Bible Studies: Miracles of the New Testament – Part III

Raising the dead

The Scripture: Luke 8:40-42, 49-50, 54-55

“A man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with Him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying… Someone came from the house of Jairus… ‘Your daughter is dead,’ he said… Hearing this Jesus said to Jairus, ‘Don’t be afraid, just believe and she will be healed’… He took her by the hand and said, ‘My child get up!’ Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.”

1. Who came to Jesus?

2. Why had he come?

3. What did someone tell Jairus?

4. What did Jesus say?

5. What happened?

The Scripture: John 11:38-44

Some friends sent word to Jesus that His friend, Lazarus was very sick. Jesus delayed His return and by the time He arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead four days. Jesus asked his (Lazarus’) sisters, ‘Where have you laid him?’ …Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ‘Take away the stone,’ He said… So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me.’ When He had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen and a cloth around his feet.”

6. What news was brought to Jesus?

7. What did Jesus do?

8. What had happened in the meantime?

9. Where was he buried?

10. What did Jesus tell the mourners to do?

11. After His prayer, what did Jesus do?

12. What happened?

After Jesus’ death Peter (and Paul) in particular performed many miracles, including raising someone from the dead.

Conversions

Perhaps the greatest miracles of all were the conversions – turning the hearts of cold, unbelieving sinners into warm living flesh. As Matthew, quoting Isaiah, says, “The people have seen a great light: on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:15-16)

Let’s look at a few of these conversions. Perhaps the most overt conversion is that of Zaccheus, the chief tax-collector.

The Scripture: Luke 19:3, 5-6, 8-9

“Being a short man, he (Zaccheus) …climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him (Jesus) …When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, ‘Zaccheus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed Him gladly …Zaccheus stood up and said to the Lord… ‘Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor and if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said, ‘Today salvation has come to this house.’”

13. What did Zaccheus do to see Jesus?

14. What did Jesus say to him?

15. What were the results of that visit?

16. What did Jesus say?

All conversions were not on an individual basis.

The Scripture: Acts 2:38, 40-41

“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord will call…Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”

17. What was Peter’s message?

18. What would those who did receive?

19. Who was the promise for?

20. How many accepted the Lord that day?

It is even possible to receive Jesus at the last moment of life, the so-called “death-bed” conversion.

The Scripture: Luke 23:32, 39-43

“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out to be crucified… One of them… hurled insults at Him (Jesus)… But the other criminal rebuked him, ‘Don’t you fear God?’ …he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise.’”

21. Who was crucified with Jesus?

22. What did one of them do?

23. What did the second one do?

24. Why?

25. What did he say to Jesus?

26. How did Jesus answer him?

The Role of Faith

Finally, we want to look at the role faith played in many, if not all, the miracles. We have at least two instances where both Jesus and the disciples were hindered by lack of faith.

When a man brought his epileptic son to the disciples for healing, although they prayed for the boy, he was not healed. Later, then they questioned Jesus as to the reason they had not been able to heal him.

The Scripture: Matthew 17:14-16

“When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before Him. ‘Lord, have mercy on my son,’ he said. ‘He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.’”

Jesus told them:

The Scripture: Matthew 17:20

“Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth. If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’”

27. Why did Jesus say the disciples had been unable to heal the boy?

28. What example did Jesus give?

The Bible also records a time when Jesus was hindered by people’s lack of faith in his hometown. “He did not do many miracles there, because of their lack of faith”. (Matt. 13:58)
Now let’s look at some examples of what faith accomplished

The Scripture: Matthew 9:20-21

“Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up to Him and touched the edge of His cloak. She said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ He said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed from that moment.”

29. What the woman’s problem?

30. What did she do?

31. What did she say to herself?

32. What did Jesus say to her?

33. What happened to her?

The Scripture: Matthew 8: 5-13

“When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, asking for help. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘My servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” Jesus told him, ‘I will go and heal him!” The centurion replied, ‘Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed’ …Jesus was astonished and said to those following Him, ‘I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith… Go and it will be done just as you believed it would.’ And his servant was healed at that very hour.”

34. What did the centurion want Jesus to do?

35. What was wrong with the servant?

36. What did the centurion say to Jesus?

37. How did Jesus respond?

38. What did He say?

39. What happened?

The Scripture: Matthew 15:22, 24-28

“A Canaanite woman…came to Him, crying out, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession’ …He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.’ ‘Lord, help me,’ she said. He replied, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs (Gentiles).’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she said, ‘but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered, ‘Women, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed from that very moment.”

40. Why did the Canaanite woman come to Jesus?

41. What was Jesus’ response?

42. How did she answer him?

43. How did Jesus respond?

44. When was her daughter healed?

The “age of miracles” did not end with Jesus’ ascension to heaven. Scripture tells us: “The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people” (Acts 5:12), and many of us have seen and participated in those miracles today.