Bible Study Week 6
Part 6
The Miracles of Jesus Christ
Jesus' Baptism
The first recorded event in the adult life of Christ is His baptism by John the Baptist (Mathew 3:13-17). John was reluctant to baptize Christ but submitted when Jesus told him that it was necessary to fulfill all righteousness. As Jesus came up out of the water, John saw the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Jesus. He also heard a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." This was a sign from God to John that Jesus was the Messiah. (See also John 1:32-34)
Jesus' Temptation
Following His baptism, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Mathew 4:1-11 provides an account of His temptation. After forty days and nights of fasting, the tempter came to Jesus. First, he appealed to the natural hunger that Jesus suffered and tempted Him to use His supernatural powers to turn stones into bread. It is important to note that Satan directed his attack against the deity of Jesus. He said, "If thou be the Son of God..."
Jesus responded to the enemy with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). He began by saying, "It is written."
The devil then took Jesus into the city of Jerusalem to the pinnacle of the Temple and again tempted Him.
This time Satan attempted to use the word of God to justify his temptation. He did not quote the pure Word of God as found in Psalm 91:11-12 but rather his own distorted and misapplied version of it. Again Jesus responded with the pure Word of God.
Finally, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them. He claimed that he would give them to Jesus if Jesus would fall down and worship him. Jesus quoted the Word of God and commanded the devil to leave. The devil left Jesus for a period of time (Luke 4:13). Angels came and assisted Jesus.
>>> Why is it important to know the Word of God when we are faced with temptation?
As you may remember from our first lesson about Adam and Eve, the devil tries to undermine what God says. It's important that we study the Bible so that we can rely on its truth to combat the deception of the devil.
Following the temptation, Jesus entered into His ministry, calling disciples unto Himself and fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 61.
"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all of them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is the scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:16-21)
The Miraculous Ministry of Jesus
Jesus' miraculous ministry was in direct fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. He gave sight to the blind (Mathew 9:27-31). He raised the dead (John 11:41-44). At His touch lepers were cleansed (Mathew 8:2-4). The lame walked (John 5:1-9). The deaf heard, and the mute spoke (Mark 7:35-37).
In the meantime, John the Baptist had been placed in prison for his condemnation of Herod's sin. John told Herod that it was unlawful for him to have his brothers wife (Mathew 14:3-4). While in prison, John heard of Christ's ministry and sent two of his disciples to ask, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another." (Mathew 11:3). Jesus answered: "Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me" (Mathew 11:4-6).
The Heart of Jesus' Ministry
Some of the Jewish people were confused because they expected their Messiah to be born in a palace of a noble family and to free them from Roman oppression. They misunderstood the prophecies of the prophets.
Jesus came to minister to all people, not just the rich. He came to establish a kingdom that was not of this world (John 18:36). His message was not one of revolution but repentance (Mark 1:15). When questioned by John's followers concerning whether or not He really was the Messiah, Jesus offered as proof His ministry to the blind, the lame, the lepers, the deaf, the dead, and the poor. Clearly, He did not come for the purpose of aligning Himself with the so called dignitaries of this world but to teach and reach people at their point of greatest need. Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Jesus never refused anyone. He never turned any away. His invitation is universal: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified) (John 7:37-39).
Once a little band of Christians was forced to meet in secret to worship their Lord. A spy betrayed them to the secret police. An officer and several men surprised them one night at their time in prayer. Looking about him in anger and contempt, the officer ordered one of his men to count all who were present and to take down their names. When he had done so he reported to the officer that there were thirty men and women. An old man stepped forward and said, "Officer, there is one whom you have missed. There is one more here." The officer looked him in scorn and said, "What do you mean? We have counted them carefully. There are just thirty here." "No", the old man insisted, "there is another here whom you have missed." Very well", said the officer, "we will count them again." Again he counted them and again the count was thirty. "There," he said, "it is just as I told you, there are only thirty. Thirty of you miserable Christians. Thirty and no more!" "Yes," said the old man, "but there is one more here, on whom you missed--and that one is our Lord Jesus Christ!"
Questions for Personal Reflection
1. Jesus gave us His Word, including four gospels to speak to us in different ways about how He came to save us. How am I doing in reading and apply His Word?
2. John the Baptist preached that we need forgiveness of sins. What sins do I need to ask Jesus for forgiveness?
3. Even Jesus was tempted by the devil. What are some temptations I face that I need Jesus to help me overcome?
4. Jesus worked miracles in the New Testament and still does so today. What miracle do I need from him now in my life?
5. What step can I take this week to draw closer to God?