Readings for today: Matthew 4:23-25, 8:14-17, Mark 1:21-39, Luke 4:31-44
I’m often asked about miracles. Probably because many people know I’ve witnessed them firsthand. Healings. Recovery of sight to the blind. Resurrection from the dead. Exorcism of demonic spirits. Yes, I’ve seen all of these things. They’ve happened right in front of me. With no natural explanation. I’ve also heard eyewitness testimonies from people I trust who have seen signs and wonders. Interventions by God in the natural world that defy human explanation. Guns inexplicably jamming on those who would try to kill missionaries. Crops growing on land that was barren. Lightning striking at just the right moment to break through sacred stones or burn down sacred trees. The stories are amazing and it begs the question, why don’t miracles happen more often? Why doesn’t God intervene in everyone’s life in the same supernatural way? Why don’t we see these signs and wonders in our own lives? In our own communities? Among our own people? But asking these questions only proves how little we understand miracles. They are not ends in themselves. Signs and wonders are not intended to be the point. They are designed by God to point beyond themselves to something far greater and far more eternal…the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
We see this dynamic in our readings for today. The main thrust of Jesus’ ministry was the preaching of the kingdom of God. The preaching of the good news of the gospel. The preaching and teaching of the Kingdom. And yes, as part of His preaching ministry, Jesus performed signs and wonders and miracles. People were healed of all kinds of sickness and disease. Demons were cast out and people were delivered from spiritual oppression. Great crowds began to follow Him as a result. They brought those they loved to Him, hoping for a miracle. But when they arrived they found themselves amazed because Jesus taught “like one who had authority.” He didn’t need to appeal to anyone greater than Himself. He didn’t need to make His case through legal precedent. As the Eternal Word of God made flesh, He preached the Word. As the Eternal Son of God, He exercised His authority over creation, over the human body, and over the spiritual realm. Yes, many were healed. Yes, many were delivered. Yes, His popularity spread as a result. But it never caused Him to lose sight of His primary mission. His primary calling. When the crowds tried to keep Him from leaving them, He said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, for that is what I was sent to do.” (Luke 4:43)
Proclamation of the kingdom of God. Preaching the good news. Teaching about God’s will and plan and purposes. That is what Jesus was sent to do. Not miracles. Not signs and wonders. But preaching and teaching about God’s Kingdom and God’s righteousness. This is our calling as well. Yes, God may be gracious to us. He may allow us to see and experience and perhaps even perform miracles and signs and wonders. But we must never get confused. These things are designed to point people to the even greater reality of God’s Kingdom breaking into our lives and into our world.
Readings for tomorrow: John 3-5