The Miracles of Christ—Many and Varied by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

The Miracles of Christ—Many and Varied

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=10&article=2557

One of the biblical proofs for the deity of Christ is the miracles that Jesus worked. And, we are asked to believe that Jesus is the Son of God not because He performed one or two marvelous deeds during His lifetime. To the contrary, “miracles cluster around the Lord Jesus Christ like steel shavings to a magnet” (Witmer, 1973, 130:132). The gospel accounts are saturated with a variety of miracles that Christ performed, not for wealth or political power, but that the world may be convinced that He was sent by the Father to bring salvation to mankind (cf. John 5:36; 10:37-38). As Isaiah prophesied, Jesus performed miracles of healing (Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:16-17). He cleansed a leper with the touch of His hand (Matthew 8:1-4), and healed all manner of sickness and disease with the word of His mouth (cf. John 4:46-54). One woman who had a hemorrhage for 12 years was healed immediately simply by touching the fringe of His garment (Luke 8:43-48). Similarly, on one occasion after Jesus came into the land of Gennesaret, all who were sick in all of the surrounding region came to Him, “and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well” (Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 3:10). Generally speaking, “great multitudescame to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them” (Matthew 15:30, emp. added). “He cured many of infirmities, afflictions...and to many blind He gave sight” (Luke 7:21, emp. added). Even Jesus’ enemies confessed to His “many signs” (John 11:48).

Jesus not only exhibited power over the sick and afflicted, He also showed His superiority over nature more than once. Whereas God’s prophet Moses turned water into blood by striking water with his rod (Exodus 7:20), Jesus simply willed water into wine at a wedding feast (John 2:1-11). He further exercised His power over the natural world by calming the Sea of Galilee during a turbulent storm (Matthew 8:23-27), by walking on water for a considerable distance to reach His disciples (Matthew 14:25-43), and by causing a fig tree to wither away at His command. Jesus’ supernatural superiority over the physical world (which He created—Colossians 1:16) is exactly what we would expect from One Who claimed to be the Son of God.

Jesus’ miracles were not limited to the natural world, however. As further proof of His deity, He also revealed His power over the spiritual world by casting out demons. “They brought to Him manywho were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word” (Matthew 8:16, emp. added). Luke also recorded that “He cured many of...evil spirits” (Luke 7:21, emp. added). Mark recorded where Jesus once exhibited power over a man overwhelmed with unclean spirits, which no one had been able to bind—not even with chains and shackles; neither could anyone tame the demon-infested man (Mark 5:1-21). Jesus, however, cured him. Afterwards, witnesses saw the man with the unclean spirits “sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind” (Luke 8:35-36). On several occasions, Jesus healed individuals who were tortured by evil spirits. And, “they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, ‘What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out’” (Luke 4:36).

Finally, Jesus performed miracles that demonstrated His power even over death. Recall that when John the Baptizer’s disciples came to Jesus inquiring about His identity, Jesus instructed them to tell John that “the dead are raised” (Matthew 11:5). The widow of Nain’s son had already been declared dead and placed in a casket when Jesus touched the open coffin and told him to “arise.” Immediately, “he who was dead sat up and began to speak” (Luke 7:14-15). Lazarus had already been dead and buried for four days by the time Jesus raised him from the dead (John 11:1-44). Such a great demonstration of power over death caused “many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did” to believe in Him (John 11:45). What’s more, Jesus’ own resurrection from the dead was the climax of all of His miracles, and serves as perhaps the most convincing miracle of all (see Butt, 2002, 22:9-15).

In all, the gospel records contain some 37 specific supernatural acts that Jesus performed. If that number were to include such miracles as His virgin birth and transfiguration, and the multiple times He exemplified the ability to “read minds,” and to know the past or future without having to learn of them through ordinary means (cf. John 4:15-19; 13:21-30; 2:25), etc., the number would reach upwards of 50. Indeed, the miracles of Christ were varied and numerous. He healed the blind, lame, sick, and leprous, as well as demonstrated power over nature, demons, and death. The apostle John, who recorded miracles of Christ “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31), also commented on how “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book” (20:30, emp. added). In fact, Jesus worked so many miracles throughout His ministry on Earth that, “if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25).

REFERENCES

Butt, Kyle (2002), “Jesus Christ—Dead or Alive?” Reason & Revelation, 22:9-15, February, [On-line],URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/121.

Witmer, John (1973), “The Doctrine of Miracles,” Bibliotheca Sacra, 130:126-134, April.

From Mark Copeland... "THE CASE FOR CREATION" Difficulties With Evolutionary Scientists

                        "THE CASE FOR CREATION"

               Difficulties With Evolutionary Scientists

INTRODUCTION

1. In this series we have presented evidence...
   a. From scientists who argue for creation, based on intelligent
      design
   b. From scientists who question macroevolution, based on lack of
      scientific support

2. Yet we often hear from teachers, scientists, and the media that
   evolution is...
   a. No longer a theory, but a fact
   b. A good reason to reject the Biblical account of creation

[If the issue is still debatable, then why do so many want to squelch
open discussion in our schools, scientific journals, etc.?  That such is
going on should be evident, but in case not, consider some...]

I. PROBLEMS WITH EVOLUTIONARY SCIENTISTS

   A. EVIDENCE OF MISCONDUCT...
      1. Misleading - "Present-day ultra-Darwinism, which is so sure of
         itself, impresses incompletely informed biologists, misleads
         them, and inspires fallacious interpretations." - Grasse,
         Pierre-P., [editor of the 28-volume "Traite de Zoologie,"
         former Chair of Evolution, Sorbonne University and ex-president
         of the French Academie des Sciences], "Evolution of Living
         Organisms: Evidence for a New Theory of Transformation,"
         [1973], Academic Press: New York NY, 1977, p. 6
      2. Fraudulent - "...we have proffered a collective tacit
         acceptance of the story of gradual adaptive change, a story
         that strengthened and became even more entrenched as the
         synthesis took hold. We paleontologists have said that the
         history of life supports that interpretation, all he while
         really knowing that it does not." - Eldredge, Niles, [Chairman
         and Curator of Invertebrates, American Museum of Natural
         History], "Time Frames: The Rethinking of Darwinian Evolution
         and the Theory of Punctuated Equilibria," Simon & Schuster:
         New York NY, 1985, p. 144
      -- Evolutionary scientists have been known not to be truthful
         about the evidence

   B. EVIDENCE OF DISCRIMINATION...
      1. Serious and widespread discrimination against creationists is
         well documented - Jerry Bergman, Contemporary Suppression Of
         The Theistic Worldview
      2. Over 100 active creationists employed in academia experienced
         one form or another of the following discrimination:
         a. Derogatory and inappropriate comments
         b. Refusal of admittance to graduate programs
         c. Refusal to award degree
         d. Denial of promotion
         e. Denial of tenure - ibid.
      3. Similar discrimination against students; what some educators
         have suggested:
         a. That professors fail any student in his class, no matter
            what the grade record indicates
         b. Retracting grades and even degrees if a person espouses
            creationism after passing the course or graduation
         c. Not awarding creationists with advanced degrees (e.g., PHDs)
            - ibid.
      4. Other articles one might read
         a. Quick, Let's Discriminate Against the Creationists!
         b. Bias In Higher Education
         c. Science Magazine Refuses To Hire Creationist
         D. Biologist Fired For Beliefs, Suit Says
      -- Evolutionary scientists have been known to carry out
         inquisitions against creationists

[Opposition if not outright persecution by evolutionary scientists is
certainly not universal.  Some possess true scientific integrity, and
have no problems with allowing opposing views to be taught and held.
For those who seek to silence critical examination of macroevolution,
let me offer some...]

II. REASONS FOR SUCH BEHAVIOR

   A. PEER PRESSURE...
      1. To succeed in the scientific field, one requires peer approval
      2. The results of one's research must be submitted for peer review
      -- While peer review has its merits, it can easily become peer pressure

   B. POLITICAL PRESSURE...
      1. Opposing theories have their ardent advocates
      2. Universities compete for research grants
      3. Science organizations vie for media attention
      -- Like politicians, scientists must often subscribe to popular
         opinion to succeed

   C. PECUNIARY PRESSURE...
      1. Scientists are supported by public and private institutions
      2. They must answer those who support them
      3. If research counters their benefactors, pressure is applied to
         change the results
      -- Scientists run the risk of being fired, having their funding cut off

   D. PERSONAL PRESSURE...
      1. Personal motives can be a factor
      2. Such as a strong desire to prove there is no God, no right or wrong
      3. Twisting evidence, overstating one's case, to justify one's
         immoral behavior
      -- Some love darkness more than light because their deeds are evil
         - Jn 3:19-20

CONCLUSION

1. My point is simply this:  scientists are human...
   a. Subject to failings common to us all - Ro 3:23
   b. Often corrupt, like many politicians, lawyers, car salesmen,
      preachers - cf. Ro 3:9

2. We should not be quick to place our faith in man...
   a. It is better to trust in the Lord - Psa 118:8-9
   b. It is better to trust in the Creator - Psa 146:3-6

I hope this series will encourage more careful and critical study in the
case for creation...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

From Gary... Common sense

Matthew, Chapter 3 (WEB)

  1 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,  2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, 

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,

make ready the way of the Lord.

Make his paths straight.”

  4  Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.  6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.  7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!  9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 

  10  “Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.  11 I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.  12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.” 

You know people by the way they look, what they say and what they do. Simple!  It is not enough just to have Abraham as your father, you need to repent (turn from) wickedness. Killing people is WRONG!!!  This is common sense!!!!