Miracles (Pt. 1 - Introduction)

 
Miracles: Authentic & Counterfeit (an introduction), Pt. 1 A continuing Study in the Book of John, Chapter 2 By Pastor Dan Kennedy © September 25, 2011 www.pastorkennedy.com (On the website above, click the link to “recent message notes” to view this message online.) • What are miracles? • Have you ever seen one? • Why do miracles play such a dominant role in the ministry of Jesus and in the Bible? • How does God reveal Himself to you, through miracles? Jesus Christ and Miracles For thirty years Jesus was not recorded (in the traditional cannon of Scripture) to have performed any miracle. Then John 2 records a marriage in Cana of Galilee where His mother attended. Jesus and His disciples also attended. For reasons unknown to us, the host ran out of wine and Jesus’ mother had a strong interest in the success of this particular wedding. We will not be spending a lot of time today on “miracles” today… we will only be introducing the subject. “Miracles” will be a continuing topic, though, for the next few weeks. The Third Day The Scripture mentions that the wedding occurred on “the third day”. Previously, in John 1, there are several references to “the next day”. The inclusion of these words give us a day-by-day account of what led up to this event that records Jesus first recorded miracle. Four Days Before John Proclaimed the Messiah’s Coming Four days previously, several who had been sent from Israel’s spiritual leaders, to find out why he was baptizing and causing such a spiritual uproar in Israel, had intently questioned John the Baptist. It was at this time that John clearly reveals his life’s purpose: to introduce the previously unknown Messiah, Jesus Christ, to Israel! “Who are you?” The Pharisees asked. John responded, “I am not the Christ.” “What then? Are you Elijah?” “No.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John responded, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:19–28 Three Days Before – Jesus Baptism “The next day” (John 1:29), after John explained who he was to the Pharisees, John saw Jesus coming toward him. In a similar spiritual recognition that caused John to “leap” in the womb of his mother when pregnant Mary came into Elizabeth’s presence the first time, John joyfully and spontaneously burst out, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus came to see John to be baptized by him. John reluctantly baptized Jesus (because John wanted Jesus to baptize him instead) and then John bore witness to what happened following Jesus’ baptism: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” John 1:32–34 “The next day” (John 1:35), after John had baptized Jesus, while John the Baptist was visiting with two of his disciples (Andrew being one), Jesus walked by. John drew his disciples’ attention to Jesus and again stated his declaration of the Messiah, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” After John made this declaration about Jesus, in front of his two disciples, the two then turned to follow Jesus and Andrew went to find his brother Simon (who Jesus named “Peter”), to tell him about the Christ. “The next day” (John 1:41) Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip, who lived in the same town as Peter and Andrew, and invited Philip to be His disciple. “Follow me,” Jesus told Philip. Philip then went looking for Nathaniel and brought him to see Jesus. Nathaniel was skeptical at first. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” was Nathaniel’s first response. (Nazareth had no Biblical claim on the birthplace of the Messiah. We know that Jesus was not born in Nazareth, but in Bethlehem, but since Jesus was called a “Nazarene”, this inferred that He had been born there and that was what Nathaniel knew.) “Come and see…” was all Philip needed to say to Nathaniel. • “An Israelite in whom is no deceit” • “I saw you under the fig tree…” John 1:49–51 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” When Nathaniel met Jesus it became crystal clear in Nathaniel’s mind that Jesus was who He was proclaimed to be. Nathaniel would find out Jesus’ true birthplace in time. Miracles would soon also reaffirm his faith in Jesus. The torment of Jesus death would naturally cause doubts to consume many…but then, there was Jesus’ resurrection! “The next days” (in John 1) build toward the beginning miracle on “the third day” (in John 2) 1. The Power of Proclamation: the Revelation of Messiah in our lives – “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” 2. The Step of Obedience: Christ following His Father’s will – in Baptism. “He on whom the Holy Spirit descended,” was the sign that God gave John the Baptist of the Messiah. Had Jesus not been obedient in baptism, John would have never seen the confirmation of the sign of the Holy Spirit descending on Him. 3. The Circumstantial Revelation: the circumstances surrounding the wedding in Galilee further reveal Christ and His Power in the first of His miracles. The Wedding – on “the third day” John 2:1–12 The Wedding at Cana 2 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days. Mary’s Personal Concern at the Wedding Why did Mary imply that Jesus should do something about the need for more wine? 1. Mary must have had a great concern for the family putting on the wedding… • It must have unexpectedly become a large wedding whose hosts were obviously appalled and dismayed at their lack of adequate provision to treat their guests properly… o The 6 waters jars were 20-30 gallons each – with a joint capacity of 120 – 180 gallons of wine! o How many people would 150 gallons serve? o How many people could have showed up unplanned for by the hosts? o Had Jesus contributed to the problem with the people who came with Him? 2. Mary must have discerned that Jesus was nearing the beginning of His ministry…and she needed His help now! • Mary had “pondered” these things in her heart for a long time – so out came the implied request. o She realized the Divine Incarnation of Jesus’ birth. The angel’s amazing announcement to her The angel’s dynamic revelation to Joseph The acceptance of the supernatural event by both of them and their families Elizabeth’s rejoicing with her (without Elizabeth’s previous knowledge) – “the baby leaped in her womb” That she was still a virgin when she gave birth. The supernatural welcoming of Jesus’ birth. The angel’s proclamation The shepherd’s amazement The wise men coming The wise men’s gifts – giving them needed provision God’s preservation of their lives when they fled to Egypt …And now Mary’s discernment perceives that Jesus is beginning His Divine ministry. John the Baptist’s public Proclamation that Jesus was the Promised Messiah!! Jesus’ Divinely blessed baptism by John the Baptist. The sudden accumulation of disciples around her son Jesus. The evident problem of Jesus coming to the wedding, with a large group of followers…reflected from John’s huge revival and John’s proclamation about Jesus being the Messiah. *** John the Baptist introduced Jesus Christ as the Messiah… God the Father and God the Holy Spirit confirmed Christ as God the Son, at His Baptism… And the miracles of Christ verified Christ to those who believed on Him, as being the Authentic Messiah, the Savior of the World. Miracles Miracles are supernatural – things that do not happen naturally. If God acts supernaturally these could be some of the reasons: • God wants to reveal Himself in a special way to those observing or those being part of the miracle. • God wants to accomplish His unique plan outside of natural means. • God wants to confirm those whom He empowers. John 2:11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. Conclusion Miracles may involve several factors, visible or invisible. They always bring Glory to God. If they do not, they are not of God. 1. The Power of Proclamation: the Revelation of Messiah in our lives – “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” 2. A Step of Obedience: Following what we know God’s will to be for our lives. 3. A Circumstantial Revelation: the circumstances surrounding us may give the opportunity to further reveal Christ and His Power through a miracle of God. In the coming weeks we hope to review many miracles in the Bible and see how miracles may relate to our life today. http://www.pastorkennedy.comshapeimage_3_link_0