The unique casting out of demons miracle once debated publicly over months by Gladstone (Prime Minister) and Huxley ('Darwin's bulldog'). First: the event reviewed; secondly: the Gospel it portrays, especially the three pleas of mankind; and thirdly: its counsel for believers on avoiding backsliding.

Christ begins with an evangelistic commission for all believers. Why do we fail in this? Rewards are promised in this life. Then a parable shows our part and God's, in witness. Finally comes the quelling of the tempest, the encouragement of faith for the work.

The healing of a speechless sick youth by Christ was not only an act of compassion, but an illustration of the spiritual disorder that racks all of us before conversion. Here is the problem and the healing of the soul.

The special aims of this tract-like Gospel and its unique themes, including attention to the 'signs following' of chapter 16 ('the Pentecostal mistake') and the numerous uses of 'immediately' and their rich pastoral messages as used in different passages.

We begin with Capernaum - a city of spiritually dead though religious Jews, and a significant healing in the synagogue. Then we give seven proofs that Christ's healing miracles pictured His spiritual healing of souls. Then two special miracles and the message of salvation to us today.

The first recorded healing of a leper by Christ and how it illustrates conversion, together with the healing of a paralysed man of Capernaum and its parallels with salvation. More than a demonstration of power, here is the call of Christ in miracles.

Following the sermon on the mount, a leper runs to Christ for healing, providing a clear pattern for approaching Him for pardon and new life. Here is the faith that connects to God, how it emerges and how it is explained, leading to reconciliation with Him.  You May Be Also…

All Christ's healing miracles demonstrated both His divinity and the way He restores spirtually all who come to Him. The Lord's first healing of a leper says everything about the way to approach Him for the great experience of conversion, and the receiving of a new life.

First - what Christ saw in Matthew; second - Christ viewed as the Physician; third - why the disciples did not fast; fourth - the patching of the old garment and the new wine into old bottles: the distinctiveness of the testaments, and the necessity of total conversion for seekers.

This history of Herod Antipas and his imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist tells of the conscience, both its power and weaknesses. Here are lessons for believers and seekers from Herod, Herodias and 'Salome', far richer than the dramas from successful Hollywood screenwriters.

Here are the purposes of the sabbath, the additional purpose after deliverance from Egypt, and the even greater purpose after the resurrection of Christ. Here also is the error of rejecting the fourth commandment today, and how Christ is the Lord of the sabbath.

Christ's high priestly prayer 'Sanctify them through thy truth' takes us to the moral law and a review of the fourth commandment. Here are the biblical reasons (and the resulting blessings) for honouring the Lord's Day. Here also are its biblical purposes and warnings.

Christ was indignant and grieved at the scribes' hardness of heart, and here is why. We also see what gives believers times of coldness, and show the remedies. The healing of a man's withered hand illustrates the way saving faith operates to bring conversion.

The call of the disciples, their unique role, and the care and patience of Christ in their training. Then the preparation of the church for extreme and persistent opposition, the reasons why demons were cast out, the unpardonable sin, and the supreme mark of true conversion.

A new beginning for a new year from the parable of the sower. Why the Lord used parables. The universal tender of salvation vital. The various states of heart of hearers, with counsel to the unsaved and to believers.

Christ's parable about not covering a lampstand challenges us to listen to God, and not to remain unaware of how He must reject all who will not seek and find Him. How to listen so that we experience powerful life-changing answers to our prayers.

God appeals to our intelligent minds - but will we listen? Our inclination is to turn away, but if God in His mercy places in us a thirst for certain things, we listen and come to Him. Here are the needs that draw us to God.

Here are the circumstances that prepare us to open our minds to God, creating a sense of need, a willingness to learn, and a desire to be reconciled with Him. Here also Christ describes the means of finding Him and the experience of all who do.

Christ's parable illustrated spiritual truths marvellously, riveting minds, but they required thought, or the meaning would remain obscure. Here are the motives that would lead hearers to the meaning (both then and now) and to obtaining pardon and new life from Christ the Saviour.

Christ's miracle of the stilling of the tempest initially brought great fear to the disciples, because they realised as never before that He was divine. Now their minds were open to grasp His real purpose in reconciling people to God, and how He would achieve it.  You May Be Also…

As the disciples witnessed the miracles of Christ, they increasingly grasped that He was divine, the promised Messiah. This parallels our dawning realisation of His work in saving souls, which in turn brings us to seek His forgiveness, and the life-changing experience of conversion.

When Christ healed the twelve-year-old daughter of one named Jairus, he said, 'Only believe!' Why is this so vital, and exactly what form should our belief take in order for us to experience the unmistakable response of the Lord?

We trace, via the raising of a girl to life, stages in receiving the gift of salvation. First, recognition of Christ; second, the birth of faith; third, surmounting setbacks; fourth, sincerity; fifth, the vital filter of faith; sixth, how Christ acts; seventh, immediate life.

A woman’s struggle for healing illustrates our quest for spiritual life. Do we search? Her ‘touch’ expresses faith, of itself powerless, yet seeking life. Her faith made her ‘whole’, but the Greek says it ‘saved’ her. Here also is the message of the miracle to believers.

The care of a synagogue ruler who comes to Christ for the healing of a dying daughter illustrates the necessity of believing. Here are the reasons why belief is essential for conversion, its components and how it may come about. A message of life's purpose. The Lord Jesus Christ said:…

Why do Christ and numerous Bible passages insist on believing as the only way to approach God and experience conversion to Him? Why not actions or works or ceremonies? Here is what is unique and vital about believing, and what one must believe.

Early in their training by the Lord the disciples are sent on their first preaching mission. They were 'apostles', a special office for the first phase of the church, but their terms of service apply in principle to all believers, and especially preachers.

Miracles authenticated Christ and illustrate the way He heals and gives life to the soul. We learn of His compassion, and of His test of faith for the disciples. Then the eight purposes of the miracle, all showing Christ and how He should be proclaimed.

Famous militant atheists make many mistakes in their claims, and here are some, along with powerful proofs of God. Here too are the strong attractions of atheism, together with the deep and lasting losses. Also, here are the immense gains of belief in God and the experience of conversion.

Undoubtedly there are attractive-sounding benefits from rejecting God and investing in life without any spiritual concerns, and here are some of these. But see the weighty losses and the burdens, and also the compassion of Christ for human 'sheep not having a shepherd'.

Crossing the Sea of Galilee at night against the storm, the disciples are 'seen' by Christ from miles away. He comes to them walking on the water. Why does He demonstrate His divinity this way? Here are six lessons for all believers and for seekers.

In rejecting extra-biblical customs of Jewish tradition the Lord was not freeing believers to live as they liked but calling for genuine holiness rather than ceremonial cleansing. Here is His searching review of the state of the unforgiven human heart.

This is the occasion Christ called the multitudes around Him to make a momentous statement of principle. It was a matter on which Israel's 'clergy' had misled them - what defiles people to keep them out of Heaven? Here is the Lord's answer, and the only remedy.

Sin and guilt do not come, says Christ, from eating ritually banned foods, but are generated from the thoughts of the mind - the 'heart'. These contaminate us, shutting us off from God and Heaven. Here is the Lord's list of our sins, and His remedy for a new life.

The Lord delayed His healing of the Syrophenician's daughter to bring out her faith. A seeker may have to wait for salvation. Sometimes it is defective repentance; sometimes faith is not set on the right object - Christ and His work and compassion. Here is help from a notable case.

Before conversion, we do not realise how out of touch with God we are; how little we know about Him, and how unable we are to even address Him. This healing miracle by Christ teaches how channels of communication are opened by His loving kindness.

Beginning with lessons from the Lord's feeding of the 4,000, the Jewish leaders attempt to discredit Him. Here is why they would obtain no sign. Here also are their doctrines, why they should be avoided (with their modern equivalents) and how Christ is Himself the greatest sign.

In giving sight to a blind man at Bethsaida the Lord (unusually) healed in two stages, providing a lesson of hope for seekers who have seen through the world and begin to feel their need of forgiveness. Soon the full experience of conversion will follow.

Conversion begins with regeneration, an instantaneous, invisible act of God in the soul imparting life, and immediately beginning to illuminate the mind, move the heart and incline the will. This proceeded in bursts in the disciples. Here is the Lord's own illustration of this.

Christ's healing of a blind man, uniquely accomplished in two stages, was designed to show how spiritual conversion frequently involves a phased discovery of what separates us from God, and Christ's method of uniting us with Himself.

The Lord's call to denial of ourselves and cross bearing has been used to teach salvation by works. It has also been used to insist on embracing His Lordship as a condition of salvation. Should it be added to repentance and faith? We answer from the Word.

First we review seven purposes of the transfiguration; secondly, we ask how three disciples merited such privileged communion, setting an example to us; thirdly, we define the 'secrets' of the kingdom. Finally we find the special key in the transfiguration to Old Testament prophecy.

All the healings of Christ serve to portray spiritual conversion, one of the most stirring being the healing of a demonised and epileptic youth in the Caesarea Philippi area. Here are the equivalent spiritual and moral afflictions found in all of us, only healed by conversion.

The state of a severely affected youth healed by the Lord illustrates the serious condition of being away from God and spiritually lost. Here also is the power and kindness of Christ's saving work, and how it operates in the lives of all who trust in Him.

The Lord calls His disciples to live modestly, without substance and eminence, and requires humility and approachability. He prepares them for the founding of autonomous churches, and commands them to give up any activity, pursuit or desire that spoils spiritual life and service.

What it means for husbands and wives to 'cleave' to each other - listing the aspects of responsibility that honour God and cement the marriage union. The tragedy of divorce and its causes. Also the real nature of headship, contrary to today's common idea.

Beginning the final journey to Jerusalem, where He would die at Calvary, Christ spoke of His death and resurrection. Then James and John revealed their earthly ambitions. The snare of pride in God's people, how it is stimulated, its consequences and its curbs.

Christ's last days on earth show His divine nature, redeeming purpose and power to end the Jewish era and bring in the Gospel age. He also teaches the crucial elements of true worship, and the way to experience God's power in fruitfulness.

During the Lord's final week, He answered a series of hostile questions. His answers are often seen as remarkable 'tactical' ways of confounding His critics, but they were, in fact, completely relevant to the questions, leaving principles for all ages.

In this passage, the first step for advancing in communion with Christ is a full appreciation of His person. The second is the mortifying of self-love. The third is to see everything we possess as His, entrusted to us for godly management.

As they sat with the Lord on the Mount of Olives overlooking the golden side of the temple, four disciples asked about the end of the world, and He told them about the imminent end of the temple, and also of His own later return.

Before Christ's entry into Jerusalem, at a supper at Bethany, Mary, sister of Lazarus, anointed His head and feet with spikenard, to the dismay of the disciples. But her understanding and act of support outstripped theirs, and here is how, and the lessons for us.

The 'last supper' that led to the first Lord's Supper. Here is how Christ ordained the supper for His people, and the six purposes of the supper, all of which are so greatly strengthening to the church and individual members. The 'rite' that shows Christ.

When the disciples were told by the Lord that they would forsake Him, all of them (Peter first) contradicted Him. Yet in Gethsemane Christ bore the crushing foretaste of Calvary unsupported. Self-confidence (with us also) leads to prayerlessness, weakness and failing the Lord.

'Incidental' events at the cross of Calvary that have momentous significance for the soul, showing how God has made salvation possible, and how this is experienced by all those who turn to Christ and trust in Him.

When Christ submits to being arrested like a criminal, we see the outcome of 'nominal' belief (in Judas), the venom of the Lord's enemies, the deceitfulness of that shocking night, the reaction of 'the flesh' in believers, and a shining example of tenacious faith.

What a scene of dishonesty, hostility and brutality! Christ, the creator of all, the Holy One, put on trial by corrupt sinful people! How far He would go for our redemption! Here also is His proof that Scripture had promised a divine Saviour.

Peter's collapse from bravado to denial was rapid and humiliating. How did fear so quickly overpower him? Here are the five failings that led to his fall, including the failing of love. Here also are the means to keep us from failing today.

The events of Christ's three hearings before Pilate, the monumental choice of Barabbas over the Lord, and the Saviour's humiliation by the imperial guard all show the full depravity of unbelief, and the immeasurable love of God in redemption.

The scene at Christ's crucifixion, especially the words of onlookers, who showed their guilty rejection of His mighty miracles, their blindness to what was really taking place, and who unwittingly (in their jeers) affirmed the necessity of His atoning work. Also - the dark hours.

What provision was made for the Lord at death? Where did His soul go? Are there two departments of Sheol? Did the Lord literally descend into hell? First, we see how Calvary galvanised Joseph of Arimathea, then provide answers (with application) to these questions.

None of the Lord's disciples and immediate followers, men or women, expected the resurrection. All lost sight of His teaching of His rising again the third day. Only the hostile chief priests remembered it. Here is why, and what we should learn from it.

The risen Lord's command and commission to the disciples (and their successors) refers to their hearers who 'believe'. Here we show that belief in Christ means dependence upon Him as a Saviour from sin; faith and repentance being inseparable graces. We define true repentance.