Sunday, February 13, 2011 am
THE LIFE OF JESUS (15)
The Miracles of Jesus
As we continue our
study of the work and teachings of Jesus, we are in the midst of
noticing some things Jesus taught and did.
The past two lessons have been a progression with Jesus making
several extraordinary claims.
However, as we saw last week, He defended His claims with direct
testimony form the Father, the prophecies, John the Baptist, the
teachings of Moses in prophecy and concerning keeping the Law AND with
the signs or works He performed.
Last week we established that His works were miracles which were
“signs” given that helped proved that His claims were true.
Today, we want to
take a closer look at some of the Miracles Jesus performed and see how
they confirmed Jesus and revealed His deity and power to others.
As with all other lessons in this study, we will examine only a
sample of His miracles.
I.
Jesus and Miracles
a.
Defined.
The term miracle is often misused today and has led to confusion
concerning in the religious world.
The term is often used loosely to describe any “unusual event”
that produces a good result toward someone.
Such definitions have led to abuses of what scriptures actually
say about miracles.
Webster’s dictionary defines the word as, “an extraordinary event
manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.
2. An extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or
accomplishment.” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miracle)
So as we begin this study let us review what a miracle REALLY is.)
According to the Biblical Studies Foundation, a miracle “is an unusual
and significant event which requires the working of a supernatural agent
and is performed for the purpose of authenticating the message or
messenger.”
http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/miracles-of-jesus.htm
More simply stated, a miracle is an act which sets aside natural law to
demonstrate that one’s message is or work is from God.
To be a miracle it must be an act that is IMPOSSIBLE to
accomplish within natural laws.
Even acts of extraordinary accomplishment or nearly impossible
are NOT miracles (such as the person who has been given no hope, but he
pulls through, or that “one in a million shot”, etc.).
Just because something is awesome doesn’t make it a miralc either
(i.e you hear someone speak of “the miracle of childbirth” that is not a
miracle in the Biblical sense).
b.
Facts
about the miracles of Jesus
i.
They are
referred to in the gospels as “signs”, “wonders”, “works” & “miracles”
and “power” Lk. 6:19) ( words vary depending on your version).
NOTE that the words do not describe different types of miracles,
but different qualities of the miracles He performed.
ii.
They
verified that Jesus WAS who He claimed to be.
Acts 2:22, on the day of Pentecost Peter used 3 different words
describing these works which verified Jesus.
Consider Matthew 9:1-8 where Jesus healed a paralytic AND forgave his
sins. The forgiveness of
sins was the claim; the healing miracle was the verification.
recall last week that we noted in John 5:36 that these works verified
His claims. He pleaded with
them John 10:37-38 to consider the works He did, even if they didn’t
like Him.
iii.
They could
NOT be denied. NEVER did the
enemies of Jesus deny His miracles.
In John 11, after Jesus raised Lazarus, His works prompted His enemies
to plot to kill Him because they could NOT deny His miracles (Jn.
11:47-50).
Later when his Apostles stood before the counsel, again we find works
that could not be denied (Acts 4:16).
iv.
They were
key in establishing His disciples.
They produced faith in Him.
Jesus throughout His ministry called for them to trust Him and
believe Him (John 2:23, 6:14, 7:31, cf. 20:30-31).
His miracles gave them the proof they needed.
While they did not fully comprehend what He said while He was
with them, they believed Him enough to stay with Him regardless of the
consequences.
NOTE: Miracles were not always performed BECAUSE of their faith but to
produce this faith. Consider
examples where Jesus raised the dead, such as the widow’s son in the
village of Nain (Lk. 7:11-17).
v.
They
demonstrated that God was with Jesus – John 3:2 where Nicodemus verified
this. John 9:33, note the
response of the blind man concerning Jesus.
vi.
The Bible
records about 35 miracles that Jesus performed.
Today we will examine a handful as found in the gospel of John.
vii.
There was
NO miracle He could not do.
On many occasion we read that “He healed them all” (Matt. 12:15, Lk.
6:19). His miracles
manifested a broad range of demonstration of His powers.
From casting out demons, to healing the sick, to walking on water
to raising the dead, and even healing in stages (cf. Mk. 8:24).
His abilities were demonstrated in His power over attributes as
well.
As we continue our study we will see the
abilities of our Lord Jesus in the miracles He performed.
II.
The miracles of Jesus in John
a.
John
2:1-11 – changing water to wine in Cana – power over nature and quality
i.
Jesus is
in Cana of Galilee. We are
told He attended this wedding feast which was clearly a huge event.
Attended by so many they ran out of wine.
Mary comes to Jesus and tells Him what has happened (we are not
told exactly what she expected, but it is evident Jesus had proven
Himself wise and capable of resolving whatever problems might present
themselves.
ii.
Jesus used
the occasion to perform what is described as His first miracle, in Cana.
He took 2 or 6 large water pots each containing 20-30 gallons (NKJV)
and had them COMPLETELY FILLED to the brim (so there was no chance of
adding anything to it).
Immediately, they are commanded to draw out the wine which is taken to
the master. The master
tastes the wine and notes the superior quality of it.
iii.
This
miracle demonstrates that Jesus is LORD over quality.
What Jesus produced was of the highest quality.
We can take consolation in that whatever Jesus does, it is ALWAYS
the best. We see that
demonstrated in everything in His
life. His first
miracle demonstrates that what He offers will be better than anything
they already have.
In studying the book of Hebrews, you will find that one word that
describes that book is “better”.
John establishes that Jesus is BETTER than everything.
Heb. 8:6, He is mediator of a better covenant established on
better promises. Do we look
for a better place in Jesus (cf. Heb. 11:16, 40)?
b.
John
4:46-54 – Healing the nobleman’s son – power over distance and disease
i.
WE read of
a nobleman who had a son in Capernaum whose sickness was near death.
He hears that Jesus is in Cana which was about 16 miles away and
the terrain between the two cities was described as “hilly and rough”
(Coffman).
The nobleman heard of the works of Jesus and sought Him out pleading
with Him to come and heal his son.
Jesus makes an observation about seeking signs (there were
already indications of following Him for novel reasons).
But then He tells the man, “Go your way, your son lives.”
We are told the man believed and went home.
His son was made well and lived.
The nobleman asks when he got well and was told it ad happened
the day before “the seventh hour.”
That was the very hour Jesus had spoken.
ii.
Here we
find the first of many miracles of healing that are recorded in the
gospels. Jesus was able to
heal all maner of diseases at all stages.
Here was a son whose illness could have been described as “grave
condition”. Jesus healed
him.
iii.
This
miracle demonstrated the ability of Jesus to heal over DISTANCE.
The works of Jesus were not confined to His immediate audience.
His powers are everywhere.
AND the healing was immediately.
His fever “left him” when Jesus spoke.
Contrast that with so-called miracles today.
iv.
May we
take consolation from this that no matter where we are, the Lord knows
and can be with us. He is
NOT restricted by distance.
c.
John
5:1-17 – Healing at Jerusalem – power over time (an illness of 38 years)
i.
We next
read of a man who has had an infirmity for 38 years. There was a pool
there where sick people went hoping to be healed.
We do not know of the events surrounding this pool and what is
described here. But the man
was never able to find even opportunity to be healed.
Jesus heals him on the spot and instructs him to take up his bed
and walk. The man
IMMEDIATELY arises and walks.
Another part to this occasion is we are told it was the Sabbath.
Jesus gave him instructions that conflicted with the traditions
of the Jewish leaders. We
find again their contentions with Jesus because He did what was right
instead of what they wanted Him to do.
ii.
In this
miracle we find Jesus demonstrating power of time.
It did not matter how long the man had been sick.
Jesus healed Him completely and immediately.
iii.
Let us
take comfort in 2 things here:
1.
Time is no
boundary to Jesus. He can
help us regardless of what we have done in the past and WHEN we have
done it. He reigns ALWAYS.
Trust in Him. That
trust will take you beyond this life.
2.
We ought
to obey the instructions of Jesus over the traditions of men.
Jesus addressed this often and it caused many of influence to
despise Him. We still have
the same concerns today.
Learn to trust in the Lord over man, even if it is the “traditions” that
we have always done a certain way.
3.
Implied in
this is a third lesson for us – DON’T BIND YOUR TRADITIONS!.
d.
John
6:1-14- Feeding of 5000 – power over quantity and matter
i.
A miracle
that is recorded in all four gospels.
Jesus is across the Sea of Galilee and performing all types of
signs (miracles). The
crowd was huge. Jesus asks
Philip, “Where will we get food to feed the crowd?”
They answer that they don’t have enough money or food.
There was a boy with 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish.
Jesus commands the crowds to sit down in groups.
Jesus gave thanks for the bread and then proceeded to feed the
crowd of 5000 MEN, which means it could have been many more than that.
With this small amount, not only does He feed everyone, but there
are 12 baskets of fragments left.
The people are once again amazed, as are His disciples.
ii.
In this
parable Jesus demonstrates His power over QUANTITY.
Jesus was able to take little and make it MORE than enough to
take care of the needs of this crowd.
iii.
He also
demonstrated power over matter.
He could take something confined by boundaries of nature and
physics and overstep those boundaries to provide for what was needed.
iv.
Jesus also
demonstrated His ability to sustain us.
He is described later in this chapter as “the bread of life” (Jn.
6:35) In Him we find all
that we need (1 Cor. 8:6, Col. 1:15-18).
v.
Let us
take consolation in this as well.
What Jesus offers us is so much better than what those of this
world can offer. His power
knows no boundaries.
Remember this passage, “I have come that they may have life, and that
they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10).
See also Ephesians 3:20
e.
John
6:15-21 – Walking on water – power over nature and laws of physics
i.
His
miracles had caused the crowds to desire “to come and take Him by force
to make Him king.” So Jesus
departed to the mountains to be alone and to pray.
At evening, His disciples got in a boat to cross the sea going
toward Capernaum. In the sea
we read of a great wind that caused problems.
They look out and see Jesus walking on the waters.
This is the occasion where Matthew records that after they see
Him and He calms them down, Peter asks to walk to Him.
Jesus says come (Matt. 14:29) and when Peter does he is fine
until he looks down. He then
begins to sink and cries out, “Lord, save me!”
Jesus does and joins them in the boat.
We read next, that “immediately” were at the other shore.
Matt. 14:33 records, “Then those who were in the boat came and
worshipped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’”
ii.
This
miracle demonstrated Jesus’ power over the forces of nature.
What He did directly violated the law of gravity and the
substance of water. Moses,
with the help of God, parted the seas which was remarkable, but Jesus
just walked over it! Jesus
proved that even the natural forces of this world could not contain His
powers.
iii.
In this
miracle you also see the caring Savior.
He loved His disciples, even though at times they were not as
strong as they ought to be.
Jesus was concerned for them.
What a lesson for us.
On more than one occasion, Jesus used the seas to instill trust in Him.
He is able to help us and come to our aid.
Put your trust in Him.
f.
John
9:1-12 – Giving sight to the blind man – demonstrated He is the Light.
Power over birth defects
i.
Jesus is
in Jerusalem again. This
time He is with His disciples and they see a blind man whom we are told
was born blind. When asked,
“Who sinned”, Jesus responded that it was not about sin.
He then spat on the ground and made a clay and rubbed it on the
man’s eyes and told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam.
He did and immediate he saw and rejoiced.
ii.
What a
powerful miracle. It is one thing to heal the sick, but to GIVE SIGHT to
one who had never had it is one of the great miracles.
But we again see that Jesus is NOT constrained to worldly
boundaries.
iii.
His
message on the occasion gives us hope and reason for the miracle.
He explained that He “is the light of the world”.
Jesus enlightens us and has provided EVERYTHING we need to get to
heaven. A part of that
enlightening is to help expose the darkness.
Jesus reveals what is good and what is evil.
In the previous chapter He had said, “I am the light of the
world. He who follows Me
shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Let us know that the better we get to know our Savior, the more “in the
light” we will be. Then, “if
we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another” (1 John 1:6-7).
Then Jesus will cleanse us of our sins.
And it doesn’t matter how old your sin is (again).
g.
John
11:38-46 – raising of Lazarus from the dead.
Power over death.
i.
Always a
powerful miracle. Jesus had
delayed coming to the home of Lazarus so that he would have been dead
for 4 days. This was
unprecedented even in His miracles of raising the dead (so far as we
know). As I understand,
having been dead that long meant that the superstitious Jews believed
the soul had departed from the body.
Jesus comes to Bethany and grieves with His sisters, Mary and Martha,
and others present. But
shortly thereafter, he raises Lazarus from the dead.
The miracle was so great and powerful that the Jewish leaders
sought not only to get rid of Jesus, but Lazarus as well (Jn. 12:9-11).
ii.
The
obvious demonstration of the power of Jesus here is over death.
EVEN death cannot contain or restrain our Lord.
He rules even over that.
In fact, He will destroy death in the end (1 Cor. 15:25-26).
iii.
For us, in
this miracle, the lesson is also obvious.
He is our HOPE of a resurrection beyond this life.
As Paul noted to the Corinthians, “If Christ is not risen, your
faith is futile; you are still in your sins!...If in this life only we
have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” (1 Cor.
15:17-19).
As you study scripture, you need to remind yourself that this life is
not intended to be easy. It
is not about you getting your way.
What are you willing to sacrifice for Him?
That is the real probing question.
The true believer will sacrifice greatly in order to serve Jesus.
But is it worth it?
The answer to that question is the same as this: “Is here a
resurrection?” Jesus
in raising Lazarus prepared the people for what was to happen in just a
few short weeks after that.
As we accept this miracle, we too have that hope.
And thus we can see some of the miracles
Jesus performed. There are
actually a few more miracles, even in John including mention of the
cutting off of Malcus’ ear (Jn. 18:10-11 – note: The miracle is not
mentioned, but John writes with the understanding that those who read
this know what happened – see Luke 22:49-51), fish caught in huge
numbers (Jn. 21:6), and let us not forget HIS resurrection – which was
the ultimate miracle. We
have enough with these “signs” to believe in Jesus and trust Him.
Do we? Let us learn
in all that we do to make Him the center of our lives.
And know that it is not done blindly.
He HAS proven Himself.
Do you believe Him?