Seven miracles should be enough . . .

This week we were asked if we had ever seen a miracle. My first thought was that my answer depends on my definition. Praying for and finding a parking place close the door of a crowded Costco during a blizzard might qualify. However, most people would reserve the term for the sudden cure of an incurable disease or blindness.

John’s reason for writing his Gospel referred to the miracles Jesus did and why he included them in this book, the fourth of the New Testament:

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30–31)

‘Signs’ means miracles. Many people saw them but didn’t believe. John knew that would happen. He also knew that some would get it; they would understand who Jesus is because of the miracles He did, so he wrote about them. This verse says that Jesus did many miracles but John selected seven that demonstrated the nature and power of Christ. Each one has a particular significance.

Water changed into wine signifies Jesus’ power over quality. When the host ran out of wine, Jesus asked the servants at a wedding to fill jars with water which was soon discovered to be wine. The bridegroom was told:

“Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. (John 2:10–11)

Jesus healed the nobleman’s son showing His power over distance. An official came to him requesting He come with him to heal his son. The child was far away, but that was not a problem for Jesus:

“Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. (John 4:50–53)

Jesus healed an impotent man demonstrating His power over time. The man had been an invalid for thirty-eight years, but that was not a problem for Jesus either. He told him to take up his bed and walk. The man was healed at once and did what he was told. (John 5:1-17)

Jesus also fed five thousand people from a small donation of five loaves and two fish, with an amazing twelve baskets of leftover bread. This displays His power over quantity. (John 6:1-5)

The Son of God also demonstrated power over natural law by walking on the water. This miracle is scoffed or explained that it must have been a sandbar, yet John describes how Jesus stepped from the sea into a boat that was being tossed about in the wind and strong waves. Matthew describes how Peter did it too, then lost faith and nearly drowned. No sandbar, just deep water! (John 6:16-21)

Another healing showed the power of Jesus over helplessness. He healed a man born blind, something unheard of until this happened. Since that day, I know of another blind man Jesus healed and I’m sure there are more. (John 9)

The most significant sign is from John 11. Jesus’ friend Lazarus was sick, but Jesus did not immediately respond to the call for healing. He waited then said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” He told His disciples, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.” but even then, they were skeptical. Finally arrived at the tomb where Lazarus was buried:

So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” (John 11:41–44)

Jesus raised this man from the dead demonstrating His power over death. Later, He showed that same power by walking out of His own tomb. It is this power, resurrection power that changes everything. Jesus can forgive sin, give believers the ability to say NO to sin and YES to God, and He also promises life eternal because He can raise us from the dead. Death has no power over those who believe because, as John says, He demonstrated that He can do anything He desires to do.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I believe in You. For me, the greatest miracle is that You love me and have revealed Yourself to me! Oh my Lord, I am so grateful!

To Live is Christ — walking the talk

My cousins met me in a plaza in downtown Salem, Oregon. The location is a peace project that was built with input from their friends, a couple that came with them. They showed me a concrete wall adorned with a few dozen plaques. These contained quotes and peace slogans etched in metal. As I read the quotes and listened to them talk about these words, I wondered about the value of this project.

The same day, the newspaper cartoons had a strip about a couple of singles spending time with a married couple. The children were misbehaving and the singles told their parents to simply tell them to stop it. They walked away mystified that words didn’t work.

Even though it seemed obvious to me, the peace project people seemed equally oblivious to the power of human selfishness. Children want what they want when they want it. Mother and father can be patient (or not) with their screaming, sibling squabbles and mischief, but every parent soon learns the folly of simply telling them to be nice to each other and cease all their unrealistic demands. Words might have some impact, but they do not change a child’s heart or their wants.

I read the plaques in silence. Some of them had Scripture, but out of context and meaningless. They did not include the parts of the Bible that say the heart is deceitful and needs new life from God. None of them hinted that wickedness is part of the human condition. I mentioned that some people are not interested in being peaceful, but want what they want and do not care if others suffer. No one responded.

This is not to negate the power of words. Salesmen and preachers both know that well-crafted words can affect human behavior. Nevertheless, there is more to peace than telling people to be kind. The sinfulness of man cannot be changed without an act of God. It is as written in the Old Testament . . . 

So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. (Ezekiel 33:31)

Jesus came, lived, died and rose again so people could be forgiven. Yet there is more. We need new hearts. The old sinful self, even forgiven, will keep on sinning, keep on serving itself. Unless God uses His Word to change a person from the inside out, words are just words.

As I read the plaques, I had another question on my heart. What was being done by these people to produce peace? Was this just a statement without any action along with it?  This morning’s devotional verse echoes my thoughts and speaks to me.

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:18)

I want to speak to my cousins about eternal matters. I know that they need to hear the Gospel, to hear about the love of God and His grace to forgive sin and offer us eternal life. But will words be enough? Will God give me any words? Or just words? Or will He ask me to do something that will speak louder than words?

The Bible says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17), yet when God spoke, He also become one of us, providing loaves and fishes, giving healing touches, and taking sin’s rap by dying on the cross. His words are powerful, yet He never spoke without taking whatever actions was necessary to prove that He means what He says.