Jesus and Legion #2467

6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “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.” 8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” (Mark 5:6–9, NKJV)

The man lived a torturous life among the tombs, caves, and mountains. Unclean spirits involuntarily possessed him, and he could not be restrained due to unnatural strength (Mark 5:1-5). The demons who tormented the man knew Jesus, acknowledged He is the Son of God and begged Jesus not to torment them “before the time” (vv. 6-7; Matt. 8:29). Jesus banished the demons to a herd of swine that stampeded into the Sea of Galilee (Mark 5:11-13). Healed and in his right mind, the man wanted to remain with Jesus, who told him to tell others of the compassion he received from the Lord (Mark 5:15, 18-20). This amazing miracle teaches us important lessons of truth about Jesus and the deliverance He can give sinners. (1) Jesus has power over demons. He came to destroy the devil’s works, and His power over demons illustrated that defeat (1 John 3:8). We are assured of the Lord’s strength to stand against the “spiritual host of wickedness” when we put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:10-13). (2) Faith only does not save. The demons “believe—and tremble” but are lost (James 2:19). Do not accept the false doctrine of salvation by faith only (James 2:20-24). (3) Tell others of God’s compassion. Spread the good news of salvation that saves oppressed and lost souls. Its power transforms lives (Rom. 1:16; 12:1-2).

“Sin No More” #2096

12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” (John 5:12–14, NKJV)

This remarkable miracle of healing the lame man at the pool called Bethesda is a marvelous illustration of God’s merciful healing of our souls from sin (Jno. 5:1-9). What followed also illustrates our obligation once God saves us from our past sins. Just as Jesus told the man to “sin no more,” Christians cannot “continue in sin that grace may abound” (Jno. 5:14; Rom. 6:1-2). Just as the lame man’s healing should prompt him to live differently, our salvation from sin compels us to cease practicing sin. We have “died to sin,” being freed from the clutches of its slavery by the blood of Christ (Rom. 6:3-11). Saved in Christ, we are “servants of righteousness” (Rom. 6:17-18). Jesus warned the man that returning to sin would bring a worse outcome upon him. That is also true of Christians who sin (read 2 Pet. 2:20-22). The teaching that Christians cannot sin and be lost is false. Jesus healed the man, yet a far worse thing would occur if he practiced sin (Matt. 5:29-30). Even so, Christ has saved us. But if we turn back to sin, we will be lost. That outcome will be on us, not on Jesus (2 Cor. 5:10).

Large Faith #1726

9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. (Luke 7:9–10, NKJV)

We have been discussing the healing of the centurion’s servant by Jesus. Upon seeing and hearing the soldier’s explanation of sending others to Jesus with his plea (Lk. 7:2-8), Jesus praised the man’s faith, and healed the servant without ever meeting the centurion or his servant. Jesus described the centurion’s faith at “great.” The word carries the idea of quantity, and means “so vast as this.” In other words, his faith was “large” in comparison to the faith Jesus witnessed in Israel. His faith was formed by hearing about Jesus (Lk. 7:3). But, he did more than just believe Jesus could heal his servant. He first sent Jewish elders to Jesus with his plea, and then friends to tell Jesus there was no need to come to his house. He was sure Jesus could just say the word, and heal his servant. Faith that brings God’s blessings is far more than mental acceptance. In our case, faith must compel us to obey Jesus (Jas. 2:14-26). Otherwise, we will not be saved (Matt. 7:21). By the way, it is important to see that as far as we know, the servant was not the person with the faith. Yet, he was healed. Living with large faith becomes a blessing to others.

Two Reactions to the Truth #1683

20 “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. 22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. (Acts 4:20–22, NKJV)

The apostles Peter and John had been arrested for preaching “in Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (Acts 4:2). By the power of Christ they had healed a man who was over 40-years-old and lame from birth (Acts 3:1-10). This powerful miracle confirmed the genuineness of their message of salvation in Jesus. When pressured by the Jewish council “not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus,” the two apostles dramatically affirmed they would continue to speak what they had seen and heard (Acts 4:17-19). The people of Jerusalem glorified God over the man’s healing, and many became Christians (Acts 4:4). Their leaders knew a miracle had happened, yet they threatened the apostles in an attempt to silence them (Acts 4:14-18). These two opposing reactions show two contrasting conditions of heart toward the truth of the gospel. Do you want the truth, even when it means you will have to change to be right with God? Or, do you fight against the truth? (Do you really think you will win that fight? You won’t.) Now is the time to yield to God, believe His gospel, and obey His will (Matt. 7:21).

Are You Listening? #1546

26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” (John 9:26–27, NKJV)

Some people do not want to believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Put another way, some people do not want to believe the truth even when it is staring them in the face. The blind man whom Jesus healed had already told the Pharisees and Jewish leaders what happened and how he could now see (John 9:8-17). His parents agreed their son, who was born blind, could now see. But, instead of accepting the evidence of a great miracle and believing in Jesus as the Son of God, the Pharisees and Jewish leaders resisted and argued. They were not listening, nor did they care to listen. Their minds were made up. The evidence that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God is abundant (John 20:30-31). May it never be that we reach a point where we prefer to defend ourselves and our opinions (which is what they were doing, John 9:14-16) instead of humbly yielding to Jesus Christ and His truth (John 8:31-32). If we do, we have joined hands with the enemies of Jesus, and will die in our sins (John 9:39-41; 8:23-24).

Necessary Inferences #1495

29 “We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” 30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” (John 9:29–33, NKJV)

The blind man healed by Jesus exposed the insincerity and hypocrisy of the Pharisees who refused to accept the incontrovertible evidence that Jesus is from God. The man was proof enough that it was so. He had concluded Jesus was sent from God because of the miracle he received. He drew a necessary inference that God heard Jesus and worked this miracle by Him. Those who reject necessary inferences as a way to establish the binding authority of God from the Scriptures should revisit this text and admit that necessary inferences are indeed a God-approved way of teaching truth. This man used one to teach unbelievers. He was cast out of the synagogue for it, he was received by Jesus (John 9:34-39). If one rejects necessary inferences as binding today, then he must also reject the blind man’s conclusion about Jesus as worthless. Do you stand with him, or with the Pharisees?

“Do you believe in the Son of God?” #1357

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” 36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” 38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. (John 9:35–38, NKJV)

This man, whom Jesus had healed of blindness on the Sabbath, had been cast out of the synagogue because he drew a necessary inference about Jesus, and had the audacity to declare it publicly. He concluded from the miracle Jesus worked for him that Jesus was from God, otherwise, “He could do nothing” (John 9:31-33). When Jesus found the man and challenged his faith in the Son of God, He identified Himself to be the Son of God. The miracle had convinced him that Jesus was the Son of God. When Jesus identified Himself to the man, he confessed his faith and worshiped Jesus as the Son of God. The recorded miracles of Jesus continue to be signs providing the testimony we need to believe Jesus is the Son of God (John 20:30-31). Exalted on high at the right hand of the Father, the Son of God gives life to those who put their faith in Him and follow Him according to His word (1 John 5:11-13).

“Your faith has made you well” #1139

20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. (Matthew 9:20–22, NKJV)

The miracles that Jesus worked proved His claim that He is the Messiah (Matt. 9:1-8). Just as the faith of the paralytic and those who helped him produced the forgiveness of sins in Matthew 9:2, Matthew now records for us that Christ’s miracles of healing were, at times, responses to the faith of the infirmed. It was her faith that made her whole. The healing of the soul is what Jesus promises the whole world, through faith in Him (Mk. 16:15-16; Gal. 3:26-29; Rom. 6:1-4). Many folks are waiting for a miracle to heal their body’s illness. That is not the promised power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16-17). Its power heals the sin-sick soul. Your body will die and perish. But, your spirit is immortal. Go to Jesus in faith, submitting to His will. He will heal your soul (Matt. 11:28-30).

Power given apostles to preach powerful gospel #1088

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8, NKJV)

The apostles did not teach the gospel by their own authority. It was not their power that persuaded sinners of salvation in Jesus Christ; it was the power of the gospel they preached. But, they did indeed have to work and sacrifice in order for that gospel to spread from Jerusalem, through Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. In today’s verse, Jesus promised the apostles miraculous powers in order to confirm the truth of their message. He kept that promise on Pentecost, when His apostles were invested with miraculous “power from on high” (Lk. 24:49; Acts 2:1-4). As they preached, “the Lord worked with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs” (Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4). Today, God’s power to save is not through miracles, but through the power of the “word of the truth of the gospel” that convicts sinners and converts them to the Lord (Rom. 1:16-17; Col. 1:5-6). If you want God’s power in you life, then believe and obey the gospel of His Son. It has the power to save you from sin and give you a sure hope of heaven.