Jesus. As he came near his home his servant met him and said, “Thy son liveth.” He inquired what time of day he started to heal and the servant answered, “Yesterday at the seventh hour,” which was the hour Jesus said, “Thy son liveth.” And he ”himself believed, and his whole house” (verse 53). We too should believe God’s word and act upon it. Just think of the less fortunate children who lost their lives in the reign of sin and death. They, too, will hear Jesus’ voice and come forth in God’s kingdom on earth. A similar miracle took place in Capernaum, healing a centurian’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10). Casting Out Demons Jesus’ next miracle took place in Capernaum, delivering a demonic in the synagogue (Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:33-37). There are five other demoniac cleansings: 1. In Galilee, casting out a blind and deaf spirit (Matthew 12:22-30; Luke 11:14-23). 2. Delivering a demoniac at Gadara (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39). 3. In Capernaum, casting out a dumb spirit (Matthew 9:32-34). 4. In Phoenicia, casting out a demon from a Syrophenician’s daughter (Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30). 5. In Mount Hermon, casting out a demon from a lunatic boy (Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-42). The word demon is taken from the Greek word daimoniakes and means possessed or influenced by demons. The second on the list above was one of the most interesting and difficult of all Jesus’ miracles! They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.—Luke 8:26-31, NIV Legion may have been the name he adopted, not his birth name, or, maybe when the demons came into him, they took the name Legion in representing him. In Roman history, a legion was a military division of 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers. Either figure was an astounding number of demon identities. This man was so obsessed with these demons that nothing would persuade him that they were gone except, of course, seeing the result of Jesus’ miracle: A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.—Luke 8:32-37, NIV What a relief this miracle brought upon this tormented man! There he stood normal again, in his right mind, fully clothed and sitting at the feet of Jesus. He begged Jesus to let him go with them. Jesus refused and told him to return home and tell how much God had done for him: “So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him” (Luke 8:39, NIV). Peter’s Mother-in-Law Another miracle in Capernaum was the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law: “Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.” (Luke 4:38,39, NIV; see also Matthew 8:14,15; Mark 1:29-31) There have been many epidemics of all sorts of fevers during man’s existence, including scarlet, yellow, typhoid, and typhus fever; these have taken the lives of many. Typhoid fever came from drinking contaminated water. Typhus fever comes by being bit by fleas, lice, ticks, etc. This will never happen in God’s kingdom on earth, where pure water will be available and fleas and lice and other pestilence will be nonexistent (Isaiah 65:25). The first miraculous catch of fish was at the sea of Galilee and is recorded in Luke 5:1-11. Luke was the only gospel writer to record it. A similar miracle is recorded in John 21:1-13 and it also took place at the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was standing by the shore of Lake Gennesarret as the crowd pressed toward him, eager to hear his message. Beside him were two boats belonging to Peter, his brother Andrew, and their partners, James and John. Jesus entered one boat and asked Peter to pull out a little. Jesus sat down and began to teach the people. When he finished speaking, he asked Peter to pull out to deeper waters and let down his net for a draught of fish. Peter said they toiled all night and caught nothing, but he did as Jesus requested and the net was filled with fish to the point of breaking. Peter signaled his partners to bring the other boat and the two boats nearly sank because of the weight of the fish. After this miracle, Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be his disciples. Jesus told Simon what his future vocation would be: “From now on you will catch men” (Luke 5:10, NIV). It was Jesus’ gospel that led to the call of the New Creation, and the apostles were the first to herald it. Healing Lepers The sixth miracle of Jesus, the healing of a leper, took place in Galilee and is recorded in Matthew 8:2-4, Mark 1:40-45, and Luke 5:12-15. A similar miracle was the healing of ten lepers in Galilee which is recorded only in Luke 17:11-19. “As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” (Luke 17:12,13, NIV). They were a pitiable group, with torn clothes, heads shaved and a cloth upon their upper lip. They were required by law to stay away from people (Leviticus 13:45,46). Leprosy is a symbol of sin and alienation from God; it is a loathsome disease. Out of their misery and hope, the lepers called out in unison: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! He said, Go, show yourselves to the priests. And as they went, they were cleansed.” (Luke 17:13,14, NIV) Their faith was rewarded as they went. While walking along, they felt the renewal of their bodies. Multiply this scene a thousand million times over; as mankind walks up “the [cleansing] highway of holiness” their bodies will become stronger as they near perfection. After the “little season,” they will enter into the joy of a perfect earth, possessing perfect human bodies, with “everlasting joy upon their heads ... and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10). A Paralytic Healed The next recorded miracle is the healing of a paralytic in Capernaum. The King James version calls it “palsy” (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26). The word palsy appears thirteen times in the gospels. This miracle was a tribute to the faith of three men: a paralytic and his two friends. The home to which Jesus came was one in which he preached the gospel. As usual, the Pharisees and teachers of the law who came from afar were listening to him. Luke adds, “The power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick” (Luke 5:17, NIV). Since the home was packed with people, the two friends carried the paralytic to the second floor, removed some tiles, and lowered him down on the mat he was laying on to be in front of Jesus: When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” Jesus knew what they [the Pharisees] were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins …” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.” Everyone [except the Pharisees] … gave praise to God.—Luke 5:20,22-26, NIV Paralysis has been a scourge upon humanity throughout human history due to vertebrae severing, accidents, strokes, and other causes. Depending on the severity of each case, it may leave the patient paralyzed from the neck down, or affect half the body, or just single limbs. How wonderful it will be when the Scripture is fulfilled: “Then shall the lame man leap as an hart” (Isaiah 35:6). The Dead Are Raised Another miracle, in the city of Nain, was the raising of a widow’s son (Luke 7:11-17). Similar miracles took place in Capernaum with the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:22-43; Luke 8:41-56), and in Bethany with the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-44). The day after Jesus healed the centurion’s servant, Luke records a more wonderful miracle than he had yet wrought, the raising from death of the widow’s son: “He went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people” (Luke 7:11). As they came to the gate of the city, they met a funeral. This meeting was not coincidental; it was by divine providence. Meeting this procession of death gave Jesus an opportunity to illustrate the power God conferred upon him. It also illustrated the joy that will come to mankind when “all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth” (John 5:28,29). This meeting “at the gate of the city” was impressive because life triumphed over death and sorrow was turned into joy. One procession was grief stricken; the compassionate Lord Jesus led the other. The battle at the gate was short and decisive, as life triumphed over death, and sorrow was turned into joy. Verse 12: “There was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.” She was in deep sorrow: “When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said unto her, Weep not.” (Luke 7:13) This was a sign of what Jesus intended to do, which would cause her to be happy again: “He … touched the bier [coffin], and … said, Young man … arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother” (Luke 7:14,15). This was a double witness of the supernatural power at Jesus’ disposal. We pay attention to these miracles because they were samples of what Jesus and his church will do in God’s kingdom on earth (John 14:12). Healing the Deaf, Mute, and Blind Five of Jesus’ miracles concerned those who were deaf, mute, and blind:
When Jesus was passing through Decapolis, they brought a man to him who was deaf with a speech impediment (see Mark 7:31-37). When a man is completely deaf, usually he is mute, unable to form words, except for shrieks and moans. The first thing Jesus did was to take the man aside, away from the crowd. At other times he healed people in the presence of all. Why was this healing private? Deaf people are easily embarrassed and become confused in crowds. They get along better with one or two people. Jesus drew him out of the crowd to put him at ease. Jesus spoke to him by his physical actions! As Jesus healed people, he looked up to heaven. By doing so he demonstrated that his power to heal came from God. “After he took [the man] aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. … People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”—Mark 7:33-35,37, NIV. Imagine the amazement of the people who were deaf and/or mute, who come forth from their graves in God’s kingdom and whose lips will praise God when they “hear his voice, and shall come forth” (John 5:28,29). Another great miracle took place in Jerusalem when Jesus healed a man born blind: As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.—John 9:1-7, NIV Only John reports this miracle. The apostles knowing this man was blind from birth, questioned Jesus as to whose sins caused his blindness, his or his parents. Jesus said it was neither “that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” Jesus’ significant statement followed: “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” This man didn’t know what light was because he was born to darkness. Jesus used the same method he used with the deaf and mute man. He mixed earth with his saliva and placed it over the eyes; when the blind man washed in the Pool of Siloam, he received his sight. It is important to remember that all sickness comes from Adamic sin, leading to death: “Dying thou shalt die” (Genesis 2:17, margin). Through the death of Jesus, man will eventually appreciate the glory of God (John 11:4). Power Over Troubled Waters Another mighty miracle took place on the Sea of Galilee: That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. … A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”—Mark 4:35-41, NIV Notice Mark’s statement, “When they had sent away the multitude, they took him … just as he was, in the boat.” How was Jesus at that hour? It had been a most exhausting day of teaching and Jesus was weary and worn out, both mentally and physically. Mark’s description of his condition suggests extreme tiredness from the fatigue of his constant healing of people. In chapter 3, evidently the same day, Jesus healed a man with a withered hand. Already the Pharisees and Herodians took counsel about how to destroy him (vs. 6). A great multitude followed him as he withdrew to the sea. He cured many of the plague and also went up to a mountain where he chose his twelve. Referring to the time of the end, Jesus said: “The sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:25,26). After his resurrection, he assured his followers: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). As the perfect Lord Jesus, he was able to calm the Sea of Galilee, and as the resurrected, empowered, divine Son of God, how much more power he will have to say to restless mankind, “Peace be still.” And there shall be a great calm. “No creature of the redeemed race will be too low for divine grace to reach, through the all-powerful and blessed agency of the Kingdom. No degradation of sin will be too deep for the hand of mercy to fathom, to rescue the blood-bought soul; no darkness of ignorance and superstition will be so dense in any heart but that the light of divine truth and love will penetrate its gloom and bring to it a knowledge of the joy and gladness of the new day, and an opportunity to share the same by obedience. No disease that can attack and pollute the physical system will be beyond the prompt control of the Great Physician. And no deformity, or monstrosity, or superfluity, or redundancy, or mental imbecility will be able to resist his healing touch.”—Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 4, pp. 639,640. |