|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written (John 21:25, NLT).
The miracles of Jesus in the Gospels tempt incredulity as skeptics doubt and scoffers laugh. Then Jesus doubles down on doubts about miracles when He proclaims to us. . .
I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works (John 14:12).
As believers, we believe in the miracles of Jesus, but do we become skeptics and scoffers when Jesus says that we should do miracles? Below, I’ve listed the five greatest miracles of Jesus (as the only judge and juror, my choice!), but while reading, think, “Jesus said that I can do this.”
First: Changing Water to Wine
The master of ceremonies described this changed water to wine. . .
A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” (John 2:10).
I once heard a sommelier (expert in wine) say, “Anybody can make wine, but really good wine takes old vines, a perfect climate that year, a knowledgeable vintner, and a lot of luck.”
Jesus made great wine in seconds!
Second: The Woman Who Touched Jesus
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
A woman who had suffered for years with chronic bleeding crept up behind Jesus, touched his garment, and received immediate healing. This story is listed in my top five because it’s close to my heart. My grandmother suffered from continuous bleeding for years, attended a Billy Sunday crusade, and was healed while listening to him preach.
She became a prayer warrior afterward, and I attribute much of the fruit of my ministry to the result of her praying for me when I was a child.
Third: The Friends of the Paralytic
They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head (Mark 2:4a).
Thinking about the ministry of Jesus, His healing the sick takes the spotlight. The blind see, the deaf hear, the dead rise, and the lame walk. But the story of they carrying their friend and finding the house where Jesus taught was so packed with listeners that they had to dig a hole in the roof to lower the paralytic into the presence of Jesus.
I love the story of the healed paralytic, but the testimony of they even more.
Fourth: Feeding the Five Thousand
Imagine the disciples — those with little perception of Jesus’ ability — telling Him what to do. We see this “feeble faith to mighty God interaction” with the feeding of the 5000 in Matthew 14.
Disciples to Jesus: It’s late. Stop peaching and send the crowds away so they can go buy food in the villages.
Jesus to the disciples: You feed them!
Fifth: Miracles Performed by You!
The Gospels aren’t static. We are to follow the example of Jesus and do His works. But do we believe the Bible?
The miracles of Jesus did not stop after the New Testament period. They continue today. Craig Keener, writing in his book Miracles, describes the evidence in history for hundreds of millions of miracles since the time of Jesus.
Jesus wasn’t jesting when He said to us, “Even greater works you will do!”