The Life of Jesus 2 - The Works of Jesus

Summary

In this detailed and insightful study, the speaker explores the vast works of Jesus, highlighting the impossibility of fully comprehending His deeds. Key points include Jesus' numerous healings, exorcisms, miracles over nature, and prophetic ministry. The speaker references various Bible passages to illustrate Jesus' compassion, power, and unique methods of healing. The discussion also covers the significant impact of Jesus' ministry on individuals and His confrontations with religious leaders. The study concludes by emphasizing Jesus' role as the Messiah and His ultimate sacrifice, setting the stage for further exploration of His final days on Earth.

Takeaways

• 📚 The Gospel records are just a small slice of what Jesus did during his earthly ministry.
• 📖 John 21:25 highlights that Jesus performed many works that were not recorded.
• 🙏 Jesus' healing ministry included various diseases and demon-possessed individuals.
• 👁️‍🗨️ Jesus healed blind people, paralyzed individuals, and even raised the dead.
• 💪 The methods of Jesus' healings varied: laying hands, speaking words, commanding actions, and using unusual methods like spit.
• 🤲 Jesus' healings often required personal touch and compassionate interaction, demonstrating his care for both physical and emotional needs.
• 🙌 Jesus' healing work was often a response to the faith of those who brought others to him.
• 🌊 Jesus' authority over nature was shown through miracles like calming storms and multiplying food.
• 👹 Jesus delivered people from demonic possession, showcasing his power over the spiritual realm.
• 🔍 Jesus' prophetic ministry included exposing religious corruption and predicting future events, affirming his messianic credentials.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the second part of the study mentioned in the transcript?

The main focus is to consider the works of Jesus, particularly His healing miracles, and to understand that the Gospel records provide only a portion of His works during His earthly ministry.

How many specific occasions of healings are recorded in the four Gospels according to the speaker's count?

The speaker mentions a total of 26 specific occasions of healings in the four Gospels.

What are some of the different 'medical specialties' that Jesus is said to have practiced according to the Gospel accounts?

Jesus is described as practicing various 'medical specialties' such as general practitioner, ophthalmology (giving sight to the blind), orthopedics (healing the paralyzed or maimed), and even 'plastic surgery' (healing Malchus's ear).

What is the primary reason Jesus healed someone as mentioned in the transcript?

The primary reason Jesus healed someone, as mentioned in the transcript, was on the basis of the faith of a sympathetic person who brought the afflicted to Jesus.

How did Jesus demonstrate His divine authority through healing?

Jesus demonstrated His divine authority through healing by using various methods such as laying on of hands, speaking a word, commanding the afflicted to do something, and even using unusual methods like spitting and making clay to heal the blind.

What was unique about Jesus' healing ministry compared to other healers of His day?

Unlike other healers of His day, Jesus did not charge for His healing miracles, and He was able to heal people when no one else could, demonstrating His power was not based on human techniques or formulas but on the authority and power of God.

How did Jesus' healing work fulfill messianic prophecies?

Jesus' healing work fulfilled messianic prophecies as mentioned in Isaiah 35:5-6, where it is foretold that the Messiah will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf, among other things, which Jesus did during His ministry.

What was the general attitude of the broader culture towards Jesus' acts of healing?

The broader culture, particularly in the ancient world, might have viewed Jesus' acts of healing as a waste of His supposed messianic power, expecting Him to use His power for more grandiose purposes like political freedom.

How did Jesus confront religious corruption during His ministry?

Jesus confronted religious corruption by exposing the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, driving out the money changers from the temple, and rebuking cities that did not repent, demonstrating His prophetic ministry.

What is the significance of the miracles Jesus performed over nature?

The miracles Jesus performed over nature, such as feeding the 5000 and calming the storm, demonstrated His authority over the natural world and further established His credentials as the Messiah.

How did Jesus' prophetic ministry involve predicting future events?

While the transcript does not provide specific examples of Jesus predicting future events, it mentions that as part of His prophetic ministry, Jesus did predict future events, which is a characteristic of a prophet in the biblical context.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Jesus' Incomprehensible Works

The speaker discusses the vastness and impact of Jesus' works, referencing John 21:25. He emphasizes that the gospel records only a fraction of what Jesus did during His ministry. Jesus' healing work is highlighted through various New Testament passages, showing His compassionate and personal approach to each individual. The speaker reflects on the repeated scenes of healing, the exhaustion Jesus might have felt, and the power that flowed from Him during these acts.

05:00

🩺 Jesus: The Divine Specialist

This section categorizes Jesus' healing miracles into different 'medical specialties,' mentioning specific numbers for general healings, cures for blindness, orthopedic miracles, and more. The speaker notes the faith of those who brought people to Jesus as a significant reason for healing. He also points out Jesus' compassion-driven miracles and instances where healing was performed to instruct or rebuke religious leaders.

10:06

✋ Methods of Jesus' Healing

The speaker outlines the various methods Jesus used to heal people, including laying on of hands, speaking words of healing, and commanding actions. He describes specific instances like healing a leper by touching him and the man at the Pool of Bethesda. The speaker also recounts unusual methods such as spitting to heal blindness, emphasizing Jesus' diverse approaches and the deeper, compassionate reasons behind His actions.

15:07

⚡ Commands and Unusual Methods

This paragraph explores Jesus commanding the impossible, like telling a man with a withered hand to stretch it out. It highlights unusual healing methods involving spit, and the personal attention Jesus gave to each person. The speaker notes the unpredictability of Jesus' methods and their demonstration of divine power, moving beyond tricks or formulas to show genuine concern and miraculous authority.

20:08

🌟 Messianic Credentials

The speaker links Jesus' healing work to His messianic credentials, referencing Isaiah 35:5-6. He discusses how Jesus' compassionate acts fulfilled messianic prophecies and contrasted with cultural expectations of a militant Messiah. Instead, Jesus used His power for individual compassion, demonstrating His divine nature and the love of God, challenging the notion that His miracles were a waste of messianic power.

25:10

🚫 Jesus vs. Religious Corruption

The speaker addresses Jesus' confrontations with religious corruption, noting His prophetic ministry. Jesus rebuked religious leaders, exposed hypocrisy, and predicted future events. Instances include driving out money changers from the temple and rebuking cities that rejected Him. The speaker highlights the tension between Jesus and the religious authorities, who envied His authority and influence.

30:11

👹 Conquering Demonic Forces

This section details Jesus' exorcisms, listing seven specific instances where He cast out demons. Examples include the man in the synagogue at Capernaum and the demon-possessed man among the tombs. The speaker also mentions general references to Jesus delivering many from demonic possession, emphasizing Jesus' unparalleled authority over evil spirits.

35:11

🌊 Miracles Over Nature

The speaker shifts to Jesus' miracles over nature, such as feeding the 5,000 and calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee. These acts demonstrated His divine authority. He also discusses how these miracles, while showcasing Jesus' power, were performed with compassion to meet human needs, like turning water into wine to save a wedding couple from social embarrassment.

40:14

🧩 Jesus' Prophetic Ministry

The final section explores Jesus' prophetic ministry, focusing on His exposure of religious corruption. The speaker highlights Jesus' rebukes of religious leaders, such as His confrontations in the temple and His scathing critique of the Pharisees in Matthew 23. Jesus' fearless denunciation of hypocrisy and corruption underscores His role as a prophet, emphasizing His commitment to truth and justice.

45:15

🙏 Final Reflections and Prayer

The speaker concludes with reflections on Jesus' authoritative teaching and divine nature. He emphasizes Jesus' role as both a powerful Savior and a servant who longs to fill believers' lives. A prayer of thanks is offered, acknowledging Jesus' unique combination of greatness, spirit-filled life, and divine identity. The speaker looks forward to discussing Jesus' final days and His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension in the next session.

Keywords

💡Healing Ministry

The healing ministry of Jesus refers to the numerous acts of curing illnesses and diseases during his earthly ministry. This concept is central to the video, which details various instances where Jesus healed people as recorded in the Gospels, such as curing the sick and demon-possessed individuals brought to him. Examples include the healing of the blind, the lame, and those afflicted with various diseases.

💡Compassion

Compassion in the context of Jesus's ministry refers to his deep empathy and concern for the suffering of others. The video emphasizes that many of Jesus's healings were motivated by his compassion for the afflicted. For instance, Jesus's healing of the man at the Pool of Bethesda is highlighted as an act done out of pure compassion, without any stated reason.

💡Faith

Faith is depicted as a crucial element in Jesus's healing miracles. The video explains that Jesus often healed individuals based on the faith of others who brought the afflicted to him. Examples include the faith of the Canaanite woman who sought healing for her daughter and the friends who lowered their paralyzed friend through a roof to reach Jesus.

💡Messianic Credentials

Messianic credentials refer to the signs and miracles that validate Jesus as the promised Messiah. The video discusses how Jesus's healing miracles and his authority over nature and demons served as evidence of his divine identity. These acts fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, such as those in Isaiah, about the Messiah's works.

💡Demon Possession

Demon possession is the state of being controlled or afflicted by evil spirits. The video outlines several instances where Jesus cast out demons from possessed individuals, demonstrating his authority over the demonic realm. Examples include the man with the unclean spirit in the synagogue and the demoniacs in the region of the Gadarenes.

💡Authority

Authority in Jesus's ministry is portrayed as his divine power to heal, cast out demons, and control nature. The video highlights that Jesus's authority was evident in his ability to perform miracles with a word or touch, underscoring his identity as the Son of God. His calming of the storm on the Sea of Galilee is a key example.

💡Miracles Over Nature

Miracles over nature refer to Jesus's acts that demonstrate his control over the physical world. The video mentions events like the feeding of the 5000 and turning water into wine, which illustrate his supernatural power. These miracles serve as signs of his divine authority and messianic identity.

💡Prophetic Ministry

Prophetic ministry involves Jesus's role in exposing corruption and predicting future events. The video describes how Jesus confronted religious leaders and denounced their hypocrisy, as seen in his actions in the temple and his rebukes in Matthew 23. This aspect of his ministry highlights his role as a prophet calling for righteousness.

💡Compassionate Touch

Compassionate touch refers to Jesus's physical act of touching those he healed, emphasizing his care for their holistic well-being. The video illustrates this with the example of Jesus touching a leper to heal him, despite the societal taboo against touching lepers. This act of touch conveyed love and acceptance along with physical healing.

💡Messianic Expectations

Messianic expectations refer to the Jewish anticipation of the Messiah's role and actions. The video contrasts these expectations with Jesus's actual ministry, noting that many Jews expected a political liberator rather than a healer and compassionate servant. Jesus's focus on individual healing and love challenged these expectations.

Highlights

The works of Jesus are so numerous that they cannot be fully recorded, as noted in John 21:25.

The Gospel records provide only a slice of what Jesus did during His earthly ministry.

Mark 1:32-34 and Matthew 15:29-31 describe Jesus' healing ministry, including the healing of various diseases and casting out demons.

Jesus' healing work was often repeated many times in His ministry, not just on isolated occasions.

Jesus' healing ministry was deeply personal, often involving individual attention and care.

Jesus' healing power included various medical specialties, such as internal medicine, ophthalmology, orthopedics, ENT, and even raising the dead.

The primary reason for Jesus' healings was the faith of those who brought the afflicted to Him.

Some healings were based purely on Jesus' compassion, with no other stated reason.

Jesus' methods of healing included laying on of hands, speaking a word, commanding actions, and using unusual methods like spitting and making clay.

Jesus' healings were not based on tricks or techniques but were a demonstration of the power of God.

Jesus fulfilled the messianic prophecies, such as those in Isaiah 35:5-6, through His healing work.

The healings of Jesus were different from the healers of His day, who often used elaborate and ineffective methods.

Jesus delivered people from demons, with seven specific instances recorded in the Gospels.

Jesus also performed miracles over nature, such as feeding the 5000, calming storms, and turning water into wine.

A significant portion of the Gospels is devoted to the last week of Jesus' life, emphasizing His crucifixion and resurrection.

Transcripts

[Music]

in our second part of our study here we

want to consider the works of Jesus and

let me tell you something in the next

hour we are going to do something that

is actually an impossible task it's

impossible to try to comprehend what

Jesus did look at John chapter 21 verse

25 the Apostle John himself says and

there are also many other things which

Jesus did which if they were written one

by one I suppose that even the world

itself could not contain the books that

would be written amen isn't that

remarkable John's telling us there's no

way you could record everything that

Jesus did so this reminds us that what

we have in the gospel record is just a

slice of what Jesus did in the days of

his earthly ministry and in his entire

existence as God the Son so it is a

wonderful thing to think about this that

what we have in the gospel record is

wonderful but it is by no means complete

the best we can do is understand the

works of Jesus during his three years of

public ministry as it's recorded in the

Gospel accounts now there are a few

passages in the New Testament I'm gonna

quote see just a couple of them but

there's a few more than this that give

us the healing work of Jesus in a

general sense I'm beginning with the

healing ministry of Jesus mark chapter 1

starting at verse 32 says this at

evening when the Sun had set they

brought to him all who were sick and

those who were demon-possessed and the

whole city was gathered together at the

door then he healed many who were sick

with various diseases and cast out many

demons and he did not allow the demons

to speak because they knew him now look

at Matthew chapter 15 starting at verse

29

Jesus departed from there skirted the

Sea of Galilee and went up on the

mountain and sat down there then great

multitudes came to him having them with

them the lame the blind mute maimed and

many others and they laid them down at

Jesus's feet and He healed them

so the multitude marveled when they saw

the mute speaking the maimed made whole

the lame walking and the blind seeing

and they glorified the God of Israel

when I read amazing descriptions like

that of Jesus serving a huge crowd of

people there's two things that I think

the first thing I think is these must be

scenes that were repeated many times in

the Ministry of Jesus can't you imagine

that can't you imagine this this these

scenes typically were not just these two

occasions but many times in the ministry

of Jesus there were crowds of people

bringing to him sick and demon afflicted

people and they brought him them to

Jesus so that he would heal them the

second thing I think about this is how

exhausting for Jesus that must have been

I mean really how unbelievably

exhausting and I think of that on two

terms number one knowing Jesus do you

think he healed them like an assembly

line no doubt he took time and care and

concern even if it was just a few

moments

Jesus invested himself into each

individual it's not like you said okay

everybody wants a healing come out and

put your hand and I'll high-five

everybody walking down you know it

wasn't like that it was it was full of

care and love and that and so that that

it that's exhausting but the second

thing is do you remember what happened

when the woman with an issue of blood

touched the hem of Jesus garment how did

Jesus know that somebody just got healed

because it said power I think one

Chancellor says virtue something went

out of Jesus when that happened and you

know what can you imagine how exhausted

he was at at expense after expense after

expense of the power and the love and

the goodness of God flowing forth from

him but what an amazing scene there so

keep that in mind as we talk about the

specific occasions of healing miracles

in the Gospels to my count and look let

me say I'm gonna give you some numbers

here in a few moments the numbers can be

counted in different ways so if somebody

says well no David it wasn't this number

it was one more or if it was two less

listen I don't want to talk about it

just you can count these different ways

take these numbers as approximate as you

survey the Gospels you find there are a

total of 26 specific occasions of

healings in the four Gospels as I said

the count may differ depending on how

someone categorizes things but there is

an approximate distribution of the

displays of Jesus's healing power I like

to think of these as different medical

specialties that Jesus practiced you

know he wasn't just a general

practitioner he's actually a specialist

in many ORS so there are eleven

occasions where he functioned as a

general practitioner giving an internal

medicine cure these are just somebody

was ill and He healed them somebody was

afflicted and He healed them then there

are five occasions of blind people being

given sight now one of those five

occasions was somebody who was also mute

they were blind you pursue some people

suffered from more than one affliction

there were three occasions of orthopedic

care where somebody was paralyzed or

maimed and jesus healed them there was

the occasion of raising somebody from

the dead and I have no idea what medical

specialty that yes three occasions there

was the occasion of Jesus functioning

like the ear

nose and throat specialists healing the

deaf and mute person and I'd even say on

one occasion he served as a plastic

surgeon when he healed

Malka tsa's ear in the garden gasps M&E

so we see Jesus in many different ways

it wasn't just one kind of thing

he wasn't just someone who did this by

tricks or techniques know what Jesus had

was a display of the power of God matter

of fact when you take a look at the

approximate distribution of the stated

or the implied reasons for healing we

see first of all you find it the number

one reason or a ground that's given for

Jesus healing somebody is on the basis

of the faith of a sympathetic person

isn't that remarkable think about that

the number one reason more than any

other single category was that jesus

healed somebody because a mother brought

her daughter and said Jesus would you

please heal my daughter a father brought

his afflicted son to Jesus and jesus

healed the person that a Roman centurion

said Jesus would you please heal my

servant that for friends lowered their

friend down before Jesus so that he

could heal him more than any other

specific thing jesus healed people

because of the faith of those who

brought somebody to Jesus and I don't

know about you but does this not give us

a strong encouragement to bring people

to Jesus now there are other occasions

where there is no other stated basis for

Jesus's healing

other than his own compassion I'll give

you an example of this when jesus healed

the man at the Pool of Bethesda when

jesus healed that man

there's no reason given it for

whatsoever it was just the compassion of

Jesus at work we have five such

occasions and again somebody may come up

with a slightly different count but but

again that these are the numbers I came

up with

there were four occasions where jesus

healed somebody to rebuke the religious

leaders or to make a point to them do

you remember the man with the withered

hand that was one of my orthopedic cures

where Jesus came and a man with a

withered hand come and the religious

officials were staring Jesus down to see

if he would actually heal him on the

Sabbath and Jesus said you better

believe I'm gonna heal him on the

Sabbath boom and He healed him again I'm

not saying that's the only reason but

the most prominent reason in the text

why jesus healed that particular person

was again to rebuke or to instruct the

religious leaders on three occasions

Jesus did it on the basis of the faith

of the afflicted person he said your

faith has made you whole there's other

times where it just says he did it to

demonstrate the great works of God there

were twice times when he healed people

to rebuke demonic spirits and one to

demonstrate divine authority to forgive

sins now how did Jesus heal people we

see something of the method we see

something of what he did how did he do

it well again this is an approximate

distribution regarding how or by what

method jesus healed and I want to stress

there were times when he did more than

one thing so again this is just my rough

count number one jesus healed people by

the laying on of hands or by touching

them here's an example Matthew chapter

eight verses two and three says and

behold a leper came and worshiped him

saying lord if you are willing you can

make me clean

then jesus put out his hand and touched

him saying I am willing be cleansed

immediately his leprosy was cleansed Wow

how did Jesus heal that leper let me ask

you this question did Jesus

to touch the man to heal him no she's

could have spoken a word Jesus could

have thought a thought and the man would

be healed why did he reach out a hand to

touch him because that leper had not

received a compassionate touch from

another human being and who knows how

long it was forbidden to touch a leper

so it's not as if Jesus was only

concerned in the man's physical

affliction and can we say thank the Lord

that he is concerned with that lepers

physical affection and with ours does

not Jesus want us to bring our needs to

him

when we are injured when we are sick

when we have some kind of disease within

us Jesus cares but he doesn't only care

about the physical healing he wanted to

heal something deep within that man's

soul so in is healing and can't you just

picture that scene in your mind here's a

leper and can I say we don't know at

what stage this man's leprosy was but in

its advanced stage as leprosy is

disgusting

here's this man worshiping at the feet

of Jesus and he says Jesus if you're

willing if you want to I don't know if

you want to but if you want to you can

make me whole and she said I am willing

and he touched the man with compassion

and he's healed twelve similar occasions

where jesus healed with a touch or the

laying on of hands here's another

example Jesus sometimes healed in

speaking a word to a person or over a

person I found eight different occasions

of that so here's an example of this

it's one that I just mentioned to you

before the man at the Pool of Bethesda

he says this John chapter five verses 6

through 9 we read when Jesus saw him

lying there and knew that he had already

been in that condition a long time he

said to him do you want to be made well

the sick man answered him sir I have no

man to put me into the pool when the

water is stirred up but while I am

coming another steps down before me

jesus said to him rise take up your bed

and walk and immediately the man was

made

well took up his bed and walked and that

day was the Sabbath

of course that's leads for the

controversy and that day was the Sabbath

but what a glorious Sabbath day was that

not Jesus had the authority to simply

speak a word and somebody was healed

that's all he had to do which shows us

how instructive it is when he did

something different than that I mean if

it was just that simple then why not

only do that but no no Jesus loved to

show his healing power in a variety of

ways sometimes it would be just to speak

a word to a person or over a person now

there were other times when jesus healed

a person by commanding them to do

something I want you to know something

in the occasion that we just read at the

Pool of Bethesda the order of events

seems to be that the man was healed then

he got up Jesus um you're healed get up

and that's what he did

this occasion that we read of here in

Matthew chapter 12 is a little bit

different it says Matthew 12:10 and

behold there was a man who had a

withered hand and they asked him saying

is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath that

they might accuse him don't you think I

want to talk about that then he said to

them what man is there among you who has

one sheep and it falls into a pit on the

Sabbath will not lay hold of it and lift

it out of how much more value is this

man than a sheep therefore is lawful to

do good on the Sabbath then he said to

the man stretch out your hand I just

want you to know something Jesus

commanded the man to do something that

was impossible if he had a paralyzed or

withered hand he could not stretch out

his hand but Jesus said do it and the

man was commanded to do something as he

made whatever effort he could do the

Jesus told him to do in that process it

says and he stretched it out and it was

restored as whole as the other

then the Pharisees went out and plotted

against him how they might destroy him

now again notice at the Pool of Bethesda

Jesus didn't give the guy any

instruction he just said you're healed

be on your way and the man did that now

there were also some unusual methods

that Jesus used for healing do you like

these ones mark chapter 7 when Jesus put

we talked about this on a Sunday not too

long ago I still can't get over this one

it says that he put his fingers in the

man's ears

spitting touching the man's tongue and

then saying be opened you know the part

that grosses me out is touching the

tongue really Jesus says you have to do

that but again Jesus wasn't worried

about it it stick finger in the ear

spitting hand on the mouth and then

saying be opened and the man was healed

no unusual yes can we possibly figure

out all the reasons why Jesus used such

an unusual I don't think so maybe there

were some things connecting to the man's

situation or culture or something but

certainly I'd say this that man felt

that he was a subject of attention by

Jesus no doubt and Jesus was investing

time and interest into this man and he

was healed then there's another one and

this one is very memorable as well mark

chapter 8 spitting on a blind man's eyes

then putting his hands on the man's eyes

why do these all involve spit is what I

want to do I have read that the ancients

considered that there was something

medicinal and spit I don't know if

that's true or just the thing that some

people say after the fact but this one

Jesus says did you read that there in

mark chapter eight he actually spit on

the blind man's eyes then he put his

hands on the blind man's eyes but he was

healed and then John chapter 9 this is

another famous one he made clay out of

spit and dirt yeah I was a pretty dirty

kid little boy you know running around

the neighborhood I don't ever remember

doing this this would be and then he he

made it I was spitting dirt and then he

rubbed it in the blind man's eyes now

the funniest thing about this is he then

told the man go to the pool of Siloam

and wash it out and the man had to walk

some distance to the pool of Siloam

what's funny about that is first of all

making him walk the distance to do it

but the second thing was I find it

fascinating do you really have to tell

the guy wash that out of your eyes but

he did in specific ways now it could

very well be that this was some sort of

thing that Jesus was doing with that man

instructing we get back to the personal

care and concern in the training of

Jesus there are things that Jesus may do

in our life that seem incomprehensible

to other people or even incomprehensible

to us how many times have you said in

your Christian life Jesus why are you

doing it like that but can we just say

jesus knows jesus knows even if there

are times when his methods are unusual

Jesus used so many different methods and

so many unusual methods to demonstrate

what I think that this was so important

one reason why Jesus didn't have a

formula but I didn't have a ABC plan but

rather Jesus wanted to demonstrate

beyond any doubt that his healing work

was not due to techniques it wasn't due

to tricks it wasn't due to formulas but

jesus healed in the authority and the

power of God

he healed as the Messiah of Israel and

that's what everybody noticed there

wasn't just a system now this was the

predicted work of the Messiah take a

look with me at Isaiah 35 verses five

and six speaking of the ministry of the

messiah to come it says this the prophet

Isaiah speaking 500 years before the

time of the Messiah he says then the

eyes of the blind shall be opened

and the ears of the Deaf shall be

unstopped the lame shall leap like a

deer and the tongue of the dumb sing for

water shall burst forth in the

wilderness and streams in the desert is

that a beautiful couple of verses they

are from Isaiah 35 the healing work of

Jesus was an expression was a

fulfillment of his messianic credentials

it was one way that he could come and

say to Israel I your Messiah am here

among you look back to the Old Testament

Scriptures now at the same time this

declaration of Jesus being the Messiah

through healing people was a messianic

declaration different than what the

people of Israel expected you see as

Jesus showed the compassion of God in

these personal one-on-one ways with the

people those in the broader culture

probably thought what a waste now look

we live as the beneficiaries of 2,000

years of Christian influence in the

Western world I'm not trying to say that

we live in a Christian world this isn't

Christendom the world we live in

believe me it's plenty worldly but there

is undeniably a benefit that comes to us

through 2,000 years of Christian

influence that has been passed on and

one of the ways is that in general

believe me there's many many painful

exceptions but in general we value human

life in the ancient world life was cheap

people died all the time it was hard to

get worked up over everybody's pain and

misery and death because they were so

much of it around you

I imagine a Jewish person of Jesus's

time looking in this you mean the

Messiah's among us

you mean the Messiah has all the power

that the Messiah should have what's he

using it for oh you know he healed a

blind guy yesterday it was amazing like

what that guy's been blind all his life

he's not gonna be you know that much

different now who cares Jesus should use

all that messianic power to call down

fire upon Roman legions and set us free

in the midst of our oppression that's

what they would have thought Jesus

should have done with his messianic

power but says if Jesus said listen I

come as the Messiah full of power full

of glory but I come with the love and

the compassion of God I am every bit the

Messiah that the Bible promised but I'm

not the Messiah you expected you think

it's a waste for me to use the power I

have is the Messiah by showing the

compassion and the love of God to

individual people with their individual

needs you think that's a waste but I'm

here to tell you that it is the glory of

what I do as the Messiah I can't get

away from that scene dozens scores a

hundred people afflicted waiting to be

seen by Jesus and he does not treat them

as an assembly line he looks at each one

in the eye he prays for them he loves on

them and he heals them with the power of

God it was not a waste what Jesus did

was he showed the power of God in the

context of humble service unto the least

of these now there's another thing

that's very interesting about the

healing power of Jesus is it was

different than the healers of his day

make no mistake about it Jewish culture

and Roman culture at that time had

people who at least said that they could

heal there were healers of that time

- one rider named Craig Blomberg one

characteristic shared among all the

miracles of Jesus in all the gospel of

counts is that he delivered all his

benefits freely and he never requested

or accepted any form of payment for the

healing miracles this was not like some

of the high priests of the time who

charged people who were healed

no the healers of his day were different

jesus said as we advised to his apostles

freely you have received freely give but

jesus also helped when nobody else could

you know that situation let me read it

to you Luke chapter 8 starting at verse

43 says this now a woman having a flow

of blood for twelve years who had spent

all her livelihood on physicians and

could not be healed by any came from

behind and touched the board of His

garment and immediately her flow of

blood stopped now according to the

traditions of that time that woman was

unclean and nobody should be touching

her so she ventured forth and touched

the hem of Jesus garment but did you see

what it said there in verse 43 that that

woman had spent all her livelihood on

physicians and she could not be healed

by any she went to doctors to get better

and the doctors couldn't help her I

plays praise the Lord that doctors are

much better in our day and age but there

are people who have experiences in our

own day you spend everything on the

physicians and they can't help you now

ancient rabbis had many different

formulas to help a woman who was

afflicted like this I'm quoting this

from Adam Clarke the old Methodist

commentator he says this quote rabbi

Joachim says take gum of Alexandria of

alum and of corkers hortensis the weight

of a zeusie each I don't know what a

zeusie is and

than be bruised together and given and

whined to the woman that has an issue of

blood but if this fail take the persian

onions nine logs boil them and wine and

give them to her to drink and say arise

from thy flux but if this should fail

set her in a place where two ways meet

and let her hold a cup of wine in her

hand and let someone come behind her and

affright her and say arise from my flux

but if this should do no good dot dot

dot do you see that's how the healers of

jesus's day from how different Jesus was

you know Jesus was he's to be healed a

rise of your bed and walk

none of this hocus-pocus strange stuff

he just did it and he did it with the

power of God so a remarkable thing to

see the healing ministry of Jesus and

Friends I'll be very straightforward

there are things about God's healing

work today that we don't understand we

don't understand why it is sometimes

that there are godly people you know who

have had thousands of people praying for

them and they are still afflicted and

sometimes perish and then we don't

figure out everything but I'll tell you

this we do know that jesus heals to this

present day and whenever we see him do

it and whenever we believe on him to do

it and see God's healing work in action

we rejoice to see Jesus at work now

here's a second category of Jesus work

not only was a healer but we also have

these occasions where Jesus delivered

people from demons and I would say that

as I go through the Gospels I see seven

specific people healed from demonic

spirits in the Gospel of Mark chapter

one you have the man at the synagogue at

Capernaum Jesus said be quiet and come

out of him and the man was delivered

from the demon the second one is in

Matthew chapter 8 starting at verse 28

the demon-possessed man on the east side

of the Sea of Galilee this is the

classic man of the tombs the gadarenes

ah yet actually as Matthew tells us it

was two men mark only mentions one of

them and Luke only mentions one of them

no doubt one of them was more severely

afflicted than the other but there were

two men they're haunting the tombs of

the gadarenes they were a demonically

possessed and Jesus delivered them

that's when Jesus did this remarkable

thing of actually casting the demons

into a herd of swine and the swine ran

off and into the sea and they perished

and of course then they asked Jesus to

leave town because he was bad for

business

doing all that I'm not gonna make the

deviled ham joke here number four excuse

me number three jesus healed a man who

was possessed by a demon that made him

mute unable to speak you know what I

think fascinating about this it's

Matthew chapter 9 verse 33 says that

after Jesus healed this man the

multitudes marveled saying it was never

seen like this in Israel now why would

they be so astounded by it I think it

was because of how they conceived of the

methods by which demons would come out

of a person in their thinking you could

not cast a demon out of a person unless

you knew the name of the demon knowing

someone's name gave you some kind of

handle over them some kind of control so

the most important thing you had to do

was learn the name of the demon now they

thought that the most clever and

difficult demons were those who made a

person mute because if the demon made a

person mute then it never had to tell

you its name that was their thinking and

so when Jesus comes along and sees a

demon that made somebody mute which is

supposedly again I'm not saying it's

this way in fact but it was this way in

their thinking well this is the toughest

team of all casts I took this is nothing

get out of him and cast the demon out

and the man was delivered Jesus didn't

need to use their techniques he had the

power of God

in Matthew chapter 15 is the fifth

occasion there's the healing of the

demon afflicted daughter of the

Canaanite woman entire then in matthew

chapter 17 is the sixth occasion there's

the healing of the demon afflicted boy

when the disciples were unable to help

the boy this is the occasion where it

was said this kind does not go out

except by prayer and fasting and then

the seventh one is in Luke chapter eight

at some specifically unknown time in his

ministry Jesus set Mary Magdalene free

from seven demons we're not told when or

how that happened just that it had

happened yet

we have those seven occasions but then

we have two other occasions where there

was general reference to Jesus

delivering many people from demonic

possession we've already read a couple

of these I'll just read this first one

mark chapter 1 verse 32 again at evening

when the son had said they brought to

him all who were sick and those who were

demon-possessed and the whole city was

gathered together at the door and He

healed many who were sick with various

diseases and cast out many demons and he

did not allow the demons to speak

because they knew him again

we see that Jesus has this authority we

have the seven specific ones that are

cast out but then we have this other

occasion where it just happened in

general the list we have is not complete

so when I think of the works of Jesus I

think of his healing miracles I think of

his conquest over the demonic realm but

then I think also of his miracles over

nature aren't those were markable I mean

when Jesus fed the 5000 what was that

that wasn't a healing it wasn't dealing

with the demonic it was just showing I

have authority over nature I can

multiply a few loaves and fish in sin to

enough food to feed 5000 when Jesus

calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee

Matthew chapter 8 what was that all

about

he's just a way of declaring I am God

who has the authority to calm the storm

look there are so

many of the works that Jesus does that

he invites us to do as well but then

there's other times where it just seems

that Jesus does things that are so

remarkable such as calming the storm

that it would be a absolutely singular

thing if any man or woman could do that

under the power of God

I remember hearing about somebody they

were on a Israel trip and the boat was

chugging across the Sea of Galilee if

you've ever taken Israel trip you go out

and see a Galilee in the boat don't you

and they're chugging across the Sea of

Galilee and wouldn't you know it one of

these sudden storms comes upon the Sea

of Galilee that comes up because of its

elevation and because of the

geographical features around sudden

storms often come upon the CGL in man

the waves were churning the wind was

blowing and look this was a safe boat

they weren't in danger going down but it

was scary out there and there was a

college student with him and he thought

well man I'm gonna try this out do what

Jesus did so the boats chugging the

engine is laboring against the storm the

the man goes up to the front of the boat

like Leonardo DiCaprio and to Titanic

and he holds his hands up and he says

peace be still and the guy who told me

to say at that exact moment the engines

on the boat failed and went out so

something happened maybe should have

turn himself around or something when he

said it now

when Jesus did it it happened again

Jesus changing water into wine what's

that it's this remarkable miraculous

thing over the powers of nature and I

guess you could also include into this

the raising of people from the dead

these were remarkable signs and wonders

to demonstrate the sovereign power of

Jesus all the while in a context of

compassionate ministry to human need but

why did Jesus calm the storm on the Sea

of Galilee

said not to calm his frightened

disciples that's why he did it why did

Jesus make water into wine and wedding

to save the bridal couple what could

have been lifelong embarrassment at a

unbelievable social faux pas can we find

this amazing combination of the power of

God exercised in the meeting of

compassionate human need now let me

consider a fourth in really final

section of Jesus ministry and this is a

quick survey as we understand we have

his healing work we as this

confrontation the demonic we have as

miracles over nature but then we also

have his prophetic ministry Jesus

exercised a prophetic ministry by his

exposure of corruption this is an

interesting facet of Jesus's work is it

not because this man so filled with the

compassion of God it's oozing out of his

pores nevertheless he looked for

opportunities to expose religious

corruption and to confront it a

remarkable thing for example in mark

chapter 11 verse 15 so they came to

Jerusalem then Jesus went to the temple

and began to drive out those who bought

and sold in the temple and overturned

the tables of the moneychangers and the

seats of those who sold doves what an

amazing scene that would have been I

mean I don't know what it looked like

for wild man Jesus to go through the

temple and to do all that but it must

have looked amazing and what was Jesus

to you said this is religious corruption

you are corrupting the courts of the

temple you should not be doing this

business here it's corruption get out

and Jesus overturned the tables and

drove them out isn't it in another

gospel I forget which one it is whether

it's a Matthew or Luke where it says

that he made a cord a whip out of cords

and use that to drive him out man that's

calculated is it not

Jesus was busy about that work or

another

manifestation of Jesus prophetic

ministry is in Matthew chapter 11 verse

20 where it says then he began to rebuke

the cities in which most of his mighty

works had been done because they did not

repent again it's a remarkable thing

this tension between Jesus and the

religious leaders here he's at Capernaum

and the surrounding cities and he says

you guys would not receive me I'm gonna

rebuke you and judgment is going to come

upon those cities by the way we know

from history judgment did come upon

those cities most notably in a great

earthquake that happened later on in the

first century and then we see as I said

just a moment ago

throughout this Gospels the strange

thing this confrontation between Jesus

and the religious leaders it's one thing

for him to go and turn tables in the

temple it's another thing for him to

rebuke the cities that would not receive

him but here he speaks to the religious

leaders Luke chapter 11 verse 53 and as

he said these things to them the scribes

and the Pharisees began to assail him

vehemently and cross-examine him about

many things

how ironic the religious leaders who

should have welcomed Jesus as Messiah

and by the way some of them did but they

largely rejected Jesus and not only that

they actively opposed him a remarkable

thing so much so that remember what it

says in Matthew chapter 27 verse 18 it

says for he knew Pilate it's speaking

there Pilate knew that they had handed

him Jesus over because of envy that

gives us a reason why the religious

leaders hated Jesus so much they were

envious of envious of his love and vyas

of his power envious of his authority

envious of his brilliance and teaching

whatever it was

they couldn't say Jesus we're gonna let

you be Jesus and we're not gonna try to

compete with you now

I want to look at one last area where

Jesus exercised a prophetic ministry and

it's an amazing section Matthew chapter

23 I can't think of a better place where

Jesus sought to expose religious

corruption ready for this now I've told

you many times is you read the Bible it

should be like a movie running in your

head imagine Jesus speaking this in

Jerusalem to the gathered crowd there

and he's speaking in the hearing of the

religious leaders but he's also speaking

to the public to the people ready that's

what he says then Jesus spoke to the

multitudes Matthew chapter 23 verse 1

and to his disciples saying the scribes

and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat

therefore whatever they tell you to

observe that observe and do but do not

do according to their works for they say

and do not do for they bind heavy

burdens hard to bear and lay them on

men's shoulders but they themselves will

not move them with one of their fingers

whoa can I tell you it gets even more

heated skip down to verse 13 at Matthew

chapter 23 but woe to you scribes and

Pharisees hypocrites for you shut up the

Kingdom of Heaven against men for you

neither go in yourselves nor do you

allow those who are entering to go in

whoa do you see what Jesus is saying you

scribes and Pharisees religious leaders

you're going to hell and you're dragging

as many people with you as you can

heavy words verse 15 Matthew chapter 23

woe to you scribes and Pharisees

hypocrites for you travel land and sea

to win one proselyte and when he is one

you make him twice as much a son of hell

as yourselves whoa then here's the final

one that out read to you

read the whole chapter verse 23 woe to

you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for

you paid tithe of mint and anise and

cummin and you've neglected the

weightier matters of the law justice and

mercy and faith these you ought to have

done without leaving the others undone

blind guides who strain out a gnat and

swallow a camel

Jesus breaking the moment there with a

little bit of humor in that illustration

you picture somebody concern about

what's in their cup they're gonna drink

a cup and you know oh god forbid that a

gnat fell in my cup I can't drink it and

especially from a Jewish perspective and

say I can't drink it because it hasn't

been properly bled it's not kosher I got

to get that gnat out of there and you

carefully strain out the gnat and at the

same time you swallow a camel which of

course you can't do but you get what

he's saying he's making an absurd

illustration Jesus was fearless in his

confrontation of this religious

hypocrisy and his prophetic ministry now

of course Jesus also predicted future

events as prophets do but notice these

main ways that we can express what Jesus

did in his earthly ministry he healed

like no one's ever healed he delivered

people from demonic spirits like no one

has ever done before he in addition to

that he was a a someone who expressed

these miracles over nature and then

finally this prophetic ministry surely

Jesus through all these things

established his credentials as the

Messiah of Israel now where do we go

tomorrow a huge proportion of the gospel

records collectively you can say that

it's one-third of the gospel records are

given to the last eight days of Jesus's

earthly life that's what we're gonna

take a look at tomorrow the last week

and going into Jesus

crucifixion and then his resurrection

and ascension those will be our two

things from abhorrent you see is that

there was no reason to reject Jesus as

Messiah by what he taught and by what he

did he presented himself as Israel's

Messiah yet in the overarching plan of

God he had to go to the cross he had to

pay the price that we're gonna talk

about tomorrow this man who taught like

nobody ever taught and did what nobody

ever did before we'll pick it up with it

tomorrow

I'm gonna pray we got a few minutes for

any final questions and then we can be

dismissed for this evening Father in

Heaven thank you for such a marvelous

Savior thank you for a savior who taught

with authority and wisdom and grace and

power like nobody's ever taught before

and thank you Lord that Jesus of

Nazareth was not just a great man

though he was a great man was not only a

spirit-filled man though he was a

spirit-filled man was not only a man who

understood how to move in the power of

God though he was that that Lord greater

than all that he was in his God thank

you thank you for a powerful savior that

not only we serve but who longs to serve

us and to fill our lives we receive it

now Lord in Jesus name Amen

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you

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