BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD (Part VII)

BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD (Part VII)

As we highlight the PERSON and WORK of JESUS CHRIST, it is important to look more closely at the hallmark of His public ministry: miracles.  In the New Testament, these frequent supernatural occurrences are referred to as “mighty deeds,” or “wonders,” or “signs,” or “miracles.” (II Corinthians 12:12 – John 2:11)  Whether such miracles were the direct result of Jesus’ ministry or the indirect extensions of His disciples’ ministries, all of them originate in (and flow from) the power of The Christ, The Anointed One.

A miracle may be defined as (1) an extraordinary event that is inexplicable in terms of ordinary natural forces, or (2) an event that causes the observers to postulate a superhuman personal cause, or (3) an event that constitutes evidence, i.e. a sign with much wider implications than the event itself. (Source: Zondervan’s All-In-One Bible Reference Guide, p.427)  As such, all of Christ’s miracles had a two-fold purpose: revelation and edification.   

Firstly, miracles were designed to bring hope and healing to specific persons, e.g. to provide personal deliverance from diseases such as palsy, which was a tremor producing, incapacitating, muscle disease that was common in Jesus’ day.  Secondly, miracles were intended to reveal the person and work of Jesus Christ, i.e. to validate His gospel of The Kingdom, convincing unbelievers of His authority and authenticity.

It is important to note that Christ’s miracles were not always centered on the physical healing of individuals.  For example, His first miracle, which took place at a wedding in Cana of Galilee, was the transformation of water into wine. (John 2:1-11)  Christ also commanded power over wind, weather and water when he “rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39) Another example of this power is the miraculous draught of fishes. (Luke 5:4-9)  On yet another occasion, Jesus fed a huge multitude (5,000 men plus women and children) with just two fish and five loaves. (Matthew 14:18-20)

The miracles of Jesus were always wrought by the power of God.  Dr. Luke affirms this: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38 – Luke 4:18)

Occasionally, Jesus healed certain individuals and charged them not to disclose that He had done so, or to reveal to others that He was indeed the Messiah.  Theologians refer to this as The Messianic Secret.  Examples of this include the casting out of unclean spirits (Mark 3:11-12), the healing of two blind men (Matthew 9:27-30), the occasion when He raised a twelve-year-old girl from the dead (Mark 5:37-43), the healing of a deaf and dumb man (Mark 7:32-37), and his prohibition against revealing to others that He was The Christ until the appointed time. (Mark 8:27-30 – Mark 9:7-9)

The physical healing miracles of Jesus are wide-ranging and awesome.  Following are a few examples:

-The healing of the nobleman’s son (John 4:46-54)

-The healing of the demoniac (Luke 4:33-37)

-The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (Luke 4:38-39)

-The healing of a leper (Matthew 8:2-4)

-The healing of a paralytic (Matthew 9:2-8)

-The healing of the man at the pool (John 5:2-9)

-The healing of the withered hand (Mark 3:1-5)

-The healing of the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13)

-The healing/raising of the widow’s son (Luke 7:12-16)

-The healing of the Gadarene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20)

-The healing/raising of Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:41-42)

-The healing of the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter (Matthew 15:22-28)

-The healing of the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19)

-The healing of the blind man (John 9:1-41)

-The healing of the man with dropsy (Luke 14:1-6)

-The healing of the woman with an issue of blood (Matthew 9:20-22)

-The healing/raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-46)

The four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) contain general accounts of numerous miracles that took place during Jesus’ 3½ year public ministry.  However, John’s gospel concludes with this astounding statement:

John 21:25

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.

The implication is crystal clear.  Not all of Christ’s miracles were recorded by the apostles.  Indeed, the working of miracles such a normal and constant part of Christ’s daily ministry activity that it would have been impossible to do so.  Jesus Christ, as “the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” is unquestionably the New Testament manifestation of Jehovah Rophe [pronounced ROW-pha], “the Lord that healeth thee.” (Colossians 2:9 – Exodus 15:26)  Sisters and brothers, receive your divine healing and be continually blessed! (Isaiah 53:5)