The Mighty Power of Jesus

MEMORY VERSE: “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” —II Corinthians 12:9

MARK 4:35-41

TIME and time again Jesus’ disciples were astonished at the mighty power Jesus commanded. When he rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, “Peace, be still,” the wind ceased “and there was a great calm.” Noting this, the disciples “said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Jesus performed this miracle in the evening of a day of activity in proclaiming truths concerning the kingdom, and illustrating these teachings by parables. He had proclaimed the message to a multitude, and then, alone with his disciples, he explained the meaning of his parables.—Mark 4:33,34

The multitude was dismissed and, by Jesus’ request, he and his disciples entered into a ship to cross over to the other side of the lake. Jesus was weary and fell asleep in the stern of the ship. A heavy storm arose, and the ship began to fill with water. The disciples became fearful. They awakened Jesus, and chided him, saying, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”

At Jesus’ command the storm subsided, and the sea became calm. Then he turned the experience into a much needed lesson for his disciples. “He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” True, the disciples were not accustomed to seeing the wind and the waves thus brought under control. However, they had already witnessed many outstanding miracles performed by the Master, and if they had reasoned the matter out they would have realized that Jesus would also be able to bring the storm under control.

MARK 5:25-29, 34

The news concerning the miracle-working power of Jesus spread rapidly throughout Israel, and practically everywhere he went he was importuned for help. The woman who had been suffering from an issue of blood for twelve years had such great faith in Jesus’ ability to heal her that she did not wait for an opportunity to make a formal request. She reasoned that if she could but touch his garment she would be healed.

And she was right! Mingling with the crowd that surrounded Jesus, she managed to touch his garment, “and straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.” (vss. 28,29) Although Jesus had not seen the woman he felt that “virtue had gone out of him” and he turned to inquire who it was that had touched him. His disciples did not know.

But the woman, fearing and trembling, “knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” (vss. 33,34) Here we have another illustration of the healing power of Christ as it will be exercised during his millennial reign, when all the sick will be restored to health, and all the dead restored to life.

Our memory verse presents an important aspect of truth pertaining to divine healing. The Apostle Paul felt that he was greatly handicapped in his ministry by what he referred to as “a thorn in the flesh,” and he prayed that it might be removed. Many students believe that this “thorn” was possibly his partial blindness which had been with him since the time of his conversion.

Paul prayed three times that this “thorn in the flesh” might be removed. Certainly the Lord was abundantly able to perform this miracle for Paul, but he did not do so. He simply assured his faithful servant that his grace would be sufficient, saying to him, “My strength is made perfect in [your] weakness.” Paul’s experience in this connection points up the fact that a general ministry of divine healing is not the Lord’s plan for the present age.

So far as the records indicate, the miracles of healing performed by Jesus were all on behalf, not of his own disciples, but of the public generally. This ministry served a good purpose, especially since it illustrated the world-wide ministry of healing during the Millennial Age.

QUESTIONS

What was the disciples’ reaction to Jesus’ miracle of calming the storm?

What was illustrated by all his miracles of healing?

Should dedicated Christians expect to experience miraculous healing?

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