Demonstrated in Acts of Healing Matt 9:27-34; 11:2-6 SS Lesson for 01/17/2010

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1 Devotional Scripture: John 14:8-15 Demonstrated in Acts of Healing Matt 9:27-34; 11:2-6 SS Lesson for 01/17/2010 OUTLINE INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW AND APPROACH TO LESSON LESSON INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator MAJOR THEME ANALYSIS HEALING OF THE BLIND (MATT 9:27-31) Requesting mercy (27) Requesting mercy at God's throne of grace (Heb 4:16) Requesting mercy because mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13) Requesting mercy because it is commanded (Jude 22-23) Requesting mercy because we can depend on God because of His mercy (Rom 9:16) Requesting mercy because of being a people of God (1 Peter 2:10) Requesting mercy in our distress (Isa 63:9) Requesting mercy because we fear Him (Luke 1:50) Requesting mercy to not be consumed (Lam 3:22) Having faith (28-29) Faith that trusts God regardless (John 14:1) Faith based on seeking the God that exists (Heb 11:6) Faith that results in no condemnation (John 3:18) Faith that expresses itself through love (Gal 5:6) Faith by not moving from the hope in the gospel (Col 1:23) Spreading the news (30-31) Witness through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) Witness by using God's word (Rom 10:17-18) Witness to others because Jesus commanded it (Matt 28:18-20) Witness to others through teaching (2 Tim 2:2) Witness starting at home (Luke 8:39) Witness about what God has done for us (Ps 66:16) HEALING OF THE POSSESSED (MATT 9:32-34) Coming to Jesus (32) Coming to Jesus means spending time with Him (John 1:38-39) Coming to Jesus means to seek to be near Him (Isa 55:6) Coming to Jesus is seeking fellowship with Him (1 John 1:3-7) Coming to Jesus is getting to know Jesus (John 17:3) The only way a person can come to Jesus is through the conviction of God (John 6:44) Amazement at the power of Jesus (33) Amazement that helps spread the news of the goodness of God (Luke 4:36-37) Amazement at the greatness of God (Luke 9:43) Amazement at how much God loves (John 5:20) Amazement at how God does everything perfectly (Mark 7:37) Amazement that should lead to faith in God (John 12:9-11) Rejection of Jesus (34) Rejection because of not understanding the light (John 1:3-5) Rejection of the capstone (Acts 4:10-11) Rejection that brought reconciliation to the world (Rom 11:13-15) Rejection of Jesus is a rejection of God (Luke 10:16) Demonstrated in Acts of Healing Page 1 of 12 SS Lesson for 01/17/10

2 Rejection because they considered Jesus just a man, not the Son of God (John 10:33) Rejection because of familiarity with Jesus' human heritage (Mark 6:2-6) DEMONSTRATED FOR THOSE WHO QUESTIONED (MATT 11:2-6) Questioning if Jesus is the One (2-3) Questions from Satan about Jesus being the Son of God (Matt 4:3) Questions about Jesus' human origin (Mark 6:3) Questions about Jesus being the King of the Jews (Matt 27:11) People in the streets questioned who Jesus was (Matt 21:10-11) Even one who was healed questioned who Jesus was (John 5:8-13) Jesus questioned His disciples about who He was (Mark 8:27-29) Demonstration of prophetic fulfillment (4-5) Jesus was born under the law to fulfill the promise of redemption (Gal 4:4-5) God used the law to establish and fulfill His second covenant through Jesus (Heb 10:8-10) Jesus fulfilled the purpose and goal of the gospel (1 Cor 15:3-5) Jesus fulfilled all Scripture references to the Messiah (Luke 4:20-21) Jesus lived and moved as part of the fulfillment of the Scriptures (Luke 18:31) God's Word was fulfilled in Jesus (Luke 22:37) God fulfilled all promises through Jesus (Acts 13:32-33) Savior or stumbling block (6) Savior or stumbling block because it was His destiny (Luke 2:34-35) Savior or stumbling block because Jesus is a sanctuary that many in Israel stumbled over (Isa 8:14-15) Savior or stumbling block because of His teachings (John 6:60-61) Savior or stumbling block because He was crucified for this reason (1 Cor 1:23-24) Savior or stumbling block because only Jesus has the words of eternal life (John 6:66-69) CONCLUSION AND OTHER THOUGHTS CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE NIV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR PRACTICAL POINTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR HEART OF THE LESSON FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR The Messiah healed two blind men (Matt. 9:27-31) The Pharisees accused the Messiah of demonic healing (Matt. 9:32-34) The Messiah assured John the Baptist with His healing ministry (Matt. 11:2-6) Demonstrated in Acts of Healing Page 2 of 12 SS Lesson for 01/17/10

3 Introduction Overview and Approach to Lesson The major outline of the lesson came from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator and the detail points from the Thompson Chain Reference Bible. This week's lesson reviews how Jesus demonstrated His role of Savior through Acts of Healing. According to the Bible Expositor and Illumniator, the study's aim is to study how Jesus helped those in need when they expressed faith in Him and the study's application is to admonish believers to stretch their faith and see Jesus do unusual things in their lives. Lesson Introduction and Background From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary Faith Is the Best Medicine Medical research tends to support the old idea of laughter being good medicine. The healing power of laughter was popularized by Norman Cousins ( ). He was a medical researcher who also became editor-in-chief of Saturday Review and author of the book Anatomy of an Illness. After being diagnosed with serious heart disease and, later, a crippling form of arthritis, Cousins began to treat himself with high doses of Vitamin C and, less conventionally, a regimen of Marx Brothers movies. He claimed that a few minutes of deep laughter could provide hours of pain-free sleep. He ended up living much longer than his doctors had predicted. Proverbs 17:22 discusses the value of cheerfulness, although this is not a major topic in the Bible. In contrast, the Gospels clearly and frequently discuss the role of faith in healing. Again and again, people whom Jesus encountered received healing because of their belief in his divine power; on the other hand, some were unable to be blessed because they refused to believe in him. Today we explore these two responses. Lesson Background After impressing the crowds with the authority of his teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 7:28, 29), Jesus performed a series of high-profile public healings that drew considerable attention to his ministry. In Matthew 8:5 13, Jesus healed the servant of a centurion. After disembarking in the region of the Decapolis, he cured demonized men who were forced to live in a graveyard (8:28 34). Crowds flocked to Jesus (8:18). Some responded to Jesus miracles with genuine faith; others were interested in the show, but were not truly committed to Jesus program; some resisted him because they feared his influence; others who genuinely wanted to support Jesus wondered why he was not fitting the mold of their expectations. This is the swirl of controversy in which we find today s two lesson segments. Matthew does not always arrange his material in chronological order, and it is likely that our second segment, Matthew 11:2 6, occurs prior to our first segment of Matthew 9: From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator A significant part of Matthew's Gospel is Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5 through 7. To those listening as Jesus spoke, He sounded so authoritative that they could not help wondering where this man had come from and exactly who he was. Perhaps Matthew had overheard some of this concern and confusion, because he seems to have arranged his Gospel to immediately answer those doubts. Chapter 8 is full of accounts of miracles that would cause people to recognize that this was not merely another rabbi. If they were astonished about Jesus' teachings, they needed to investigate further and watch His ministry. Perhaps they asked, "Who does he think he is, anyway?" Matthew gives an answer by telling what He was doing. Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 state the reasons Jesus came to the earth "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." One very dramatic way He ministered was to perform miracles. We have records of a large number of these in the Gospels, but "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" (John 21:25). We are going to look at some of His miracles in this lesson. With the curse of sin blanketing the world and Satan and his hordes Demonstrated in Acts of Healing Page 3 of 12 SS Lesson for 01/17/10

4 running rampant, people have faced serious problems since the human race began. For many centuries there were only limited ways of dealing with these difficulties. Only in recent decades have science and technology made massive strides, and we still feel helpless when we face predicaments we do not know how to solve. There were miracles performed in the Old Testament. But when Jesus came, He and His disciples startled the world with the power to rescue individuals from hopeless conditions. We will consider a few at this time. It was reported a few years ago that a man who had been struck by lightning lost his sight but then later got it back the same way! Was that a miracle or not? Sometimes a natural phenomenon occurs that everyone likes to call a miracle when it really is not. Those who refuse to believe in God-inspired miracles always try to explain them in normal, scientific terms. Those who believe that God can and does perform miracles accept them by faith, and often scientific testing supports viewing them as such. Major Theme Analysis (Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV) Healing of the Blind (Matt 9:27-31) 27 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" 28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you." 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See that no one knows it." 31 But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country. Requesting mercy (27) Requesting mercy at God's throne of grace (Heb 4:16) 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Requesting mercy because mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13) 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! Requesting mercy because it is commanded (Jude 22-23) 22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Requesting mercy because we can depend on God because of His mercy (Rom 9:16) 16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. Requesting mercy because of being a people of God (1 Peter 2:10) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Requesting mercy in our distress (Isa 63:9) 9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Demonstrated in Acts of Healing Page 4 of 12 SS Lesson for 01/17/10

5 Requesting mercy because we fear Him (Luke 1:50) 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. Requesting mercy to not be consumed (Lam 3:22) 22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. Having faith (28-29) Faith that trusts God regardless (John 14:1) 14 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. Faith based on seeking the God that exists (Heb 11:6) 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Faith that results in no condemnation (John 3:18) 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. Faith that expresses itself through love (Gal 5:6) 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Faith by not moving from the hope in the gospel (Col 1:23) 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. Spreading the news (30-31) Witness through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Witness by using God's word (Rom 10:17-18) 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." Witness to others because Jesus commanded it (Matt 28:18-20) 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Witness to others through teaching (2 Tim 2:2) 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Demonstrated in Acts of Healing Page 5 of 12 SS Lesson for 01/17/10

6 Witness starting at home (Luke 8:39) 39 "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him. Witness about what God has done for us (Ps 66:16) 16 Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. Healing of the Possessed (Matt 9:32-34) 32 As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. 33 And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, "It was never seen like this in Israel!" 34 But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons." Coming to Jesus (32) Coming to Jesus means spending time with Him (John 1:38-39) 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39 "Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour. Coming to Jesus means to seek to be near Him (Isa 55:6) 6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Coming to Jesus is seeking fellowship with Him (1 John 1:3-7) 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. Coming to Jesus is getting to know Jesus (John 17:3) 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. The only way a person can come to Jesus is through the conviction of God (John 6:44) 44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. Amazement at the power of Jesus (33) Amazement that helps spread the news of the goodness of God (Luke 4:36-37) 36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. Amazement at the greatness of God (Luke 9:43) 43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, Demonstrated in Acts of Healing Page 6 of 12 SS Lesson for 01/17/10

7 Amazement at how much God loves (John 5:20) 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. Amazement at how God does everything perfectly (Mark 7:37) 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." Amazement that should lead to faith in God (John 12:9-11) 9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. Rejection of Jesus (34) Rejection because of not understanding the light (John 1:3-5) 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. Rejection of the capstone (Acts 4:10-11) 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' Rejection that brought reconciliation to the world (Rom 11:13-15) 13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? Rejection of Jesus is a rejection of God (Luke 10:16) 16 "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." Rejection because they considered Jesus just a man, not the Son of God (John 10:33) 33 "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." Rejection because of familiarity with Jesus' human heritage (Mark 6:2-6) 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! 3 Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Demonstrated in Acts of Healing Page 7 of 12 SS Lesson for 01/17/10

8 Demonstrated for Those Who Questioned (Matt 11:2-6) 2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" 4 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see 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. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." Questioning if Jesus is the One (2-3) Questions from Satan about Jesus being the Son of God (Matt 4:3) 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Questions about Jesus' human origin (Mark 6:3) 3 Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Questions about Jesus being the King of the Jews (Matt 27:11) 11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. People in the streets questioned who Jesus was (Matt 21:10-11) 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" 11 The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." Even one who was healed questioned who Jesus was (John 5:8-13) 8 Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat." 11 But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.'" 12 So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?" 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. Jesus questioned His disciples about who He was (Mark 8:27-29) 27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ." Demonstration of prophetic fulfillment (4-5) Jesus was born under the law to fulfill the promise of redemption (Gal 4:4-5) 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. God used the law to establish and fulfill His second covenant through Jesus (Heb 10:8-10) 8 First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). 9 Then he said, "Here I Demonstrated in Acts of Healing Page 8 of 12 SS Lesson for 01/17/10

9 am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Jesus fulfilled the purpose and goal of the gospel (1 Cor 15:3-5) 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. Jesus fulfilled all Scripture references to the Messiah (Luke 4:20-21) 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Jesus lived and moved as part of the fulfillment of the Scriptures (Luke 18:31) 31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. God's Word was fulfilled in Jesus (Luke 22:37) 37 It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment." God fulfilled all promises through Jesus (Acts 13:32-33) 32 "We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: "'You are my Son; today I have become your Father.' Savior or stumbling block (6) Savior or stumbling block because it was His destiny (Luke 2:34-35) 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." Savior or stumbling block because Jesus is a sanctuary that many in Israel stumbled over (Isa 8:14-15) 14 and he will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. 15 Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured." Savior or stumbling block because of His teachings (John 6:60-61) 60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? Savior or stumbling block because He was crucified for this reason (1 Cor 1:23-24) 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Savior or stumbling block because only Jesus has the words of eternal life (John 6:66-69) 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to Demonstrated in Acts of Healing Page 9 of 12 SS Lesson for 01/17/10

10 whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." Conclusion and Other Thoughts Concluding Thoughts from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary The concept of truth in the ancient world was different from what it is today. In the world of Jesus day and for many centuries following, truth was an absolute idea. Jesus either was or was not the Messiah. The people of Jesus day wrestled with this question (John 7:41 43). They came to different conclusions because some evaluated the evidence properly while others evaluated it improperly. But both friend and foe would agree that it s either one or the other; either Jesus was the Messiah or he was not. This way of looking at the idea of truth does not hold sway in many quarters today. The understanding of the very nature of truth has changed. In today s world, truth is often understood in terms of personal experience: the life I have lived, what works for me, and the world as it looks through my eyes are my truth. Many people live by this idea: What s true for me is just that. What is true for others which may or may not be true for me is fine for them. This is known as the postmodern view of truth. Rather than being absolute, truth is considered to be relative to the individual. The postmodern thinker doesn t mind if I conclude that Jesus is the Messiah for me as long as that postmodernist can also claim that Jesus is not the Messiah for him or her. But Jesus will have none of this kind of thinking! Jesus invites belief in him on the basis of evidence (John 14:11). Either the miracles did occur or they did not occur. In fact, Christ s powerful works reveal that he is the Son of God. This means that he is the supreme authority on all points of religious dispute. Thus his teachings are ultimate truth. As Jesus himself says, Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father (John 10:37, 38). Concluding Thoughts from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator Herod the tetrarch sent John the Baptist to prison because John had rebuked him for his many evils (Luke 3:19-20). While in prison, John began to have some doubts concerning Jesus. So he sent two of his disciples to ask, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" (Matt. 11:3). John's doubts may have stemmed from the fact that Jesus did not act in accord with what John had predicted. John had announced that the Messiah would baptize people with the Holy Spirit and fire (judgment). Jesus would indeed fulfill these prophecies, but He would do so at a later time. John, who was in prison at this time and cut off from contact with Jesus, was unable to resolve his questions and therefore began to doubt. We are vulnerable to the same doubts. The Lord works according to His good pleasure, which is often contrary to what we are anticipating. As Jesus said to John, "Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me" (Matt. 11:6). May God give us grace not to be offended at the way He is working in our lives. His way may be uncomfortable, but it is always the right way. Jesus' gentle rebuke to John also carried with it a promise of blessing "Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me" (Matt. 11:6). The Lord promised special blessing for those who trust Him even when His ways are confusing. The Prophet Isaiah foretold that Messiah would perform the very miracles that Jesus referred to in Matthew 11:4. He healed the blind, caused the lame to walk, cleansed lepers, restored people's hearing, raised the dead, and preached the gospel to the poor and needy (cf.lsa. 35:5-6; 61:1). These miracles were irrefutable proof that Jesus was the promised One. Although Jesus' miracles were often acts of mercy toward people who were suffering, the primary purpose of His miracles was to authenticate Him as the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. This can be seen in the way He pointed John the Baptist to His miracles as evidence that He was the Christ. John did not need to look for another. Jesus' miracles settled the issue. That the miracles of Jesus were primarily signs of who He was can also be seen in other biblical references. For example, when Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, he spoke of Jesus as "a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs" (Acts 2:22). His miracles were God's captivating way of saying, "This is my beloved Son: hear him" (Mark 9:7). The authenticating nature of His many miraculous deeds can also be Demonstrated in Acts of Healing Page 10 of 12 SS Lesson for 01/17/10

11 observed in the purpose of the Gospel of John. The Apostle John wrote, "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" (20:30-31). Some say that Jesus must perform signs and wonders today so that people will believe in Him. The Apostle John indicates, however, that the recorded signs of Christ are sufficient to inspire belief today. Practical Points from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator 1. Need begets desire, desire begets hope, hope begets faith, and faith begets salvation (Matt. 9:27-30) 2. The joy of God's salvation cannot be restrained (vs. 31) 3. When God undeniably manifests His glory and goodness, His enemies will persist and call it evil (vs ) 4. When we are in great distress, even the most faithful will be tempted to doubt (11:2-3) 5. Tragedies can make us forget God's love, but remembering it restores our faith (vss. 4-5) 6. He who holds fast to his faith in God while others fall away is greatly blessed (vs. 6) Heart of the Lesson from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator "A survey conducted by the American Academy of Family Physicians shows that ninety-nine percent of doctors believe a relationship exists between faith and physical healing. Doctors' faith in faith was bolstered by a California study of the effect of prayer on recovery from heart problems. "About two hundred heart patients were assigned to Christians who prayed for them, while an equal number, a control group, received no known prayers. Neither group knew about the prayers, yet those who received prayer developed half the complications that were experienced by those in the control group" ( org). Jesus' messianic character and ministry were demonstrated in His healing ministry. Jesus' healing ministry also was intimately connected to a person's faith. The Messiah healed two blind men (Matt. 9:27-31) When Jesus departed the house of a town official, two blind men who cried out for His healing mercy followed Him. Before Jesus healed the blind men, He made their personal faith a priority. When the blind men affirmed their faith in Jesus' healing power, He touched their eyes and their sight returned. Jesus then admonished the men to keep silent concerning their healing. The men could not restrain themselves, however. Even though Jesus' healing ministry affirmed His messianic character, He did not want the focus to be on spectacle; He usually wanted the focus to be on faith. How sad it is today that when people receive physical healing, they often misplace their joy and praise, directing them toward sensationalism rather than the Healer! The Pharisees accused the Messiah of demonic healing (Matt. 9:32-34) In this portion of the lesson text, Jesus' healing of a demon-possessed man who could not talk exposed not only the multitudes' wonder and admiration but also the Pharisees' complete absence of faith. In fact, the Pharisees committed a great error in proclaiming that Jesus' healing ministry was demonic in origin and power. When individuals are confronted with the Person of Jesus Christ, particularly through the witness of the gospel, one of two responses occurs. Either the person responds with faith that leads to eternal life, or he responds with contempt that leads to eternal death (2 Cor. 2:14-17). The Messiah desires that people respond in faith (1 Tim. 2:4). The Messiah assured John the Baptist with His healing ministry (Matt. 11:2-6) While John the Baptist was locked up in prison, he experienced a season of uncertainty concerning the messianic character of Christ. John sent two of his followers to ask Jesus whether He was truly the promised Messiah. Jesus graciously and lovingly reassured John by telling the followers that His healing ministry affirmed His messianic character. He said there were blessings for those who remained steadfast in their faith in Him. Once again, Jesus Christ prioritized a disciple's faith. Jesus used His healing ministry to strengthen personal faith in Him. What a marvelous Messiah and Lord He is! Demonstrated in Acts of Healing Page 11 of 12 SS Lesson for 01/17/10

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