Transition Video: Healing of the Leper from the Chosen!
Series: Never Seen Before in 2024
Thesis: To see something we have never seen before in 2024 - we must do something we have never done before in 2024! What is the one thing you need to do? Is it read the Bible daily – Pray – have consistent devotions? Step out in faith? Follow the call of God? Pray for miracles for others?
Sermon: Miracles of Jesus – Mark
Thesis: The Gospel of Mark is written by the eyewitness account of Peter and Peter choose to reveal Jesus as “The Son of God” – He proved He was the Son of God by highlighting some of the miracles Jesus did! These miracles revealed the power Jesus had over a variety of dimension on this earth and in the spiritual realm. To Peter this proved He was”The Son of God!”
Introduction:
Opening Illustration: THE PRICE OF A MIRACLE Contributed by David Yarbrough on Mar 24, 2003 sermoncentral.com
Let me tell you about Tess. Tess was a precocious eight-year-old little girl. One day she heard her mom and dad talking in a serious and somber tone about her little brother, Andrew. Tess didn’t understand everything that they were saying, but she got the gist: Her little brother, Andrew, was very, very sick...and they were completely out of money. They would have to move out of their house and move into a small apartment because Mom and Dad didn’t have enough money for the doctor bills and the house payment. On top of that, only a very expensive surgery could save Andrew now...and they could not find anyone to lend them the money. Just then, Tess heard her dad say to her tearful mother in whispered desperation, “Only a miracle can save Andrew now.”
Tess ran to her room, pulled out a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in her closet. She poured out all the change on the floor and counted it carefully. She then put the change back in the jar, put the jar under her arm, slipped out the back door and ran down to the Rexall Drug Store six blocks away.
The pharmacist was talking to a man intently and at first he didn’t notice Tess standing there. She waited patiently for a while and then dramatically cleared her throat, but still, no luck – the pharmacist did not see her. Finally, Tess got his attention by taking a quarter out of her jelly jar and tapping it on the glass counter. That did it. The pharmacist noticed her and said, “Just a minute. I’m talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven’t seen for ages.”
“Well,” said Tess, “I want to talk to you about my brother. He’s really, really sick – and I want to buy a miracle. His name is Andrew and he has something growing inside his head and my daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So… how much does a miracle cost? I have the money here to pay for it. It’s all that I have saved. If it isn’t enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much a miracle costs.”
The pharmacist’s brother was a well-dressed man. He stooped down and asked Tess, “What kind of miracle does your brother need?”
“I don’t know,” Tess replied, with her eyes welling up. “I just know he’s really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my parents can’t pay for it, so I want to use my money.”
“How much do you have?” asked the man from Chicago.
“One dollar and eleven cents!” Tess said proudly. “It’s all the money I have in the world, but I can get some more if I need to.”
“Well, you are in luck,” the man said with a smile. “One dollar and eleven cents is the exact price of a miracle for little brothers.”
He took the money in one hand and with the other he took hold of her mitten and said, “Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the kind of miracle you need.”
That well-dressed man from Chicago was Dr. Carlton Armstrong who just happened to be a noted neurosurgeon. The operation was successfully completed without charge...and it wasn’t long until Andrew was home again and doing well. Tess’ mom and dad were so grateful. They were talking one night about the chain of events that had saved Andrew’s life. “That surgery,” her mom said, “was a real miracle.” And then she said, “I just wonder how much it would have cost.”
Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost… one dollar and eleven cents… plus, the skill and graciousness of a great doctor… and of course, the gracious, sacrificial love of an eight-year-old big sister!
Someone might say, “Well, it was only one dollar and eleven cents”… but, it was all she had! She gave all she had to save her little brother… and that’s an extravagant gift!
Isn’t that a great story? It’s powerful because it reminds us in a dramatic way that the spirit of Christ can empower and enable us… to be extravagant in our generosity, to be extravagant in our gratitude, and to be extravagant in our graciousness.
T.S. – Today I want to explore the miracles of Jesus – I have a handout which highlights them in the Gospels if you would like to dive deeper into the miracles which Jesus performed. (See Handout)
We started the message off this morning highlighting the 4th miracle Jesus did in Mark’s Gospel. Let’s read the text.
Scripture Verses: Mark 1:40-45
A Man with Leprosy
40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”
42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
43Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:
44“See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
45Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
The healing of the Leper by Jesus! Wow how amazing – how compassionate Jesus was and is- to heal him of this terrible disease! It’s important to understand leprosy was a sentence of isolation, abandonment, rejection, to suffer alone in agony and despair, banned from society and family and it was a slow miserable living death! Your body literally rots away at a slow rate!
Share your experience laying hands on a leper in India after praying for thousands of people on night! I still can smell the rotting flesh of the lepers I prayed for that night – it was pungent – But we saw God do miracles in India and my oldest Tiffany kept a list of the miracles over the three weeks!
So why does God do miracles? He does miracles to prove the truth of the Gospel and of who Jesus is, was and will be! The Messiah – The savior of this world!
So let me be clear this morning!
Question: Why did Jesus do miracles? Why does He still perform miracles? Answer: To prove that He is, was the divine Son of God! He does it to strengthen the faith of those who have not believed and for those who believed in him! Why? Because Jesus has compassion on us, He loves us!
I. Miracles are for today and Jesus commissioned us to preach the Gospel and to pray – to lay hands on people to get well so they can receive a miracle.
a. Mark 16:9-20:
i. 9When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.
ii. 10She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping.
iii. 11When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
iv. 12Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.
v. 13These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
vi. 14Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
vii. 15He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
viii. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
ix. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
x. 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
xi. 19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
xii. 20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
1. The Gospels are clear that we need to pray, to get our hearts and minds in the right place and then go and pray for people to be healed and to receive miracles – like Jesus did! If we go He promises to be with us and to use us to open the eyes and hearts of the people we minister too!
II. The Controversy: Churches have been divided in the past and present about miracles – just like they were in Jesus day - so let me give you an example of this in my lifetime!
a. Illustration: MC510 miracle class at Fuller theological Seminary: Description:
i. MC510 was a course that took place at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA from 1982-1985 under the leadership of John Wimber and C. Peter Wagner. The course was approved in Fall 1981 and given the name “Signs, Wonders, & Church Growth.” The growing reputation was largely due to the particular teachings on miraculous healing and in-class practice of praying for the sick. The MC510 Signs and Wonders collection includes class materials, class records, and correspondence regarding MC510: Signs, Wonders, & Church Growth; MC511: Healing Ministry and Church Growth; and MC550: The Ministry of Healing in World Evangelization.
ii. Background:
1. MC510 drew attention from students, faculty, and outside sources (such as Christian Life Magazine). The growing reputation was largely due to the particular teachings on miraculous healing and in-class practice of praying for the sick. Controversy surrounded the course in its few short years. As a result, a task force of 10 members (including Wagner and Paul Pierson, the Dean of the School of World Mission) was assembled to evaluate and respond to feedback. In January 1986, Pierson announced the discontinuation of MC510.
2. Miracles were recorded from the class and published in a magazine called MC510.
a. Quote: from https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,982784-4,00.html
iii. The president of Fuller said he had known only two seminary classes which had become so famous- one from another seminary taught by Bosch on “Church Dogma” and the other the MC510 taught by John Wimber and C Peter Wagner.
1. Quote: “While traditional churches treat miracles gingerly, it is surely no coincidence that the fastest-growing movement in Christendom places miracles squarely at the center of worship. The growth rate of the "post denominational" churches--the Charismatics and Pentecostals--now surpasses that of the Southern Baptists. Loosely structured, informal, led by powerful "apostles," these churches reject rigid hierarchies and sedate theology.
a. We see this happening in South America, Central America, Africa, China!
b. "People don't come to listen," explains Peter Wagner, a professor of church growth at Fuller Theological Seminary, "They come to do."
i. John Wimber coined the phrase from his class “Everybody gets to play!”
1. The NT says we are priesthood of all believers – anyone – anywhere can pray for someone to receive a miracle! It’s not reserved for only pastors, evangelist’s, prophets or apostles but for everyone.
2. See reference 1 Peter 2:9
2. The truth is miracles take on many forms:
a. There are healing miracles! There are members who have visions, or speak in tongues, or receive a financial miracle or collapse on the ground when seized by the power of the Holy Spirit. There are miracles over nature or circumstances. There are financial miracles and relationship miracles.
3. Quote: "We live in an exceptional time," says Peter Wagner. "In the Middle Ages in Europe, perhaps, there may have been something comparable. But certainly, in the history of the U.S. we have never seen such a frequency of signs and wonders.'' And what about disputes among modern scholars? "I don't pay any attention whatsoever to the challenges, no matter how scholarly they are," he snaps. "Why should I, when I see healing happening all the time?"
a. At this time of the quote “The Jesus Revolution” was happening across America.
b. Wagner passed away in 2016 at the age of 86 after penning 80 books!
4. Quote: “Christian signs and wonders are beyond rationality, but they serve a rational purpose: to authenticate the gospel. The gospel is opposed to the pluralistic lie that says all religious experience is equally valid. Signs and wonders validate Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and His lordship over every area of our lives.”— John Wimber
a. I saw John Wimber in Mpls at “The Convention on the Holy Spirit” hosted by a main line Lutheran denomination of the day – I watched in amazement people get healed and then two older ladies prayed for me and My constant ear infections and I have not had them since!
b. In 1993 Wimber was diagnosed with sinus cancer. He had successful radiation treatment which lasted a year, but said “at the time I weighed 280 pounds.” In 1995 he had a stroke. In 1997 he had triple-bypass heart surgery. His mental faculties were declining and later that same year Wimber fell in his home and hit his head.This caused a massive brain hemorrhage, from which he died on November 17, 1997, at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, California. He was 63 years old.
5. But what birthed from this class was two main books and many others spun off from it:
a. Power Evangelism (co-author; Harper & Row, 1986) ISBN 0-34056127-0
i. Power Healing (co-author; Harper & Row, 1986) ISBN 0-06069541-2
1. Signs and Wonders and Church Growth (co-author; Harper & Row, 1988) ISBN 978-0-06069537-8–
ii. John Wimber also started the Vineyard movement.
b. “Your spiritual gifts can make your church grow” by C. Peter Wagner. (he authored over 80 books in his life)
i. His book and gift tests I still use today!
TS: Miracles are for today and Jesus still is doing miracles – but we must do our part – be obedient – be prayers up and fasted up – be in tune with the Lord and let him direct us to who we should pray for.
III. 10 key Miracles in the Book of Mark – That Peter highlights by Jesus:
a. Mark (Peter) dedicates more of His eyewitness account of being with Jesus’ to Jesus miracles whereas Matthew spent a lot of time focusing on Jesus’ sermons and teachings. For Peter, these miracles were demonstrations of Jesus’ power- the affirmation to confirm that He was “The Son of God.”
i. The miracles demonstrated His power over disease, even progressive diseases like leprosy, the deliverances revealed his power over the forces of evil, the miracles connected with speaking to nature (Calming the Storm) even over nature properties like walking on water. Many flocked to Him to be healed and he even fed them miraculously.
1. The Gospel writers said at times many were healed and other times all where healed and or delivered who came to Jesus!
2. Some wondered who Jesus was and these miracles opened their eyes – like Nicodemus. Others followed Him because of the demonstrations of His power to do miracles.
3. Peter proved He was “The Son of God”: it appears 37 times in the NT and is used to designate a title and description of Jesus.
a. Mark 1:1: “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah the Son of God…”
i. Peter makes it clear who Jesus is this term is taken from the OT – it points to connection with God – It is used in regard to Jesus having a divine side to Him – whereas His title “Son of Man” reflects his human side.
1. Jesus was 100% divine and 100% man.
a. Son of God
b. Son of Man
ii. Peter notes that the demons would address Jesus as “The Son of God” and Jesus would tell them to be quiet!
1. See Mark 3: 11-12
a. Whenever impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave strict orders not to tell others about him.
b. The 10 miracles give us the message and proof that Jesus is “The Son of God:” From a message I recently listened to the preacher noted that the Gospels spend 25% of their time highlighting the miracles of Jesus!
i. Jesus casts out an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23–28). This miracle demonstrated Jesus’ power over the forces of evil. The people of Capernaum were amazed and asked, “What new doctrine is this?” They also noted how Jesus has authority!
1. This is the first miracle Peter highlighted in the Gospel of Mark!
ii. Healing Peter’s mother-in- law (Mark 1:29–34). We see Peter including this because it was a family member Jesus healed. Jesus demonstrates His power over sickness and demons through miracles. As a result, the people brought the sick and demon-possessed to Him to be healed.
1. 32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon–possessed. 33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
2. Why Jesus could do these miracles – I think the key is found in verse 35 Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place “35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
a. How is your prayer life? Are you praying and connecting with the Lord!
iii. Healing a paralyzed man (Mark 2:1–12). Jesus’ displays His power over sickness and His authority to forgive. The Pharisees questioned Jesus’ authority to forgive, but the people glorified God.
1. (Reference the video clip of Jesus healing the cripple lowered through the roof from “The Chosen”)
iv. Healing a man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1–6). In this story, Mark tells of not only Jesus’ power over sickness but His authority to do good on the Sabbath. The Pharisees wanted to accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath and began to plot against Him.
1. We see the controversy over healing was present back in Jesus day too!
v. Calming a storm (Mark 4:35–41). Jesus’ power over nature is illustrated here. The disciples were afraid and asked, “Who can this be?”
vi. Raising Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5:21–24, 35–43). Jesus’ power over death. The family of Jairus is overcome with amazement.
vii. Feeding the five thousand (Mark 6:30–44). Jesus’ power to provide food. The disciple’s hearts were hardened, and they did not understand what the miracle meant (v. 52).
viii. Walking on the sea (Mark 6:45–52). Jesus’ power over nature. The disciples were greatly amazed.
ix. Healing a deaf-mute (Mark 7:31–37). Jesus’ power over the ability to hear and speak. The people spread the news of Jesus and were astonished.
x. Casting out a deaf and dumb spirit (Mark 9:14–29). Jesus’ power over the forces of evil, and the source of His power:
1. Prayer and connection with the Father. The disciples asked Jesus what the source of His power was? Answer: His power came from God – from being divine – from being connected to Father and Holy Spirit! From being the Son of God! Believers too are called sons and daughters of God!
a. Jesus gave us authority to do what He did!
2. Jesus came with authority – I think of authority as the anointing of God! Jesus had it – when he did stuff like miracles he tapped into the anointing of the Holy Spirit – this revealed who He was, and people could see and feel this anointing of authority.
3. Please - See the miracle handout on the back of the table!
Conclusion:
What do we need to know from this message?
Answer: Jesus performed miracles to prove He was – The Messiah, The Son of God, The Word of God in the flesh, the personification of Love, the Savior of the world. Then after His death and resurrection He commissioned His followers to go preach the Gospel and do the miracle stuff to prove the truth of The Gospel and who He was, is and will be!
Why do we need to know this?
Answer: We need to know that Jesus is still doing miracles today to reveal that He is the Savior of the World and God in the flesh.
What do we need to do?
Answer: We need to get prayed up – connected with the Lord and allow The Holy Spirit to direct us on who to pray for daily– when we become prayed up, step out in faith and are obedient to Jesus commission, we will see miracles. Those miracles will reveal to others that Jesus is who He says He is.
Why do we need to do this?
Answer: If we want to see people transformed, saved, delivered, healed – encouraged, given hope, and set free from bondage then we need to pray for miracles and trust the Lord to bring the miracle.
How can I help them remember?
Closing Illustration: Movie clips – miracle catch in Super Bowl – tell the story: Closing Illustration David Tyree and Eli Mannings throw for the miraculous catch in Super Bowl 42 and the prophecy the night before at a prayer meeting.
Closing Video clip “Catch 42” – God still does all kinds of miracles – He uses them to reveal who He is – was and will be!
