JESHUA

JESUS THE MIRACLE WORKER

By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer  jerry@schmoyer.net 

http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/

 

MAIN IDEA:   An follower named Jeshua tells about Jesus’ miracles (esp during the fall of 31) and victory over Satan and demons, thus showing we have victory in Him, too

 

Magic: changing silk, through ring, complete color change

            Tied with rope, then free (deliverance

           

 

DRAMATIZATION SUMMARY:

Jeshua (delivered demoniac – anonymous, not Gadarenes) talks with Yochanah (Joanna) (Jairus’s daughter) about Jesus’ miracles, (look at other whole time, not audience)

SEA  Fall 31

EVENT

MT

MK

LK

JN

PLACE

Sower, etc

13:1-53

4:1-34

8:4:18

 

Capernaum

Sea still

8:18,23-27

4;35-41

8:22-25

 

Sea of Gal

Dem grave

8:28-34

5:1-20

8:26-39

 

Gadarenes

Jairus dau

9:18-9,23-6

5:21-4,35-43

8:400-2,49-56

 

Capernaum

Bleed wom

9:20-22

5:25-43

8:43-48

 

Capernaum

Blind men

9:27-31

 

 

 

Capernaum

Dem dumb

9:32-34

 

 

 

Capernaum

212.  Spring 32

EVENT

MT

MK

LK

JN

PLACE

Naz rej 2

13:54-58

6:1-6

 

 

Nazareth

12 2 x 2

9:35-10:15

6:7-11

9:1-5

 

Galilee

Gospel

10:16-23

 

 

 

Galilee

Disciplesh

10:24-42

 

 

 

Galilee

Results

11:1

6:12-13

9:6

 

Galilee

John dead

14:1-12

6:14-29

9:7-9

 

Machaerus

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

I was demonized, literally out of my mind — also blind and crippled.  I was a total prisoner of Satan until He saw me and had mercy on me.  He spoke a few words to those demons and they were gone forever.  It changed my whole life! (shame to honor)

 

I remember a couple of days there especially well.  Matthew, Mark and Luke all wrote about them so maybe you read some of this.  Still, it was very  important — or they wouldn’t have written about it.  All together only about 50 days of Jesus’ 3+ years of ministry are recorded.  That’s less than 1/2 of 1% of His days.  It had to be special to be remembered and recorded. 

 

JESHUA:  The time I’m thinking of was in September of 31.

            DAY 1: AM: REJECTION by family, rel rulers, etc

                                    Lord Lunatic Liar

                        PM: KGDM OF HEAVEN PARABLES (Mt 13)

                                    explain rejection, encourage patience

                        EVE: boat to Gadarenes (storm on sea)

            DAY 2: AM: DEMONIAC HEALED

                        PM: boat back to Capernaum

                                    crowds waiting Jairus’s dau

woman bleeding 12 years

            DAY 3: PM

                        2 blind men healed

                        Demon-possessed, blind, dumb man healed

 

DAY 1

 

AM: KGDM OF HEAVEN PARABLES

 

I REMEMBER how it hurt Him that His mother & brothers       wanted to take Him home and lock Him away   because they thought He was crazy, an

embarrassment to them!

 

If even His own family rejected Him, what would happen?

            If He really was the Messiah, why weren’t people                                 responding to Him?

     He seemed to anticipate these questions so He told us      some parables to explain it all  (Matthew 13)

 

MAN SOWING SEEDS – different results showed different

            responses of people to His good news

                        each had own free will to accept or reject

 

ENEMY SOWING SEEDS IN ANOTHER’S FIELD

            Satan opposing message of Kingdom

            One day he & his followers will be judged

                        but now free to work and oppose

 

MUSTARD SEED – small but grew large

 

YEAST IN DOUGH – starts small, unseen but grows

            one day His Kingdom WILL fill whole earth, patience

 

HIDDEN TREASURE  when one does find it VERY happy!

 

Eventually Kingdom will come, accepted by all

            followers enter in

            rejecters into hell for all eternity

     Jews rejecting

     Gentiles accepting, will get chance in future

 

TRANSITION

Thinking about this seemed to remind Jesus of something    He needed to do

 

PM: JESUS CROSSES TO DECAPOLIS

Jesus: “We’re going to go to the Decapolis” 

Disciple: “Why would we go to that God-forsaken area?”

Jesus: “We’re going to spread the message of the kingdom   through that whole area.”

Disciple:  “That’s a very large job!  It would take months,         maybe years.  How long will we stay?”

Jesus: “Just a few hours, half a day at most.”

Disciple:  “Lord, I’m confused, how can we get the message to that whole area in just a few hours?”

Jesus:  “Easy, I’ve got a man picked out over there that we’ll be meeting.  He’s going to spread the word.”

Disciple: “He must be some man!  Is it anyone we know?”

Jesus:  “No, you’ve never met him.”

Disciple:  “He must be quite a guy to do all this by himself!     He must be really trained, skilled, well-educated,      great contacts, etc.”

Jesus: “Actually, he hasn’t any of that.  To be honest, he’s    just been hanging around the cemetery lately.”

Disciple:  “The cemetery?  What is he, a funeral director?       Or a grave digger?  What does he do at the             cemetery?”   

Jesus: “Well, mainly he runs around naked, breaking             chains, cutting himself, banging his head on stone        markers, and terrorizing anyone he meets.”

Disciple: too stunned to reply – just doesn’t make sense

            had no idea what He was talking about

 

SATAN only one who had it figured out

            that’s why tried so hard to prevent it from happening

 

real time of WARFARE between God and Satan …

 

 

 

COMMANDERS & THEIR FORCES

 

A. THE GOOD GUYS

 

GOD – OUR COMMANDER

Everything starts with God.  Everything came from Him.   God is our commander in spiritual warfare as well as in every area of life.

 

ANGELS – OUR HELPERS

created before creation of world (not people who died)

innumerable number

personalities like us (mind, will, emotions)

no bodies

“Angel” means “messenger”.

sometimes they appear as men (Hebrews 13:1)

God has angels organized in a military-like manner with a chain-         of-command from ‘generals’ to ‘privates.’

 

B. THE BAD GUYS

 

SATAN – THE ENEMY COMMANDER

 

DEMONS – ENEMY SOLDIERS

about a third of the angels joined him (Revelation 12:4).

“Demon” means “destroyer.” 

spiritual terrorists, trying to destroy the work of God’s kingdom.

Satan organizes his demons in the same manner God has angels        organized – in a military-like structure

usually a “strong man” (or ruler) is assigned to a task,

          lesser demons under his command to help in the work

 

TRANSITION

It was obvious Satan had been controling me thru demons

          It was also clear he doesn’t give up easily

Not with me, not with you, nor with graveyard demoniac

So we got in their fishing boats to go over

 

 

SEA STILLED

Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41

 

BOAT quickest way across Sea of Galilee

            walking very hard (swamps)

   Jesus very tired from day, fell right asleep

 

SUDDEN STORM: cool air from west on Mt Hermon collide with warm air above Sea of Galilee

     strong wind forceful drawn down ravines & valleys

            hit water and stirred up lake

               -like mixer in bowl of water

   20’ high waves in a few minutes

            VERY dangerous and deadly

                        disciples not know it was coming

                        but Jesus did!

            How can He prove He is Messiah when makes                                    mistakes like this?

 

JESUS SEND YOU INTO STORM SHOW HIS POWER?

            Financial storm                    Relationship storm

            Job storm                               Family storm

            Health storm                         Lust inside storm

 

DISCIPLES AFRAID – and 8 experienced fishermen

            weathered many storms

   blame Jesus for sleeping during storm – not caring!

            (Does it seem like He’s sleeping during your storm?)

Jesus got up, started talking to storm & sea

            told them to stop it

            immediately stopped, sun out, water instantly still!

ABLE: Jesus able to do anything

WILLING: not always willing, other plan for man

            3 friends of Daniel into fiery furnace

WILLING now to stop storm and did

I’ll tell you – they were really IMPRESSED!

            Saw other miracles, others healed, water to wine, etc.

            This time it was THEIR neck in the noose!

                 Notice much more when it is US in trouble!

 

WHAT ARE MIRACLES?

NOT suspension/violation of natural law (still in effect)

NOT coincidence of natural happenings

NOT magic, allusion, trick senses of watcher

BUT overriding natural laws by higher law – God

 

WHY JESUS DID MIRACLES?

 

1. Fulfill prophecies @ Messiah doing miracles (Isaiah 24:18-19; 35:5-6; 61:1) show He is Messiah (Mt 11:3; 12:39)

 

2. ‘Sign’ of His having God’s power & authority

“miracle” = Greek word for “sign” in OT & NT

            NOT focus on the sign, but message it conveys

    “spiritual calling-card”

40+ MIRACLES BY JESUS

            used to show Jesus’ authority & power

            always means to an end, never an end themselves

     heal physical ills = heal spiritual ills

     deliver from demons = deliver from sin

     give physical sight = give spiritual sight

     feed with physical bread = feed with spiritual manna

     over death, bring physical life = over sp death, sp life

     stop storm on sea = stop Satan’s attacks against us

     helpless to help self = God delivers

     undeserving of healing = mercy, grace

 

MIRACLES OF JESUS

.Water converted into wine

.Heals the nobleman’s son

.The catch of fish

.Heals the demoniac

.Heals Peter’s mother-in-law

.Cleanses the leper

.Heals the paralyzed man

.Healing of the immobile man

.Restoring the withered hand

.Restores the centurion’s servant

.Raises the widow’s son to life at the village of Nain

.Heals a demoniac

.Stills the storm

.Throws demons out of two men of Gadara (Gerasa)

.Raises the daughter of Jairus from the dead

.Cures the woman with the issue of blood

.Restores two blind men to sight

.Heals a demoniac

.Walks upon Lake Galilee

.Heals the daughter of the non-Jewish, Syro-Phoenician wo

.Feeds more than four-thousand people

.Restores the deaf-mute man

.Restores a blind man

.Heals the epileptic boy

.The temple tax money obtained from a fish’s mouth

.Restores ten lepers to wholeness, only one of them returns

.Opens the eyes of a man born blind

.Raises Lazarus from the dead

.Heals the woman with the spirit of infirmity

.Cures a man with dropsy

.Restores sight to two blind men near Jericho

.Condemns a fig tree

.Heals the ear of Malchus

.The second catch of fish

 

BUT NOT EVERY ONE HEALED: if doing miracles to help people then terrible wrong for having power to heal but not doing so!  Capriciously healing some but not others grossly unfair!

            Miracles means to an end, not end in themselves

 

Religious rulers couldn’t argue with proof of miracles

            jealous, blinded by Satan, rejected & opposed

     knew supernatural power involved, said it was Satan!

 

SATAN’S COUNTERFEIT MIRACLE POWER

power thru demons in all religions, cultures

            Jannes & Jambres challenging Moses

                        rod to serpent, water to blood, frogs, etc

Matt 7:22-23  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

 

SATAN UNABLE TO STOP JESUS

            opposes in other ways when there!

    Power not able to defeat Jesus

    instead uses deception, deceit, free will of people

PULLED UP ON BEACH late that evening, slept the night

            ate breakfast on beach

 

TRANSITION

Satan unable to keep Jesus from man He wanted to see

            one to tell whole area about Jesus

but not done opposing, trying to stop Him

The whole thing was erie for me – brought back so many

            awful memories

     I mean, it was like my story all over again.

            It wasn’t me, but it could have been

            It was so like what happened to me.

 

DAY 2

 

DEMONIAC IN GRAVEYARD

 

Here, let me read it the way Mark recorded it

     He got it straight from Peter, you know, who was there

Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20 

 

NUMBER: 2   1 main spokesmen for both

            no asylums so allowed to roam

PHYSICAL AFFLICTION:   dumb

                                                blind

                                                deformed

MENTAL AFFLICTION:       epileptic

                                                insane

                                                naked – immoral

                                                suicidal

                                                masochism

                                                murderous

 

SYMPTOMS OF DEMONIZING:  

            -incapacity to live normally

            -indwelt by another being

            -unusual strength

            -paroxysms, violent seizures

            -inner anguish & self destructive tendencies

            -oppression & restless insomnia

            -visible conflict within the personality

            -opposition to Christ

            -clairvoyant powers

            -speak in different voices

            -occult transference

            -can’t control emotions

            -naked, immoral, immodest

(shame to honor)

 

DEMONIZING DEFINED

Greek word doimonizomai (“demonizing”) 

            = one who is heavily impacted by demons.

            spiritual hypnotism from within

            15 times in the New Testament.

does not differentiate between possession (demons within) or influence (demons without)

            very minor to 100% total  complete control

 

DEMONIZING DESCRIBED

 

THOUGHTS IN, THOUGHTS OUT   The majority of demonizing consists of demons putting thoughts into a person’s mind or snatching thoughts out of a person’s mind. 

 

COMPULSIONS & OBSESSIONS

compulsion is a force that causes us to act against our inclinations.

obsession is a thought which forces itself into conscious thought against our will (usually something unpleasant and/or sinful) and can’t be dismissed by ones our free will.

 

MENTAL ILLNESS  Demons can and do cause mental illness: It cannot be said with certainty if all mental illness is demonic or not.

SCHIZOPHRENIA also demonic

FEAR  Fear is one of Satan’s biggest weapons.

ANGER Anger comes from mishandling hurt and pain

it’s one of the easiest & quickest ways demons get access

 

TRANSITION

saw all of these in demonized men in Gedarenes

            still, had free will

                        -not to get free from demonizing

                        -but to turn to Jesus for His deliverance

 

THESE MEN RAN TO JESUS & FELL ON KNEES

            why not run away? Free will choice of man!

                        Drawn by Christ’s power to heal

            -that’s when my memories start

                        when I knelt before Jesus

                        up to then dark black void

                                    fear, confusion, guilt, misery

               that’s when lights started coming back on!

 

 “COME OUT!” Jesus continually commanding demons

   NO CASE TOO HARD FOR JESUS

            -5,000 to 6,000 demons in them

            -sp dead, away from society

            -no man could capture & tie them

            -strange sounds, bruised self, scared everyone away

            -naked & brazen, not ashamed, perverted

 

DEMONS BEG – know Jesus is Lord over them

            No doubt who is in power!

            JESUS NOT AFRAID – faced & called bluff

            begging not to be cast out!

 

“WHAT IS YOUR NAME?”

            only time Jesus talked to demons, always silenced

                        never good practice to talk to them, even

                                    in deliverance

                                                -gives them too much power

                                                -can deceive, delay, etc.

                                                -Nothing need from them that                                                            God can’t give and better

            Jesus already knew – made public admittance

            Just done so could see Jesus’ power all the more

 

LEGION” – Roman legion 6,826 men!

 

BEGGED AGAIN not sent to Abyss/out of area

            NOT a question of if they must obey/leave

            Just a matter of where will be sent

 

INTO PIGS

            Gentile area, pigs unclean to Jews (underground)

            Demons rather indwell animal than nothing (man #1)

                        prefer that to Abyss

 

            Why Jesus allow them to go into pigs?

                        -Destroy pigs, unclean animals & forbidden

                        -clearly show power of demons to destroy

                        -show how evil & destructive Satan/demons

            Pigs into water & drown

                        demons naturally destructive: death, darkness

 

CHANGE IN MEN

            calm, in right mind – can think, relate

            self-control in life

            dressed, modest

     I remember how great it felt when Jesus touched and        healed me  (shame to honor)

            hadn’t realized how BAD I felt until I felt GOOD again!

            Like some black burden/oppression gone!

 

LIGHT = FROM GOD

DARKNESS = FROM SATAN

            I knew which I had and where from!

            Obvious with Gedaranes demoniacs, too

Really surprised everyone around watching!

            Obvious light replaced their darkness!

   Strange reaction from the people, though!

PEOPLE WANT THEM TO LEAVE

            not happy for delivered men, just miss loss of pigs

                        profit more important than people

 

MAN WENT HOME telling everyone about Jesus

            witness – tells what Jesus did for him

                        sows seed for later

    Not what man wanted – wanted to go with Jesus

LATER Jesus returned, great response from seeds sown!

 

TRANSITION

Jesus’ power seen over:

            -nature – storm stilled

            -Satan – demonized man delivered

            -death

 

KINGDOM He is offering/bringing:

            nature subdued – lion, lamb & child together

            Satan’s power broken, bound

            death removed – no pain, sickness or death

 

 

 

JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER RAISED 1

Matthew 9:18-19; Mark 5:21-24

Crossed back over the Sea of Galilee in fishing boats

            no storm this time!

            Back home to Capernaum

SAME DAY as demoniac delivered

            LARGE CROWD GATHERED there

 

JAIRUS: synagogue ruler, top rep of religious establishment

DAUGHTER: only child      (review Mt 5:21-43)

KNELT: humbled himself

JESUS left large crowds to go with Him

            1 needy person more important than popularity

            not “I’m too busy now, I can’t, I’ll come later”

                        knows our needs, comes right away

 

INTERRUPTIONS: Jesus used to interruptions

 

BLEEDING WOMAN OK

Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34

 

WOMAN WHO WAS BLEEDING

            12 yrs constant menstrual flow

            fibroid tumor in uterus

            results: always week    (shame)

                        unclean: not touch others, not into temple, etc

                        hopeless: all money to doctors, no help

 

TOUCHED TASSELS ON CLOAK: blue, show God’s picture

            done in faith – believing He could heal her

IMMEDIATELY HEALED!  Could tell bleeding stopped!

            Slipped away in crowd  (honor)

JESUS sensed power gone out of Him (drain sp energy)

            asked who touched Him – in pressing crowd!

            He already knew, but wanted Her to come public

                        gave her assurance of her healing

                        -heart & body; bleeding & sin all healed

WHERE JESUS DID MIRACLES

            Jesus’ miracles were also performed upon the most unlikely people. Jesus consciously brought the salvation of God to those who were rejected. He healed the lame <Matt. 9:1-8>, the dumb <Matt. 9:32-33>, and lepers <Luke 17:11-19>. Jesus brought the kingdom to all, regardless of their condition.

            But Jesus’ miracles were not theatrical sensations. He demanded faith of others <Matt. 9:2>. The hemorrhaging woman was healed because of her faith <Matt. 9:18-26>. Furthermore, Jesus expected the disciples to do miracles and rebuked them for their “little faith” and unbelief <Matt. 17:20>.

 

JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER RAISED 2

Matthew 9: 23-26; Mark 5:35-43

 

JAIRUS patiently waiting, but anxious

            servants come saying too late, girl dead

JESUS said not too late, went to girl

            said she’s not dead, just asleep! – all laughed

                        mean temporary, not permanent dead

GIRL: held her hand, said “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

            she got up, was fine!

   (Jesus never preached a funeral sermon!)

            -ever time encountered dead person, back to life!

 

JESHUA OR YOCHANAH can do this next section

 

TRANSITION  Others, hearing of this, came to Him with sick

            He did other miracles that day, too

 

 

DAY 3

 

2 BLIND MEN HEALED

Matthew 9:27-31

 

BLINDNESS COMMON:  (shame to honor)

            born blind (gonorrhea)

            untreatable eye infections

            war, blowing sand, etc.

 

2 CRIED OUT FOR MERCY

            “Son of David” = recognition as Messiah

                        physical sight gone

                        spiritual sight better than others!

 

HEALED: eyes & soul at same time, same as woman

 

ABLE & WILLING: both her (always able, not always willing)

            sometimes wants to use our illness for His glory

            other times wants to use our healing

               -up to Him!

Our attitude/prayer should be:   “Lord, if it will be to Your glory, heal suddenly.  If it will glorify You more, heal gradually; if it will glorify You even more, may your servant remain sick awhile; and if it will glorify Your name still more, take him to Yourself in heaven.”

 

TRANSITION

DAY 2: AM: DEMONIAC HEALED

            PM: boat back to Capernaum

                        crowds awaiting: Jairus’s dau & woman bleed

                        2 blind men healed

                        DBD man healed

 

 DEMONIZED DUMB MAN

Matthew 9:32-34

DEMONIZED MAN delivered & healed at same time

            DUMB couldn’t talk – healed from that  (Mt 9:32-34)

VERY SIMILAR to what Jesus had done for me!

 (shame to honor)

 

DELIVERANCE & HEALING

            There is often a strong relationship between spiritual deliverance and physical healing.   Often physical problems that are gone when the demons leave. That is because the demons were causing the physical problems. 

Examples of these in the Bible include:

            crippled limbs (Luke 13:11),

            Paul’s thorn in the flesh (eye disease? – II Cor 12:7),   muteness (sometimes dumbness, too – Matthew                                 9:32-33; 12:22; Mark 9:17-18,24-25),

            blindness (Matthew 12:22),

            seizures (Mark 1:26; 9:17-18,20,22,25; Matthew                                    17:15,18; Luke 9:39),

            deafness (Mark 9:17-18,20,25),

            sores (skin cancer?) (Job 2:7),

            boils and other painful afflictions (Psalm 78:49 – the                            plagues in Egypt were demon-caused),

            physical torments of all kinds (Revelation 9:5,10). Satan can cause illness (Job 2:7-8),

            even death (Job 1:19).

 

            It must be noted that not all illness is demonic in origin.  Jesus healed physical ills that weren’t demonic (Matthew 4:23-24; 8:16-17 fulfilled Isaiah 53:4; Mark 1:34; Acts 10:34; etc.).

 

Jesus often cast out demons and cured illness at the same time.

 

TRANSITION

How could people NOT turn to Jesus with all this proof!

     Certainly they knew something supernatural happening!

Puts it in men’s hearts that it is SATAN’S power does it

            -that way HE still gets the glory (what he wants)

            -Jesus & God don’t get it, not seen as greater

STILL majority attribute it to Satan’s power!
            Reject Jesus as Messiah/God

                        as people today still do!

 

Jesus continued to do miracles to validate ministry

            it was a time of many miracles

    continued into start of early church

            -prove they had this same power

            -counter Satan’s attempts to destroy

            -tell genuine from many counterfeits

 

one of several times of miracles in history

MIRACLES TODAY???

 

DISTRIBUTION OF MIRACLES

1. JEWISH NATION ESTABLISHED: 1400 BC

            Moses & Joshua great miracle workers

2. STRUGGLE WITH IDOLATRY:  850 BC

            Elijah & Elisha great miracle workers

3. CAPTIVITY (in Babylon) 600 BC

            Daniel & friends great miracle workers

4. CHRIST & EARLY CHURCH  4 BC – 70 AD

            Jesus, apostles, etc

5. TRIBULATION

            Two witness’ antichrist, others

 

MIRACLES TODAY….

At rapture and after many done by God

            but this not a miracle-doing time

No one has gift of doing miracles

            (miracles & healing not gifts today)

            God still able, not willing for most part

Focus on angels & ‘supernatural’ don’t focus on atonement             of Jesus, bring glory to Him – focus is on miracle!

Needing miracles = weak faith (not strong)

          2 Cor 5:7  We live by faith, not by sight.

Remember God is always ABLE, not always WILLING

 

TRANSITION

Not first, and not last time Jesus faced Satan head on

Saw many match-ups between the two

            Jesus always won!

Many clashes not even recorded in Bible

            -like about me

Days of unrecorded events passed

Before too long went to home Nazareth again

 

 

CONCLUSION

Jesus won our battle for us

Napoleon said, “Battles are won, not by men, but by a man.”

(shame to honor)

 

1 Sam 17:47  All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

Prov 21:31  The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.

 

C t O Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
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