Jesus by Max Lucado

Author:Max Lucado
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2019-11-15T16:00:00+00:00

Verse after verse. Story after story. Event after event. Miracles so numerous that, were each occasion to be transcribed, “the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25 NKJV).

The miracles of Jesus were not occasional; they were constant. They were not marginal to his story; they were essential. They were not peripheral; they were vital activities upon which the very identity of Jesus was constructed.

Indeed, one of the most compelling arguments for the veracity of Christ was the inability of his adversaries to denounce his miraculous deeds. Here is an example. A brief fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, an emboldened apostle Peter began his message to an audience of several thousand people in downtown Jerusalem by saying, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22 NKJV).

I like to think that the fisherman-turned-preacher paused after that statement, letting his words echo off the Jerusalem stone. “As you yourselves know! . . . know! . . . know! . . .” Did he pause on purpose, waiting for one person, just one voice, to cry out in disagreement? Did he invite the opposition to react? “Wait a minute. We don’t know! We saw nothing! We witnessed no miracles, wonders, or signs!”

But there was no rebuttal. There was no refusal. There were no voices to the contrary. There was, instead, a nodding of heads, an affirming murmur in the crowd. Many of the people had not only seen the miracles; they had been blessed by them.

Can we not assume that some people in the Jerusalem audience were seeing Peter with eyes that were once blind? Stood on legs that were once crippled? Lifted healthy hands that, before Christ, were marred and scarred by leprosy?

No adversary countered the claim of Peter, because no adversary could. The reason that three thousand people responded to Peter’s altar call (Acts 2:38–41) was not because his sermon was so eloquent but because Jesus’ ministry was so powerful. Case studies were sprinkled throughout the audience.

Would you be open to the idea of a miracle-working Christ? A miracle is a work of God wrought by God for a godly purpose. Miracles are shoulder taps from God, whispers (or sirens) reminding us, You are not alone. I’m still in charge. My plan will be achieved.

Miracles remind us that there is more to this life than what meets the eye.

Miracles are “signs . . . [given] that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30–31 NKJV).

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