#63 The Blind, Dumb, and Possessed are Healed

#63 The Blind, Dumb, and Possessed are Healed

Please first read: Matthew 9:27-34; JST Matthew 9:36

Jesus the Christ

Apostle James E. Talmage

            “Two other instances of miraculous healing are chronicled by Matthew as closely following the raising of the daughter of Jairus. As Jesus passed down the streets of Capernaum, presumably on His departure from the house of the ruler of the synagog, two blind men followed Him, crying out: “Thou son of David, have mercy on us.” This title of address was voiced by others at sundry times, and in no case do we find record of our Lord disclaiming it or objecting to its use. Jesus paused not to heed this call of the blind, and the two sightless men followed Him, even entering the house after Him. Then He spoke to them, asking: “Believe ye that I am able to do this?” and they replied, “Yea, Lord.” Their persistency in following the Lord was evidence of their belief that in some way, though to them unknown and mysterious, He could help them; and they promptly and openly confessed that belief. Our Lord touched their eyes, saying: “According to your faith be it unto you.” The effect was immediate; their eyes were opened. They were explicitly instructed to say nothing of the matter to others; but, rejoicing in the inestimable blessing of sight, “they spread abroad his fame in all that country.” So far as we can unravel the uncertain threads of sequence in the works of Christ, this is the earliest instance, recorded with attendant details, of His giving sight to the blind. Many remarkable cases [will] follow.

            “It is worthy to note that in blessing the sightless by the exercise of His healing power, Jesus usually ministered by some physical contact in addition to uttering the authoritative words of command or assurance. In this instance, as also in that of two blind men who sat by the wayside, He touched the sightless eyes; in the giving of sight to the blind indigent in Jerusalem He anointed the man’s eyes with clay; to the eyes of another He applied saliva. An analogous circumstance is found in the healing of one who was deaf and defective of speech, in which instance the Lord put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue. In no case can such treatment be regarded as medicinal or therapeutic. Christ was not a physician who relied upon curative substances, nor a surgeon to perform physical operations; His healings were the natural results of the application of a power of His own. It is conceivable that confidence, which is a stepping-stone to belief, as that in turn is to faith, may have been encouraged by these physical ministrations, strengthened and advanced to a higher and more abiding trust in Christ, on the part of the afflicted who had not sight to look upon the Master’s face and derive inspiration therefrom, nor hearing to hear His uplifting words. There is apparent not alone an entire absence of formula and formalism in His ministration, but a lack of uniformity of procedure quite as impressive.

            “As the two men, once sightless but now seeing, departed, others came, bringing a dumb friend whose affliction seems to have been primarily due to the malignant influence of an evil spirit rather than to any organic defect. Jesus rebuked the wicked spirit – cast out the demon that had obsessed the afflicted one and held him in the tyranny of speechlessness. The man’s tongue was loosened, he was freed from the evil incubus and was no longer dumb.”

Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord

R.C. Trench

            “We have here the first of those many healings of the blind recorded (Matthew 12, 20, 21; John 9) or alluded to (Matthew 11) in the Gospels; each of them a literal fulfillment of that prophetic word of Isaiah concerning the days of Messiah: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened.” (Isaiah 35)

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Alfred Edersheim

Several happenings occur here that should be noted.

1.      For the first time we observe the presence and murmuring of the scribes who will be bitter enemies of the Savior from now on.

2.      For the first time of record Jesus makes a “distinct declaration about the forgiveness of sins.” He does not claim power to do so, but a seed is planted.

3.      At a loss for a better reason Jesus’ opponents claim he is doing his works by the power of darkness, by satanic agency from the evil one. This is not new but is becoming more widespread. Some had already raised this against John the Baptist. Accusations against Jesus of working in league “through the ruler of the demons will intensify.” (Matthew 9:33-34)

Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Volume 1

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie

            “Messianic prophecies foretold that Jesus would work mighty miracles, heal the sick, raise the dead, cause the lame to walk, “the blind to receive their sight,” and the deaf to hear, and that he would cure all manner of diseases. (Mosiah 3:5)

            “Matthew 9:27-31 Frequently opening the eyes of the blind, Jesus, as here, coupled his spoken command with some physical act. On this and other occasions he touched the sightless eyes. (Matthew 20:30-34) In healing the man in Jerusalem who was blind from birth, he anointed the man’s eyes with clay made with spittle and then he had the man wash in the pool of Siloam. (John 9:6-7) The blind man of Bethsaida was healed by application of saliva to his eyes. (Mark 8:22-26) Similarly, in healing a deaf man with a speech impediment, Jesus both touched the man’s tongue and put his own fingers into the man’s ears. (Mark 7:32-37)

            “None of these unusual and dissimilar acts are essential to the exercise of healing power. Healing miracles are performed by the power of faith and in the authority of the priesthood. By doing these physical acts, however, the Master’s apparent purpose was to strengthen the faith of the blind or deaf person, persons who were denied the ability to gain increased assurance and resultant faith by seeing his countenance or hearing his words.”

Life and Words of Christ

Cunningham Geikie

Galilee was one of the most receptive areas for Jesus. Wherever he went multitudes sought after and followed him. He now returns to Peter’s house. Many greet him as the long-expected Messiah with “have mercy on us son of David.” Many lived under conditions that were deemed to be punishments from God against them for something done wrong. Destitute, uneducated, leprous, no family, childless, blind. Many of these were quick to profess faith that Jesus could heal and help them – and he did so. Many others considered them stricken of God, “dead,” by the hard Judaism of that day. Yet here is Jesus associating with them and healing all. “Either He or they must be totally wrong.”

Glenn R. McGettigan

June 2019

References

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord.” Trench

“The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Volume 1. Edersheim

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” Volume 1. McConkie

“Life and Words of Christ.” Geikie

#62 The Woman with an Issue of Blood

The scriptures for both #61 and #62 are woven together with each event having an influencing affect upon the other. Please first read the scriptures as a single unit to get the feeling of those who experienced both events. Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:22-43; and Luke 8:41-56.

#62 The Woman with an Issue of Blood

Our Lord of the Gospels

President J. Reuben Clark Jr.

            “Jesus going through the crowd is touched on the garment by a woman who for twelve years has had an issue of blood and had “suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse;” she has faith that if she touches only the garment of Jesus she will be healed; she touches his garment and is healed immediately; Jesus senses the touch for he says, “I perceive that virtue is gone out of me;” Jesus asks who touched him; the disciples saw no one, she then comes forward and falling down before him, tells all; he says “Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”

Jesus the Christ

Apostle James E. Talmage

            “While Jesus was walking to the house of Jairus with a great crowd of people thronging about Him, the progress of the company was arrested by another case of suffering. In the throng was a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with a serious ailment involving frequent hemorrhage. She had spent in medical treatment all she had owned, and “had suffered many things of many physicians,” but had steadily grown worse. She worked her way through the crowds, and approaching Jesus from behind, touched His robe; “For she said, If I may touch but his clothes I shall be whole.” The effect was more than magical; immediately she felt the thrill of health throughout her body, and knew that she had been healed of her affliction. Her object attained, the blessing she sought being now secured, she tried to escape notice by hastily dropping back into the crowd. But her touch was not unheeded by the Lord. He turned to look over the throng and asked, “Who touched me?” As the people denied, the impetuous Peter speaking for himself and the others said: “Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?” But Jesus answered: “Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.”

            “The woman, finding that she could not escape identification, came tremblingly forward, and, kneeling before the Lord, confessed what she had done, her reason for so doing, and the beneficent result. If she had expected censure her fears were promptly set at rest, for Jesus, addressing her by a term of respect and kindness, said: “Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace,” and as Mark adds, “be whole of thy plague.”

            “The woman’s faith was sincere and free from guile, nevertheless it was in a sense defective. She believed that the influence of Christ’s person, and even that attaching to His raiment, was a remedial agency, ample to cure her malady; but she did not realize that the power to heal was an inherent attribute to be exercised at His will, and as the influence of faith might call it forth. True, her faith had already been in part rewarded, but of greater worth to her than the physical cure of illness would be the assurance that the divine Healer had granted the desire of her heart, and that the faith she had manifested was accepted by Him. To correct her misapprehension and to confirm her faith, Jesus gently subjected her to the necessary ordeal of confession, which must have been made easier through her consciousness of the great relief already experienced. He confirmed the healing and let her depart with the comforting assurance that her recovery was permanent.

            “In contrast with the many cases of healing in connection with which the Lord charged the beneficiaries that they should tell none how or by whom they have been relieved, we see here that publicity was made sure by His own action, and that too, when secrecy was desired by the recipient of the blessing. The purposes and motives of Jesus may be but poorly understood by man; but in this woman’s case we see the possibility of stories strange and untrue getting afloat, and it appears to have been the wiser course to make plain the truth then and there. Moreover the spiritual worth of the miracle was greatly enhanced by the woman’s confession and by the Lord’s gracious assurance.

            “Observe the significant assertion, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” Faith is of itself a principle of power; and by its presence or absence, by its fullness of paucity, even the Lord was and is influenced, and in great measure controlled, in the bestowal or withholding of blessings; for He ministers according to law, and not with caprice or uncertainty. We read that at a certain time and place Jesus “could there do no mighty work” because of the people’s unbelief. Modern revelation specifies that faith to be healed is one of the gifts of the Spirit, analogous to the manifestations of the power of the Holy Priesthood.

            “Our Lord’s inquiry as to who had touched Him in the throng affords us another example of His asking questions in pursuance of a purpose, when He could readily have determined the facts directly and without aid from others. There was a special purpose in the question, as every teacher finds a means of instruction in questioning his pupils. But there is in Christ’s question, “Who touched me?” a deeper significance than could inhere in a simple inquiry as to the identity of an individual; and this is implied in the Lord’s further words: “Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.” The usual external act by which His miracles were wrought was a word or command, sometimes accompanied by the laying on of hands, or by some other physical ministration as anointing the eyes of the blind man. That there was an actual giving of His own strength to the afflicted who He healed is evident from the present instance. Passive belief on the part of a would-be recipient of blessing is insufficient; so also of one who ministers in the authority given of God, mental and spiritual energy must be operative if the service is to be effective.”

The Four Gospels

Daniel H. Ludlow

            “Jesus deliberately publicized this healing miracle. Rather than permit a story to go forth, from which spiritually illiterate persons might falsely suppose that the woman was healed by some virtue attaching to his clothing, or even his own person, Jesus required the woman to tell what she had done, to testify of the blessing received, and to receive from his lips the assurance that the healing grace had come to her because of her faith.”

The woman knew that her touching anyone would make them ceremonially unclean for the rest of the day, and doing so was forbidden by Jewish law. Would Jesus be angry with her? Jesus immediately raises the matter of “touching” for all to hear. (Luke 8:46-48).  He addresses any potential future speculation that it was by some satanic power that the healing occurred. He is the One responsible.

Other relevant thoughts:

History of the Church, Volume 4

In July of 1839, at Commerce (Nauvoo) Illinois, there was a large group of saints camped out with much sickness. Church leaders, including Joseph Smith, were also infected. No meetings were held on Sunday July 21. On July 22 the Prophet arose from his sick bed and began the work of healing. As other Brethren were healed they were commanded to administer to and heal others. “The sick were administered unto with great success, but many remained sick and many new cases are occurring daily.”

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie

            “Joseph Smith, under date of March 14, 1843, wrote in his journal: “Elder Jedidiah M. Grant inquired of me the cause of my turning pale and losing strength last night while blessing children. I told him that I saw Lucifer would exert his influence to destroy the children that I was blessing, and I strove with all the faith and spirit that I had to seal upon them a blessing that would secure their lives upon the earth; and so much virtue went out of me in the children, that I became weak, from which I have not yet recovered; and I referred to the case of the woman touching the hem of the garment of Jesus. The virtue referred to is the [Spirit of Life;] and a man who exercises great faith in administering to the sick, blessing little children, or confirming, is liable to become weakened.”

Glenn R. McGettigan

May 2019

References

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“The Four Gospels.” Ludlow

“History of the Church.” Volume 4

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” McConkie

           

#61 Raising of the Daughter of Jairus

The scriptures for both #61 and #62 are woven together with each event having an influencing affect upon the other. Please first read the scriptures as a single unit to get the feeling of those who experienced both events. Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:22-43; and Luke 8:41-56.

#61 Raising of the Daughter of Jairus

Our Lord of the Gospels

President J. Reuben Clark Jr.

            “Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, whose daughter lies dying, comes and asks Jesus to come and lay his hands on her that she may live; while they are on the way, messengers come saying the daughter is dead; Jesus bids Jairus have faith, saying all will be well; reaching the house Jesus tells the people there that the child is not dead but sleeps; they laugh him to scorn; taking Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother into the room with him, and putting all others out, he takes the daughter by the hand and commands her to rise; she rises straightway and he commands that they give her something to eat and charges them they shall tell no man what was done.”

Jesus the Christ

Apostle James E. Talmage

            “Jesus and his attendants recrossed the lake from the land of Gadara to the vicinity of Capernaum, where He was received with acclamation by a multitude of people, “for they were all waiting for him.” Immediately after landing, Jesus was approached by Jairus, one of the rulers of the local synagogue, who “besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.”

            “The fact of this man’s coming to Jesus, with the spirit of faith and supplication, is an evidence of the deep impression the ministry of Christ had made even in priestly and ecclesiastical circles. Many of the Jews, rulers and officials as well as the people in common, believed in Jesus; though few belonging to the upper classes were willing to sacrifice prestige and popularity by acknowledging their discipleship. That Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue, came only when impelled by grief over the impending death of his only daughter, a girl of twelve years, is no evidence that he has not before become a believer; certainly at this time his faith was genuine and his trust sincere, as the circumstances of the narrative prove. He approached Jesus with the reverence due One whom he considered able to grant what he asked, and fell at the Lord’s feet, or as Matthew says, worshiped Him. When the man had started from his home to seek aid of Jesus, the maiden was at the point of death; he feared lest she had died in the interval. In the very brief account given in the first Gospel, he is reported as saying to Jesus: “My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her and she shall live.” Jesus went with the imploring father, and many followed.

            “On the way to the house an incident occurred to hinder progress. A sorely afflicted woman was healed, under circumstances of peculiar interest; this occurrence we shall consider presently. No intimation is given that Jairus showed impatience or displeasure over the delay; he had placed trust in the Master and awaited His time and pleasure; while Christ was engaged in the matter of the suffering woman, messengers came from the ruler’s house with the saddening word that the girl was dead. We may infer that even these dread tidings of certainty failed to destroy the man’s faith; he seems to have still looked to the Lord for help, and those who had brought the message asked, “Why troublest thou the Master any further – ?” Jesus heard what was said, and sustained the man’s sorely taxed faith by the encouraging behest: “Be not afraid, only believe.” Jesus permitted none of His followers save three of the apostles to enter the house with Himself and the bereaved but trusting father. Peter and the two brothers James and John were admitted.

            “The house was no place of such respectful silence or subdued quiet as we now consider appropriate to the time and place of death; on the contrary it was a scene of tumult, but that condition was customary in the orthodox observances of mourning at the time. Professional mourners, including singers of weird dirges, and minstrels who made great noise with flutes and other instruments, had already been summoned to the house. To all such Jesus said, on entering, “Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead but sleepeth.” It was in effect a repetition of His comment uttered on a then recent occasion – Peace, be still. His words drew scorn and ridicule from those who were paid for the noise they made, and who, if what He said proved true, would lose this opportunity of professional service. Moreover, they knew the maid was dead; preparations for the funeral, which custom required should follow death as speedily as possible, were already in progress. Jesus ordered these people out, and restored peace to the house. He then entered the death chamber, accompanied only by the three apostles and the parents of the girl. Taking the dead maiden by the hand He “said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.” To the astonishment of all but the Lord, the girl arose, left her bed, and walked. Jesus directed that food be given her, as bodily needs, suspended by death, had returned with the girl’s renewal of life. 

            “The Lord imposed an obligation of secrecy, charging all present to refrain from telling what they had seen. The reasons for this injunction are not stated.”

Note: Peter, James, and John were the only three of the Twelve selected by Jesus to witness the raising of the daughter of Jairus. They will be the same three to witness the transfiguration of Jesus, and then the sole witnesses of our Lord’s agony in Gethsemane.

The Mortal Messiah, book 2

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie

            “[Jesus] has just spoken peace to a Galilean tempest and called a legion of devils out of a wracked and tormented body, acting in each case on his own authority, taking no steps to build up the faith of the beneficiaries of his goodness. Each of these miracles manifest the absolute power inherent in him; sometimes Jesus healed the sick because he had faith to heal and not because they had faith to be healed.  

            “But now in the case of Jairus’s daughter and the woman with the issue of blood, we are about to see healings because those who sought the blessing had faith to be healed. And in each instance we shall see the Blessed One – bearing in himself, as it were, the sicknesses and infirmities of his brethren – we shall see him, with tender solicitude, encourage and increase the faith of those who see his goodness; we shall see him strengthen their faith lest by any chance they fail to obtain the blessings they seek.

            “One of the first to meet Jesus as he came ashore was Jairus, “ruler of the synagogue” in Capernaum. We know Jesus had preached often and wrought miracles in that very house of worship, and we know that such preaching was done at the solicitation of the Jewish elders who held local synagogue rule. Thus Jesus and Jairus knew and respected each other; this devout Jew had heard Jesus preach, had believed his words, and had rejoiced in the knowledge of other miracles. Is it too much to suppose he was present on that glorious Capernaum Sabbath when Jesus cast the evil spirit from the man in the synagogue of that city?

            “But whatever their prior association, Jairus had faith in Christ, and coming this day, “he fell down at Jesus’ feet” “and worshipped him.” “My little daughter lieth at the point of death,” he said. “I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.”

            “Can anyone doubt the faith of Jairus? Or that he knew and understood the ordinance of administration to the sick? “Come and lay thy hands on her,” he pled, “and she shall live!” “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.” (James 5:14-15) “And the elders of the church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name.” (D & C 42:44)

Glenn R. McGettigan

May 2019

References

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“The Mortal Messiah. Book 2.” McConkie

#60 Gadarene Demoniacs

#60 Gadarene Demoniacs

Please first read: Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39

President J. Reuben Clark Jr.:

“Crossing to the southerly coast of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus comes to the country of the Gadarenes; as he goes forth he meets two possessed with devils, who hail him as Jesus, Son of God and ask why he torments them before their time, and beseech him not to command them to go out into the deep but let them enter a nearby herd of some two thousand swine; Jesus permits this and the swine rush down into the sea and perish; the herders tell the people of the city who come out to see him, and seeing what has happened, they beseech Jesus to leave their country.”

Edersheim:

As Jesus comes to the shore the violence is vivid in the extreme. The absence of self-control; a homicidal/suicidal frenzy; a terrifying manifestation of demoniac power and influence. One so demonized seems to be irresistibly drawn to Jesus. It is obvious the demons [know Jesus.]

A characteristic of the demonized was they were incapable of separating their own consciousness and ideas from the influence of the demon. Their identity was merged and lost into that of their tormentors. There is the presence of superior power of evil taking temporary mental and moral control of the individual. Control seems to be absolute.

For those witnessing these events “there could be no doubt in their minds that one possessing supreme and unlimited power was in their midst.” They were a people living under the influence of superstitious fears and wariness. News of this would be spread around and much discussed.

At this time it was a common Jewish idea that under certain circumstances “hurtful spirits” were on the watch for men in order to acquire their bodies.

At the conclusion of the day’s events we find the individual involved now peacefully “sitting at the feet of Jesus, learning of him, and in his right mind.” Contrary to what was commonly the case, when the evil spirits came out of the demonized, there was no paroxysm or physical distress. 

Geikie:

There was no medical knowledge or facilities or ways to deal with and help anyone who became “possessed.” When fear and danger of being injured [arose] from one in this condition they were publicly banished from contact with society and forced to live where they could – hence outside the cities in tombs, caves, and uninhabited places. One such location is at Gadara, where this took place.

            “Madness in every form has, in all ages, been treated by the rude therapeutics of the East, as a supernatural visitation, with which it is unsafe to interfere more than is needed, and hence, even at this day, furious and dangerous maniacs may, from time to time, be seen in the towns absolutely naked. They often betake themselves to the mountains and sleep in tombs and caves. In their paroxysms they become terribly dangerous, for their mental excitement gives them prodigious strength, and one is sometimes a terror to a whole neighborhood.”

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie:

Demons can control the very words spoken by the one possessed. Devils remember Jesus from the preexistence, and recognize and know who he is, the Redeemer. They know that one opposing him is in open rebellion against deity. Devils now suffer eternal torment because they know they can never gain bodies.

There is a set time appointed when devils shall have no more power over mortal men and when they shall be cast out into that eternal hell prepared for them. This fact is known to them, in consequence of which they labor with inordinate zeal to overthrow the work of God during the “short time” allotted to them. (Revelations 12:12)

At final judgement “the devil and his angels shall go away into everlasting fire.” 

(2 Nephi 9:16)

If the swine were owned by Jews it was a violation of their religion. If by gentiles it was illegal under local customs and laws.

Apostle James E. Talmage:

“The demoniac was in a pitiful plight. His frenzy had become so violent and the physical strength incident to his mania so great that all attempts to hold him in captivity had failed. He had been bound in chains and fetters, but these he had broken asunder by the aid of demon power; and he had fled to the mountains, to caverns that served as tombs, and there he had lived more like a wild beast than a man. Night and day his weird, terrifying shrieks had been heard, and through dread of meeting him people traveled by other ways rather than pass near his haunts. He wandered about naked, and in his madness often gashed his flesh with sharp stones.”

“The man who had been rid of the demons feared not; in his heart love and gratitude superseded all other feelings; and as Jesus returned to the boat he prayed that he might go also. But Jesus forbade, saying, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee and hath had compassion on thee.” The man became a missionary, not alone in his home town but throughout Decapolis, the region of the ten cities; wherever he went he told of the marvelous change Jesus had wrought on him.”

Farrar:

As Jesus disembarked from the ship “there burst into his presence a man troubled with the most exaggerated form of that raging madness which was universally attributed to demoniasal possession. Amid all the boasted civilization of antiquity, there existed no hospitals, no penitentiaries, no asylums; and unfortunates of this class, being too dangerous and desperate for human intercourse, could only be driven forth from among their fellow men, and restrained from mischief by methods at once inadequate and cruel.”

Public belief at that time was that to recall a maniacs attention to his name, to awake his memory, to touch his sympathies by part association often produced a lucid interval. Jesus attempts to engage the man in this way, “What is thy name?” But that only results in wild antics.

The people were afraid, “more afraid of that Holy Presence than that of the previous fury of the possessed. The man indeed was saved, but what of that, considering that some of their two thousand unclean beasts had perished.”

Howick:

The demoniac had had devils a long time, was exceeding fierce, lived in the tombs, could not be bound, lived naked as a wild man, was in the public, injured himself with stones, recognized Jesus, fell down before him, worshipped him, conversed with him, pleaded with him.

The terms “deep,” “abyss,” “bottomless pit,” refer to “outer darkness” reserved for evil sprits at the time of final judgment.

Demons would prefer control over any body rather than none.

The witnessing Galileans were a superstitious people to begin with and were afraid. No wonder they wanted Jesus to leave.  

The three synoptic gospels report this miracle. John does not.

The Prophet Joseph Smith:

The great principle of happiness consists in having a body. The devil has no body, and herein is his punishment. He is pleased when he can obtain the tabernacle of man, and when cast out by the Savior he asked to go into a herd of swine, showing that he would prefer a swine’s body to having none.

Evil spirits have more knowledge and consequently more power than many men who are on the earth.

Anchor Bible – Mark – C.S. Mann:

The common ancient belief was that demons were associated with particular places/localities. The abyss was their place of final judgment and punishment.

Anchor Bible – Luke – Joseph Fitzmyer:

The story has all the features of a typical exorcism. Pagan tombs would be a source of uncleanness for a Jew and they would not go therein. It was easy to associate demons with the realm of death.

Is Jesus not being shown as cruel to the animals? Also he is causing the owners of the pigs a severe financial loss. Obviously such questions miss the point of the gospel story itself being recounted for a symbolic and religious purpose.

Pertinent Thoughts from Other Christian Scholars

The word ‘deep’ may mean ‘empty:’ do not cast out into the empty, or into the nothing.

“What is thy name?” In the JST Jesus commands him to “Declare thy name.” (Mark 5:9)

A first century general belief was that by using the true name of an entity this would give a person power over it.

Glenn R. McGettigan

April 2019

References

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark

“The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Edersheim. 1883

“The Life and Words of Christ.” Geikie. 1844

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” Volume 1. McConkie

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“The Life of Christ.” Farrar. 1874

“Life of Jesus the Messiah.” Howick

“Teachings of Prophet Joseph Smith.” Smith

“The Anchor Bible, Mark.” Mann

“The Anchor Bible, Luke.” Fitzmyer

“The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ.” Volume 1. Holzaphel

#59 Stilling The Storm

#59 Stilling The Storm

Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25

Apostle James E. Talmage:

It is at Jesus’ direction that he and his disciples launch the boat and head for the other side of the lake. “Jesus found a resting place near the stern of the ship and soon fell asleep. A great storm arose and still he slept. He was subject to fatigue and bodily exhaustion from other causes as are all men; without food he grew hungry; without drink he thirsted; by labor he became weary. He was in a good state of health. No where do we find record of Jesus having been ill. He lived according to the laws of health, yet never allowed the body to rule the spirit. Sleep after toil is necessary. The day’s work done, Jesus slept.

“The disciples were terror stricken; yet through it all Jesus rested peacefully. In their extremity of fear, the disciples awakened him, crying out, according to the several independent accounts, ‘Master, Master, we perish;’ ‘Lord save us: we perish’; and, ‘Master, carest thou not we perish?’ They were abjectly frightened, and at least partly forgetful that there was with them One whose voice even death had to obey. Their terrified appeal was not wholly devoid of hope nor barren of faith. ‘Lord save us’ they cried. Calmly he responded to their piteous call, ‘Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?”

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie:

“The Sea of Galilee is thirteen miles by seven miles wide. It is a lake of fresh, fish-filled water, 695 feet below sea level, at a base of rugged hills and mountains. This combination causes sudden atmospheric downdrafts and tempestuous winds resulting in sudden and violent storms on the lake. This storm was unusually fierce. Waters beating over the ship. The danger of sinking is very real.”

In Jesus’ chastising words is the feeling of an unspoken message, that if their faith had been strong enough they would have, could have, stilled the storm themselves. (Perhaps by praying in Jesus name.) Jesus was a God before coming to this earth. He was a God while on the earth and continues a God throughout all eternity. Notwithstanding this, he partook in full the experiences of mortality, and to a degree beyond our comprehension.     

The disciples knew Jesus had divine powers and could save them even from the raging tempest. Because of their fear they were themselves devoid of that confidence and assurance which could have enabled them to still the storm; yet, almost instinctively, they knew their Master would do what they hesitated to attempt.

            “As with almost all men in their divers walks, greater faith should have been evidenced by the disciples as their ship struggled in the surging waves of the Galilean sea. “O ye of little faith,” and “Where is your faith?” [the Master challenged.]

            “Implicit therein is the assurance that by faith they also could have commanded the elements and had them obey. By faith all things are possible, and when the Lord’s servants rise in the full majesty of their callings, they have “power to command the waters.”” (D&C 61:27)

                                          

Thoughts of Interest from Other Writers:

In spite of all the miracles of healing, including restoration of life itself, the disciples seem unable to accept the fact that Jesus has control of all the elements. They say, “What manner of man is this? For he commands even the winds and water and they obey him!” However, they still refer to him as ‘man.’ (Geikie)

There seems to be some connection between the miracle of healing, the teachings of that day and the miracle of rescue from the storms of that evening. Jesus has done much healing, has rebuked fever (Luke 4:39) and the paroxysm of the demonized (Mark 9:25) and now rebukes the winds of the sea as the Jehovah of old. (Psalms 106:9) Awake or asleep, Jesus is Master. (Edersheim)

Always after a storm and the winds die down there is a period of time before the sea swells become quiet. This time however they stop immediately. (Shepherd)

Travelers are often endangered by these sudden fierce storms that seem to spring up almost from nowhere. (Farrar)

In the common Greek language in use in that day, when Jesus told the elements, “Peace! Be Still!” It was a command to ‘muzzle,’ literally, “I Muzzle You.” (Farrar)

The Apostles reaction to these events testifies that they believed they did happen. The three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and John testify of their truth and agree on their description and details. (Howick)

Jesus and his disciples would be heading to the opposite (northeast) side of the lake. There would be a small town where they could get food and a place to rest. (Pentecost)

In the close circle around Jesus were those fishermen whose families made their living from the sea of Galilee. They would be well experienced in gauging the seriousness of a storm at sea and speak accordingly. Luke writes, “they were in grave danger.” (Luke 8:23) (Pentecost)

Dr. Thompson (The Land and the Book) gives a description founded on his personal experience on the shores of the lake: “I spent a night in that Wady Shukaiyif, some three miles up it, to the left of us. The sun had scarcely set when the wind began to rush down toward the lake, and it continued all night long with constantly increasing violence, so that when we reached the shore next morning the face of the lake was a huge boiling cauldron. The wind howled down every wady from the northeast to the east with such fury that no efforts of rowers could have brought a boat to shore at any point along that coast. . . . To understand the causes of these sudden and violent tempests, we must remember that the lake lies low – six hundred feet lower than the ocean; that the vast and naked plateaus of the Jaulan rise to a great height, spreading backward to the wilds of the Hauran, and upward to snowy Hermon; and the water-courses have cut out profound ravines and wild gorges converging to the head of this lake, and that these act like gigantic funnels to draw down the cold winds from the mountains.”

Glenn R. McGettigan

March 2019

References

“Miracles of Jesus the Messiah.” Howick

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” Volume 1. McConkie

“The Mortal Messiah.” Volume 2. McConkie

“The Life of Christ.” Farrar

“The Words and Works of Jesus Christ.” Pentecost

“The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Volume 1. Edersheim

“The Christ of the Gospels.” Shephard

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“The Life and Words of Christ.” Geikie

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark

“Scriptural Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith.” Smith