So here we are, on part 5 of the Miracles of Jesus.
Before we get there, allow me to conduct a brief recap, just to remind myself where we are, and how we got here, in this series!
The purpose is firstly, to learn about the miracles and secondly, to discover what they mean to us today.
The plan was to spend a few weeks in the miracles, shift to the parables, and finish up with the miracles, and we are on track with that...sort of.
Y’all know I love “first mentions” in the bible, and the first mention of the word miracle is found in:
Exodus 7:9 ““When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’ ””
When I first began preparing my study of the miracles, I figured I had three different ways to present them:
By the types of miracles
Chronologically how they appeared in scripture
By the gospel they are told in
After digging a bit, I decided on presenting them chronologically.
We are examining these miracles chronologically with the intent of:
Looking at the types of miracles
Who was present
Purpose of the miracles
Which gospels recorded unique miracles
Which gospel had the most miracles
Which had the fewest
Which gospel had most of each type of miracle
We aren’t going to hit each of those every week, but sprinkle them in as the study unfolds.
Remember, one of the purposes of the miracles is to prove Jesus’ power over everything:
We see 5 types of miracles in the 37 miracles recorded in the gospels:
Food
Nature
Healing
Demon possession
and raising of the dead
We are going to unbox 4 more miracles today, beginning with Jesus walking on the water.
It is recorded in three of the 4 Gospels, with Luke being the exception.
It probably ranks up there in the most popular miracles, right alongside “turning water into wine”.
This miracle is recorded in:
Matthew 14:22-33 / Mark 6:45-52 / John 6:16-21, we’ll
be looking at Matthew’s account.
Stand with me as we honor God while reading His word.
Read Matthew 14:22-33 from my bible.
I’d like to break this passage down just a little bit today.
Matthew 14:23 “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.”
Church, if Jesus needed and took time to pray, shouldn’t we?
We probably all know, we need time to pray, but are we actually taking time to pray?
Matthew 14:25 “Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.”
The Roman’s broke night watches into 4 segments, the 4th watch being from 3-6 a.m.
Matthew 14:30 “But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!””
When Peter took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink.
Is that us? What happens when we take our eyes off Jesus? Do we begin to sink?
What causes you to take your eyes off Jesus?
Is it fear?
Peter cried out “Lord, save me”.
Apparently, Peter was the only one with enough faith in Jesus, that he boldly asked him to empower him to come to Him by walking on the water!
Matthew’s gospel is the only one that records the miracle within a miracle of Peter walking on water.
Peter’s faith faltered, and when he recognized that he cried out to Jesus “Lord, save me”
Have you ever cried out “Lord save me”?
If you haven’t, what are you waiting for?
If our faith falters, it doesn’t mean we have failed, we just need to be sure to cry out to Jesus to save us, because He is the only one who can fully help us!
Please know that faith and fear cannot exist in the same vessel. Something’s gotta give!
And once again, we see Jesus has command over nature and all the created world.
Matthew 14:32 “And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”
Let’s move on to the next miracle:
Jesus heals many sick.
Found in Matt 14:34-36 / Mark 16:53-56
I’ll be reading Mark’s account:
The heading reads “Jesus heals ALL who touch Him”
I take that as a powerful promise in God’s Word to ME.
Mark 6:53–56 “When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.”
Mark 6:54 “And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him,”
Is that us? Do we immediately recognize Jesus as the miracle worker in our lives?
I’ve said it before, I would rather live blessing to blessing, but I sure want to recognize when I need a miracle!
Mark 6:56 “Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him, were made well.”
I’m reminded of the woman with the blood issue, who thought “If I could only touch His robe.
To get a little context of both of those passages, go back and read Numbers 15:37-41 (repeat)
Let’s go back to v45 for just a minute, as I present this challenge to you for the upcoming week.
Mark 6:45 “Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.”
but Mark 6:53 says they landed in Gennesaret “When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.”
Here’s the challenge:
If Jesus sent them to Bethsaida, how did He allow them to end up in Gennesaret?
The Sunday following Resurrection Sunday, you will have a chance to share with us, your perspective on this question, as well as what you have learned about the Miracles of Jesus from this study, or what miracles Jesus has worked in your life. I look forward to your responses.
Le’t look at our 3rd miracle for today.
This ones a doozy!
Jesus heals a gentile woman’s daughter.
Found in Matt 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30 /
I’m going to read from Matthew’s gospel, but examine the context from both.
Matthew 15:21–24 “Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.””
Matthew 15:25–28 “Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”
I believe in order to get a little better understanding of this text, we need to allow scripture to interpret scripture.
Because it sure seems to be that Jesus’ initial response is that He only came to help “His” people.
Ever been in a church, where you felt like you weren’t “their” people?
You know, you didn’t dress right
Didn’t look like the rest of the sheep
Or weren’t from the right bloodlines
Or didn’t have a “respectable” job?
I had to dig a little deeper to appreciate Jesus’ words and therefore understand how that miracle applies to me!
I’d like to begin by going back to the parable that we examined a few weeks ago, about the persistent friend. That word “persistent” has the Greek transliteration to mean “shameless boldness”.
This gentile woman had “shameless boldness” in pleading with Jesus to heal her daughter.
In fact, that boldness is what caused Jesus to heal her daughter.
I want to look at v24. I had to read several translations, because I thought surely that doesn’t mean what it sounds like it means.
Mark 7:27 “But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.””
—-ask others what does their bible say—-
Let’s examine 3 verses to maybe gain some clarity on this passage.
Matthew 10:5–6 “These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
Luke 2:29–31 ““Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,”
then v32:
Luke 2:32 “A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.””
These 3 passages are a perfect example of why we are not to take 1 verse, and develop an entire religion around it!
I still struggle a bit, being called a dog, whether it be a wild dingo, or my pet Jack Russell!
But I do have a better understanding of Jesus’ words.
Let’s wrap this miracle up by looking at v28.
Matthew 15:28 “Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”
This woman had a dire circumstance in her life, no doubt.
But again, we see Jesus is not moved by our circumstances, He is moved by our faith!
The final miracle we will examine today is found only in Mark’s gospel
Mark 7:31–34 “Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.””
Mark 7:35–37 “Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.””
There’s a lot to comment on here, but just a couple today.
In verse 35, we need to go back to the OT:
Isaiah 35:5–6 “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.”
But here’s my takeaway from this passage, church:
Because the man could not hear or speak, Jesus communicated with him in other ways.
Are we willing to allow Jesus to communicate with us in different ways, or do we make excuses why He doesn’t?
Equally important is this question:
As the body of Christ, are we willing to witness to the world, through a diversity of gifts He has given us?
I’d like to close with just a couple of things to walk away with today:
Jesus showed through His miracles that He has complete command over:
Nature
Healing
Demons
Food
and raising the dead
So often, we see in the life of Jesus, we see many things, including a man who prayed!
