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Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Miracles

 A Question:

Why don't we see more miracles? Should we expect more?

My Reply:

What did Jesus think of miracles? 
He said they were a testimony from his Father, as to Jesus' credentials (John10:37-38; 14:11). 
He said that there are those who believe due to miracles, and those who believe, despite not seeing miracles (John20:29-31). 
Those who required a sign/miracle in order to believe, Jesus described as wicked (Matt.16:4). Miracles were performed in behalf of those who already believed (Luke 18:42; 7:50; etc.). 

Jesus listed the miracles he performed, to the followers of John the baptist... "22 So he replied to the messengers, ‘Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor." (Luke 7:22). 

Regarding the era to come after Jesus and his apostles, including our day; Jesus did have some thing to say about the future of miracles... 
"12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; even greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John14:12). 

What did Jesus mean, that the future of miracles would be greater than what Jesus performed? 
The miracles that Jesus listed at Luke 7:22 above, were physical. 
Their effect, was temporary. 
How did Jesus regard such physical things? 
He tells us, at John6:63 > "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life.". 
Greater works than Jesus, would have a permanent result. Those works would instill the life-imparting words of Jesus into a heart... resulting in eternal life (John6:27,57-58,40,47,63). 
Gal.6:8 and Rom.8:6 explain... 
"The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." - When our mind becomes governed by the words Jesus spoke, we gain spirit, eternal life, and peace. Those whose work imparts that life and peace, are doing greater works than physical miracles. 
Gal.6:8 reads; 
"Whoever sows with a view to the flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows with a view to the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.". 
Clearly, a work that imparts eternal life to one's spirit, is greater than curing the legs of a lame man, whose legs are destined for decay. 

If we look again at the list Jesus gave of his physical miracles, we see that this list can be applied in a spiritual way. Those who help to open the eyes of those without understanding (Matt.6:22; 13:10-11,16,10,13-14; Isa.35:5)... set the feet of a person on the road of life (Matt.7:13-14; Isa.35:8-9,10)... cleanse the heart of vice (Ps.51:10,1-2; Prov.17:3; Isa.48:10; Job 23:10)... open ears to the gospel (Isa.6:9-10; 35:5; Rev.2:29)... raise those dead in sin (Eph.2:1-2,3-4,5; Col.2:13; 1Cor.15:22)... and declare a message that gives hope to those in despair 
(Ps.51:17,12-13; Matt.5:3-4,6,10; John4:10; James 1:2-5; Matt.11:28-30; 12:20; 24:14; Isa.35:10; Rev.21:4)... 
are performing greater and more lasting works, than physical miracles.

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