Many people spend their time looking for Jesus to do more miraculous works. Other people try to copy Jesus' miraculous works themselves. Did Jesus want us to focus on seeking more miracles from Him, or doing miracles like Him, or did He do miracles so we would recognize His authority and obey Him?
Some scripture to ponder -
Matt. 9:1 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” 3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.
Here we see a miracle of physical healing, but why? So we would know that Jesus has the authority to forgive sins!
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Nicodemus respected Jesus teaching, because He had been convinced by the "signs" Jesus did, that Jesus was from God. Since Nicodemus is convinced of Jesus' authority, he does not ask for more miracles, but for truth!
John 20:30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
Jesus did miracles for what purpose? So we could believe that He is who He says and know we have eternal life in Him!
Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
Peter preaches the gospel at Pentecost and says Jesus' identity has been proven by "miracles, signs and wonders", as well as His resurrection! Later Peter will ask we do what in response to this truth -
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Did Peter tell the people to go and do miracles? Did he tell the people to ask Jesus to do more miracles? No, Peter called them to repent and be baptized, in response to who Jesus has already proven Himself to be!
The concepts in view in the previous passages, Jesus using His miracles to validate His authority to save and to call us to repent and follow Him, sounds very familiar!
Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Jesus did not say He would do more miracles at our request or that we should focus on doing miracles ourselves! Jesus said He had all authority, proven by His miracles and His resurrection, so do as He says! proclaim the gospel, baptise those who believe and then teach those who do believe to obey His teaching!
We see a reminders and warnings to not disregard these things in God's word -
Heb. 2:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
We should also heed Jesus' words to those who demanded a sign in His time on earth -
Matt. 16:1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.
Jesus has proven He has all authority! Will you try to copy His miracles, or ask Him for more miracles, or believe upon Him for eternal life, learn what His word says, and seek to obey Him?
"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
No comments:
Post a Comment