3.4.24b 5.12.2020 Bible Study Wabash Christian Village

Miracles & The Authority of God

The Bible teaches that God is our Creator

The Bible tells us stories of God’s intervention in His Creation

The Bible’s big story is the story of Redemption

Which stretches from the call of Abraham...

…to the ministry of Jesus:

His death, burial, and Resurrection

and the calling of His Church

to proclaim the saving Gospel.

During this process we read of miracles.

Miracles are God’s intervention in human affairs to further His divine plan of salvation.

The Bible describes these interventions these miracles in various ways...

Some are direct

Some are oblique

Some use intermediaries

And in the case of Jesus He is physically present..Because

During the time of His earthly ministry Jesus performed miracles.

Jesus did not perform miracles to amaze us.

Jesus did not perform miracles to amuse us.

Jesus performed miracles to demonstrate His

Divinity

and

Saving Authority

Mark tells one of my favorite miracle stories because in it Jesus puts His miracles into the broader context of His saving ministry...

Mark 2:1–12 ESV

1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

In this famous story Jesus

Acts with Compassion.

for the paralytic

In this famous story Jesus

Acts with Contempt

for the unbelieving

In this famous story Jesus

Affirms the faith

of the paralytic’s friends.

But Most importantly...

In this story Jesus

Announces His Sovereignty

over Sin

Why is this significant?

Later Jesus will say...

Mark 2:14 ESV

14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

He will offer this invitation…

Mark 8:34 ESV

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

He will affirm...

John 10:27 ESV

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

He promises...

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

His miracles remind us that

His claim to authority is authentic...

And that our faith in Him will be made sight!

That is God’s Word for today