In the few short years that Jesus Christ walked this earth He touched many lives. He fed thousands of people with just a few fish and a little bread, He brought people back from the dead, and forgave sin. Let’s take a look at a few of these wonders.
Many blind men were healed, but one in particular caused quite an uproar. This man had been blind from birth and when Jesus saw him He healed his blindness by spitting on the ground and making clay which He put on the man’s eyes.
“And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.” (John 9:7)
People who had seen him begging and knew he was blind were confused, and asked him how he could now see. He told them what Jesus had done and when he washed in the pool of Siloam he received his sight. So, they took him to the Pharisees. This had been done on a Sabbath day and the Pharisees were very upset. They showed their own blindness by accusing Jesus of violating the Law.
“Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.” (John 9:16)
There are none so blind as those who will not see. They didn’t believe the man when he said that he had been blind so they called in his parents. They confirmed he was their son and had been blind but said he was old enough to speak for himself as to how he was healed.
“These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.” (John 9:22)
This miracle should have brought joy to the parents, but they were only concerned about their own self-interests. The Pharisees should have been convinced that God had done a miracle, but instead they insisted that Jesus was a sinner. Because the blind man wouldn’t deny what Christ had done for him, he was cast out. When Jesus heard about this He found the man and asked him if he believed on the Son of God.
“And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.” (John 9:38)
Jesus was always willing to heal people wherever they were found, no matter what infirmity was ailing them.
“And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.” (Mark 7:31-32)
Jesus answered their request and healed this man who was deaf and had difficulty speaking.
“And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.” (Mark 7:33-35)
Joy swept through the crowd! Jesus told them not to tell anyone, but they just couldn’t contain themselves.
“And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.” (Mark 7:37)
It’s easy to understand their joy. When a miracle happens we want to tell everyone about it. Jesus healed the blind and deaf, but He also healed those who were unable to walk. His fame had grown and people came from far and wide to hear His words and receive healing.
One day He was in a house teaching and a large crowd had gathered, including Pharisees and doctors of the law. Oh, they weren’t there for healing or to hear Jesus’ words; they were there to criticize and condemn Him.
“And behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.” (Luke 5:18)
This man was paralyzed and unable to walk, but he had friends who were willing to carry him to Jesus for healing. When they were unable to get through the door they carried him onto the roof and lowered him on his cot down through loosened tiles to rest before Jesus.
“And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, ‘Man, they sins are forgiven thee.’” (Luke 5:20)
Of course the scribes and Pharisees could only find fault. They accused Jesus of blasphemy because only God can forgive sin. What feeble minded fools they were! Jesus was not being blasphemous because Jesus is God.
“But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.” (Luke 5:22-24)
That was all it took. Just a word from Jesus and the man was healed.
“And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying. God.” (Luke 5:25)
The people who received healing were always full of joy and praised God. It was the Pharisees who were displeased.
Demons are real and have caused much trauma throughout time. They can cause various physical troubles and one such trouble is dumbness. The Pharisees had a way of casting out demons which involved causing the demon to give its name, so if the physical problem was the inability to speak that demon could not be cast out. Or at least so the Pharisees thought.
“As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.” (Matthew 9:32-33)
Jesus has authority over all things, including demons that cause dumbness. The Pharisees accused Him of evil.
“But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of devils.” (Matthew 9:34)
That, of course, was not true. Jesus did His miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit. Although the religious leaders were miffed over the healings, those who received them were filled with joy.
Of all the miraculous things Jesus did, raising people from the dead seems to be the most amazing. There was a widow whose son and died leaving her alone, and Jesus brought her son back to life. Jairus’ daughter is another one whom Jesus raised from the dead. The one that rankled the Pharisees the most was Lazarus. Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus were friends of Jesus. One day word reached Jesus that Lazarus was ill. Instead of rushing to Lazarus, Jesus took His time.
“Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.” (John 11:17)
Jewish thinking of the time was that a soul would stay near a body for three days hoping to re-enter the body, but after that there was no hope of coming back from the dead. When Jesus arrived He was met by Martha who said that if He had been there her brother wouldn’t have died.
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25-26)
Do you believe that? I do and so did Martha.
“She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” (John 11:27)
So Jesus went to the tomb where Lazarus had been laid four days earlier.
“Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.” (John 11:39)
Martha just spoke what she knew to be true. After four days a body goes through certain changes that would make it uncomfortable to open the tomb. Jesus insisted and they obeyed. First, Jesus prayed giving thanks to God the Father for hearing His prayer.
“And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, ‘Loose him, and let him go.’” (John 11:43-44)
Though his hands and feet were bound, Lazarus came out of the grave. Alive. Jesus never allowed the Pharisees to stop Him from fulfilling His ministry on earth. They criticized everything He did, but they couldn’t stop Him until all Scripture was fulfilled. Even then nobody took Jesus’ life from Him but He willingly gave His life when the time was right.
“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:17-18)
When the time had come for Jesus to lay down His life He was illegally arrested, illegally tried, and condemned to be crucified. Jesus had healed multitudes of people, but I wonder where they were on that day. Jesus healed a blind man. Did that man see Him hanging on the cross? Jesus healed a deaf man. Did that man hear Him cry out My God why have You forsaken Me?” Jesus healed a lame man. Did that man walk with Him as He carried His cross? Jesus healed a dumb man. Did that man cry out “Hosanna” or did he cry “Crucify Him”?
Jesus raised people from the dead so they would know firsthand His power over life and death. Were they there to hear one criminal mock Jesus as He hanged on the cross but hear the other one receive the promise from Jesus of eternity with Him? There were many people who had received healing or who had a loved one who had been healed.
“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:25)
John was an eyewitness to all that Jesus did so we know this to be true. We also know that the miracles didn’t stop upon Jesus’ crucifixion. We still have power through the Holy Spirit to be God’s instrument of healing. Jesus has given every Christian the miracle of new life through Him.
We have been born-again and we need to share the gospel with the people around us who remain dead in their sins. Friends and family may mock us as we share the gospel with them, but how each of us use our eyes, ears, voice, and feet reflects how much we love Him. Through His death, burial, and resurrection He has given us eternal life.
What do you do with the miracle Jesus gave to you? Live so people around you will see Him living in you.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
www.straitandnarrowministry.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com
Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html
All original Scripture is “theopneustos” (God breathed).