4 “And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Matthew 11:4–6 (ESV)
The Lord Jesus answered John the Baptist’s question concerning whether or not He was the promised Messiah. The Lord pointed the empirical evidence. In other words, what had John and others heard and observed about Jesus’ ministry? Jesus cited six specific evidences that He was the Messiah.
First, Jesus restored sight to the blind. To receive (ἀναβλέπω; anablepo) means to presently and actively regain the ability to see. Literally, it means to look up, down and around and be able to see what you are looking at. This specifically refers to the blind (τυφλός; typhlos) who are those unable to see. The text does not insinuate any psychosomatic illness.
Second, Jesus healed the lame who now walked. The lame (χωλός; cholos) refers to the crippled and physically maimed. This is a disability that involves the imperfect use of the lower limbs. Jesus healed the lame enabling them to walk.
Third, Jesus cleansed lepers. To cleanse (καθαρίζω; katharizo) means to make clean. This healing would make the leper ceremonially clean and able to participate in the Jewish temple sacrifices.
Fourth, Jesus restored hearing to the deaf. The deaf (κωφός; kophos) refers to not only those who are unable to hear but also unable to speak. Conversely, to restore the ability to hear also suggests restoring the ability to speak.
Fifth, Jesus raised the dead. The dead (νεκρός; nekros) means the physically dead. Jesus raised (ἐγείρω; egeior) or resurrected the physically dead.
Sixth, Jesus preached good news to the poor in spirit. The poor (πτωχός; ptochos) receive the good news of the Gospel.
“Jesus sent John’s disciples back as eyewitnesses of many miracles. Evidently he performed these miracles in their presence just so that they could report back to John that they had personally seen proof that he was indeed the Messiah (cf. Isa. 29:18–19; 35:5–10). Notice, however, that he offered no further explanation to John, knowing exactly how strong John’s faith was (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13),” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
It should be noted that in each case of each miracle Jesus performed, it was to more than one person. All of the nouns (blind, lame, leper, deaf, dead and poor) are plural.
“Jesus answers John’s question indirectly with a list of miracles (vv. 4–5), most of which are drawn from messianic prophecies in Isaiah 35 and 61,” states Dr. R. C. Sproul. “Interestingly, He does not recite the promises of vengeance also found in these chapters from Isaiah. It is as if He is saying to John, “Yes, I am the Messiah and my miracles prove it. But the final judgment is yet to come. In the meantime, I will preach the Gospel to the poor and redeem God’s people.” Christ is inviting John to read Isaiah again and bring his expectations of the Messiah’s work into line with what the prophet says about how the righteous (especially Jesus) must suffer before the kingdom comes in all its fullness (chap. 53).”
Today, remember the many miracles Jesus has performed in your own life. The number one miracle is your conversion by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Soli deo Gloria!
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