Signs

June 26, 2023

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” John 21:25

During His time on the earth, Jesus touched and transformed many lives. Some we can read about in the Bible and others we may never even know. The four Gospels record 37 miracles of Jesus. But John closes his Gospel with these words concerning Jesus’ ministry: “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written (John 21:25).”

Whether it was turning water into wine (John 2:1-11), driving out an evil spirit (Mark 1:21-27), healing the sick (Matthew 8:16-17), calming a storm (Luke 8:22-25), or raising the dead Mark 5:21-24), Jesus always had a reason for performing miracles. He wasn’t just showing off…although He had every right to do so. He wasn’t randomly zapping people with His infinite power for the fun of it. There was intentionality behind each miraculous occurrence.

One of the main reasons Jesus performed miracles was to authenticate His identity. He was not an ordinary man. He was not just a carpenter, the son of Mary and Joseph. Jesus of Nazareth was the Promised One of Israel…the Messiah…God incarnate. His miracles were a display of His power. They were a display of His compassionate heart. Often times the Bible refers to Christ’s miracles as signs. Why is that? A sign is something that points out or indicates something else. The miracles of Jesus were signs to point to the truth that He is God.

Most of the recorded miracles in the Bible illustrate how Jesus did them to authenticate Himself. Most of the time when He healed the physical, He would restore the spiritual as well. He would say, “Your sins are forgiven;” or, “Go and sin no more;” or, “Your faith has healed you.” There were other people who did miraculous deeds. But who else would dare forgive sin? Only God!

Understanding the purpose of miracles is important for us today. Do miracles still happen? If so, how can we tell if a miracle is of God or of man? One key to discerning this is to answer the question: “Is this event a sign that points to the truth that Jesus is God?

Father, thank You for the signs that point us to Jesus. The miracle of His resurrection from the dead is the greatest sign You have given us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Topics: Miracles

Bible Reference

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.

Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.

When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”

And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.

And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.

When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom

and said to him, “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.

And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.

And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,

“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”

And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.

This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out,

and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger.

And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.

He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea.

Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet

and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.”

And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.

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Signs

June 26, 2023

Bible Reference

John 21:25

John 2:1-11

Mark 1:21-27

Matthew 8:16-17

Luke 8:22-25

Mark 5:21-24