“The Three Messianic Miracles”

     If it were possible for someone who lived in 1703 to read a newspaper from today, the year 2003, they would be hard pressed to grasp much of what was being said, because they would view it with a “1703” understanding, reasoning and perspective.  This same type of analogy must be used when it come to us reading scripture, with a “2003” understanding, reasoning and perspective.
 When we read about the life of the Jesus the Messiah, especially in the four gospels, we must understand that the text was written not only for a Jewish readership, but specifically for the understanding of first century Jews. Therefore, in order to fully comprehend what is taking place or being said, we need to view and hear it from the viewpoint of a first century Jew.

 The interaction between Messiah Jesus and the religious authorities of his day was never about the righteousness of the law, but rather it was about the rabbinical teaching of the day, which was based upon the “Mishna”, a written commentary produced by ancient rabbi’s expounding upon the Law of Moses.  In their effort to protect the holiness of the Law, they circumvented the true meaning and intent of the law.

 It was well documented that the Pharisees and other religious leaders could perform certain types of miracles. However, one of the rabbinical teaching of that day was that there were three types of miracles that only the Messiah could perform. The three messianic miracles were said to be - 1: healing a Jewish leper  2: healing a man who had been born blind, 3: casting out a dumb demon.    It was also taught that in the event that anyone was ever able to perform any of these three miracles, thereby making messianic claims, they had to be investigated by the Pharisee’s in a specific manner, which took place in two stages.

 The first stage was observation!  A delegation of the Pharisee’s was to be sent to observe what was taking place, and report back to Jerusalem. Based upon this report, they were to determine if this messianic movement was significant or insignificant.  If it was insignificant, the matter was dropped.  If it was significant, the went to stage two.

 Stage two was interrogation!  Another delegation would be sent to confront the messianic person through questions and accusations.  They would then report back to Jerusalem, and the messianic claims would either be rejected or accepted. We can see this investigative process take place whenever Jesus performed these three messianic miracles as recorded in the gospels.
 Messianic Miracle 1: “Healing a Jewish Leper”.  There were previously two recorded cases of a healed leper in the “tenach” - the Old Testament.  One was Miriam who was Jewish, but it took place before the completion of the Law of Moses. The other was Naman the Syrian, who was Gentile. There are two complete chapters written within the Law of Moses instructing the Levitical priests and religious leaders how to respond in the even of a healed Jewish leper, however, from the giving of the law until the time of Messiah, not one single case was ever reported.

 Three of the four gospel accounts describe Messiah Jesus healing a Jewish leper - Matthew 8:2-4, Mark 1:40-45 and Luke 5:12-16.  After healing the leper, notice what Jesus said, “tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them” (LK 5:14).  Messiah instructed the former leper to follow the law pertaining to healed Jewish lepers, which had never before be done before. And how did the Pharisees respond? “And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that were Pharisees and Doctors of the Law sitting by . . .” (Luke 5:17) Stage one of the investigation . . . Observation. 

Messianic Miracle 2: “Healing  A Man Who Had Been Born Blind”. There were many reported healings of the blind by the Pharisees, but never of one born blind.  The understand was that someone who became blind and was healed, could possibly have recovered on his own, but one born blind would require the Messiah to effect such a healing.

   We read in John 9 about the account of a man born blind that Jesus healed.  Messianic miracle number two.  Immediately after his healing we read, ”They brought him to the Pharisees, him that aforetime was blind” (vs.13)  The Pharisees, were angered by the fact that Jesus dared heal on the Sabbath, contrary to rabbinic teaching, but not, however,   in disobedience of the Law. They rejected the testimony of the healed man born blind, who said this, “Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing” (vs. 32-33)  They were well aware of the messianic claims declared by such a miracle.

 Messianic Miracle 3: “Casting Out a Dumb Demon” . As we mentioned in last months article, we are not referring to a “stupid demon”, but rather a demon who possessed someone who could not speak. We can read about the account of the third messianic miracle in Matthew 12: 22-26, where a man who was both blind and dumb, was possessed by a demon.

 The usual way for a Pharisee to cast out a demon was to speak to the demon, and obtain his name.  Then the demon would be commanded by name to leave his host.  If however, the person could not speak, the demon could not be cast out. Only Messiah, it was taught, could cast out a “dumb demon”.

 The purpose of the three messianic miracles was to establish the messianic credentials of Yeshua (Jesus) and cause national Israel to make a decision about his messiahship. The pharisees, representing national Israel, rejected Messiahs messianic credentials by declaring that his powers came from “Beelzebub”, Satan, and not from the God of Israel.

 At this time, the ministry of Jesus made a dramatic and significant change. Up until this point, all the miracles he performed were for the expressed purpose of establishing His messianic person, and those he healed were instructed to report their healing to the pharisees and chief priests.

 With His rejection by Israel, his miracles took on a different focus. His miracles were now for the benefit of those of faith in His messiahship, and for the instruction and edification of His disciples. He now instructed all to “tell no man” about their healings. He was preparing His disciples for His coming atoning death and resurrection as the “sacrifice lamb”.

Ron Cusano

Shiloh Ministries

www.Shiloh-Ministries.org
(631) 864-2932

PS: Please join us on the 2nd Tuesday of each month for a time of Messianic Fellowship at Samantha’s Lil Bit of Heaven, Larkfield Rd., East Northport, NY.  We invite you to join us for worship, praise, teaching, refreshments and fellowship.