Notes

When asked if he was the Messiah, Jesus replied that the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are given the good news (Mt 11:5; Lk 7:22).

These indicators echo phrases from the Hebrew Scriptures including Isaiah 35:5-6, Isaiah 61:1, and Psalm 146:8 -- with the exception of the dead raised.

Jesus wasn't the only one who picked up on the significance.

A fragment of the Dead Sea Scrolls entitled the Messianic Apocalypse (4Q521) reflects the same indicator-understanding of the Messiah's activity including the phrase, "the dead are raised."

For the Scrolls community the apocalypse was a future event. The Gospel writers describe Jesus' present experience.

People, among the hills east of Lake Galilee, marveled because they witnessed the mute speaking, the lame walking, and the blind seeing (Mt 15:30).