Scripture: Matthew 9:1-8, 18-34; 11:2-6

Aim: To help the pupil understand that Jesus proved Himself to be the Messiah through the acts of healing that He performed.

Golden Text: “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached unto them’.” (Matthew 11:4-5).

Proofs that Jesus Christ is the Messiah to the Jewish nation are given in many ways. One is that Jesus exhibited divine power throughout the years of His ministry among men. He healed the lepers by His word (Matthew 8:1-4). He healed the centurion’s servant without going to see him (Matthew 8:5-13). He exerted power over disease and sickness by healing Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14-15), and casting out demon spirits from many (Matthew 8:16-17, 28-34). He controlled the winds and waves on the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 8:23-27). Jesus proved that He is the divine Son of God by the deeds He performed. They are the proofs of His deity.

I. Jesus forgave the sins of a paralytic and healed him (Matthew 9:1-7). The man was brought to Jesus on a bed (vs. 2). Jesus said, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven” (vs. 2). The scribes said to themselves that Jesus spoke blasphemy against God. Jesus know their thoughts (vs. 4). He turned to the paralytic and commanded him to get up, take up his bed and go home (vs. 6). He immediately did so.

II. Jesus exhibited power over disease and death (Matthew 9:18-26). The ruler of the synagogue came and asked Jesus to come raise his daughter who had just died (vs. 18). Jesus and the disciples began to follow the ruler (vs. 19). A woman who suffered from hemorrhaging touched the hem of Jesus’ robe and was immediately healed (vs. 20-21). Jesus looked at her and said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well” (vs. 22). She went home well.

Upon arriving at the ruler’s home, Jesus sent the mourning crowd out of the room, took the dead girl by the hand, and raised her up (vs. 25). She was presented alive and well.

III. Jesus healed two blind men (Matthew 9:27-31). The two heard that Jesus passed by. They began to cry out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David” (vs. 27). Jesus came into the house where they were. He touched their eyes and opened them. Their blindness was gone (vs. 28-30).

IV. Jesus cast out demons and cured a man possessed and dumb (Matthew 9:32-34). The crowds were amazed (vs. 33), and the Pharisees charged Jesus, “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons” (vs. 34). The charged Him of being in league with Satan. The opposite is true.

V. Jesus healed all kinds of diseases and sicknesses as He traveled from village to village (Matthew 9:35). This same thing is stated by Jesus in 11:5.

Jesus never met a sickness or disease that He could not heal. He never met a demon possessed person He could not release from possession and all the effects of the possession by demons. Death could not hold one whom He called forth from its realm. Never was such things seen in Israel or any where else. His was a power of absolute control over any and every thing. As the centurion exclaimed when Jesus was crucified, “Surely, this Man is the Son of God”!

Jesus spoke to the Jewish leaders on one occasion and asked them to believe His works, even though they did not believe His words. The works proved His words to be true. They prove Jesus Christ to be just Who Scripture claims Him to be, “Emmanuel”—God with us!