Miracles were a big part of Jesus’ ministry. They are also one of the reasons some people dismiss Christianity as superstition and foolishness: they simply cannot (will not?) believe that such supernatural events could happen. However, Jesus points to his miracles as reasons to believe in him. They are signs that mark him as the Messiah. They are wonders that raise the question, “Could this be the Christ?”
The healing of the centurion’s servant took place in Capernaum. This was very familiar territory to Jesus and his disciples. It may be that as some point this centurion – a captain over 100 foot soldiers in the Roman army – heard Jesus. Whether he heard him or not, it is clear that he was a pious and generous man. He respected the faith of the Jews to the point where he built a synagogue for the people of Capernaum. He may even have been a gentile believer. Either way, the generosity is what moved the leaders of the community to say, “He is worthy to have you do this for him. . . .” (Notice there is no doubt on the elders’ part that Jesus could heal the servant.) However, the centurion’s faith was such that he did not consider himself worthy of entering his house! He recognized the authority of Jesus – different from the authority he himself served under – was greater than his own. And while Jesus marveled at the man’s faith, everyone else marveled when they found out the servant was healed when Jesus never even came near him.
Notice that Jesus acts in response to the request of the elders. This is much like our praying. But also notice that the reasoning of the elders was flawed, thinking the centurion’s worthiness rested in what he had done, yet Jesus goes along with them. Sometimes our reasoning is flawed when we pray, but Jesus doesn’t get angry with us, and he responds out our flawed prayers out of his love for us and those we pray for. That doesn’t mean he lets us stay in our ignorance, he does work to mature our motivations, but he doesn’t wait for us to have the right words or the right understanding to work in our lives.
When Jesus raised the widow’s son, there was no request for a miracle or intervention. Jesus simply had compassion on her, so he ruined a perfectly good funeral by raising the recently deceased back to life. (I wonder what the funeral luncheon was like?) He knew that the widow would likely become destitute without her only son to provide for her, so he did what I can only remember happening twice before in the Bible: Jesus raised the widow’s son. The other two who had raised son’s from the dead were Elijah and Elisha, who were considered the two greatest prophets of the kingdom of Israel. No wonder great fear seized the people!
This reminds me of Martin Luther’s explanations to the various petitions of the Lord’s Prayer where he says that God grants what we ask for, “even without our prayers,” but we are praying that we would also receive and acknowledge those blessings He gives. God knows what we need and he does not wait for us to ask, as we sometimes wait to be asked before we help someone. In his compassion he simply acts. This is both a comfort for us, but also a model as we deal with others. Love moves us to do something, the same way in moves God to act on our behalf.
Father, thank you for Jesus’ miracles. I praise you for lovingly intervening in people’s lives – especially mine. I don’t always remember that you are mighty to save and that you can meet my needs. Give me reminders to rely on your power in this life, and help me to show others that You are able to help them too. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
The healing of the centurion’s servant took place in Capernaum. This was very familiar territory to Jesus and his disciples. It may be that as some point this centurion – a captain over 100 foot soldiers in the Roman army – heard Jesus. Whether he heard him or not, it is clear that he was a pious and generous man. He respected the faith of the Jews to the point where he built a synagogue for the people of Capernaum. He may even have been a gentile believer. Either way, the generosity is what moved the leaders of the community to say, “He is worthy to have you do this for him. . . .” (Notice there is no doubt on the elders’ part that Jesus could heal the servant.) However, the centurion’s faith was such that he did not consider himself worthy of entering his house! He recognized the authority of Jesus – different from the authority he himself served under – was greater than his own. And while Jesus marveled at the man’s faith, everyone else marveled when they found out the servant was healed when Jesus never even came near him.
Notice that Jesus acts in response to the request of the elders. This is much like our praying. But also notice that the reasoning of the elders was flawed, thinking the centurion’s worthiness rested in what he had done, yet Jesus goes along with them. Sometimes our reasoning is flawed when we pray, but Jesus doesn’t get angry with us, and he responds out our flawed prayers out of his love for us and those we pray for. That doesn’t mean he lets us stay in our ignorance, he does work to mature our motivations, but he doesn’t wait for us to have the right words or the right understanding to work in our lives.
When Jesus raised the widow’s son, there was no request for a miracle or intervention. Jesus simply had compassion on her, so he ruined a perfectly good funeral by raising the recently deceased back to life. (I wonder what the funeral luncheon was like?) He knew that the widow would likely become destitute without her only son to provide for her, so he did what I can only remember happening twice before in the Bible: Jesus raised the widow’s son. The other two who had raised son’s from the dead were Elijah and Elisha, who were considered the two greatest prophets of the kingdom of Israel. No wonder great fear seized the people!
This reminds me of Martin Luther’s explanations to the various petitions of the Lord’s Prayer where he says that God grants what we ask for, “even without our prayers,” but we are praying that we would also receive and acknowledge those blessings He gives. God knows what we need and he does not wait for us to ask, as we sometimes wait to be asked before we help someone. In his compassion he simply acts. This is both a comfort for us, but also a model as we deal with others. Love moves us to do something, the same way in moves God to act on our behalf.
Father, thank you for Jesus’ miracles. I praise you for lovingly intervening in people’s lives – especially mine. I don’t always remember that you are mighty to save and that you can meet my needs. Give me reminders to rely on your power in this life, and help me to show others that You are able to help them too. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Comments