More Than Just Miracles

As you read the Gospel of John, you can see that the teachings of Jesus were profound and mind blowing.  At the death of Lazarus, Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” (John 11:25-26).  He said to Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).  
 
In addition, the miracles of Jesus were incredible, spectacular, amazing, astounding and, at the risk of sounding redundant, miraculous!  Jesus healed people of leprosy, an issue of blood, and a withered hand.  He caused the blind to see, the lame to walk, and the mute to speak.  He fed thousands with a few loaves and fish; He cast out demons; He calmed a raging storm; He walked on water; and He raised the dead!  No one before or since has done the things that Jesus did.  But what was it all for? How can these affect us today?

With the religious leader Nicodemus, Jesus demonstrated patience and long suffering.  Jesus healed a man who had blind since birth (see John 9).  In John 4, He showed compassion to the woman at the well and brought emotional healing to her.  At the death of Lazarus, He demonstrated God’s comfort in the midst of grief.
 
Every miracle and teaching showed God’s incredibly deep love for us.  But if Jesus wasn’t God, then all of His miracles just showed that Jesus was a kind and thoughtful man.  But His miracles actually did so much more.

Jesus said in John 5:36 “But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.”  So the miracles show that God the Father sent Him.  But there is more.
 
In John 10:25, Jesus said, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.”  Again, in John 10:37-38, “… If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”  Yet again, He said in John 14:11, “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”

Jesus stated unequivocally that He and the Father are one.  Inseparable.  Two distinct persons yet co-existent. All the works that Jesus performed were to show the people of that day and to show us today that Jesus is the Son of God and that Jesus and the Father are one.  Jesus is God!

Jesus' miracles demonstrated his great compassion for people.  He didn’t just heal their diseases, but He lifted their burdens and met their deepest needs.  His miracles demonstrated God's love in a powerful way.  It was also to show us that Jesus is God.  Because He is God, if we will place our complete faith in Him, we can have the eternal life that He promised.

These are your Words for Wednesday.
 
We have an outreach scheduled for Sunday, April 13 for our Virtual Egg Hunt at the parking lot of the Ballentine Subdivision swimming pool. We need volunteers to paint faces, help set up, engage people in conversation, and give out prizes. Be there at 3:30. Have a great rest of your week!

In Christ,

Kevin