SERMON OUTLINE:
Question #1: what is a miracle?
Answer #1: Something caused by God.
Question #2: Is there any evidence for the miracles of Jesus?
Answer #2: eyewitness testimony.
Question #3: What type of miracles did Jesus perform?
Answer #3: Jesus performed four types of miracles
Question #4: What miracles did John record in his gospel?
Answer #4: Seven specific miracles.
Question #5: What can these signs mean to me?
Answer #5: Recorded so that you might believe!
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• On April 12, 1961, Vostok 1 lifted Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into space.
• Making him the first human being to travel there.
• And the first person to complete a full orbit of the Earth.
• Yuri Gagarin was the son of a carpenter,
• But his venture into space made him a worldwide celebrity.
• Upon landing, he was quoted by Communist Party leaders as saying,
• “I looked and looked but I didn’t see God.”
• Of course, he would have seen God had he simply stepped out of his space suit!
• But in 2006, in an interview with Colonel Valentin Petrov, a long-time friend of Gagarin,
• Set the record straight.
• According to Petrov, who was a decorated military official in the Russian Air Force,
• The statement about “not seeing God” wasn’t spoken by Gagarin, at all.
• The words were actually attributed to him by Premier Nikita Khrushchev,
• At a meeting of the Central Committee of the Communist Party in Moscow.
• TRANSITION:
• Sadly, Yuri Gagarin has been misquoted for many years,
• Premier Nikita Khrushchev said, “I did not see God!”
• John in his gospel says, “No excuses, see Jesus, see God!”
• It is that simple, Jesus is God manifest in flesh, God in a body!
Ill:
• Before telescopes were invented,
• Ancient astrologers would have large pools of water (like a large paddling pool).
• This meant that at night they could look down into the pool,
• And the water (like a giant mirror) reflected all that was above them.
• TRANSITION: John writes his gospel,
• So that no-one need get a strained neck look up into the heavens after God.
• Instead, all we have to do is look down at Jesus,
• And he will reflect and show us what God the Father is like.
• This morning we are looking at the miracles of Jesus.
• And that leads to an obvious question.
Question #1: What is a miracle?
Answer #1:
• A miracle is an extraordinary event that goes against nature,
• It cannot be explained by science,
• And Christians believe it is something caused by God.
• Basically, if you can rightfully explain it then it is not a miracle.
Question #2: Is there any evidence for the miracles of Jesus?
Answer #2:
Let me reply with a question, What evidence would you expect there to be?
• e.g., The oldest unopened bottle of wine ever found,
• Was discovered in a Roman tomb that is over 1650 years old.
• But would you really expect a jug of wine to have been preserved from a wedding,
• In Canna in Galilee from 2,000 years ago?
• e.g., Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead,
• But would you really expect him to be around today,
• Signing autographs and making himself available for selfies?
• TRANSITION:
• The best evidence for the miracles of Jesus,
• Is the same evidence we use for most of our historical information.
Ill:
• It was the most impressive and luxurious ship of its time,
• She was the biggest, too, measuring 28 metres wide, 53 metres tall and 269 metres long,
• That’s about the length of three football fields!
• But on her maiden voyage (first big journey),
• Taking people from Southampton, England, to New York, USA.
• This iconic ship came to a very tragic end and sunk at 2:20 a.m. on April 15th, 1912.
• The Titanic sinks in the Atlantic Ocean.
The question I can ask you, is how do you know that happened, because you were not there?
• And I don’t want to spoil things for you but that is not a photo of the Titanic.
• That is a photo of RMS Olympic.
• (RMS stands for Royal Mail Ship).
• TRANSITION: I could have coned you this morning,
• But sooner or later I would have been found out,
• And someone would have realised that was the wrong ship in the photo.
• Truth like cream rises to the top and eventually a lie or forgery will be found out!
Now better than a photo is an eyewitness!
• But we have a problem,
• Out of 2,207 aboard, only 712 people survived the sinking of the Titanic.
• The last survivor with memories of the sinking,
• Was American Lillian Asplund, who was 5yrs old at the time.
• She died in May 2006 at the age of 99.
• So, there is no-one alive who was onboard the ship?
• Who can testify what happened.
• Question: So how do we know so much about what happened?
• Answer: Well, we have plenty of documented eye-witness testimony,
• From those on-board ship and those who worked for White Star Shipping Line.
• We also have archaeological remains and historic records.
• NOTE:
• The best evidence that something occurred in the past is via eyewitness testimony.
• Backed up by archaeology and historical documents and records.
• I would suggest that is what we have in the gospels.
• Eyewitness testimony backed up by archaeology and historical documents and records.
Question #3: What type of miracles did Jesus perform?
Answer #3: Jesus performed four types of miracles:
• We have recorded in the four gospels 37 miracles that Jesus performed.
• These miracles of Jesus can be grouped under four main categories:
• Nature miracles.
• e.g., Fed 5,000 plus with 2 loaves and 5 fish.
• e.g., Jesus rebuked a storm and calmed the sea.
• e.g., Jesus walked on water.
• Healing miracles.
• e.g., Jesus healed blind, deaf, paralysed.
• e.g., As well as curing those infected by the dreaded disease leprosy.
• e.g., We are also told Jesus healed on mass (Luke chapter 4 verse 40).
“At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.”
• Deliverance miracles.
• The gospels record cases of people who were demonic possessed encountering Jesus.
• e.g., Demoniac at Capernaum (Mark chapter 1; Luke chapter 4).
• e.g., Daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman (Matthew chapter 15; Mark chapter 7).
• Jesus liberated and set free people who were in bondage to these evil spirits.
• Resurrection miracles.
• On three occasion Jesus raised someone who had died.
• e.g., Raising of the daughter of Jairus (Matthew chapter 9).
• e.g., Raising of the son of the widow of Naim (Luke chapter 7).
• e.g., Raising of Lazarus (John chapter 11).
Note:
• Three different New Testament words are used to describe Jesus's miracles:
• They are power, sign, and wonder.
• Power (‘dunamis’ = "mighty deed." – we get our word, dynamite from this word.
• Miracles speak of the source of his power.
• i.e., Supernatural of God.
• Wonder (‘teras’), which indicates something extraordinary.
• Wonders are displays for the eyes.
• Christ's miracles were amazing, compelling, supernatural acts,
• That caused people to marvel and confirmed to them his divine nature.
• Sign (‘semeion’), which refers to a miracle that figuratively represents something else,
• Signs were evidence of who he truly was.
• i.e., Messiah sees Luke chapter 4 verse 18-19.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.””
• TRANSITION:
• The miracles of Jesus were not magic tricks,
• i.e., He was not an ancient Dynamo or David Blane.
• Jesus never performed a miracle to entertain people,
• In fact, he refused. i.e., Herod (Luke chapter 23 verses 8-9).
• The miracles of Jesus were to help people or to illustrate his teaching & credentials.
Question #4: What miracles did John record in his gospel?
Answer #4: Seven specific miracles.
• When John penned his fourth gospel, he chose a unique and distinct style.
• He deliberately wrote in a way that was different from the other three gospel writers.
• i.e., Matthew, Mark and Luke.
• Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as the synoptic gospels,
• (The word “synoptic” comes from the Greek word synoptikos, meaning “able to be seen together.”)
• Because they are that is, “viewed together.”
• They record the life of Jesus in a similar but slightly little different way.
• The Gospel of John is called autoptic (autoptikos) gospel.
• That is, “viewed by itsel.” a single eyewitness.
• And it differs significantly in theme, content, time duration,
• Order of events, and style, to the other three gospels.
Ill:
• You can arrange a photo album in various ways.
• i.e., Chronologically – starting with the earliest pictures finishing with the latest etc.
• Or you can arrange them by events:
• i.e. Here are pictures of our holidays, family, friends etc.
• Or you can arrange them by people:
• i.e. All the pictures of the children, …pictures of Parents, …pictures of relatives etc.
• With the four gospels Matthew, Marl and Luke.
• Generally aim to put events chronologically starting at Jesus’ birth (Mark – baptism);
• And then finishing with his death and resurrection.
• John does not, he brings together seven/eight important events & sayings of Jesus.
• And builds his gospel around these events and sayings.
• John tells us his method of recording the life of Jesus:
• Was a deliberate decision to edit his gospel around seven/eight miracles.
• Although John does not use that word, he prefers the word ‘sign’.
Ill:
• A sign always points to something beyond itself.
• On the motorway no-one comments what a great looking sign.
• The purpose of the sign is to point beyond itself.
• i.e. To tell you how many miles you are from your destination or in which direction to go.
LET’S LOOK AT WHAT THESE SIGNS ARE.
• First Miracle: Turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana.
• John chapter 2 verses 1-11.
• Second Miracle: Jesus heals an official’s son at Capernaum.
• John chapter 4 verses 46-54.
• Third Miracle: Jesus heals an invalid man at Bethesda.
• John chapter 5 verses1-15.
• Fourth Miracle: Jesus feeds 5,000 plus women and children.
• John chapter 6 verses1-15.
• Fifth Miracle: Jesus walks on water.
• John chapter 6:16-21.
• Sixth Miracle: Jesus heals a man born blind.
• John chapter 9 verses1-41.
• Seventh Miracle: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in Bethany.
• John chapter 11 verses1-45.
• Eighth Miracle: A miraculous catch of fish.
• John chapter 21 verses 4-11
Notice that each of the first seven miracles highlights a different truth about Jesus.
• First Miracle: Turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana.
• The power of Jesus over creation/nature.
• Second Miracle: Jesus heals an official’s son at Capernaum.
• The power of Jesus over distance (the man was 20miles away).
• Third Miracle: Jesus heals an invalid man at Bethesda.
• The power of Jesus over time (Man had been ill for 38yrs).
• Fourth Miracle: Jesus feeds 5,000 plus women and children.
• The power of Jesus over volume (1 or 5,000+ not a problem).
• Fifth Miracle: Jesus walks on water.
• The power of Jesus over natural laws.
• Sixth Miracle: Jesus heals a man born blind.
• The power of Jesus over physical & also spiritual darkness
• (He can cause even the lowliest person born spiritually blind to see and believe.)
• Seventh Miracle: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in Bethany.
• The power of Jesus over decay & death.
• (Our greatest enemy – fact one in one die!)
So, we have seven signs in the life and ministry of Jesus.
• But we have one more sign after the resurrection.
• Some Bible commentators refer to the seven signs,
• Others the eight miracles, well now you know why!
• But the most important thing to remember is,
• These miracles are done as markers, revealing who Jesus is!
Ill:
• The renowned artist Paul Gustave Dore (1821-1883).
• Once lost his passport while travelling in Europe.
• When he came to a border crossing, he explained his predicament to one of the guards.
• Giving his name to the official, Dore hoped he would be recognized and allowed to pass.
• The guard, however, said.
• That many people attempted to cross the border by claiming to be persons they were not.
• Dore insisted that he was the man he claimed to be.
• “All right,” said the official, “we’ll give you a test, & if you pass it we’ll allow you to go through.”
• Handing him a pencil and a sheet of paper,
• He told the artist to sketch several peasants standing nearby.
• Dore did it so quickly and skilfully.
• That the guard was convinced he was indeed who he claimed to be.
• In other words, his work confirmed his word!
• John in his gospel tells us again and again that Jesus’ works confirmed his word!
Question #5: What can these signs mean to me?
Answer #5: Given so that you might believe!
“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Ill:
• The story of Alice from the fairy tale ALICE IN WONDERLAND.
• Has a great conversation recorded between her and the Cheshire Cat,
• Alice asked, “Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?”
• The cat replies, “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,”
• Alice responds, “I don’t much care where,”
• The cat replies, “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”
• TRANSITION: John was a motivated man:
• He openly admits in this verse and elsewhere in his writings,
• He knew exactly where he was going with this gospel.
• That he had a direction and a purpose in his writings:
• His writing is like a bridge,
• He is building a bridge of truth concerning Jesus Christ.
• And he wanted his readers to cross over it and discover this for themselves.
John tells us up front that he has deliberately left out many things regarding Jesus.
• He says that “I have done that by accident”.
• “It was not a mistake. In fact, I have done it on purpose”.
• Just think for a moment what he missed out in his gospel:
• e.g., There are no genealogy, no family tree; list of names;
• (We probably say good!)
• e.g., No account of Jesus' birth.
• Whole world celebrates it but John did not think it was worth mentioning!
• e.g., No mention of his boyhood.
• Nothing about his temptations in the desert.
• e.g., We consider Jesus the greatest storyteller to walk on planet earth;
• Yet there is not one single parable in the entire book of John.
• e.g., The Last Supper is omitted.
• As is the garden of Gethsemane.
• e.g. There is no mention of the great commission;
• (The final words of Jesus)
• e.g., No mention of the Ascension.
• (John records no beginning and no end – symbolic of the fact Jesus is God!)
These are surprising omissions:
• Especially when you note the prominence,
• Matthew, Mark and Luke give to some of those events.
ill:
• Sieve flour (Lumps remain, flour falls through).
• It's as if John puts all his knowledge of Jesus in a giant sieve.
• Allowing everything to fall through the mesh that does not show Jesus to be God on earth.
• So, John was very selective in what he wrote.
Ill:
• Film maker Walt Disney.
• Was ruthless in cutting anything that got in the way of a story’s pacing.
• Ward Kimball, one of the animators for SNOW WHITE,
• Recalls working 240 days.
• On a 4.5-minute sequence in which the dwarfs.
• Made soup for Snow White and almost destroyed the kitchen in the process.
• Disney thought it was funny,
• But he decided the scene stopped the flow of the picture, so out it went.
• TRANSITION:
• John the apostle also had that ruthless streak in his character.
• Selective in his writings, as he wanted to clearly show the key facts as he saw them.
John the apostle tells us about his motive up front:
• "I have selected certain miracles", he says;
• "That you may believe".
• Well, that's John's motive for writing:
• And he is not ashamed to say so.
• And neither am I – the purpose of much of our Church activity to share this news.
• John uses the word ‘believe’ 98 times in this gospel.
• It is a key word in this book.
Question: What does it mean to believe ?
Answer:
The word "Believe" in the Bible conveys two thoughts:
(1). TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRUTH AS TRUTH.
• When a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ
• They are acknowledging him to be who he says he is.
• And that he can do what he says, he can do.
(2). A COMMITMENT TO THAT TRUTH.
• Belief is active not passive.
• ill: Bus stop
• You can be at the stop. You can believe the timetable.
• You can believe the bus will stop where you are.
• But until you actually commit yourself,
• By placing your feet off the pavement and on to the bus
• You have not truly believed.
John penned this gospel to help you believe!
“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=JPTgBPHrpe2UoQr1VrEPvV9Ih6yX0Tyz
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/gDLsBfKyUak
