JESUS' LIFE: His Miracles
Not a lot of Jesus’ childhood was written about because that was what they did in those times. Kids and childhood wasn’t something that was documented. The fact that Jesus’ birth story was written out by 2 different authors was incredible!
So we skip right up to his adulthood. Actually, straight up to when we was 30 years old. He worked as a builder like his dad, which was what always happened in those times. There were no places to learn trades and so you would often be taught by your parents.
Jesus then spent roughly the next 3 years showing the world that he was God, teaching the people new commands, telling parables (earthly stories with heavenly meanings) and performing miracles. Jesus then died at age 33, and that was the most important thing he did. Over the next few weeks we will get an overview of all he did and in later episodes we will dive in deeper and learn more intricately about what he said and did.
In today’s episode we are going to be looking at Jesus’ miracles. Why did he do them and what did he do?
Being a human meant that he would’ve needed to go to the toilet, he ate and slept like any other human, but he actually didn’t have to. He could’ve chosen to create all his meals out of thin air, he could’ve magicked a flying carpet to transport him around and he could’ve prevented himself from dying - forever!
Remember John 1:2, which says that “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Jesus is above the laws of science. He created science! And while Jesus was on the earth he did some amazing things!
The first miraculous thing he did was help out a couple at a wedding, who would’ve been very embarrassed if they hadn’t bought enough wine for their guests to drink. Jesus turned water into wine in huge jars.
Jesus also was in control of nature. He was asleep on a boat and the disciples were trying to keep the boat afloat but the wind and waves and storm were making it tricky. When Jesus woke up he simply said to the weather “be still” and it was. Perfectly calm.
People realised that Jesus had power of sicknesses and would bring their sick relatives and friends to him. One day he was staying with his mate Peter’s mum’s house but she was sick. She really wanted to give all the disciples a lovely meal and a nice time at her house but she couldn’t. She was actually dying! Jesus came and healed her and then she got up and started looking after all of her visitors.
Being one of Jesus’ disciples must’ve been amazing. Every day they were witnessing incredible events like this! And any time one of them would get a sniffle or a sore throat they’d probably go and ask Jesus to heal them and he would!
Why would Jesus do these miracles?
It was another way that Jesus showed the people who he was. Only the creator of the world could do the things that Jesus was doing.
If Jesus had said “I am the messiah. I am God’s son.” If Jesus had said that he would have gotten arrested. So he had to show them that it was true. He showed the people that he was God’s son by performing miracles. The miracles also meant that the people gave Jesus respect. They listened to his teachings and were curious, asking themselves questions like - Who is this man? Where did he get his power from? How does what he say fit in with what God has said in the past? Should we believe what he says and follow him?
There is another reason why Jesus did these miraculous things - to fulfil another prophecy about him.
Long before this time, the prophet Isaiah in 35:3-6 said,
"Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.”
We don’t see many miracles these days. Often we use science to try and work out a reason why it wasn’t a miracle. I think that God doesn’t need to use miracles. Jesus used them to let everyone know that he was God. What do we need them for now?
When I was a kid I was taught that Jesus could do amazing miracles. I was also taught that if you ask, seek and knock the door will be opened to you, meaning if you ask for something from God then he will answer your prayers. But you have to have faith the size of a mustard seed… so one night before bed I prayed for a packet of Minties, which were the best chewy mint lollies in the world in the 90s. I believed with all my heart and when I woke up in the morning I ran to my shelf where I fully expected the lollies to be, and to my disappointment, they were not there! I was devastated! I didn’t understand! Did God not hear me? Of course he did, he’s God. “Why didn’t you answer my prayer?” I prayed, over and over.
I didn’t understand straight away, and it was a long time before I understood, but there has to be a good reason for God to do things. We may not always know the reason, but he is God and he is perfect and has the best reasons for doing everything he does.
All Jesus’ miracles were spectacular and were done to show the people, and us today even, that He really is God. He is powerful, he is awesome and he is God.
Discussion Questions:
If you were there and saw Jesus doing some of the miracles, what would you think about him?
If you could ask Jesus to perform a miracle today what would it be?
Pray for your miracle, you never know, he may want to say yes and give you what you want.
