Category Archives: Mark

People come from many different backgrounds, societies and cultures. However, no matter who we are, we all have something in common. Someday, all of us will die. As King Solomon wrote, “All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As it is with the good man, so with the sinner; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them.” (Ecclesiastes 9:2 NIV)

People fear death and do their best to prolong their lives. Yet, in spite of all their efforts they still die. One of the most conclusive proofs that Jesus had divine power was His ability to raise people from the dead.

The people on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee asked Jesus to leave after He healed a demon-possessed man. In verses 21 through 43 of chapter 5 in the Gospel which bears his name, Mark tells us what happened next. “When Jesus had crossed back over in the boat to the other side, a great multitude was gathered to him; and he was by the sea. Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, and begged him much, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live.” He went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they pressed upon him on all sides. A certain woman, who had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse, having heard the things concerning Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd, and touched his clothes. For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd, and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples said to him, “You see the multitude pressing against you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’” He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease.” While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?” But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him, except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. He came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing. When he had entered in, he said to them, “Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep.” They ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying. Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!” Immediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat.”

The most serious opposition Jesus faced came from religious leaders. We do not know whether Jairus was among those who protested on a previous occasion when Jesus healed a man in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. Whether he was or not, when his own daughter became ill, Jairus begged Jesus to heal her. No doubt, Jairus had already done everything in his power to help his daughter – but without success. From this we learn that in spite of their opposition to Him the religious authorities knew that the miracles Jesus performed were genuine. Jairus was willing to risk his own reputation and his standing with the other religious authorities by asking Jesus to heal his daughter. This incident also shows Jesus’ compassion. No matter who asked, Jesus was willing to help.

There was another person who, like Jairus, had nowhere else to turn but Jesus. She had already spent all her resources in search of healing to no avail. While Jairus approached Jesus openly, this woman did so secretly. While she hoped for much, she also had much more to lose. Jairus merely risked his reputation and his standing among his fellow leaders. What the woman did was against the law. The Law of Moses clearly states that a woman who has a hemorrhage is unclean. She should not have been in the crowd and she certainly should not have touched anyone.

Instead of rebuking the woman for endangering those around her, Jesus commended her for her faith. It was her faith which enabled her to receive Jesus’ healing power. It is interesting to note that Jesus’ disciples did not understand the connection between faith and healing. They pointed out that many people in the crowd had bumped into Jesus. Why was He trying to single out only one person? The difference was this: None of the others reached out to Jesus in faith. The woman did, and was healed.

Jairus also demonstrated unusual faith. Instead of giving up all hope when he was told that his daughter had died, Jairus brought Jesus to his home.

At Jairus’ home Jesus met another group of people who did not understand or believe. The professional mourners who had gathered laughed at Jesus when He assured them that the girl was not dead. They knew she was dead – who was Jesus to tell them otherwise? Fortunately, Jairus did not allow their unbelief and ridicule to deter him from doing what Jesus asked. As a result Jesus raised his daughter from the dead and restored her to her parents.

What can we learn from these incidents? Perhaps one reason we do see more of God’s power at work in our lives is because we do not believe as we should. Perhaps we are unwilling to risk the disapproval of others in order to reach out to Jesus so we may be healed and have peace. More importantly, Scripture assures us that Jesus holds power over death itself. Just as He raised Jairus’ daughter, He can raise us from the dead and give us eternal life. Do we believe it, or do we laugh and mock as the mourners did? Are we willing to allow Him to restore us to our Heavenly Father as He restored the girl to her parents?

There is a saying that, “Talk is cheap.” What we mean by it is that it is very easy to say something but it is another matter entirely to actually do what we claim. People make empty boasts all the time. Unfortunately, this is true even in regard to spiritual things. People claim to be from, or to speak on behalf of, God. The question is whether their actions demonstrate this is true. For example, the Apostle Paul wrote, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,” (1 Corinthians 2:4 NIV)

Jesus claimed that He came from God. He said that the words He spoke were given to Him by God. How do we know this is true? Jesus performed miracles to substantiate His message. He healed many sick people. He stilled a storm with a word. Even more significantly, we know Jesus came from God because He had power over evil spiritual forces.

In the first 20 verses of chapter 5, in the Gospel which bears his name Mark writes, “They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. When he had come out of the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit met him out of the tombs. He lived in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains, because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him. Always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him, and crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, don’t torment me.” For he said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” He asked him, “What is your name?” He said to him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” He begged him much that he would not send them away out of the country. Now on the mountainside there was a great herd of pigs feeding. All the demons begged him, saying, “Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them.” At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea. Those who fed the pigs fled, and told it in the city and in the country. The people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus, and saw him who had been possessed by demons sitting, clothed, and in his right mind, even him who had the legion; and they were afraid. Those who saw it declared to them what happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs. They began to beg him to depart from their region. As he was entering into the boat, he who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. He didn’t allow him, but said to him, “Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he had mercy on you.” He went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled.”

The region of the Gadarenes (or Gerasenes), on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, at one time belonged to the ancient kingdom of Israel. At the time Jesus lived, most of the inhabitants were non-Jewish. The area is also called the Decapolis (the ten cities) because of the ten Greek cities which had been founded there. We know that Greek influence was very strong because of the large herds of pigs which were nearby. According to the Law of Moses, pigs were unclean animals, and the Jews shunned them. By Jesus’ going to this region we get a hint that He did not come to serve only the Jewish people. Eventually, He would give His life for all people, Jew and Gentile alike.

As soon as Jesus landed a demon-possessed man accosted Him. This man had super-human strength and was uncontrollable. He was also an outcast. The only place left for him to live was among the cave-like tombs carved into the hillsides. Not only had society rejected him, he had rejected the standards of society – he roamed about naked, crying out and cutting himself.

Though no one could control or subdue him, in Jesus he recognized One who had the authority to command. It is interesting to note that the demons often had a better understanding of who Jesus was than God’s chosen people, the Jews. This man, or the demons inside him, called Jesus the “Son of the Most High God.” Many people are deeply offended by the title “Son of God.” Most of those who take offense do not understand what the title means. They are thinking in physical terms while the title expresses a spiritual reality. The Bible uses the word “Son” to indicate relationship. In speaking of Jesus it says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being…” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV) To put it another way, Jesus is the manifestation of God in human form. An earthly son resembles his father. Since Jesus shares God’s nature and is the image of God it is appropriate to call Him the Son of God.

The demons within this man begged Jesus not to torture them or send them out of the area. From this we learn the inconsistency of evil. The spiritual beings who torture others do not, themselves, wish to be tortured. More importantly, these beings recognized Jesus’ power over them. They had no choice but to obey. Scripture tells us that, ultimately, Jesus will use His authority to judge everyone. The devil and the unrighteous will be thrown into the fires of hell.

It is worth remembering that when Jesus gave the demons permission to enter the pigs, the demons sent the pigs to their destruction. Not only did they destroy the pigs, this was a huge loss to their owners. The devil lures people by promising them pleasure, wealth or power. However, the end result of listening to satanic powers is always destruction. As the Scripture says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV)

When the people of the area came to investigate what happened, they found the demon-possessed man clothed and in his right mind. Jesus did for him what no one else could do. It is the same today – no one can heal us from our spiritual diseases except Jesus. He said, “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 NIV)

Instead of rejoicing that Jesus had given the man new life, the people feared and begged Jesus to leave. What is our response to Jesus? Are we like the people of the Decapolis who asked Jesus to leave, or are we like the healed man who, at Jesus’ request, went about telling everyone what Jesus had done for him?

People like to listen to stories. Stories speak to our emotions and well as to our minds. Also, it is often easier to remember a story than a set of facts. Because of this skillful teachers use stories in order to make the truths they present easy to remember. They will also use ordinary things to illustrate complex concepts. Jesus was a master teller of stories. He used parables, sayings and illustrations to make His teaching easy for His followers to remember and understand. At the same time, Jesus used parables and stories to conceal the meaning of His teaching from those who opposed Him.

In the Gospel which bears his name, Mark records some of the illustrations Jesus used. “He said to them, He said to them, “Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a stand? For there is nothing hidden, except that it should be made known; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.” He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and more will be given to you who hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.”” (Mark 4:21-25)

What Jesus said seems so obvious that it is easy to dismiss it – lamps are meant to illuminate. We do not conceal them so that they cannot light up their surroundings. It is more difficult to understand the profound truth to which Jesus was pointing. Some think that Jesus was referring to His own teaching. It was not meant to be hidden or obscured. It would be brought out into the open and it would illuminate the world. While this is possible, it is more likely that Jesus was referring to Himself. At the present His identity was obscured or hidden. However, one day, His radiant glory would be revealed to all. On another occasion He said, “…I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NIV)

Jesus then gave a caution. We need to carefully evaluate what we hear. Those who are receptive to Jesus and His message will understand even more than before. Those who treat Him and His message with indifference or hostility will lose even the little understanding they have.

Mark provides us with another example of Jesus’ teaching, “He (that is Jesus) said, “God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast seed on the earth, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, though he doesn’t know how. For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”” (Mark 4:26-29)

Though this parable is very short, it illustrates several profound truths. One of these truths is that in the Kingdom of God there is work for everyone to do. God accomplishes His purpose through people. In the parable the seed did not plant itself. In the same way it is people who further the God’s kingdom. Some people have the mistaken idea that it only church leaders or those whom we pay who should do the work. However, there is a role for each follower of Christ. The Apostle Paul writes, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

There are others who have the attitude that it is only through their efforts that God’s kingdom grows or makes progress. They have an unrealistic view of their own importance. The parable teaches that, in reality, it is God – not us – who makes the seed grow. Once it is planted it will grow regardless of what we do. In speaking of his own work to spread Jesus’ teaching the Apostle Paul wrote, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7 NIV)

Another truth is that we cannot harvest a crop without first planting. In another parable Jesus likened God’s Word to seed. If we sense a lack of growth in ourselves; if our lives do not exhibit the fruit of righteousness, is it possible that we have not allowed God’s Word to take root in us?

“He (that is Jesus said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it? It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth, yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.” (Mark 4:30-34)

The point of this parable Jesus told is that something might seem insignificant, yet produce great results. A mustard seed is tiny, yet when full-grown it reaches a height of 3 meters. In the same way, from a human point of view the Kingdom of God often looks weak and insignificant. Yet, from humble beginnings it grows strong and powerful. Jesus, Himself, was born in a stable, to a poor family, yet His life and ministry have revolutionized the world. We may regard ourselves as insignificant. Yet, if we are part of God’s kingdom, our life has great meaning and purpose.

Jesus not only taught in parables, He demonstrated that He is more than a teacher. Mark writes, “On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”
Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him. A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled. He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?” He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?” They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”” (Mark 4:35-41)

Just like the disciples, each one of us must answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” Do we consider Him only a gifted teacher, or do we realize that He is much more than that? Like the disciples do we fear and lack faith that Jesus can save us when the storms of life strike?

There is an art to communication. It is not always easy to present information in a way that others can readily grasp and understand it. The best speakers and teachers use illustrations and tell stories to make the concepts they present both memorable and easy to understand. In addition to being a prophet and a miracle worker, Jesus was a master communicator. He had a way of presenting spiritual truths in an unforgettable way.

In the fourth chapter of the Gospel which bears his name, Mark records one of parables Jesus used. Verses 1 through 12 read, “Again he began to teach by the seaside. A great multitude was gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat in the sea, and sat down. All the multitude were on the land by the sea. He taught them many things in parables, and told them in his teaching, “Listen! Behold, the farmer went out to sow, and as he sowed, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and devoured it. Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil. When the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. Others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing. Some produced thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times as much.” He said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.” When he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables, that ‘seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.’””

One of the things which made Jesus’ speaking effective is that He used ordinary things – things with which people were already familiar – to illustrate the spiritual points He made. His audience came from a mostly rural society. They were very familiar with sowing seed and the problems farmers faced in growing crops. Even 2,000 years later people who come from a different culture and live in large cities can still readily picture the scene. After hearing this parable, who could possibly look at farming or sowing seed in the same way again? Even those who are unfamiliar with farming can easily grasp the point.

Though in one respect the story Jesus told is easy to visualize and understand, on another level it is not so easy to comprehend. On the surface, the parable seems artless. Jesus said things which are so self-evident and obvious that there seems no need to state them. Why then did He use this illustration? What was His purpose? His disciples were confused about His method of teaching and asked Him about it.

Jesus’ reply discloses a two-fold reason for His use of parables in teaching. On the one hand, Jesus used parables to disclose the secrets of the kingdom of God to His disciples. Though the parables seem simple and artless, they actually contain profound truths. By meditating on them we can understand what God is doing.

On the other hand, Jesus used parables in His teaching to hide the truth from His enemies. In Chapter 3, verse 6, Mark writes that the religious authorities were plotting to kill Jesus. They were looking for a way to trap Jesus with what He said. But how could they accuse Him of blasphemy or speaking against the government for telling a simple story about a man planting his field? In many cases Jesus’ enemies did not even understand what the parables meant. The Apostle Paul writes, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV)

Jesus explained His policy of using parables by quoting words which God spoke through the prophet Isaiah. In light of this it might seem that Jesus deliberately used parables to make it impossible for people to repent and become reconciled to God. But this is not so. In Isaiah’s day people heard the truth but would not accept it. As a result their hearts became hard – that is even less capable of recognizing and accepting the truth. Their rejection of truth prevented their spiritual healing. In the same way, the religious leaders had already rejected Jesus. It was their hardness of heart resulting from their rejection which prevented them from understanding the parables. And, their lack of understanding kept them from repentance. It was not the parables, but their rejection and hardness of heart which prevented them from obtaining forgiveness.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t only the religious leaders who sometimes had trouble understanding Jesus. His own disciples needed an explanation. In verses 13 through 20 Mark writes, “He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How will you understand all of the parables? The farmer sows the word. The ones by the road are the ones where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes, and takes away the word which has been sown in them. These in the same way are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy. They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble. Others are those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word, and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Those which were sown on the good ground are those who hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times.””

The point of Jesus’ story is that He provides the word of God equally to all. Everyone has the opportunity to hear. However, the result of hearing God’s word is not the same. It depends on the kind of person who hears it. It is the hearer’s responsibility to put God’s word into practice. Some, like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, have hard hearts which do not allow God’s word to penetrate and take effect. Others gladly accept the word, but they have no depth. They do not allow the word to produce spiritual growth in them. Still others give other things a higher priority so the word of God gets crowded out. However, there are others who allow the word to grow in them and produce change. At the time Jesus lived, farmers could only expect seeds to provide about a 5 fold increase. What is impossible with man, however, is normal with God. If we allow His word to work in us, we will experience a return far greater than we can imagine. The question is: What kind of soil are we? Do we allow God’s word take root and grow in us?

Our culture, our families, our training and our experiences all condition us to view life in a certain way. Our thoughts and attitudes conform to the expectations of those around us. We learn to accept the values of our societies. It is a rare person who can perceive the limitations of his own experience and realize that people from other cultures view things differently. It is even more rare for someone to rise above his environment and recognize that other approaches and ways of thinking are valid. If the other person is right, it opens up the possibility that we are wrong or that the things our culture values may not be the best. Therefore, when we encounter someone who does not conform to our expectations of thought or behavior, rather than re-examine our own values it is tempting to dismiss him as being either crazy or evil.

Jesus puzzled many people because He did not act in the way they expected. His thoughts and teaching were beyond their experience. He had little respect for the traditions of the religious leaders. Instead, He challenged their understanding of God’s Law and exposed their hypocrisy. Though Jesus validated His teaching by performing miracles, many could not accept that He came from God. Even Jesus’ own family did not understand His ministry and divine purpose.

In chapter 3, verses 20 through 35 of the Gospel which bears his name, Mark writes about what Jesus’ family and the religious leaders thought of Him, “Then he came into a house. The multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. When his friends heard it, they went out to seize him; for they said, “He is insane.” The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.” He summoned them and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. If Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he can’t stand, but has an end. But no one can enter into the house of the strong man to plunder unless he first binds the strong man; then he will plunder his house. “Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme; but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.” —because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.” His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him. A multitude was sitting around him, and they told him, “Behold, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside looking for you.” He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” Looking around at those who sat around him, he said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, and mother.””

It is probable that this event took place in Capernaum where Jesus had established His home. His relatives lived in Nazareth, so it took some time for news about Jesus’ activities to reach them and for them to arrive in Capernaum. Their reaction to Jesus’ situation may have been prompted by loving concern. No doubt they thought that Jesus was working too hard. If He wouldn’t even take the time to eat, it would destroy His health. If Jesus would not take care of Himself, then it was their responsibility to take charge of Him. They were even prepared to use force if necessary. It is significant that Jesus’ relatives did not inquire why Jesus was acting this way. Since Jesus’ actions did not make sense to them, they jumped to the conclusion that He was out of His mind – that He had lost His mental balance. Even Jesus’ mother did not understand, or had forgotten, the purpose for Jesus’ coming. His relatives did not realize that Jesus was doing God’s will. Another Scripture tells us that even His brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5).

While Jesus’ relatives may have opposed Him out of ignorance and genuine concern for Him, another group of people spoke against him out of malice. The experts in religious law witnessed the miracles Jesus performed. They were unable to dispute that the miracles were genuine. However, this left them with a dilemma. If Jesus healed through the power of God, it meant that Jesus had God’s approval. And if Jesus had God’s approval it implied that the things Jesus said and taught also were from God.

Rather than accept Jesus’ teaching – and, thereby, acknowledge they were wrong – the religious leaders tried to discredit the source of Jesus’ power. They claimed that Jesus cast out demons by means of Satan’s power.

Jesus answered their lies with two illustrations. The first was about civil war. The strength of a nation or of a household depends on it remaining united. If the citizens of a country or the members of household oppose and fight each other, that nation or household will fall. If Jesus used satanic power to destroy Satan’s work, then it meant that Satan’s reign was at an end.

The second illustration Jesus used is of a man protecting his house. Unless a robber is stronger than the owner, he will be unable to break into the house. Therefore, if Jesus was able to destroy Satan’s work – as the miracles clearly demonstrated – then it meant that Jesus was stronger than Satan. If He was stronger than Satan, why would He need Satan’s power to accomplish what He was doing?

Jesus then issued a warning to the religious leaders. Every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven except for blasphemy against God’s Holy Spirit. Mark does not explain why this is so. However, we know from other Scripture that it is through the Holy Spirit, God convicts our consciences of sin (John 16:8). If we so deaden our conscience that it can no longer hear the Spirit when He tells us that we are doing wrong, then we will not recognize our sin and will not repent of it. It is not that God cannot forgive but that we will not ask Him for forgiveness. In our hardness of heart we will not acknowledge that we need forgiveness. By rejecting Jesus and deliberately lying about Him, the religious leaders were in danger of destroying their ability to hear God’s Spirit.

While this controversy was going on, Jesus’ family arrived. When someone told Jesus His family was looking for Him, He replied by saying that it is those who do God’s will who are His family. This leaves us with a question: Which is more important to us – our physical family or doing God’s will? Would Jesus claim us as part of His family?

Right from the beginning Jesus challenged people’s preconceptions. While doing so He exposed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. Because of this, the leaders plotted to kill Him. The day would come when Jesus, in accordance with God’s will, allowed them to execute Him. However, Jesus needed to accomplish some things before that day came. Rather than push the confrontations, Jesus withdrew. In chapter 3, verses 7 through 12 of the Gospel which bears his name, Mark tells us what happened. “Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples; and a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea, from Jerusalem, from Idumaea, beyond the Jordan, and those from around Tyre and Sidon. A great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came to him. He spoke to his disciples that a little boat should stay near him because of the crowd, so that they wouldn’t press on him. For he had healed many, so that as many as had diseases pressed on him that they might touch him. The unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, fell down before him and cried, “You are the Son of God!” He sternly warned them that they should not make him known.”

Even though Jesus left the towns in order to get away from those who opposed Him it did not mean that He returned to obscurity. On the contrary, large crowds came to Him from everywhere. Mark names regions to the south, east and north. Some of these places were outside the borders of Israel. This points to the international impact Jesus’ ministry would have. The crowds were so large that Jesus had to teach from a boat to avoid the press of bodies.

It seems that most of the people who came to see Jesus did not come to hear His teaching, but in search of healing. Jesus did heal many, but that was not His primary purpose. He performed miracles to authenticate His message. On another occasion He said, “…Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 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 10:36-38 NIV)

Even though Jesus performed miracles to authenticate that He was God’s Son, He told the demons He cast out to keep quiet about His identity. Soon people would accuse Him of performing miracles through demonic power. He did not want the testimony of demons, even though it was true.

No movement can survive unless the founder trains others to spread the teaching and carry on the work. Jesus would remain on the earth for only a short time. He needed others through whom He could continue His ministry after He returned to heaven. In chapter 3, verses 13 through 19, Mark tells us about the men Jesus chose. “He went up into the mountain and called to himself those whom he wanted, and they went to him. He appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee; and John, the brother of James, (whom he called Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder); Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.”

Mark writes that Jesus chose these men to be with him. To put it another way, Jesus invited these men to share His life as well as listen to His words. He wanted them to know that He, Himself, lived by what He taught. Example is one of the most powerful means of teaching. Later the Apostle Paul told a young leader, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV)

The meaning of the word “apostle” is “one who is sent.” Jesus not only chose these men, He sent them to preach. One person, no matter how talented, can only do so much. By sending these men to preach, Jesus multiplied His own effectiveness in spreading God’s message. Jesus not only taught these men and gave them a task, He also gave them the power and ability to do the work. He enabled them to drive out demons – the spiritual powers who opposed God.

Why did Jesus choose twelve Apostles? No doubt He did it for an important spiritual reason. God’s intent for the Jewish people was that they would bring the blessing of salvation from sin to all mankind. Israel never lived up to their divine calling. Elsewhere in Scripture the followers of Christ are called the true Israel. Just as the Israelites were divided into twelve tribes, the twelve Apostles point to the founding of the true Israel of God.

Who were these men? Certainly they were not the kind of men most people would choose to lead a world-wide movement. As far as we know, none of them was wealthy. None were highly educated. With the possible exception of John, who knew the High Priest, none of them were well-connected or had influence. At least four of them were fishermen. About some of them we know almost nothing. As the Apostle Paul was to write many years later, “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27 NIV)

In Christ’s Kingdom it does not matter what we were when Christ called us, but whether we are willing to answer the call and allow Him to transform us. Jesus named Simon, “Peter” which means a “rock.” When we read the gospels we do not see anything solid or firm in Simon, yet Peter became one of the most important figures in the early church. Jesus called James and John “Sons of Thunder”. They must have been hot-headed. Yet today we know John as the Apostle of love. The other Simon belonged to the Zealot party. They were a radical political organization dedicated to overthrowing Roman rule. Several years later their assassinations and terrorist acts led to the Roman-Jewish war which resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem. In contrast, Matthew (who is also known as Levi) was a tax collector for the Romans. Simon the Zealot and Matthew were natural enemies, yet both accepted Christ’s call and followed Him. Christ transformed their hatred and enmity into love and cooperation.

What about us? Will we answer Christ’s call and allow Him to transform us?

All societies and cultures have certain rituals or customs which they observe. However, it is very possible for people to comply with the customs or rituals without thinking about or even knowing the reason for them.

The same is true regarding spiritual things. We practice certain rituals and comply with certain customs without giving any thought to God’s intent or purpose for establishing them.

One of the reasons the religious authorities opposed Jesus was because He did not conform to their teaching about God’s Law. Instead, Jesus acted according to God’s intent and, in the process, exposed the inconsistency and hypocrisy of the religious leaders. In his inspired Gospel, Mark tells us of one of these incidents. In chapter two, verses 23 through 28 he writes, “He was going on the Sabbath day through the grain fields; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?” He said to them, “Did you never read what David did when he had need and was hungry—he, and those who were with him? How he entered into God’s house at the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?” He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.””

To understand this passage we must first understand what the Sabbath is. The word “sabbath” literally means to “cease or interrupt”. The Sabbath day was a day of the week on which people were not supposed to go about their normal activities. One of the Ten Commandments in the Law of Moses instructed the Israelites to set apart the seventh day of the week, that is Saturday, as a day of rest. In part, this was a reminder of how God created the world. He made everything in six days, and on the seventh, He rested from His creative work. The Sabbath was also a reminder to the Israelites that God gave them rest from slavery when He brought them out of Egypt. In summary, the Sabbath day was supposed to be a day of ease and rest from the normal cares, work and problems of life.

In view of this, it is understandable that the religious leaders became upset when they saw Jesus’ disciples plucking heads of grain on the Sabbath. The problem was not that the disciples were picking heads of grain from someone else’s fields. The Law of Moses explicitly allowed people to do so in order to satisfy their own hunger as long as they did not use a sickle to cut the grain. The problem was that the disciples were doing this on the Sabbath. In the view of the religious leaders they were breaking the Sabbath by working.

Jesus might have replied that plucking a few heads of grain by hand was not work. However, instead of arguing over definitions Jesus drew their attention to a deeper principle: God’s intent in proclaiming the Sabbath was to be a help and blessing to people and not to increase their burdens. To make His point, Jesus reminded them of an incident in the life of King David. The Law of Moses required the priests to place twelve loaves of bread in the Tabernacle before the Lord each week. Only priests were permitted to eat this bread afterwards. Yet, when David and his followers were in need and hungry, Abiathar the priest, gave this bread to them to eat. God did not give the Law to harm, but help. Therefore, God allowed the letter of the Law to be broken so that the needs of the man God had appointed as king could be met. In Matthew’s account of this incident, Jesus quoted from the Prophet Hosea to illustrate the lesson, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6 NIV) Jesus’ teaching is plain: God desires us to show mercy even more than He desires us to keep the religious rituals He asks us to perform.

There was something else the religious authorities failed to take into account. Earlier in this Gospel, Mark records how Jesus had the authority to forgive sins. Since God alone is able to forgive sins, this means that Jesus shared God’s nature. As other Scripture says, “…in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,” (Colossians 2:9 NIV) Since God instructed the people to keep the Sabbath, He also has the authority to make exceptions. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. If He gave His disciples permission to break the letter of the Law in order to fulfill the intent of the Law, it is His right to do so.

There was another incident which illustrates how Jesus fulfilled the intent of the Law while breaking the leaders’ understanding of it. We read about it in Mark, chapter 3, verses 1 through 6. “He entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there who had his hand withered.
They watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him.
He said to the man who had his hand withered, “Stand up.” He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good or to do harm? To save a life or to kill?” But they were silent. When he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as healthy as the other. The Pharisees went out, and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.”

God intended the Sabbath as a day of rest. It was a day to worship and to remember God’s blessings and goodness. Yet in this incident the authorities were using the Sabbath, not to worship, but to ensnare Jesus. They cared nothing for the man with the withered hand. They were merely using him as a tool. Their motives were not pure. Jesus caught them in their own trap by asking them whether it was lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath. They could not answer without exposing themselves. Instead of acknowledging their own wrong motives and repenting, they kept silent.

This angered and distressed Jesus. How could people be so hardened as to use the gift of God for evil purposes? Unlike the religious leaders, Jesus wold use the Sabbath to do good. He gave the man with the shriveled hand rest from his affliction – thus fulfilling the intent of the Sabbath.

The leaders proved their hypocrisy by plotting to kill Jesus. They falsely accused Him of breaking the Law while fully intending to violate the commandment not to kill. What about us? Do we put a higher value on keeping the form of our religious practices than we do on the intent?

It is characteristic of human nature that we compare other people to ourselves. We are the standard by which we judge others. Our attitude is that if only every one else were like us, there would be no more conflict and argument – all our problems would be over. It is those who insist on being different than we who cause trouble. We especially look down on those whom we consider to be less righteous than ourselves. This sense of moral superiority can cause us to not only despise others, but also prevent us from associating with them.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day considered themselves righteous and, therefore, “above” others. In view of this, Jesus’ actions amazed and mystified them. In chapter 2, verses 13 through 22 of his inspired Gospel, Mark writes, “He went out again by the seaside. All the multitude came to him, and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he arose and followed him. He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him. The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?” Jesus said to them, “Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can’t fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, or else the patch shrinks and the new tears away from the old, and a worse hole is made. No one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine pours out, and the skins will be destroyed; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins.””

One of the things we learn from this passage is that Jesus did not keep a regular schedule. Instead, He took advantage of whatever opportunities life presented Him to teach. When the crowds came to Him, He did not make them come back on a set day or a set time to receive instruction. Jesus did not require a classroom either – the world was His classroom. As He walked by the Lake of Galilee, people came to Him and He taught them as they walked along. Do we use the opportunities we have to instruct others or to learn from them? Do we think that instruction can only take place in a classroom or in a place of worship?

Jesus not only taught at unconventional times and in unusual places, He called unlikely people to become His disciples. Even today most people do not think favorably of tax collectors. At the time of Jesus’ ministry, the Jews regarded tax collectors as traitors, because they collected taxes for the Romans who had conquered and occupied the Jewish nation. In addition, the Romans awarded the right to collect taxes to contractors. The tax rate was not fixed. As long as the contractor produced the amount of money the Romans demanded, he could put whatever extra he could extract from the people into his own pocket. This led to abuse and the perception that tax collectors were not only traitors to the Jewish people, but also crooks who got their wealth by oppressing others.

In spite of this, Jesus asked Levi to follow Him. Jesus could see beyond someone’s reputation to the real character within. Levi did not ask Jesus to come back after business hours. Levi did not inquire whether Jesus would provide salary and benefits which were greater than he made collecting taxes. Levi did not demand a position of authority or control over others. No, when Jesus called him, Levi immediately got up and followed, leaving his occupation, his business and his income behind. Are we willing to give up our past life in order to follow Jesus?

Levi showed his character another way. Instead of demanding that Jesus supply his wants, Levi provided for Jesus and His other disciples. He prepared a dinner for Jesus and invited many of his former associates to come as well. Instead of rejoicing that Levi had reformed, the Jewish religious leaders criticized Jesus for associating with people whom they considered tainted and beneath them.

In similar circumstances most of us would probably try to defend our associating with such people. We would tell the religious leaders that they had misunderstood. The people really were not sinners or if they were, they really hadn’t sinned that badly. Jesus did not do this. He did not dispute the leaders’ observation that the people were sinners. The truth of the matter is that all of us, whether we consider ourselves righteous or not, have fallen short of God’s standards of holiness and perfection. There is not one of us who can honestly claim that we are without sin. Instead of arguing the leaders’ opinion of the sinfulness of the people at Levi’s dinner, He pointed out the solution to their sin. We do not condemn someone for becoming ill; we take him to the doctor.

Just as the ill need healing, sinners need to be cleansed from their sin. They need forgiveness, not condemnation. That is why Jesus associated with sinners rather than those who considered themselves righteous. He did not come for those who don’t need Him. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:15 NIV) Do we condemn sinners or do we introduce them to the One who can cure them of their sin?

John’s disciples also criticized Jesus. This time it was not over who He chose to associate with but over a religious custom. Once more Jesus’ reply cut to the heart of the matter. Many people practice customs or rituals without giving thought to the purpose for them. Why should Jesus’ disciples fast when they had no reason to do so? To do so while Jesus was with them would be inappropriate. Jesus went on to indicate that living according to His teaching requires a new way of thinking. If one merely tries to add His teaching on top of the old ways and rituals, it would be like using a piece of unshrunk cloth to repair old clothing. Both would be ruined.

Because Jesus did not want to attract crowds of people who were more interested in seeing wonders than in listening to His message, He sometimes told people whom He healed not to tell anyone about it. Instead of honoring Jesus’ request, a man whom He healed of leprosy spread the news everywhere. The result was Jesus could no longer travel openly. Crowds gathered wherever people heard Jesus was there. Throngs of the ill clamored for healing.

In chapter 2, verses 1 through 12 of his inspired account of Jesus’ ministry, Mark records one of these incidents. “When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was at home. Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them. Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him. When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—“I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.” He arose, and immediately took up the mat and went out in front of them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!””

Scripture tells us very little about the man who was paralyzed. We do not even know his name. However, there must have been something very special about him to inspire such love and loyalty in his four friends. Think about it. Would you be willing to destroy another man’s property in order to bring one of your acquaintances to a doctor? If the crowd was so dense you couldn’t reach the doctor, wouldn’t you wait until the doctor came out of the house to ask him to heal your loved one? These men would not wait. No doubt breaking through the roof made a great deal of noise. No doubt people shouted at them, demanding to know what they were doing. No doubt the crowd around Jesus was upset by the dirt and debris which fell on them. None of these things deterred these men from accomplishing their purpose. The shouts and anger of the crowd meant nothing to them. It did not matter to them that they were liable for the expense of repairing the roof. They kept on until the sick man lay in front of Jesus.

Another remarkable thing about the paralytic’s friends is their faith. They had no doubt that Jesus could heal the man. They had no doubt that Jesus would heal him. Their only question was how to bring their friend to Jesus’ attention. When they accomplished this, it was their faith which moved Jesus to grant their wish.

This illustrates an important aspect of faith. Faith must prompt us to act on our convictions. Otherwise faith is of no use. In this incident, if Jesus did not know about the man how could He heal him? It would have done no good at all if the mens’ conviction that Jesus could heal their friend did not move them to bring him to Jesus. James writes, “…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17 NIV)

If the men’s method of bringing their friend to Jesus was unusual, Jesus’ response was also unusual. They came for healing. Instead, Jesus forgave the paralytic’s sins. This brought immediate condemnation from the teachers of the law who were present. They quite rightly asked the question of who, except God, has the ability or the right to forgive sins. The answer, of course, is that no one besides God can do so. However, this raises an even more important question: If only God can forgive, then who is Jesus? Is He merely a man? Or is He something more? The teachers of the law were certain that Jesus was only a man. Therefore, they came to the conclusion that He blasphemed when He forgave the paralytic’s sins.

Jesus’ next action challenged their assumptions about Him. The teachers of the law had not voiced their objection aloud. It was in their hearts that they accused Jesus of blasphemy. Even though they remained silent, Jesus knew what they were thinking. This should have alerted them that perhaps their conclusion that Jesus had spoken blasphemy was not correct. While it is true that men cannot forgive sins, they cannot read another person’s thoughts either.

To settle the matter, Jesus pointed out that it is just as impossible for a man to heal a paralytic as it is to forgive his sins. If Jesus could do one, then why should there be any question about His ability to do the other? Then, Jesus healed the paralytic with a command.

The healing was instantaneous. There was no long period of gradual recovery. There was no need of physical therapy. The man did not need to learn to walk again. Jesus spoke and his ability to stand was restored. His muscles regained their strength. He could not only walk without assistance, he could also pick up an awkward load and carry it out of the house without difficulty.

This incident helps us understand why Jesus performed miracles. He did not do it to amaze people. He did not do it to create a following. Though Jesus did heal and relieve suffering, that was not His primary purpose for the miracles. Instead, He used the miracles to inform and teach. In a previous incident He healed a leper as a testimony about Himself to the priests. In this incident Jesus used the healing to show the teachers of the law who He was. Yes, Jesus was a man. He was subject to the same problems, emotions, temptations, difficulties and stresses as any other human being. Yet, He also was much, much more than a man. In Jesus, we see the divine nature. The Apostle Paul writes that, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” (Colossians 1:15 NIV)

When the people saw what Jesus did, they praised God. What is our response? What is our opinion of Jesus? Will we accept that He is God, come down in human form or, like the teachers of the law, will we accuse Him of blasphemy?

Most leaders, including religious leaders, crave popularity. The bigger the crowds which come out to see them, the better they like it. However, Jesus was not like an ordinary politician or religious leader. After Jesus drove a demon out of a man at a place of worship in Capernaum, the entire town brought their sick and those who suffered from demon possession to Jesus for healing. Jesus healed them yet also tried to distance Himself from the crowds who sought Him out.

In chapter 1, verses 35 through 39 of his inspired account of Jesus’ ministry, Mark writes, “Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there. Simon and those who were with him searched for him. They found him and told him, “Everyone is looking for you.” He said to them, “Let’s go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because I came out for this reason.” He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.”

From a human perspective Jesus’ response when Simon and his companions told Him that everyone was looking for Him seems very strange. Wasn’t Jesus God’s prophet? Hadn’t God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power in order to be the King of the Jews? Then why would He turn His back on those who were seeking Him and go elsewhere?

The key to Jesus’ actions is to understand the purpose for which He came. Jesus’ purpose in coming was not to heal the sick or even to cast out demons. It is true that many years later the Apostle John would write, “…The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” (1 John 3:8 NIV) However, healing people or casting out a few demons would not accomplish this. Illness and demon possession were only symptoms of the devil’s work. In order to destroy the devil’s work, Jesus would have to destroy the devil. This would cost Jesus His own life. Speaking of Jesus another Scripture says, “…he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14-15 NIV)

Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection through which He would destroy the devil still lay in the future. In the present Jesus said that His reason for leaving Capernaum was so that He could preach elsewhere. Preaching, not healing, is why He came.

Earlier, in this same chapter, Mark tells us what Jesus’ preached. His message was, “…The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15 NIV) By means of His preaching Jesus prepared the hearts of people for the coming of God’s kingdom – the time when the devil’s work would be destroyed. He traveled throughout the province of Galilee preaching this message in the Jewish places of worship.

If Jesus reason for coming was not to heal or cast out demons, then why did He do it? Why did Jesus perform miracles at all? An incident which Mark records points us toward the answer. In verses 40 through 45 he writes, “A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.” Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.” When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was made clean. He strictly warned him and immediately sent him out, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places. People came to him from everywhere.”

From this incident we learn that Jesus did not perform miracles simply to amaze people or to draw crowds. On the contrary, Jesus did not want those whom He healed going about spreading the news. Crowds of thrill seekers would only get in the way and hinder His ministry of preaching and preparing people’s hearts for the coming of God’s kingdom. Why, then, did Jesus heal? One reason is that He had compassion. When He saw people in need, He wished to help them. If Jesus truly was from God, how could He not show God’s love to people? The leper begged Jesus to heal him. How could Jesus not respond?

A remarkable thing about this miracle is that Jesus touched the man who had leprosy before He healed him. According to the Law of Moses, lepers were unclean. 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) By touching the man, Jesus not only restored his health, Jesus also restored the man’s social position. With His touch Jesus demonstrated that He no longer regarded the man as an outcast – someone who was only fit to live apart from everyone else.

We can view what Jesus did for the leper as a metaphor for what Jesus does for us today. The Apostle Paul writes that at one time we were, “…without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:12-13 NIV) Like the leper do we have the faith that Jesus can and is willing to heal us?

This incident reveals another reason Jesus performed miracles. He told the leper to show himself to the priests and offer the sacrifices the Law of Moses instructed, as a testimony. Jesus did miracles not to create a spectacle but to authenticate His message. He did what He did through the power of God. Therefore, His message also was from God. Later, Jesus would tell the people, “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.” (John 14:10-11 NIV)