Makandiwa’s miracle baby: an examination

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Brian Maregedze (SHS) UZ, (B.AA)UZ is an independent researcher and essayist.
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Examine the story of Makandiwa’s  ‘Miracle Baby’ in light of the  New Testament conception of miracles.

The concept of miracles in the New Testament have a myriad of similarities with those performed by Makandiwa since he is perpetuating what Jesus has already done. During the time of Jesus the miracles faced severe criticism since some people viewed them as magic. This has a clear comparison to Makandiwa’s miracle baby since he is facing the same criticism from the people because people are in doubt of his source of power. However Jesus performed a plethora of miracles which include exorcism, nature miracles and healing miracles. These miracles are believed to violate the laws of nature, since they cannot be scientifically proved. The Makandiwa’s miracle baby falls under healing miracles. Therefore the task of this essay is to compare and contrast the miracles performed by Jesus and the Makandiwa’s miracle baby. These and other facts are to be analyzed as the essay unravels.

A miracle is a powerful act which demonstrates the power of God, that God is all powerful. Bultmann, (1929: 36) says, “the word “miracle” is comprised of two aspects: as a deed of God and an action of God. It is a divine act in higher causality”. Loos, (1968: 40) noted that miracles are deeds of God in which his actions are revealed to people in a particular striking fashion. Miracles can also be regarded as remarkable events which believers understand to be signs of God’s saving activity. Therefore miracles are nothing but parables in action. Miracles are difficult to understand from a philosophical and radical theologians point of view. It is difficult to differentiate  miracles from magic. It is therefore difficult to understand whether a prophet has performed a miracle or it’s a mere magic trick. The above definitions reprimand Makandiwa’s miracle baby.

On the miracle baby the mother identified as Mrs. Moffat claimed that she indeed had pregnancy and bore a baby boy within three days from 15 to 18November2012 and named the child Emmanuel. The prophet had already prophesied that there was going to be a miracle baby. (Newsdzezimbabwe.ourzimournews). Jesus was also a miracle baby who was prophesied by Isaiah in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament were also some miracle babies for instances Samuel who was born from a barren woman. However the biblical miracle babies are different to that of Makandiwa in the sense that their mothers took nine months to conceive and they lived  for several years while that of Makandiwa was born in three days and died before nine months and his burial was shrouded in secrecy. Thus the miracle baby of Makandiwa can be seen as a fake baby. Deitl, (1982:146) says, “Miracle claims, it is generally believed, could not be true because of the very nature of the concept of a miracle.” For every miracle there is a purpose. In (Mark 10:45-52), Jesus healed the blind man Bartimaeus out of request and needy not to gain popularity or fame. Loos, (1968:40) says, “Jesus was guided by feelings of mercy and prudence.”

Filson (1960: 35) argued that Jesus performed many miracles, striking acts of power in which the eye of faith saw the special and purposeful working of the living God to further his divine purpose.  Filson further states that one must not overstress the uniqueness of this aspect of Jesus’ ministry since he himself noted that others who will follow him will do striking deeds. This may signify that when Jesus performed miracles he did not win immediate and universal support from those who knew him. While Jesus became indignant when opponents ascribed his healing miracles to the workings of Beelzebul (Mark3:20-30), he did not want to win people through these remarkable acts. A clear example is that of temptations whereby Jesus refused to use his power to pressure people into accepting his claims. This is in tandem with the miracle baby of Makandiwa since he did his miracles to draw the attention of the people.

On the miracle baby it is not clear of what prompted the prophet to perform that miracle. Mrs. Moffat the mother of the miracle baby says, in an interview with Tilda Moyo on Radio Zimbabwe, that they were not planning to have another child as they were already blessed with two. There was no need in fact. When Jesus healed the blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22ff) there was a need. Makandiwa would have wanted to show his power which the source is questionable. This is mainly because when Jesus performed a miracle mostly he tells the healed not to tell anyone, (Mark 1:21ff) Makandiwa and other 21st century prophets want their fame to go far and wide.

In line with the above, Jesus’ miracles were shrouded in secrecy particularly in the book of Mark. Makandiwa does it in public. Mangena and Mhizha (2013:137) says, “in a gathering dubbed Judgment Night  addressed by Makandiwa organized during the Easter  period in 2013 people of all walks, about 100 000 people filled the national sports stadium . The purpose of the miracle baby was mainly to show power. It is apparent that Pentecostal prophets actively make efforts to gain healing powers. Recently a Pentecostal pastor was reported to be making efforts to visit TB Joshua in Nigeria to be given healing powers and was competing against Pentecostal prophet who was displaying more powers than his (Biri, 2012:6)

The healing miracles performed by Jesus were indented to increase faith of the believers. The victims were supposed to show a certain degree of faith in order to be healed. When Jesus healed a blind beggar (Luke 18:35-42) he was identified as the son of David and according to Jesus it was the faith of the blind man which made him to be healed. The woman with hemorrhage for twelve years with no treatment after visiting various doctors was also healed because of her faith (Mark 5:27ff). On the contrary, mother of the miracle baby said the baby came as a result of Prophet Makandiwa’s faith. Jesus never proclaimed his power, when he heals a deaf man (Mark7: 31-36) he advocated for secrecy (Messianic secrecy).

In all miracles performed by Jesus he never asked for payment but the modern Zimbabwean prophets demand money though indirectly. Some of the religious objects or relics like the anointing oil, arm band and holly handkerchiefs are being sold. The miracle baby could have been done to attract the crowd thereby making the pockets fat. It can be the love of money. Chitando et al (2013:9) questions the pan African connections, “Spiritual Fathers from west Africa are they truly from God or gospelprenuership. Can the miracles attributed to the prophets people are rushing there for miracles. This is supported by Vengei (2013:9) who postulates that, “Some suspect that Makandiwa and Angel could be playing African Magic acquired from Nigeria or Ghana where such priests are common, Makandiwa’s spiritual father is Victor Kusi Boateng from Ghana”. What they want unlike Jesus are the crowds. The Newsday of 11 September 2012 reported that congregants stampede for Makandiwa. Therefore prophecy in Zimbabwe appears to be a profession.

Cursory look at the miracle baby show that Makandiwa proclaimed that he wanted to pray for women who experience pregnancy complications. He however prophesied that there was going to be a miracle pregnancy and baby within hours and that did happen as the woman gave birth after three days. He never predicted the death of the child who was later said to have died. (http://nehandaradio.com/category/news) This woman might therefore had complications before and might have joined the church because of that. This leaves no doubt that miracle by Makandiwa has a replica to the miracles performed by Jesus. Filson (1960:36) says, “Jesus’ healing is mainly based on faith.” After Jesus finished healing the woman with hemorrhage he says her faith had saved her. Moule (1965:44) argues that Jesus could heal every sick person brought to him but more than once he notes the need of faith. (Mark 8:22) Makandiwa does not usually test faith and does not want to keep the miracle a secret. Filson (1960:36) argues that Jesus tried to avoid publicity for his healings since he obviously wanted to direct central attention to his gospel of the Kingdom.

Mostly when Jesus performed a miracle there was criticism. In (Mark3: 1-6) he healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. His enemies accused him and he said that it was good to do good on a Sabbath. According to Davey et al (1963:117) Jesus showed that he is the Lord over the Sabbath and had the power to forgive the sins. Fuller (1966:87) says Jesus on his miracles is shown as a Hellenistic wonder worker. Makandiwa has been criticized for using magic. Tapiwa Mujuru, a Methodist Church Bulawayo youth leader says, there is nothing on earth where a baby can be born in three months when Jesus took nine months. He says there is no God responsible for such miracles. It was also speculated that the baby turned into a snake. The then deputy prime minister Prof Arthur Mutambara castigated the miracles as dubious (Herald 21 February 2013). One United Family Interdenominational Church member responded that critics needed spirit of discernment (Sunday mail: 24 February 2013) Makandiwa himself called for a miracle contest which Jesus never did.

It can be seen that in Jesus’ miracles he mainly sought to show that he was really the son of God who had power over every sickness to those who have faith. He could even forgive sins. Jesus mainly performed miracles out of need. The Makandiwa miracle baby tries to show the power of Makandiwa which the source is questionable probably because of his lavish lifestyle. He sometimes performs miracles to gain fame. Just like in the New Testament miracles’ power of God to heal can be seen through prophet Makandiwa. Therefore, Jesus performed miracles to show his superiority over his contemporaries.

In light of the above discussion, it can be concluded that Jesus’ miracles were performed out of need, faith and to show his superiority over his contemporaries. On the contrary, Makandiwa only performed miracles for prestigious reasons.

                                                  

                                             
      REFERENCE
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