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Pharisees interpose their blasphemous statement, and Israel sinks into unrepentance and
blindness.
The miracles keep pace with the theme. Each Gospel writer chooses or rejects in
accordance with the special object of his narrative, and this is by far the most important
aspect in which to view the miracles. They can be considered in a detached and
undispensational manner safely afterwards, but that is not our present purpose.
(Miracles10, pp.105-109).
No.5.
The Miracles of the Rejection (Matt. 13: - 21:).
pp. 97 - 100
We have traced the ever deepening character of the evidences given to the Messiah by
the miracles which are recorded. Things physical and temporal, things spiritual and
eternal, come within their scope. We notice the cumulative character of the effect
produced:--
"His fame went throughout All Syria . . . . . and there followed Him great multitudes
of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and from Judea, and
from beyond Jordan" (Matt. 4: 24, 25).
The emphasis here is mainly on the geographical extent of the evidence. It included
practically all the land then occupied by the people of Israel.
The disciples themselves are the next to exhibit their impressions, marveling and
saying, "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!" When
the multitude witnessed the miracle of the healing of the sick of the palsy, "they
marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men". As a result of His
raising the ruler's daughter from the dead, "the fame thereof went abroad unto all that
land". The blind men who were healed disobeyed the Lord's injunction of silence and as
a result the fame of the Lord was spread abroad in all that country. When the dumb man
possessed with a demon was cured, the multitudes marveled, saying, "It was never so
seen in Israel".
Then follows the commission of the twelve (chapter 10:) who received from the Lord
power over unclean spirits, and to heal all manner of sickness and disease. Their power
was very full: "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons". Their
testimony was widespread. John in prison heard of the works of Christ and was
confirmed in the belief that these were indeed His evidences (11: 1-6).
After the healing of the blind and dumb demoniac, "the people were amazed, and said,
Is not this the Son of David?" This in the eyes of the Pharisees was a perilous question,
so that they reiterated their blasphemy that the Christ of God was in league with Satan.