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.