1.4 Healing Miracles Flashcards
What is an exorcism?
Getting evil spirits/demons removed from a person
What happens in the healing of Legion?
1) man possessed by demons
—> cutting himself, mouth foaming and in chains but breaking free
2) Jesus got rid of the demons and out them in the pigs
3) the pigs drowned in the lake and the man returns to his right mind, properly dressed
What does the healing of Legion show about the identity of Jesus?
He has power over evil
—> (man believed he was possessed by evil spirits and Jesus drove them out)
He has the power to heal and transform lives
The actions Jesus performs show his identity as the Son of God
—> the evil spirits recognise him for who he really is
Divergent understandings among Christians today (healing of Legion)
May find other explanations for Legion’s behaviour
—> mental health issue
Some may find it difficult to accept that Jesus caused the death of two thousand pigs
—> difficult to accept that Jesus doesn’t take into account the livelihood of the farmers
—> find other explanations for why the deaths of the pigs occur
What happens in the raising of Jairus’ daughter?
1) his daughter is sick and dies
2) Jesus: ‘Little girl, wake up’
3) she is alive (resurrection)
What happens with the bleeding woman?
1) she had been bleeding for 12 years
2) she touches His cloak
3) her bleeding stops
—> Jesus knows because He feels His power leave him
What does Jairus believing Jesus can heal his daughter show about Jesus?
He has been sent by God and those who believe in Him will have their faith rewarded
What does the raising of Jairus’ daughter show about the identity of Jesus?
Has the ability to heal and raise people from the dead
Can transform a hopeless situation into a happy one
—> women healed after 12 of suffering
—> daughter raised from the dead
He is the Messiah - extraordinary power and powers of knowledge (omniscient)
—> knows the women has touched Him - aware that “power has gone out of him”
Divergent understandings among Christians today (raising of Jairus’ daughter)
Find it difficult to believe that Jesus could break the laws of nature by raising someone to life
May interpret Jesus’ words, “she is only sleeping” literally
—> she was unconscious and not dead
Did it really happen?
—> why did Jesus raise this little girl but not everyone?
Difficult to understand that if a he was fully human, he could do things others can’t
—> may lead to confusion about Jesus’ identity
—> is He human or divine and how can He be both?
How many pigs died in the healing of Legion?
2000 pigs died to free one man from the power of evil
Who do the evil spirits recognise Jesus as (healing of Legion)?
The Son of God
“Jesus, Son of the most high God”
What does Legion being chained up symbolise?
His imprisonment to the power of evil
What does Legion wandering about the tombs symbolise?
The fact he was already as good as dead
What does Legion being in the hills symbolise?
His isolation from society
What does Legion cutting himself with stones symbolise?
Self-destructive power of the spirits who possessed him
What does Legion sitting after being healed symbolise?
Stability of mind
What does Legion being dressed after being healed symbolise?
His return to normal patterns of behaviour
Why might Jesus’ teachings and work still be limited to only the Jews?
Once he healed Legion he wouldn’t let him follow him
The man is a Gentile
