Lesson 12: Those Healed By Jesus - 1 Lepers, Peter's Mother-in-Law, The Demon Possessed Introduction: Jesus did many signs and wonders during His three-year ministry. The purpose of these miracles were to confirm the fact that He was the Son of God (John 20:30-31). No other miracles were more convincing of Christ's power than those of healing. Christ healed the sick and raised the dead in such a way that no science can duplicate. The only explanation for these events is that Jesus Christ is who He said He was, the Son of God. He also showed His power over the spiritual world by casting our demons. I. Christ Heals Lepers A. Christ was not accepted in His own Nazareth. He rebuked the people and reminded them of Naaman, a foreigner who was healed of his leprosy (Luke 4:24-27). Christ healed lepers! B. The fact that He healed lepers confirmed that He was the Christ (Matt 11:3-5). C. Matt 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16, all tell the same story of Christ healing a leper. As a consequence, Jesus was followed by great multitudes. D. Luke 17:11-19 records the healing of the ten lepers. Only one returned to give glory to God. Principles: 1. Miracles proved the words spoken by Christ. 2. Many follow Christ for the wrong reasons. See also Philippians 1:15. 3. Healing caused many to glorify God. 4. Even when blessed miraculously, some were ungrateful. II. Christ Heals Peter's Mother-in-Law. A. Peter asked on behalf of his mother-in-law and Jesus healed her of her fever. Luke, the physician, tells us it was a "high fever." The Greek word "puresso" here indicates that it was a severe illness and not just a mild fever or a cold (Matt 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39). B. Jesus touched her hand, and she immediately felt well enough to "arise and serve them." C. Many more were brought to Jesus after this, and He healed all of them. This was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53:4. Principles: 1. Christ did not come into the world to remove all diseases. If that were true, then He failed in His mission, since our hospitals are full of the sick. Miracles were performed to confirm the word. 2. Service to Christ follows healing by Christ. 3. Christ will take care of our spiritual illness if we will ask Him. III. Demon Possession A. Demons were a common problem in the time of Jesus (Matt 4:24). They produced harmful effects in their victims, includin blindness (Matt 12:22), physical defects (Luke 13:11-17), insanity (Luke 8:26-36), suicidal mania (Mark 9:22), and dumbness (Matt 9:32-33). B. They were described as unclean spirits and thus were evil (Matt 10:1; Mark 1:27; Luke 4:36; Acts 8:7; Rev 16:13). C. They still knew that Jesus was the Son of God and feared Him. D. The demons referred to as "Legion" feared Christ and asked not to be thrown into the abyss. They were forced to leave, and the man was restored to his right mind. The people of the area were so frighted at the sight of seeing this man suddenly healed that they asked Jesus to leave. The man went his way and proclaimed what great things Jesus had done for him (Luke 8:26-39; compare with Matt 8:28). E. When Jesus healed this demon-possessed blind. and deaf mute, He was accused of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub (Matt 9:32-33 and 12:22). F. Christ's disciples tried to cast our a demon but could not because of their unbelief (Mark 9:14-29). Note that Jesus performed this miracle when He saw the people coming, running together (25). G. Jesus healed a gentile woman's daughter (Matt 15:21-28). Again, He did not come to rid the world of all problems. He ignored this woman at first, and then finally told her that He was not sent except to the house of Israel. Still, she persisted and her daughter was healed. Her statement in verse 27 showed her great faith. H. Jesus cast a demon out of a man in the synagogue. This spirit identifies Jesus as "the Holy One of God" (Luke 4:31-37). I. There is an everlasting punishment set aside for the devil and his angels (Matt 25:41). All the sinful will join them in that punishment (Matt. 25:46). There seems to be a temporary place for these demons where they await this punishment (Luke 8:31). Compare this abyss with the bottomless pit mentioned in Rev 9:1-11 and 20:1-3. Principles: 1. Jesus has power over both the physical world and the spiritual. Christ has all authority (Mat 28:18; Eph 1:22). 2. We also have problems with demons (Eph 6:10-13). 3. If we resist, we will overcome (I Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7-8). Questions: 1. What was the purpose of miracles? Did they accomplish this purpose? How can you know that these events really happened? 2. What was the social life of a leper? (See Lev 13, especially 43-46.) In Matt 8:1-4, what is the significance of Christ touching the leper? What other acts of compassion did Jesus perform? 3. Why did the crowds follow Jesus? 4. What lessons do you learn from the story of the ten lepers? We must give glory to God for our salvation (Acts 12:23; 1 Cor 1:30-31; Col 2:6-7). What can we say in our prayers and in our songs to thank God and give Him glory? 5. How have we been healed by Christ (Is 53:1-6)? How should that change our lives? How did forgiveness change Isaiah's life (Is 6:6-8)? 6. Did Christ come to the world to remove all disease, suffering and poverty (Mat 26:11)? Why did Christ come to earth? 7. How do we fight with demons? How can we resist? Do we know the outcome of this battle? 8. What kind of place will Hell be if all the demons are there? The demons know their fate (James 2:19). Have we been given ample warning of judgment? Why do some not listen? Why do some sin even though they know what God has promised for the disobedient (Eccl. 8:11-13)? 9. Why was it impossible for Jesus to cast our demons by the power of Beelzebub (Matt. 12:25-32)? -------------------------------