January 28, 2024

BEYOND BELIEF: THE MIRACLE OF JESUS

January 28, 2024

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

We are beginning a new series today, based on the four gospels, which will lead us up to Easter. The gospels are records of Jesus’ ministry, written by four individuals, two of whom were apostles, and two who believed Jesus was the Messiah. Each one recorded accounts of what Jesus said and miracles He performed. John concluded his book with the words, “And there were other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (Jn. 21:25). His very first miracle as the Christ child was written in Jn. 1:14: “And the Word [Jesus] became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father.” He left His glory in heaven to come to the earth to live and walk among us. Praise His holy name!

Focal Passage: Acts 2:22-32.

The miracles of Jesus were a display of His Godly power:

  • Read Acts 2:22b. Why did Jesus—the second Person of the Godhead—take on flesh and come to earth? Read John 1:11-14. Why does John say Jesus came?
  • Read NT passages Mark 1:25-28, 30-34; 3:1,5; and 5:2,18-19. Today, if we hear of a “faith-healer,” why are we skeptical? Who was He healing? Were they almost all known to friends and neighbors? Did anyone doubt His power?
  • Read Isa. 42:6-7 and Matt. 11:3-6. Where did Jesus get His power? As a Man, did He keep His Deity?

Their purpose was to reveal His presence and provision:

  • Read Acts 2:23-24. Always keep in mind that Jesus is God (clothed in flesh); why did He say He had come? Read John 6:38-40, Mat. 5:17-18, Mark 1:37-38, 1 Pet. 2:24-25.
  • Why is it not possible that man could kill Him?

So we would fully understand He is all we need for our salvation:

  • Read Acts 2:25-28. What were things about God that David knew a thousand years before Christ came? How did he know God this well? Do you have this closeness of fellowship with God? What would it take to have it?
  • We know Jesus came in order that we who are His children could be saved. Read Heb. 10:59, Jn. 46:40, Jn. 9:39, Mark 10:45, 1 Jn. 3:8b, and 1 Pet. 2:24-25. Do these statements of His salvation that is available by grace give us everything we need?
  • Why is it said that we do not have to die if we are saved?

His work among us continues to this day:

  • Read Acts 2:29-32. What was Peter referring to when he said that “we are all witnesses to this”? How many people can you think of offhand who saw Jesus after the Resurrection? If someone in Lynchburg died and over 500-600 people saw them a few days later, what would be the response?
  • Why do you think so many people were allowed to see Jesus after His rising again? Read 1 Cor. 15:3-8. How do you think seeing Him alive again affected those who saw Him?
  • Read Acts 5:32. Who was Peter speaking to? When we are aware that the Holy Spirit has said or done something for us, are we experiencing the working of the Godhead? Can you give an example?

God will not allow you to impact the eternal until you’ve allowed Him to impact the internal, so PRAY!!

 

Close:

The miracles of Jesus were evidence of His Deity, being 100% God, yet 100% man. It is probably something we will never grasp fully. As stated in one of the points in today’s sermon study, we in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries are very skeptical when we hear of someone “healing” people at a meeting. We don’t believe it, assuming the “healer” has made their way through the crowd beforehand, getting some to act out a healing, perhaps for money. The Pharisees tried to convince themselves this was what Jesus was doing, but In the case of Jesus, this was not so.

As He traveled in and around the area of Jerusalem, most of the people knew the ones who daily begged because they were blind, lame, or had some other infirmity. In the case of the man who could not walk, even the Pharisees were asking if this wasn’t the man who sat every day asking for money. They refused to believe there was not some sort of dishonesty going on. That is why, when John sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He were the Messiah, Jesus quoted Isaiah, as He was doing those miracles that Isaiah had written the Messiah would be doing.

In our own lives, we ask God for things continually—healings, salvations, help, money, etc. Our list gets very long, but we know God hears us, and though we may not always be sure He will give us what we are asking for, we know He CAN if He so desires. To have Him answer a prayer quickly, rather than sometime later, or provide for us at the time it is necessary, is to participate in His willingness to remind us that we are His children, and as such, He loves us beyond the scope of our understanding. What a wonder! Don’t hold yourself back from having this relationship with Him, for there is no other like it.

 

By Sandy Day

January 28, 2024

 

 

 

 

/by