Have you ever felt like you needed a miracle?
John 20:30-31
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 21:24-25
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Have you ever needed a miracle? Not the “down by ten goals at half time and come back to win the game” kind of miracle. An actual miracle. Have you ever longed for God to do something humanly impossible? I have. I do.
What is a miracle anyway? A miracle, technically speaking, is an event in which God works to bring about a result that couldn’t be achieved through His normal way of operating (that is, through the ordinary laws of nature). The miracles that we long for are the dramatic ones – the cyclone that dissolves in a moment; the disease, injury or disability that is healed in a way that cannot be replicated; the person who emerges unscathed from a blast zone.
Why do we long for miracles? Why do love to hear the stories of people who experience miracles? There are at least two reasons: first, we long for miracles because they would alleviate our suffering. Second, we long to hear about miracles because if miracles are happening, then we know that God is still there. That is to say, we generally long for miracles in a way that completely ignores God’s purpose for miracles and His purpose for our lives.
Throughout the whole Bible, God provides miracles as signs that communicate a particular message about Himself. God doesn’t stop a storm because there are expensive yachts in the marina. He doesn’t heal diseases so that we can have a few more years with our loved ones. Every miracle has a message about God’s purpose in the world, and His purpose for you. That message is that He alone provides eternal life and an eternal home for those who trust in Him. A new home in which there are no destructive forces. A new body in which there are no debilitating, life-taking diseases. A home that can only be entered into by those who are forgiven by God and have received new life from Him.
God’s new creation breaks into our world at the place to which all other miracles point: the cross and the resurrection of Jesus. God’s purpose in history is to reveal Himself and to redeem lost people to be part of His family. To build a community that finds joy and satisfaction, fulfilment and purpose in knowing Him, being loved by Him, serving Him and honouring Him together now and forever. He does that through Jesus: His death & resurrection.
John has given us his testimonial about Jesus and described the amazing miracles He performed – and makes mention of their abundance. The miracles have a purpose: to leave you with no doubt in your mind about Jesus’ identity. That you would believe that He is the One who gives life through His Spirit; that you would receive and enjoy His forgiveness, and live the new life that He gives. That you would trust Him to provide everything you need to faithfully follow Jesus to the eternal home that He has prepared for you.
Head: God’s glory is always linked to His forgiveness and grace. How does that impact the way you think about miracles?
Heart: What is the miracle that you would ask God for? Why would you ask God for that miracle?
Hands: When you experience the brokenness of this life and world, ask God to help you enjoy the anticipation of the new life and new creation that He has prepared through the cross of Jesus.
Prayer: Father, thank you so much for your grace and generosity which you have shown towards me and all your people at the cross. Thank you for those things in my life that are miracles, but most especially, thank you for the miracles of Jesus recorded in your Word. Help me to glorify You in my whole life by always setting my eyes on the cross: the place where you have revealed your glory by providing forgiveness and grace for those who will receive it.
A song to listen to: Grace awaiting me
Damien Carson
This Grow Daily was originally posted as part of a previous series called the Spirit of Jesus in 2016. During the School Holidays we take the opportunity to look back at the best of Grow Dailys over the years.
