Don Stewart :: What Was the Response of the People of Jesus' Day to His Healings?

What Was the Response of the People of Jesus’ Day to His Healings?

Divine Healing – Question 9

It is important that we look at the response of the people of Jesus’ day to His miracles of healing. What did they do when they witnessed Jesus healing wonders? How did they respond to the blind receiving their sight, the deaf hearing, and the dead being raised?

We will find that their reaction to these events is the same reaction that we would have had if we had seen the same things which they saw. In other words, there is nothing odd about their response to Jesus’ healing miracles. We can make the following observations about what we find.

The Response Is What We Would Expect: Amazement

To begin with, we find that the people were always amazed at Jesus’ healings. In fact, on a number of occasions they testified that they had never seen anything like this before.

For example, Jesus cast a demon out of a man that was mute and then healed his lack of ability to speak. We find the following response to this miracle.

And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” (Matthew 9:33 ESV).

The crowd confessed that this was something which they had never witnessed before. Never!

In another episode, after Jesus instantly healed a paralyzed man, we find the crowds giving reacting in this manner.

And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” (Mark 2:12 NLT)

This type of healing was unheard of. Indeed, none of them had ever seen anything like this.

Amazement followed all Jesus’ healings. On still another occasion, Mark records the response of the crowd after they witnessed a healing miracle of Jesus.

They were completely amazed and said, “Everything he does is good! He even heals people who cannot hear or talk” (Mark 7:37 CEV)

Again, the crowds never expected to see anything like this. They were completely amazed at what they observed.

On yet another occasion, the multitudes marveled when Jesus cast a demon out of a man that was mute. The mute man then was able to speak. Luke records their response.

And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled (Luke 11:14 NKJV).

The amazing miracles which the multitudes witnessed caused them to wonder about Jesus’ identity. Could He be the Son of David, the Christ? Matthew records what they were asking one another.

The crowds were so amazed that they asked, “Could Jesus be the Son of David?” (Matthew 12:23 CEV).

His miracles of healing were evident to everyone. The blind were able to see, the mute could now speak, the deaf could hear, the lame could walk. Jesus possessed the credentials of the long-awaited Messiah.

Therefore, we find that the people were continually amazed by these healings of Jesus which they witnessed. In other words, they responded to Jesus’ miracles in the same manner which we would respond if we had witnessed the same types of events.

His Healing Miracles Were Never Denied by Anyone

Not only did Jesus’ miracles amaze the onlookers, these miracles which He performed were never denied as to actually having taken place. Indeed, even the unbelievers testified to the fact of Jesus’ miracles. In point of fact, they never asked Jesus “if” He performed miracles. Instead, the question which was asked Him was “how,” or “by what authority,” did He perform these supernatural acts. The fact that Jesus did miracles of healing was undeniable.

More People Came to Him to Be Healed as the Word Spread

The word of Jesus ability to heal spread to others. Thus, we find that the healing miracles of Jesus caused multitudes to seek Him for their own healing needs. Mark records what took place.

He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him (Mark 3:10 NLT).

The desired to be healed by Jesus caused the sick people to push their way toward Him in order to be cured. This only would have happened if Jesus did indeed have the ability to cure the infirmed.

The word spread of Jesus’ ability to heal the ailing. Mark records how one man went out and told everyone how the Lord cured him.

The man went away into the region near the ten cities known as Decapolis and began telling everyone how much Jesus had done for him. Everyone who heard what had happened was amazed (Mark 5:20 CEV)

Everyone, everywhere, knew that Jesus could indeed heal the sick.

The Great Multitudes Are a Testimony to Jesus’ Healing

The fact that great multitudes of people followed Jesus wherever He went gives further testimony to His supernatural ability to heal. Indeed, the crowds followed Him for a reason; they came out to meet Him for a reason. The gospels say it was to bring the sick and infirmed to Jesus to be healed. Multitudes of people would not have followed Jesus everywhere that He went unless something miraculous was taking place.

Thus, the existence of these huge crowds was further confirmation of His healing power.

God Was Praised and Glorified by Jesus’ Healings

There is something else which we find as a response to Jesus’ healings; praise and glory went to God. Indeed, when Jesus healed the sick we find that the God of Israel was praised. Matthew records this response of the crowds.

Everyone was amazed at what they saw and heard. People who had never spoken could now speak. The lame were healed, the crippled could walk, and the blind were able to see. Everyone was praising the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:31 CEV)

It was recognized that the God of Scripture was alone responsible for these healings. Thus, He was praised for His wonderful works.

Luke also records the crowd responding in this worshipful manner. He wrote about what happened after Jesus healed a certain blind man.

And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God (Luke 18:43 NKJV).

Therefore, one of the responses we find to Jesus’ healing miracles is that God was glorified by those who observed what had taken place.

Jesus’ Enemies Plotted His Death after They Witnessed His Healings

Not everyone praised God when they witnessed the healing miracles of Jesus. Indeed, there were occasions when the miracles of healing caused Jesus’ enemies to plot His death. Mark writes about one such plot.

At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus (Mark 3:6 NLT)

Instead of the correct response, glorifying God and acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, these religious leaders wanted to put Jesus to death.

In another instance, after Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead, the religious leaders wanted to kill Him as well as Lazarus! John writes about their response to this miracle of Jesus.

Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus (John 12:9-11 NKJV).

Thus, the healing miracles of Jesus while not denied by these religious leaders were not celebrated by them. Indeed, these miraculous works made them determined to put Him to death. Among other things, it testifies to how far from the truth the religious leaders of the nation had drifted.

In fact, after witnessing one particular miracle, they attributed Jesus’ power to the ruler, or prince, of the demons. Matthew notes their response.

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons” (Matthew 12:24 TNIV).

They could not accept the fact that Jesus was the One whom He claimed to be; the Messiah and Savior of the world. While these religious leaders were eventually successful in having the innocent Jesus executed the Scripture makes it clear that Jesus did not remain dead. Indeed, His resurrection from the dead, the greatest miracle of them all, confirmed that He was indeed everything which He claimed to be.

Conclusion:

The evidence is clear. Everyone, including Jesus’ enemies, was amazed by His healing miracles. Furthermore, these people were unable to deny or discredit these miracle-healings. Jesus’ healings caused many people to believe in Him as the promised Messiah. Indeed, this was their main purpose.

Summary – Question 9
What Was the Response of the People of Jesus’ Day to His Healings?

Jesus Christ performed His miracles of healing for all to see. Indeed, His miracles were done in public. Therefore, it is important to look at the response of those who witnessed these events. What was their reaction?

To begin with, we find amazement at the healing miracles of Jesus. Time after time Scripture informs us that the people were awestruck by what they observed. They testified that they had never seen anything like this before. This was the response of believers as well as unbelievers.

This leads us to two important observations. First, the people responded to the miracles in the same manner in which we would respond to them had we observed the same things. We too would have been amazed if we witnessed the blind see, the deaf hear, and the mute speak. Thus, their response is consistent with what we would expect.

Second, the healing miracles of Jesus could not be denied by anyone. In fact, everyone knew that He miraculously healed the sick. This included those who did not believe in Him; the Jewish religious rulers.

Another confirmation of Jesus’ miraculous power concerns the crowds that continually followed Him as well as those who came out to meet Him. Multitudes would not have followed Jesus in the manner in which they did unless He was performing miraculous signs. Thus, the existence of the large crowds wherever He went testifies to healing power.

We also find the people giving glory and praise to God for Jesus’ healings. In fact, the purpose of Jesus’ miraculous works was to glorify God the Father. This is exactly what took place.

However, the religious leaders had another response to Jesus’ wonderful works. Instead of accepting Jesus as the promised Messiah, as the miraculous evidence revealed that He truly was, these evil people plotted to kill Him after witnessing His miraculous works. They were confronted with the truth but they did not want to know the truth. Instead they attributed His miracle-working power to the devil. Eventually they were able to bring Jesus to Pontius Pilate for execution. Yet all this was in the eternal plan of God. Indeed, God the Father sent God the Son into our world not merely to heal the sick but to die for our sins. Of course, Jesus did not remain did. The greatest miracle of all was when God the Father brought Jesus back from the dead. This was the ultimate confirmation of His identity.