Chapter 5
Miracles
Miracles are at the center of the
modern day focus on Jesus life. More than anything else, the non-believing
population scrutinizes miracles stories as fables and myth. Are they? Maybe
that is not the right question here. Maybe the right question is why the
writers spent so much time including them in the story of Jesus. Of the stories
in the Gospel accounts, the miracle stories are clearly a favorite subject
matter. Matthew has 22 miracles, Mark 18 while Luke has 21. John on the other
hand only has 7 miracle stories and John indicates that they are in the Gospel
so that the reader would know that Jesus is God, a central point of John’s
Gospel. I have included 16 miracles that move across the synoptic gospel
accounts. Some of the more famous have been left out with the most likely
reason being that they only exist in one of the Gospel accounts. However, there
are some exceptions. The raising of Lazarus from the dead appears in both John (11:38-53)
and Luke (7:12-17). What should be of note here is that Luke never identifies
who the man is that is raised from the dead and the story is very different.
Luke may have been trying to hide Lazarus identity. There are stories of that
time that suggest that the Jewish leadership would have placed a bounty on
Lazarus head in fear if what his resurrection might truly say about Jesus.
Of the 16 miracles, please note that
four of them also appear in John as part of his seven. They are the healing of
the Paralytic (chapter 5: 8-9), the centurion (chapter 4: 46-54), the feeding
of the five thousand (chapter 6: 1-15), and Jesus walking on water (chapter 6:
16-21).
The three synoptic writers desire to
make a statement about who Jesus is. In order to justify their position, it is
important that Jesus show His divine nature. Power over nature, exorcism of
demons and healing are all considered to be part of the power of God alone in
Jesus day. Hence, the special emphasis of healing (8 of the 16), exorcism (4 of
the 16) and power over nature (4 of the 16). Matthew clearly is focused on
telling the story to the Jewish community and proclaiming Jesus as Messiah. In
order to justify that position Jesus must have divine ability that cannot be
attributed to medicine or known healing practices of the day. No-one was able
to heal Lepers in Jesus day except Jesus. No-one could fix hemorrhage problems
or birth defects. So Matthew focuses on those kind of healing to lift up.
Matthew identifies Jesus miracles on Exorcism (3 of the 15), healing (8 of the
15) and power over nature (4 of the 15). Luke on the other hand is a doctor as
we understand his background. We also know that he worked with Paul. His focus
was on the Gentile world and proclaiming Jesus to be the Son of Man. Luke wants
us to see the humanity in Jesus and wants the Gentile world to understand Jesus
as fully human and fully God. Luke focuses then more on the healing miracles (7
of the 12), power over nature (2 of the 12) and exorcism (3 of the 12).
Remember that Mark’s gospel is
focused sharing that Jesus is God to the Roman world. So his focus is shared on
the exorcism of demons (4 out of 16), healing (8 out of 16) and the power over
nature (4 out of 16). It is important to Mark that the reader experience his
viewpoint that Jesus is good over evil so much of healing narrative also shows
issues with the Jewish leadership. Mark and Matthew have two feeding stories.
Did both happen? Mark and Matthew felt compelled to include them both. Remember
that Luke’s focus is on the healing much more than power over nature.
The list of sixteen miracles that I
have included share Jesus power over nature, His ability to exorcise evil
spirits and His healing power. Several of them have a great powerful message of
faith like the Centurion who asks for healing even though Jesus is not
physically there. If we read the accounts, note the differences and ask
yourself how the version fits in the greater story and the audience of the
writer.
Many of the commentaries that I use
include a note that not a single healing was for the sole purpose of physical
healing. In Jesus day, to be ill, often meant to be excluded from family and
community. Healing by Jesus not only addressed the physical issue, but also
restored people to community, family and God.
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