Why did Jesus perform miracles? Jesus answered this question Himself. When in prison, John the Baptist sent some of his disciples to Jesus to see if He was the "one to come". - Matt. 11:3 - Jesus told them to inform John of what He had done. 'The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.' With these words, Jesus declared that His miracles were the fulfillment of the promises of the Messiah's kingdom as foretold by Isaiah 24:18-19, 35:5-6. 61:1 -
Jesus' miracles were signs of the presence of the kingdom of God. - Matt. 12:39 -
This theme of the miracles pointing to the kingdom of God was developed and deepened especially in the Gospel of John. John presented the miracles of Jesus as 'sign' on many occasions. He thought of these miracles as pointing to deep spiritual truth, demanding obedient and faith. - John 2:11,23-25 - Thus, Jesus' feeding miracle was Jesus' presentation of Himself as the True Manna, the one who gives life and sustenance. - John 6:1-15 -
Jesus also understood the miracles as evidences of the presence of the kingdom of His ministry. - Matt. 11:2-5, 12:28 - Every miracle story was a sign that God's salvation was present. But not only did the kingdom come; it came in great power, because the dead were raised and Satan was bound. - Is. 26:19; Luke 7:11-15; Mark 3:27 -
Jesus miracles were also performed upon the most unlikely people. Jesus consciously brought the salvation of God to those who were rejected. he healed the lame, the dumb, and the lepers, Jesus brought the kingdom to all, regardless of their condition. Jesus' miracles were not theatrical sensations. he demanded faith and believe. The hemorrhaging woman was healed because of her faith and believe. Furthermore, Jesus expected the disciples to do miracles and rebuked them for their 'little faith' and unbelief. - Matt. 17:20 -
Jesus' demand of trust in Himself led regularly to opposition by Jewish leaders. John drew this out when he recorded Jesus' healing of a man born blind. Jesus' salvation comes even on the Sabbath, overturning Pharisaic legalism and resulting in their blindness. - John 9:16,39-41 - Similarly, the Pharisees broke into a charge of blasphemy when Jesus healed the paralytic and pronounced him forgiven of sins. - Mark 2:1-12 -
The miracles of Jesus, being God's offer of salvation, demanded a decision. As a result, a division of the Pharisees occurred. - Matt. 9:32-34 -
Finally, we gain a deeper understanding of Jesus.....................
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
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