Miracles in Yeshua’s day
By: S. Laskowski
Was the performing of miracles, such as casting out demons, uncommon in Yeshua’s day? The answer would have to be no. The performing of miracles, such as casting out demons, was not that uncommon, because even certain Pharisees and their followers could perform such miracles. On the issue of casting out demons, there was a specific Jewish ritual performed. The ritual was performed in the following order:
1. Communication with the demon
2. Find out the demon’s name
3. Casting out the demon by his name
We know, on occasion, Yeshua used this specific ritual (Example, Mark 5:1-20).
There is a demon that made Judaism powerless to cast out, and that is the demon that made a person mute (dumb). However, the rabbis of that day did teach that when Messiah comes, he would be able to cast out the demon that made one mute (dumb). They separated the performing of miracles into two classifications. First, the miracles that anyone can perform, if he was empowered by the Spirit of God to do so. Second, there were certain miracles only Messiah can perform. The miracles in which only Messiah could perform were classified as “Messianic Miracles.” There are three main miracles in the Messianic classification, and they are:
1. The healing of a leper - Example, Mark 1:40-45
2. The healing of a person born blind - Example, John 9
3. The casting out of a dumb demon (The demon that makes one mute) - Example, Matthew 12:22-37
In short, Yeshua performed many miracles including the ones classified as “Messianic Miracles.” The crowds and followers became amazed, and began to question his Messiahship. For example, they asked, “Is not this the son of David?”(Matt. 12:23) In other words, they were asking, “Can Yeshua really be the Messiah?” “Is not this the very miracle that ONLY Messiah can perform?” So, if these certain “Messianic Miracles” were performed by Yeshua, then “Is not this the son of David?”
The proof of His Messiahship is there, and the question has been raised - You decide!
