Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 12

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 12

Narrated In 1 Gospel

Gospel Of Luke

When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.(Luke 22:49-51)

The situation is quite tense here. The pharisees, chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders have come to arrest Jesus. The disciples are enraged that their teacher and master will be harmed by this mob, so they get into action first without waiting for Jesus to give them permission. They asked, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" but did not wait for Jesus to answer.

We read this same event from the book of John where Peter is named as the one cutting off the high priest's servant's ear.
"Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" (John 18:10,11) John the Apostle doesn't mention Jesus healing the man but Luke does.

John also writes that Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" meaning that all this was happening according to his Father's will.

Peter was known for his rash attitude and here he displays it again. He must have done it because of his love for his master but he yet had to learn about 'agape love' which was his master's greatest virtue.

Later on standing before Pilate Jesus also stated:
"My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." (John 18:36)

Jesus displayed his compassion here yet again by touching the hurt man's ear and healing him. That must have surprised many starting with his own disciples. Even some who had come to arrest him that day must have realized the kind heart that Jesus had. Though they were mad with rage regarding Jesus and did what they had planned to do, they must have thought about the event later on. Think about Malchus; we don't know the rest of his story but he must have had a testimony to tell his family and friends.

Jesus fulfilled what the psalmist said in Psalms 103:
"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." (Psalm 103:8)
Dr.Johnson Cherian M.D.PhD.
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Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 11

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 11

Narrated In 1 Gospel

Gospel Of Luke

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 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!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him - and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." (Luke 17:11-19)

Leprosy is an infectious disease derived from the French work "leper" and from the Greek word "lepros" which means scaly, referring to the scales that form on the skin in some cases of leprosy. It corresponds in the main with the disease which is fully described in Leviticus 13:14. The ancient leprosy, in its more severe form, is to be regarded as a judgment from God, Deuteronomy 24:8.

Jews considered this disease as unclean and infectious; and also as being a punishment from Jehovah, as we know it to have been in the cases of Miriam (Numbers 12:10), Gehazi (2 Kings 5:27), and Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:16-23). The suffered was commended to the priest and was separated from many of the privileges of society. 6 commands were given concerning a leper. He should rend his clothes, he should go with his head bare, he should put a covering on his upper lip, he should cry, “Unclean, Unclean” when he came near other people, he should be considered unclean all the days of his plague and he should stay segregated from clean and healthy people all the days of his plague. (Leviticus 13) To all others, lepers were sinners who deserved the death penalty.

Lepers associated chiefly with each other as we read in 2 Kings 7:8.and so it was in this case too. 10 of them met Jesus as he travelled between Samaria and Galilee. They stood far away and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"When Jesus saw them, he just said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests."

Luke doesn’t write of any of them asking or pleading with Jesus anymore. They just believed his words, obeyed and went. We need to see from the Word of God why a leper went to the priest. These 10 were already known as lepers to all so they were being sent to the priests who were given the rights to declare such a person clean and free from the disease. Leviticus 14 describes in detail the ceremonial cleansing for flesh leprosy for the rich and the poor. Jesus wanted the priests to declare them whole and thus give testimony to God’s power.

3 things stand out as we read this passage from the gospel of Luke. Firstly, faith in the words of Jesus, secondly, obedience to his words and finally gratitude. All the 10 lepers believed the words of Jesus and obeyed his command to go and show themselves to the priests. Luke writes, “And as they went, they were cleansed.”The healing was effected as they went. Faith in the promises of God and obedience to the Word of God is of paramount importance as we live the Christian life. And so is gratitude.

All the 10 were healed, yet only one of them, a Samaritan came back to Jesus to express his gratitude. He was thankful to God for the healing that he had received. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. Jesus, though he knew everything, asked a question to those following him, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"

Many seek the Lord for bodily healing and material benefits, but when their purpose is solved they rarely come back to thank the Lord or take up the cross and follow him. Getting a bodily healing or experiencing a miracle does not guarantee eternal life in heaven. Believing in the atoning work of Jesus on the cross and living for him, obeying the Word of God is the only way to salvation.

Faith in the words of Jesus had brought this Samaritan leper his healing and Jesus affirmed that by telling him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 10

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 10

Narrated In 1 Gospel

Gospel Of Luke

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away. Then he asked them, "If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?" And they had nothing to say. (Luke 14:1-6)

The confrontations with the rich, learned and powerful continued unabated in the 3 1/2 years of Jesus’ ministry. He was always watched carefully so that he might be caught in something that he said or something that he did. He spoke wisely so they could never catch him in his words. Finally they resorted to false testimony. But he knew that no one could do anything to him before it was his time so he continued his work with zeal and unmatched success.

Here was another occasion where the religious rulers, the experts in the law were eagerly waiting to accuse. Instead the tables were turned on them by his words and deeds. Whether the man suffering from dropsy was bait laid before him we wouldn’t know for sure but Jesus was up to the challenge anyway.

Here again we do not see Jesus looking for faith (for healing) in the sick man. He had dealt similarly with the woman bound by a spirit of infirmity for 18 years. He was here to prove a point; that God is compassion and love personified and one who cares for the afflicted, performing beyond the boundaries of laws and regulation which he has set.

He had been healing many on the Sabbath and again he chose a Sabbath here to heal this man. He posed a question before his critics: "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" Strangely the Pharisees and experts in the law present there did not choose to argue or debate; perhaps knowing that it was an exercise in futility, because he was going to heal anyway.

The man in question here was suffering from Dropsy. Dropsy is an accumulation of watery fluid in the cellular tissues or in any of the cavities of the body, as the chest or abdomen, and may be due to disease of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, or peritoneum. Whatever the cause, here was a man with generalized swelling; he must have been quite out of shape, but for Jesus, it was no major task. When someone is healed of a major debilitating illness or of a sickness which has no treatment, it is a MIRACLE to them and those who witness it, but for God it’s simple. He doesn’t have to work hard or put in extra effort. For him, it’s just “SAID & DONE”. So Jesus just took hold of the man, healed him and sent him away. All in a flash. He then faced his critics and asked, “"If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?"

There wouldn’t have been 2 answers to that question, so again everyone kept quiet. Jesus had proved to them again that God was good and intended to do good to those who suffered, be it the Sabbath or not. He thus silenced his critics time and again by his miraculous works.

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 9

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 9

Narrated In 1 Gospel

Gospel Of Luke

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath." The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?" When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. (Luke 13:10-17)

“Crippled for 18 years” is usually what physicians of this era will call a “cold case” meaning “a patient for whom nothing can be done medically or surgically”. Well; they or their knowledge are not at fault at all, because here the cause is a spirit or evil spirit to be specific and not some disease. The KJV puts it like this: “And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. (Luke 13:11)”. A spirit of infirmity…that was the cause of her being bent and bowed.

There are many even now who spend much finances over such maladies and no cure comes from it because the cause is a “spirit of infirmity”. Spirits of infirmities do not respond to medicines. They have to be dealt with as Jesus or the apostles dealt with them. Sadly there are few who believe such things or have the power to do such things. Jesus said,” And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; (Mark 16:17)

We also read, “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. (Mark 16:20)”But then, some say this was not originally part of Mark 16 and so it is an addition. Whatever it be those who preach with the Lord’s power and those who experience deliverance through it, know and attest to the truth.

So here was Jesus, teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath and the woman afflicted by a spirit of infirmity happened to be there too. What a coincidence, some may say. No coincidences in God’s book, only appointments. Was she a regular? 18 years of sickness would make many believers stop going to church. Nothing to blame them, for we all know how difficult it is to worship when we are sick. Her problem was even more distressing. She was crippled and could not lift herself up. Perhaps the Sabbath worship was her sole hope in life to be comforted in her sufferings. Whatever it be, this was her day of deliverance, come what may, because Heaven had already said “YES”.

Things happened much too quickly for everyone including the lady & the synagogue ruler to grasp what was going on. Jesus did not seek permission but just did what the Father instructed him to do. Luke writes, “When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.”

That must have been audacious. In a flash, here was something spectacular happening. Imagine Jesus calling her forward, speaking to her, laying his hands on her, setting her free, she straightening up and praising God. All in a matter of a few moments. No long sermon, no stirring up of the faith. Just saying, “I have seen your suffering and I release you, here and now.”Heavenly power unleashed!!

Jesus created quite a ruckus that day. He knew that not all would be pleased but he had to do the father’s will. And immediately there was opposition. Luke writes, “Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” Meaning, I do not approve of such stuff, whether someone’s long standing distress is alleviated or not.”Sometimes believers become hard hearted not wanting to know the Father’s heart. And on this occasion Jesus did not back out but gave a hard hitting reply. He said, “"You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?"

Truly many sheep are kept bound by Satan and not released because some shepherds do not believe that deliverance from Satan matches their doctrines. God help them. Hypocrisy was dealt with very strongly by Jesus and the people understood. They believed the miracles that they saw and they believed the words of wisdom that flowed out of Jesus’ mouth. Luke ends the miracle by writing, “When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.”

The Bible says, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. (1 John 3:8b)” How very true.

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 8

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 8

Narrated In 1 Gospel

Gospel Of Luke

Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out - the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 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." This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country. (Luke 7:11-17)

Nain was a small village about 6 miles southeast of Nazareth. Just before coming to Nain, Jesus was in Capernaum where he had healed a centurion’s servant on seeing the great faith of the centurion. Jesus had exclaimed, “"I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." (Luke 7:9)

Great crowds followed him to experience and witness miracles. He did not have to go far into town to be moved by a sight that aroused compassion in his heart. Luke writes, “a dead person was being carried out - the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.” In the laws given through Moses, widows were a category that God had set certain specific laws for because he knew how lonely and destitute they often felt. A few verses that showed God’s care for them were:
He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. (Deuteronomy 10:18)
Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. (Deuteronomy 24:17)
When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deuteronomy 24:19)
When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. (Deuteronomy 24:20)
When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. (Deuteronomy 24:21)
When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. (Deuteronomy 26:12)

Luke continues, “When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still.”

How hard it must have been for the woman who had lost her only support and confidant in life. We know nothing more about the widow or her son, yet the scenario was one that would have moved the hearts of many that day. The “why’s” of life are not often promptly answered but this was an occasion where the “why” did not matter because Jesus was here, “the resurrection” himself was here. If he was in Nain, he was on official duty and not there to while away his time. We all are here on earth to complete the missions that God has called us to and not to just go through the motions of life.
What can saying “Don’t cry” help someone who has lost her only son? Some of us have wondered this when we have said the same to someone who has lost a loved one. Hollow words when we have said it, but powerful when spoken by the one who said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” His saying, “Don’t cry” meant that he still could help her whether she believed it or not.

“Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still.” There may have been quite a few expectant eyes peering over shoulders to see what they were going to witness. And all he said was, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" That simple! No questions asked, no one to argue with the command too. And the effect: it was immediate… The dead man sat up and began to talk….Well, well, well...what must have he been talking? Would it be his near death experience? Perhaps he was asking the coffin bearers why they were carrying him. Put me down, he must have said.

“Jesus gave him back to his mother.” Jesus had done this miracle specifically for her because she had lost someone who was irreplaceable. No words would have comforted her, but this miracle she would remember forever. She would be a living witness and so would her son be. And so would be the people who saw it all.

Luke concludes this wonderful miracle by writing, “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." This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

God has come to help his people, the witnesses said. How very true. He has come and is with us as “Immanuel” and will come again soon to receive his faithful unto him. Till then it’s our official duty to proclaim his saving grace and power.

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 7

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 7

Narrated In 1 Gospel

Gospel Of Luke

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1-11)

“One day” as Luke the Physician starts the account here, was a special day for a fisherman called Peter. Though some of his fellow fisherman also witnessed a great miracle, this day was marked “special” for Peter.

There must have been a sizable crowd thronging which made Jesus get into one of the boats so that he could teach the people without being hassled. It was not just a chance happening that Jesus got into Peter’s boat. He knew what would happen very soon because “he” “knows everything from beginning to end”. Simon must have been happy that the Lord had chosen his boat for sitting and teaching the people. But soon he was to learn a thing or two about the kingdom of God and also a couple of things about fishing.

After Jesus had finished speaking, he asked Peter to do two things; one, to put the boat into deep water and two, to let down the nets for a catch. The fisherman instinct in Peter made him protest immediately even as he rowed out into the deep waters. He addressed Jesus as Master, but politely told him the facts that he had witnessed. More like the weathermen who give out the forecasts. He said, “"Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.” It’s no use, Peter was telling him. He was a fisherman and that too “a pro.” What could the carpenter from Nazareth teach him about fishing?

Still Peter didn’t want to disappoint the teacher whom so many adored and so he reluctantly said, “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Peter didn’t know that a great “shoal of fish” had already been commanded to appear at the place where the nets were let down.

And then the miracles happened- one in the waters and the other in Peter’s heart. It was simultaneous. Luke writes, 1) “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.”
2) When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"

Why should a miraculous catch of fish change a man’s heart? “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man,” Peter said; meaning, “Lord, I am not worthy to be associated with you.” Jesus had not come to belittle him in any way but to change his calling in life. Jesus knew that Peter was one of God’s chosen ones to bring many into the kingdom of God even though he had several imperfections. Jesus had begun a work in him that would be completed only after his (Jesus’) resurrection where Peter would be brought to repentance by him and then he would finally be empowered by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost day and become the “Apostle to the Jews.”

"Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." said Jesus. Now what did that mean? Peter must have wondered. So would have James and John, his partners in the fishing business. Well, they didn’t ask Jesus immediately. They just left their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Many who are called to the Lord’s work shrink back because of their imperfections. Jesus calls because he has chosen and he can work through the imperfections like he did with Peter and create a totally different person when his work is completed.

Whatever happened to all the fish they caught? Perhaps the watchers (Jesus’ listeners) had a great feast that day.

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 6

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 6

Narrated In 1 Gospel

Gospel Of Luke

And He said to them, "No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, `Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.' "And He said, "Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. "But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went His way. (Luke 4:23-30)

The miracle part in this passage comes only in the last verse where Luke writes that Jesus passed through the midst of the crowd and he went his way. Jesus got involved in what we call nowadays as “Mob Fury.” Well, the mob happened to be people who had come to worship God in the synagogue. That’s nothing new I guess. Jesus touched a few raw nerve endings by his telling them how hypocritical they were. This enraged the people in the synagogue and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff.

How could he pass through their midst without them knowing? It was an impossible situation. Yet for him, everything was possible. Did he make himself invisible? Did he change his appearance by a divine miracle? Or did he move in their midst with lightning speed? We don’t know how he did it, but he managed to escape from their clutches, for his time had not yet come.

He did not resist the people who came to arrest him in the garden of Gethsemane, for he knew it was in the plan and will of God. He had to go through that to reach the cross and thus he did not resist. If he wanted he could have asked his Father for help and it would be have been available to him in the twinkling of an eye. As he himself said, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53). But he did not ask for help, knowing that it was his Father’s will for him to undergo the insult and sufferings that followed.

Here, in the passage above, Satan was trying to nip Jesus’ ministry in the bud and this he wouldn’t allow. The devil was trying hard to finish him off and that Jesus didn’t allow. He knew he had much more to do before dying on the cross for providing salvation to humankind. He always moved according to the Father’s plan. And so should we.

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 5

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 5

Narrated In 1 Gospel

Gospel Of Mark

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't go into the village."(Mark 8:22-26)

Jesus healed the blind in many ways. Sometimes he just said a word to heal, at other times he touched their eyes. In the gospel of John Ch.9 we read that, to cure a blind man, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes and then told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam and the man went and washed, and came home seeing. Here, in the Gospel of Mark, we again see him doing something unusual. Mark writes that “some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.”Jesus acted here out of compassion and also seeing the faith of the people who brought the man. They must have wondered what Jesus was doing? Taking the blind man by the hand and leading him outside the village. Then he did the unimaginable. He spit on the man’s eyes. Most of the people following him must have cringed at that, but soon they would be witnesses to yet another glorious miracle. He did not command anything here after spitting, but put his hands on the man’s eyes and asked him whether he saw anything. His sight was restored but not to perfection because the man replied, “I see people; they look like trees walking around."

What could that imply? Why wasn’t the man’s sight restored to perfection when Jesus put his hands on the man initially? Did he not have enough faith to do the miracle? Impossible, because giving sight to the blind or any other healing, deliverance or restoration was as simple for him as the blinking of the eyes or like the respiration of a healthy person. No undue effort taken, just the natural. When God does a miracle, it’s a miracle for us; for Him it’s a simple thing. God who can call “light” out of nothingness by just saying, “Let there be light” can do anything that he wishes. And that too with perfection.

Perhaps Jesus wanted to see the reactions of the people who followed him when he did not stand up to their expectations, even if it was for just a moment. He knew what went on in the minds of everyone around and maybe he was just checking. Of course, many thought he had failed them, when he submitted to his opposers when his time had come to be crucified. Many may have asked themselves, “Why can’t he just destroy his foes for he is all powerful?” Just a word from him would have been enough to crush his enemies. But Jesus was on another mission which not many realized or understood.

Would the man have been happy with such imperfect vision? Depends! If he was one who had good vision earlier and then gone blind due to some sickness, he would have known what it was to see clearly and so would have desired perfect vision. Perhaps he would have then doubted the healing powers of this prophet from Nazareth. If he had been one who was born blind, he wouldn’t know what perfection was and would have settled for less.

To lay all doubts and arguments at rest, Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes again. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Another glorious miracle was witnessed by his followers.

God can choose to heal in any way that he desires. We don’t have to tell him how to do it; just pray that he does it.

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 4

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 4

Narrated In 1 Gospel

Gospel Of Mark

Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 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. 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. 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. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” (Mark 7:31-37)

Travelling on foot, by boat and whatever transportation available in that era, Jesus was always where the heavenly Father wanted him to be. Interestingly, in this passage, we see that God does not and need not perform things according to how we would want it to be but chooses to do things his own perfect way. The results however would be as we would have desired.

People brought to Jesus, a man who was deaf and dumb and wanted him to place his hand on him and heal him. But Jesus chose to act differently. He did not place his hand on the man; instead he took him aside, away from the crowd. Why, away from the crowd? Because he was going to do something unusual; things not many would have appreciated. Another thing we observe here is that Jesus was willing to do as the Father showed him because his desire was always to do his Father’s will and glorify him. Jesus said,
“The world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” (John 14:31)

Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears; not something that the ENT specialist would approve, then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. Then came the most important part of the whole miracle- The Command! Ephphatha, said Jesus, which meant “Be opened” and it was done!
The command of God has been effective since the 1st chapter of the Bible where he said, “Let there be light and there was light.” No questions asked, no arguments entertained.

His command is perfect and so is the end result. Here the deaf and dumb man heard and spoke immediately. The Bible says, “his tongue was loosened”; something was binding his tongue, something physical or spiritual, but all the bondages were broken at the single command- Ephphatha.

As usual, to avoid unnecessary publicity to his ministry (unusual, when we see what many preachers do now) Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the effect was just the opposite. The more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.

People were amazed. They just couldn’t believe what they had witnessed. They concluded by proclaiming,” He has done everything well,” "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Amazing! Just Amazing! This miracle working Savior from Nazareth.

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 3

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 3

Narrated In 1 Gospel

Gospel Of Mathew

After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes, he does," he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes--from their own sons or from others?" "From others," Peter answered. "Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours." (Matthew 17:24-27)

Peter, once a fisherman, now a catcher of men- in training, is asked by Jesus to do a task so unusual that his jaw must have dropped when he witnessed the miracle happening when he obeyed the master’s words.

This was an unusual way to find money for paying the 2 drachma tax. Well, actually 4 drachmas, 2 for Jesus and 2 for Peter. The knowledge and experience that Peter had acquired by being a fisherman for long may have questioned the validity of his teacher’s proclamation of finding a 4 drachma coin in the mouth of a fish, but nevertheless he must have been obedient to his teacher.

Imagine Peter carrying the fishing line and a few live worms to get this task done. He must have been thrilled of going back to the waters to catch fish. Actually it was a habit he found hard to give up in the initial part of his ministry, for we read in the gospel of John that when Jesus died and was buried and then resurrected, the disciples decided to go fishing again. Perhaps they missed the constant presence of Jesus and were getting impatient, so they decided to go fishing.

Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. (John 21:2, 3)

Coming back to imagining Peter walking towards the lake, line in hand, humming a few praises to God. People seeing him must have commented, “Good old Peter, back to fishing, seems like old times.”Yet he was here on a different mission, known only to him and his master.

There could have been a lot of “what if’s” going through the mind of Peter, yet he had reason to believe; he had seen enough miracles done by his master. And so he must have cast the line with confidence; confidence not in his prowess as a fisherman or the quality of the fishing line, but confidence in the words of his Lord and Master. That’s when the miracle must have happened, for we do not have verses which say that he found the 4 drachma coin in the fish’s mouth and paid the tax, but that is understood as far as those of us who believe in the mighty miracle working power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are concerned.

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- A Bible Study- 2

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- A Bible Study- 2

Narrated in one gospel only

In the Gospel of Matthew:

While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” (Matthew 9:32-34)

This is another miracle recorded by Matthew and not read in the other 3 gospels. Here is a case of demon-possession. The demon’s main affliction here is making the man mute. Demons can afflict any part of the body and in this man’s case, his speech was obstructed. Perhaps the demon had his tongue bound and hence the man could not speak. Or the origin, transmission and production were all obstructed by the demon.

Sickness can be healed, but demons have to be driven out. And that is just what Jesus did. Secondly, here the man was not in a position to express his faith and Jesus did not expect it either. So in cases of demon-possession, it is the faith of the one praying for the person that is important. One should not tell a person who is demon-possessed that if he has more faith, then he can be delivered. Demon-possession cannot be cured by medicines. Demons have to be rebuked and driven out in Jesus’ Name.

Well, not all get excited when great things happen and we see the Pharisees giving their own explanation of the miracle. They are here condemning Jesus and accusing Him of using demon power to perform the miracle.They were “blind” as Jesus called them.

Ministers need discernment from God to know when people are brought to us for praying, whether the person is suffering from a sickness or whether it is a case of demon affliction. Disease can be healed by prayer and medical-surgical interventions, but demons have to be driven out as Jesus very clearly demonstrates here.

Miracles of Jesus in the Gospels- Bible Study- 1

Miracles of Jesus in the Gospels- Bible Study- 1

Narrated in one gospel only

In the Gospel of Matthew:

1) As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region. (Matthew 9:27-31)

This healing was wrought by the Lord because of the express faith of the two blind men. They did not flinch when asked by the Lord whether they believed that He was able to heal them. They only had hearsay evidence for knowing that Jesus was able to heal the sick and the infirm. They had not yet seen any of the miracles that Jesus had done, but had put their faith in Him from what they had learned from others regarding His healing powers. And how wonderfully the Lord rewarded them for their faith. How true then the words of Jesus when He said, “Blessed are they who have not seen, yet believed.” (John 20:29b)

This is also another example of how the Lord Jesus healed people by touching them. Matthew writes, “He touched their eyes.” There are other instances in the Word where the Lord Jesus healed the blind without touching them, but here He chose to touch their eyes while healing them.

Matthew also states that Jesus forbid them from letting anyone know about the healing that He had wrought for them. One may wonder why? Perhaps Jesus didn’t want too much publicity so early in His ministry and bring about premature interference from the enemy.

Whatever it be, the once blind and now seeing men couldn’t keep their mouths shut because they considered their healing to be of major value and they went out and spread the news of their healing all over that region.
Come to think of it, they may have initially kept quiet obeying their healer, but many may have asked them,
“Can you see now?” “How did you receive your healing?” and they couldn’t keep their healing a secret for long. And Matthew ends the story by writing that they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.