The Bible gives us many examples of Jesus healing people, delivering people, and setting the captives free. We also know that many more miracles were done by Jesus but not ever recorded. Think back to after the resurrection when Jesus revealed Himself to Thomas, and said, "Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." (John 20:29) John writes in verses 30 and 31 of that same chapter, "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." So the point in reading these miraculous accounts of what Christ did is to build our faith and that faith will cause us to accept Jesus as Son of God and Messiah, so then we will receive everlasting life. We must continue to share these stories because everyone needs to know the truth about who Jesus is and what He actually did while He was on the earth.
The first account of this miracle is in Matthew 8:16-17. It reads:
When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Jesus had a reputation that He could do the miraculous and that drew desperate people to Himself. Many were possessed with devils. This is an important statement. This was an issue in that area at the time. We see today in 2024 there are many in this nation, and around the globe who are possessed with devils and they are in need of deliverance that can only come from Jesus. We are told in the Holy script that Jesus cast out the evil spirits with His word. He didn't have to beg them to go, or ask them to leave. Jesus Christ had all power given to Him by His Father and He had authority over unclean spirits and they had to obey Him. Why did Jesus heal the sick and afflicted? We are told it was to fulfill the prophecy Isaiah gave.
Isaiah 53:3-5 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our face from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath born our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
Jesus was most certainly despised and rejected of men. We see how he sorrowfully opened His arms wide to Jerusalem and with a heavy heart said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen doth gather her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37) Yet He still healed the sick and tormented. He still carried our sins and our penalty and paid the price to redeem us all, including those who to this day will reject Him.
Mark gives an account of these miracles as well in chapter one, in verses 32 through 34.
And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him.
Mark gives a little more information on what is happening this particular evening. An onslaught of people have come to be healed and delivered by Jesus. They are gathered at the door. The Bible tells us Jesus is the door that we must go through to get to God. "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, He shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." John 10:7-9
Jesus healed many that came and delivered those possessed with devils. Mark goes on to say that Jesus did not permit the demons to speak because they knew Him. These evil spirits knew Jesus is the Christ and they would have said so if they were allowed to speak. Jesus was very sensitive to the timing in which His Heavenly Father did all things and this was not the time, so they were not allowed to speak.
Luke's Gospel gives account of this story in chapter 4 verses 40 and 41.
Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them. And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And He rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that He was Christ.
I like reading Luke's account because of the details he included. He said there were divers diseases, like we read in Mark's Gospel. Luke says Jesus laid His hand on every single one of them and healed them. There was no blanket prayer or a group session. Jesus went to each individual and healed them all.
The devils also came out proclaiming Jesus is the Son of God, the Christ. Jesus had to rebuke them and not allow them to speak because He knew it was not time for that. Jesus knew His life was on a timeline designed by His Father and we see over and over again how Jesus continues to lay down His own will and yields to His Father.
Jesus was familiar with suffering and sorrow. We know this if we study His life. He felt pain and grief. He knew what it felt like to be with someone day and night for three and half years and they still would betray Him with a kiss in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knows what we are going through and Peter reminds us that Jesus set the tone for how we should respond when we are hurt, strongly criticized, and wounded. Let's read that final passage in closing of today's study.
1 Peter 2:21-25 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not: but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously: Who His own Self bare our sins in His body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye are healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Friends, Jesus still heals, delivers, and saves. Call upon Him now and He will meet your needs. Just ask Him to do it and He will. He has given us proof today in His Word that it is His desire for us to be whole. Let's keep our confidence in the One who can do what no one can: Jesus our miracle working Savior!
God bless you,
Bridgett Owens
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