Miracles of Jesus

This article explains the exorcism of the boy possessed by a mute and deaf spirit, a miracle recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. A father brought his son to Jesus' disciples, but they could not cast out the demon. Jesus, having come down from the Mount of Transfiguration, asked, "What are you discussing with them?" The father explained, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid." The father added, "If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Jesus replied, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." The father cried out, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, saying, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" The spirit convulsed the boy and came out. The boy became like one dead, but Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. This miracle reveals the power of faith, the tragedy of unbelief, and the compassion of Jesus.

This article explains the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac, a man possessed by a legion of demons. Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee to the region of the Gadarenes (or Gerasenes). As He stepped ashore, a man with an unclean spirit met Him. This man lived among the tombs, could not be bound with chains, and constantly cried out and cut himself. When he saw Jesus, he ran and worshiped Him, crying, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." Jesus asked, "What is your name?" He answered, "My name is Legion, for we are many." The demons begged Jesus not to send them out of the region. A herd of about two thousand swine was feeding nearby. The demons begged to be sent into the swine. Jesus gave them permission. The demons came out and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea and drowned. The man who had been demon-possessed was found sitting, clothed, and in his right mind. This miracle demonstrates Jesus' absolute authority over the demonic realm, the destructive nature of demons, and the transforming power of Christ.

This article explains the healing of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar sitting by the road outside Jericho. As Jesus passed by with a great multitude, Bartimaeus cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many warned him to be quiet, but he cried out all the more. Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. They said to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you." Bartimaeus threw aside his garment, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus asked, "What do you want Me to do for you?" He said, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." Jesus said, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. This miracle reveals the persistence of faith, the mercy of Jesus, and the proper response to healing: discipleship.

This article explains the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, a miracle that occurred immediately after Jesus cast out a demon in the Capernaum synagogue. Jesus entered Peter's house and found his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her. She arose and served them. This simple yet profound miracle demonstrates Jesus' power over physical illness, His compassion for the suffering, and the proper response to healing: grateful service. It also highlights the role of women in ministry and the pattern of healing on the Sabbath.

This article explains the healing of the blind man at Bethsaida, a miracle recorded only in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus came to Bethsaida, and the people brought a blind man to Him, begging Him to touch him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. He spit on his eyes, laid His hands on him, and asked, "Do you see anything?" The man looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking." Then Jesus laid His hands on his eyes again, and the man saw clearly, was restored, and saw everyone distinctly. Jesus sent him home, saying, "Do not go into the village." This unique two-stage healing is a powerful picture of the gradual nature of spiritual understanding and the patience of Jesus in dealing with human weakness.

This article explains the healing of the centurion's servant, a miracle that demonstrated the faith of a Roman officer in Jesus' authority. The centurion came to Jesus, begging Him to heal his servant who was paralyzed and tormented. Jesus said, "I will come and heal him." The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." Jesus marveled and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" He then said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." The servant was healed that same hour. This miracle reveals the faith of a Gentile, the authority of Jesus' word, and the inclusion of the nations in the kingdom.

This article explains the healing of a deaf and mute man in the region of the Decapolis, a miracle recorded only in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus departed from Tyre and Sidon and came to the Sea of Galilee through the midst of the region of Decapolis. They brought to Him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. Jesus took him aside from the multitude, put His fingers into his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. This miracle demonstrates Jesus' power over physical disabilities and His compassion for those who cannot hear or speak.

This article explains the healing of the man born blind, a detailed miracle recorded only in the Gospel of John. Jesus saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him." Jesus spat on the ground, made clay with the saliva, anointed the man's eyes, and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. The man went, washed, and came back seeing. The healing led to intense interrogation by the Pharisees, who excommunicated the man. Jesus later found him and revealed Himself as the Son of God. This miracle demonstrates Jesus as the Light of the world, the futility of religious legalism, and the courage of a transformed witness.

This article explains the healing of the man with the withered hand, a miracle performed by Jesus on the Sabbath day in a synagogue. The Pharisees watched Jesus closely to see whether He would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. Jesus asked them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" They remained silent. Jesus then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. The Pharisees went out and plotted against Jesus, how they might destroy Him. This miracle reveals Jesus' authority over the Sabbath, His compassion for the suffering, and the hardness of hearts that prefer rules over mercy.

This article explains the first recorded miracle of Jesus in the Gospel of John, the healing of the nobleman's son. A nobleman (royal official) from Capernaum traveled to Cana of Galilee to find Jesus, begging Him to come down and heal his son who was at the point of death. Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and reported that his son was living. He inquired at what hour he began to get better, and they said, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." The father knew that was the hour when Jesus said, "Your son lives." He and his whole household believed. This miracle demonstrates the power of Jesus' word spoken at a distance and the nature of faith that trusts in His spoken promise.

This article explains the healing of the paralytic man who was lowered through the roof by his four friends. Jesus was teaching in a house in Capernaum, and the crowd was so great that there was no room, not even at the door. Four men brought a paralytic to Jesus, but they could not reach Him. They made an opening in the roof above Jesus and let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." The scribes accused Jesus of blasphemy, for only God can forgive sins. Jesus responded by healing the man, saying, "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"—He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." The man arose, took up his bed, and departed, glorifying God. This miracle demonstrates both Jesus' power to heal physically and His authority to forgive sins spiritually.

This article explains the healing of the ten lepers, a miracle recorded only in the Gospel of Luke. As Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" Jesus saw them and said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." As they went, they were cleansed. One of them, a Samaritan, when he saw that he was healed, returned, glorifying God with a loud voice. He fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving Him thanks. Jesus asked, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" He then said to the man, "Arise, go your way; your faith has made you well." This miracle teaches about faith, gratitude, and the inclusion of outsiders in God's mercy.

This article explains the first exorcism performed by Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Mark. In the synagogue at Capernaum, a man with an unclean spirit cried out, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!" Jesus rebuked the demon, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" The demon convulsed the man and came out with a loud cry. The people were amazed, asking, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." This miracle reveals Jesus' authority over the demonic realm and His identity as the Holy One of God.