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 Chapter 36.

Miracles of Christ

1. WHAT testimony did the chief priests and Pharisees bear concerning Christ's work?

"Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles." John 11:47.

2. By what did Peter, on the day of Pentecost, say that Christ had been approved by God?

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; 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, as ye yourselves also know." Acts 2:22.

3. By what means did Christ claim to cast out devils?

"But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you." Luke 11:20. Matt. 12:28 says "by the Spirit of God."

NOTE.-Under the third plague in Egypt,-that of turning the dust into lice,-the magicians, failing to duplicate it, said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." Ex. 8:18,19.

4. Upon what ground did Nicodemus rest his belief that Christ was a teacher from God?

"Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him." John 3:2.

5. After the healing of the blind man, upon what charge did some of the Pharisees seek to prove that Christ was not of God?

"Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because He keepeth not the Sabbath day." John 9:16, first part.

NOTE.-This was a false charge. Christ did keep the Sabbath, but not according to the Pharisees' idea of Sabbath-keeping. See reading on "Christ and the Sabbath," in Chapter 95 of this book.

6. What question did others raise in opposition to this view?

"Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them." Same verse, John 9:16 last part.

7. What was the result of Christ's working miracles at His first Passover?

"Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast-day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did." John 2:23.

8. What question did the performing of these miracles lead many to ask?

"And many of the people believed on Him, and said, When Christ cometh, will He do more miracles than these which this man hath done"' John 7:31.

9. Why were many attracted to Christ?

"A great multitude followed Him, because they saw His miracles which He did on them that were diseased." John 6:2.

NOTE.-A miracle is the display of divine or superhuman power in some unusual or extraordinary manner; hence its nature to attract attention. Christ fed the five thousand with the multiplied loaves and fishes, and all men wondered. Every day God feeds millions of humanity with the multiplied fruits of the earth, and no one marvels. Christ, by a shortened process, changed water into wine, and everybody was astonished; but every year God does this in the usual way-through the vine-in almost limitless quantities, and no one is astonished. A divine miracle, therefore, whenever performed, is wrought to heal and to save, and to call attention to the source of divine power.

10. What did the people say when they saw these things?

"He hath done all things well: He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." Mark 7:37.

11. What kinds of disease and sickness did Jesus cure?

"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." "Great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all." Matt. 4:23; 12:15.

12. Who were brought to Him for healing?

"And they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them." Matt. 4:24.

13. To the woman who had been healed by touching His garment, what did Christ say made her whole?

"Thy faith hath made thee whole." Matt. 9:22.

14. What did He say to the two blind men as He healed them?

"According to your faith be it unto you." Verse 29.

15. To another whose sight He had restored, what did Christ say?

"Thy faith hath saved thee." Luke 18:42.

16. Why did not Christ work many miracles in His own country?

"And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Matt. 13:58.

17. What lesson did Christ design to teach in healing the man sick of the palsy?

"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 5:24.

NOTE.-By His miracles, therefore, Christ designed to teach faith in the power of God not only to restore the body, but to heal the soul.

18. What effect did Christ's miracles have upon the individuals restored, and the people who witnessed them?

"And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God." "And all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him." Luke 18:43; 13:17

19. What message did Christ send to John the Baptist while John was in prison, to strengthen his wavering faith?

"Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me." Matt. 11:4-6.

20. In what miracle did Christ bring to a climax His works on earth?

"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 grave-clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go." John 11:43,44.

21. What was the result of this great. miracle?

"Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him." Verse 45.

22. Because of the interest which this miracle created in Him, what did the Pharisees say?

"Behold, the world is gone after Him." John 12:19.

23. What did Jesus present to the people as a basis of confidence in Him?

"If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not. But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him." "Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works' sake." John 10:37,38; 14:11.

24. Did Jesus ever make use of ordinary means in performing His miracles?

"When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 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 9:6,7. See also Mark 7:33-35; 8:23-25; 2 Kings 5:1-14.

25. Why were the miracles of Christ recorded by the inspired writers?

"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name." John 20:30,31.

CHRIST'S MIRACLES.

I. Recorded in only one Gospel

Two blind men healed - Matt. 9:27-31
A dumb demoniac healed - Matt. 9:32,33
Piece of money in mouth of fish - Matt. 17:24-27
Deaf and dumb man healed - Mark 7:31-37
A blind man healed - Mark 8:22-26
Passed through throng unseen - Luke 4:28-31
Draft of fishes - Luke 5:1-11
Raising the widow's son - Luke 7:11-17
Healing woman with infirmity - Luke 13:11-17
Healing man with dropsy - Luke 11:1-6
Healing ten lepers - Luke 17:11-19
Healing ear of Malchus - Luke 22:50,51
Turning water into wine - John 2:1-11
Healing nobleman's son - John 4:46-54
Healing impotent man - John 5:1-16
Healing man born blind - John 9
Raising of Lazarus - John 11:1-46
Draft of fishes - John 21:1-11

II. Recorded in two Gospels

Healing centurion's servant - Matt 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10
Blind demoniac healed - Matt. 12:22-30, Luke 11:14-26
Healing Syrophenician maiden - Matt. 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30
Feeding the four thousand - Matt. 15:32-39, Mark 8:1-9
Cursing the fig-tree - Matt. 21:17-22, Mark 11:12-14
Demoniac in synagogue healed - Mark 1:23-28, Luke 4:33-37

III. Recorded in three Gospels

Healing the leper - Matt. 8:2,3, Mark 1:40-42, Luke 5:12,13
Healing Peter's mother-in-law - Matt. 8:14,15, Mark 1:30,31, Luke 4:38,39
Stilling the storm - Matt. 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25
Legion of devils cast out - Matt. 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-37
Healing man sick of palsy - Matt. 9:1-8, Mark 2:3-12, Luke 5:18-26
Healing woman with issue - Matt. 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48
Raising Jairus's daughter - Matt. 9:18-26, Mark 5:22-43, Luke 8:41-56
Healing man's withered hand - Matt. 12:10-13, Mark 3:1-5, Luke 6:6-10
Walking on the sea - Matt. 14:22-33, Mark 6:48-51, John 6:16-21
Curing demoniac child - Matt. 17:14-21, Mark 9:14-29, Luke 9:38-42
Curing blind Bartimaeus - Matt. 20:30-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43

IV. Recorded in four Gospels

Feeding the five thousand - Matt. 14:15-21, Mark 6:35-44, Luke 9:12-17, John 6:5-14

The fig-tree - Mt. of Olives - Matt. 24:32,33, Mark 13:28,29, Luke 21:29-31

 

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