When we consider the miracles of Jesus, we are amazed not only by the number of them He performed, but also by the variety of them. Through the miracles Jesus demonstrated His power over nature, time and disease. But the miracles also raise an important question. What was the purpose of them? It is clear that Jesus did not desire notoriety because on more than one occasion He told people not to tell others about a miracle He performed. In fact, when the news of Jesus’ miracles became common knowledge, He often had to withdraw to lonely places to escape the crowds. What then, was the purpose of the miracles?
In his account of one of the miracles Luke tells us the purpose. In the Gospel of Luke chapter 5, verses 12 through 16 we read, “While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him. He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed.”
It took a great deal of faith and courage for the man afflicted by leprosy to approach Jesus. According to the Law of Moses he should have remained in the distance. The Law says, “The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.” (Leviticus 13:45-46 NIV) Thus, it was astounding that this man would risk coming near Jesus – particularly since he did not have the infection on just one part of his body, but was covered by it. He must have been a repulsive sight. Nevertheless, his faith that Jesus could heal him impelled him to risk the anger and revulsion of the crowd.
Even more astounding was Jesus’ response to this man. Jesus reached out and touched him. By doing so, Jesus ended his ostracism from normal human interactions. Jesus not only healed this man physically, He also gave him social acceptance.
Why did Jesus do it? No doubt He felt compassion for this man’s suffering. But there was another reason. The Law of Moses required that the Jewish priests certify a man was healed before being readmitted into society. From a human point of view there was no possibility that someone with such an advanced stage of illness could be healed. The fact that Jesus had the power to heal him was a testimony to them about who Jesus was – that He was from God.
Jesus used another healing to testify to the religious leaders about His identity. In verses 17 through 26 Luke writes, “On one of those days, he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them. Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus. Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the middle before Jesus. Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts? Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you;’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (he said to the paralyzed man), “I tell you, arise, take up your cot, and go to your house.” Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God. Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.””
One of the responsibilities of religious leaders is to protect people from false teaching. Therefore it is not surprising that as Jesus became well known, they would inquire about His teaching. Was Jesus teaching the truth, or should they oppose Him and warn the people against Him?
The answer to their questions came in a very unexpected way. We know of other instances when the ill or infirm interrupted Jesus. But for people to break through the roof in search of healing was unheard of. Jesus response to the intruders was also unheard of. Instead of rebuking the men for damaging the house and interrupting His teaching, Jesus forgave the sick man’s sins. How could this be? It is one thing to forgive someone who has personally wronged you, but how can anyone forgive someone for sins committed against another? The Pharisees and teachers of the Law quite rightly said in their hearts that no one but God has the right and the ability to forgive such sins. Since this is the case, they naturally assumed that by claiming to forgive sins, Jesus took authority upon Himself which was not rightly His. To put it another way, they thought that Jesus had blasphemed against God.
In normal circumstances, the conclusion the Pharisees and teachers of the Law drew about Jesus would have been true. If anyone else had said what Jesus did, it would have been blasphemy. What the religious leaders did not realize was that Jesus was not like other men. He quickly gave them evidence that He was more than a mere man; He also possessed a divine nature. Jesus revealed their hidden thoughts, and who but God can read a person’s heart?
If the leaders had time to reflect upon this they would no doubt have realized that if Jesus could see what was in their hearts, He could also see what was in the heart of the paralyzed man. Therefore, Jesus knew whether the man had repented of his sins or not. To demonstrate His authority to forgive sins, Jesus instantaneously healed the man. This also was beyond the capability of ordinary doctors. No further therapy or course of treatment was needed. After witnessing this miracle the religious leaders were filled with awe and praised God.
But in spite of seeing the proof of Jesus’ divine authority, a time soon came when the religious leaders began to oppose Him. If you would like to know why, please listen to our next program.