A S P E C T S - a monthly devotional journal For subscription information on receiving Aspects every month via e-mail, or the laser-printed edition by mail, see NOTES, COPYRIGHT & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION near the end of this file. Aspects is written by David S. Lampel. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Issue #22, September 1992 (Internet Edition) S I G N S & W O N D E R S ----------------------------------------------------------------- In this issue: Perspective - Who Then Is This? Perspective - 20/20 Faith Perspective - You Want Me to Do What? Perspective - It Is I Perspective - A Closer Look (The Miracles of Jesus) ----------------------------------------------------------------- "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor." -LUK 7:22 "All His miracles are but natural manifestations of His person, and hence they were performed with the same ease with which we perform our ordinary daily works. They were the natural and necessary outcome of His life, the expression in act of what He Himself was." (1) ___________________________ Sometime earlier this summer, my good wife Linda set a handful of sunflower seeds into the Iowa soil in a short row along the south end of our garden. She covered them with an inch or two of loam, and watered them when it failed to rain. Your average sunflower seed is less than one-half inch long when planted. It has a hard shell that seems almost impervious to the elements. Birds and squirrels love to crack them open and scatter the shell halves about the ground. Today those seeds planted by Linda have grown into mature plants. The tallest plant is over ten feet tall and has a stalk the diameter of the thick end of a baseball bat. That, to me, is a miracle. But then, it's not really, is it. It isn't a miracle when a person or an animal or a seed does something that is built right into its genes. It's not a miracle when someone or something does precisely what is intended--and sunflower seeds are supposed to grow ten feet tall. We look upon the birth of a child as a miracle--a wondrous, awe-inspiring act of God. We watch an African wildebeest drop headfirst to the ground from its mother's womb, and just minutes later gambol off alongside her--and we gasp at the miracle. We stroll through the towering redwoods of Muir Woods and struggle to comprehend the wonder of their majestic beauty. There actually is an Old Testament word that fits this category-- pala: to separate, i.e., distinguish, to be great, difficult, wonderful; (2) usually referring to God's acts, either in shaping the universe or acting in history on behalf of His people. (3) Regarding the miracles of Jesus in the New Testament, however, the words used most often are DUNAMIS: power, inherent ability, used of works of a supernatural origin and character, such as could not be produced by natural agents and means, and SEMEION: a sign, mark, token, used of miracles and wonders as signs of Divine authority. (4) When Jesus performed a miracle, it was something supernatural--not just something wonderful. (5) This month in Aspects, let's continue looking at the deity of Jesus by considering moments in which He performed miraculous Signs & Wonders. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective - W H O T H E N I S T H I S ? ------------- Fairest Lord Jesus! Ruler of all nature, O Thou of God and man the Son! Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, Thou, my soul's Glory, Joy, and Crown! (6) And on that day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side." And leaving the multitude, they took Him along with them, just as He was, in the boat; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, "Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?" And they became very much afraid and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" (8) ___________________________ It was Jesus, the Word, who set this world in place (7)--who divided the oceans from the land, who populated each with miriad creatures. It was He who designed the vaporous clouds and set the wind to blowing out of its cave. So, certainly, Jesus would retain command over all these elements. Even in human wrap, Jesus Christ was still Son of God, the Word. This scene illustrates perfectly Jesus' mix of humanity and deity. He had had a long and tiring day speaking to the masses. The crowd had grown so large (and maybe unruly?) that Jesus spoke His parables to them from a boat set just off the shoreline. When evening came and the people had wandered back to their homes to discuss amongst themselves the marvelous things spoken by the rabbi, Jesus suggested they use the boat to cross to the opposite shore of the Sea of Galilee The human side of Jesus was so weary from the day's work that His sleep was not interrupted by the pounding tempest that came up on the sea. At this point in their relationship, the disciples saw Jesus primarily as their rabbi--a wise master to teach them Godly truth; several things in this narrative point to this conclusion. First, they addressed Him (in v38) as "teacher" or "master"--a term commonly used for just that, someone's instructor. Jesus used the same term to address Nicodemus. (9) Second, if they had recognized Jesus as the Son of God, their question would have been unnecessary; of course He would care about their lives. Last, the episode ends with one more uneducated query from the group. After Jesus has stilled the storm, they are filled with fear and ask each other, "Who is this?!" With the smugness of hindsight we shake our heads over their thickheadedness. But I think our skulls may have been just as dense in that situation--clinging desperately to the side rail while our gorge rose. I like to think Jesus planned the whole thing. He is God, and God can easily do more than one thing at a time. I imagine while most of His brain slept, another part was thinking something like this: What will it take? I can't wait forever for these guys to get it through their heads that the Father and I are one! So far they respect me as their teacher, but they must come to love me as their Lord. I think it's time for another miracle. Wind, do your thing. And the wind rose and the waves tossed the little ship about and came crashing over its bow. Being in the stern, Jesus was left high and dry as He taught His disciples a lesson in climate control. One final thought: There's something here that demonstrates the true mastery Jesus had over the elements. I have observed that when a parent has raised their child well, it is seldom necessary for that parent to rant and scream to adjust the behavior of the child. A simple word is enough. It wasn't necessary for Jesus to dance about, scream incantations, toss magic potions over the waters. He quietly and simply--I imagine He may have done it in a whisper--said, "Shush. Be quiet now." And it was done. ___________________________ "How often we too are taught the folly of our fears by experiencing some swift, easy deliverance! Blessed be God! He does not rebuke us first and help us afterwards, but rebukes by helping. What could the disciples say, as they sat there in the great calm, in answer to Christ's question, 'Why are ye fearful?' Fear can give no reasonable account of itself, if Christ is in the boat. If our faith unites us to Jesus, there is nothing that need shake our courage. Jesus wondered at the slowness of the disciples to learn their lesson, and the wonder was reflected in the sad question, 'Have ye not yet faith?' How much more keen the edge of that question is when addressed to us, who know Him so much better, and have centuries of His working for His servants to look back on. When, in the tempests that sweep over our own lives, we sometimes pass into a great calm as suddenly as if we had entered the centre of a typhoon, we wonder unbelievably instead of saying, out of a faith nourished by experience, 'It is just like Him.'" (10) Shipwreck was ours if Thou didst sleep uncaring; We did not wait to see that God was near. We could not understand a faith so daring, Calmly to slumber 'till the storm should clear. It was our faith, not He, that needed waking! (11) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective - 2 0 / 2 0 F A I T H ------------- Only believe, only believe; All things are possible, only believe. (12) As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region. (13) ___________________________ Jesus walked this earth during a time of extraordinary expectation for a Jewish Messiah. This politically-charged religious climate seemed to dog His steps everywhere He went. Just as today President Bush is hounded by a lousy economy, Jesus was often forced to make ministry decisions based on how it would "play in the press." He understood how the public could be too easily swayed, and how very often there could be a concomitant backlash against Him. So sometimes Jesus made statements that can seem a little curious to us these days. There was no doubt in the minds of the two blind men who Jesus was. They didn't just think He was some guy born to a man by the name of David. This is the first occurrence of the title "Son of David," and indicates that these men believed Jesus to be the Annointed One--the Messiah. They also knew that anyone fitting that description would certainly be able to restore their sight. Once again Jesus demonstrates how simple and uncluttered our faith need be. This private moment bears none of the trappings of religion; like the thief dying next to the suffering Jesus, these men need only to state that they believe Jesus is God: "Do you believe I can do this?" "Yes, Lord." And that's it. How simple, how clearly defined. How pristine the testimony for us. Into the Word ------------- What other examples can you find of Jesus healing people because of their belief in His ability to do so? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Digging Deeper--Moving Higher ----------------------------- YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT? Even with the foregoing discussion on MAT 9:30, I am troubled by these episodes where Jesus sternly instructs someone to keep quiet about the miracle He has just performed. Put yourself in the sandals of these two men: The Messiah has just restored your sight. Suddenly, miraculously, brilliant light brightens your heretofore shadowy existence. Every friend, every member of your family that you meet is just possibly going to notice that while the last time they saw you, you were blind, today you have 20/20 vision. And you're not going to tell them how it happened?! Do a survey of those instances where Jesus tells the recipient of His healing to keep it quiet. What do you think? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective - I T I S I ------------- [Herod] had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. "Bring them here to me," he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." (14) ___________________________ It was, perhaps, one of His saddest moments on earth. Jesus had just received word that John--His relative and precursor--had been beheaded by Herod Antipas. While Jesus was not surprised by the event, it nonetheless grieved Him to lose his brother in ministry. In response, Jesus sought solitude and quiet, but the people discovered His lonely location and searched Him out, bringing their sick and disabled for His healing. How like our Savior to feel compassion for them even in His moment of private sorrow. He ministered to them--thousands of people clamoring for His attention, His touch, His every word. And as the day wore on, and the many people became hungry in this desolate place, He miraculously ministered to that need, as well. But then, after they had all eaten, He packed everyone off--the disciples to their boat and the people to their homes--and returned to His lonely mountaintop to pray. There Jesus remained in quiet communion with His Father until sometime in the wee hours just before dawn. The disciples' boat was probably a mile or two away from Jesus when the wind and waves began to abuse the small vessel. Jesus employed either His omniscience or His superior vision to ascertain that His disciples were in trouble and needed Him. So Jesus walked out to their boat--and their first thought was that they were seeing an apparition. Here's our Peter again--what a guy. Jesus calmed their fears by identifying Himself and telling them that they had no need to be alarmed. Peter put the apparition to the test (not unlike Thomas requiring proof of the Savior's wounds): "All right, if you are who you say, tell me it's okay to walk out there to you." Isn't it wonderful that Jesus is our Master? What if the roles were reversed and our Savior had Peter's personality. His response might have been something like: "Nice. Really nice. I walk all the way out here to calm your fears and what do I get for it. Nothing but static! I could have stayed back there on that nice dry mountain, you know. Gimme a break already!" But God's Son doesn't have Peter's personality--He has Jesus'. So to Peter's impertinent request He answers: "Sure! Come on out here!" True to his personality, Peter swung his legs over the siderail, dropped down onto the water's surface, and confidently proceeded toward Jesus. And just as true to his personality, he got suddenly sick and nervous the minute the wind kicked up again and a little spray got in his face. As Peter sank slowly into the deep, he called out to the Lord Jesus for salvation. Paradoxically, Peter's calling out to Jesus betrayed a lack of faith in Him, while our calling out to Him is a demonstration of our faith. With compassion tinged with disappointment, Jesus took hold of Peter and lifted him out of the water: "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" ___________________________ "Jesus Christ is no security against life's storms, but He is perfect security in life's storms." (15) Making it Personal ------------------ WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? When Jesus comes to your rescue, what is your initial response? Surprise? Amazement? Shock? Or are you not surprised, since you expected Him all along? ALWAYS A REASON What were the miracles performed during this episode? Why did Jesus perform them? Is there more than one reason? What was He trying to accomplish? What did the disciples learn from the episode? Have you ever felt that you were sinking and Jesus came and lifted you up? ___________________________ Love Lifted Me I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, now safe am I. Refrain Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, love lifted me. (repeat) All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I'll cling, In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing; Love so mighty and so true merits my soul's best songs; Faithful, loving service, too, to Him belongs. Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves; He will lift you by His love out of the angry waves; He's the Master of the sea, billows His will obey; He your Savior wants to be, be saved today. (16) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective - A C L O S E R L O O K ------------- Much is learned of Jesus by examining His miracles. He was accomplishing so much more with them than just proclaiming His deity. Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that so many have labeled Jesus as "teacher;" we know Him to be so much more, but He was a superb teacher--even as a miracle worker. What can His miracles teach us? I would challenge you to make a personal survey of all His recorded miracles. As you do, ask the following questions: * What was required for the miracle to take place? * Who is around to see the miracle? * What happens after the miracle? * What lessons have been learned--and by whom? * Does the event change Jesus' reputation? * Does the event change the way the authorities look upon Jesus? * Who or what does the miracle glorify? THE MIRACLES OF JESUS The chart below may assist you in your study of the miracles of Jesus. (Source: Master Study Bible: New American Standard, Holman Bible Publishers, 1981) MIRACLE MATTHEW MARK LUKE JOHN ---------------------- ------------------------------- Water Turned to Wine 2:1 Many Healings 4:23 1:32 Healing of a Leper 8:1 1:40 5:12 Healing of a Roman Centurion's Servant 8:5 7:1 Healing of Peter's Mother-in-Law 8:14 1:29 4:38 Calming of the Storm at Sea 8:23 4:35 8:22 Healing of the Wild Men of Gadara 8:28 5:1 8:26 Healing of a Lame Man 9:1 2:1 5:18 Healing of a Woman with a Hemorrhage 9:20 5:25 8:43 Raising of Jarius' Daughter 9:23 5:22 8:41 Healing of Two Blind Men 9:27 Healing of a Demon-possessed Man 9:32 Healing of a Man with a Withered Hand 12:10 3:1 6:6 Feeding of 5,000 People 14:15 6:35 9:12 6:1 Walking on the Sea 14:22 6:47 6:16 Healing of the Syrophenician's Daughter 15:21 7:24 Feeding of 4,000 People 15:32 8:1 Healing of an Epileptic Boy 17:14 9:14 9:37 Healing of Two Blind Men at Jericho 20:30 Healing of a Man with an Unclean Spirit 1:23 4:33 Healing of a Deaf, Speechless Man 7:31 Healing of a Blind Man at Bethesda 8:22 Healing of Blind Bartimaeus 10:46 18:35 A Miraculous Catch of Fish 5:4 21:1 Raising of a Widow's Son 7:11 Healing of a Stooped Woman 13:11 Healing of a Man with Dropsy 14:1 Healing of Ten Lepers 17:11 Healing of Malchus' Ear 22:50 Healing of a Royal Official's Son 4:46 Healing of a Lame Man at Bethesda 5:1 Healing of a Blind Man 9:1 Raising of Lazarus 11:38 ======================================================================== NOTES, COPYRIGHT & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Notes ----- 1 Griffith Thomas, quoted in Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell (Here's Life Publishers, 1989), p124. 2 Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, #6381. 3 Lawrence O. Richards, Expository Dictionary of Bible Words (Zondervan, 1985), p.444. 4 W.E. Vine, The Expanded Vines: Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (Bethany House, 1984), p747. 5 JOH 4:48 NIV. 6 Anonymous German hymn, Mnster Gesangbuch, 1677. 7 JOH 1:1-13; COL 1:16-17. 8 MAR 4:35-41 NASB 9 JOH 3:10 10 Alexander Maclaren, in his Expositions of Holy Scripture (Baker, 1984), Vol 8, p.160f. 11 Howard Ussher, in You Can Say That Again: An Anthology of Words Fitly Spoken (Zondervan, 1991), compiled and arranged by R.E.O. White. 12 Paul Rader, Hymn #420 in The Hymnal for Worship & Celebration (WORD, 1986). 13 MAT 9:27-31 NIV 14 MAT 14:10-32 NIV 15 Wendell Loveless, in More Gathered Gold (Evangelical Press, 1988), p176. 16 James Rowe, Hymn #505 in The Hymnal for Worship & Celebration (WORD, 1986). Copyright Information --------------------- All original material in Aspects is Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel. This data file is the sole property of David S. Lampel. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this data file must contain the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel."). This data file may not be used without the permission of David S. Lampel for resale or the enhancement of any other product sold. This includes all of its content. Brief quotations not to exceed more than 500 words may be used, with the appropriate copyright notice, to enhance or supplement personal or church devotions, newsletters, journals, or spoken messages. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture is from the New International Version. NIV quotations are from the Holy Bible: New International Version, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission. NASB quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. 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