Devotion
Besides being a wisdom teacher, Jesus was a miracle worker. About thirty-five times in the
gospels, Jesus performed a miracle. The miracles Jesus performed are grouped into
healings, exorcisms, resuscitations, (like the story of Lazarus), and nature miracles.
It might be hard to accept that Jesus could do a miracle. It doesn’t make logical sense that
Jesus could suspend the laws of nature and perform a miracle. This skepticism about
miracles does lead some people away from God.
It’s important to be aware of the miracles and have our own developed thoughts about
them. This week we have the opportunity to read about six miracle stories. Enjoy!
Comments about the devotion can be E-mailed to [email protected]
Monday, October 5
Read Matthew 13:54-58
The most common reference to a miracle in the New Testament is the Greek word,
“dynamis” which is translated as “mighty work” or “deed of power.”
People in Nazareth were astounded over the wisdom that Jesus shared and the deeds of
power or miracles that he did. The people who lived there had known Jesus ever since he
was young. They couldn’t believe that Jesus had developed into this type of person.
It’s interesting to think about what miracles that Jesus was doing in Nazareth.
Unfortunately we don’t read about them.
It’s also interesting that even the people in his own town had a hard time accepting the
miracles that Jesus was doing. These people are not all that different from people who
today have a hard time believing in these miracles. It’s understandably hard for some
people to accept miracles.
Tuesday, October 6
Read John 2:1-11
In John the miracles of Jesus were described as signs or semeion. Eventually large crowds
followed Jesus because of the signs he was doing (John 6:2)
In this story Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana. We don’t actually hear
about Jesus turning the water into wine. The assumption of the story is that Jesus did that.
What do you believe happened in this story? Do you think the people were confused by
what was in the stone jars. Perhaps the wind was already there. Perhaps someone else
poured out the water that was in the stone jars and put wine there.
It takes faith to believe in a miracle. As you pray today, pray for even more faith!
Wednesday, October 7
Read Luke 9:28-36
This story is known as a heavenly miracle. A cloud from heaven came over Peter and James
and John.
Some other heavenly miracles happened at the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16) and when
the sky turned black as Jesus was dying on the cross (Matthew 27:45)
This past Sunday evening we enjoyed a Red Moon. In ancient times people would have
thought of this as a miracle. Even today some people saw the Red Moon as a sign of the
second coming. We can describe a scientific process for the Red Moon.
However we can’t use a scientific process to describe that a cloud came from heaven over
Peter and James and John.
When we read a story like this, most of us don’t question whether the miracle took place.
We more question the meaning of the story.
How do you think you would respond if a cloud from heaven came and overshadowed you?
Many of us would be very frightened—just as the three were in this story.
Thursday, October 8
Read Luke 4:38-41
We often don’t read about what Jesus said when he performed a miracle. Many times Jesus
just did the miracle.
Here he rebuked the fever. It’s almost as if the fever was in opposition to what Jesus
wanted. As soon as Jesus rebuked the fever Simon’s (or Peter’s) mother-in-law got up to
serve Jesus.
Word about the miracle that Jesus performed on Simon’s mother-in-law. People were
amazed at what was happening. We can imagine how fast word spread. We can imagine
them saying, “do you believe in miracles? A man is performing them in Capernaum—where
Simon lived.
The energy had to be electric. People who were sick or had various kinds of diseases came
to Jesus to have him lay hands on them. Demons came out of people proclaiming that
Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus had certainly made an impact on the people and the
community. He was a doctor who was healing and caring for people who were suffering.
Friday, October 9
Read Mark 8:22-26
Healing a person who was blind was especially significant when Jesus lived. Being blind was
a terrible obstacle for living a complete life. They could not work or contribute to life. They
didn’t have the language of Braille like today or computers who could communicate words
on a computer.
The passion of people who brought the blind man to Jesus is humbling. They begged Jesus
to heal the man.
The man’s life was restored when Jesus healed him. It took two attempts for the man’s
sight to be completely restored.
We know of people who are beaten down by life. They might not be blind, but because of
the obstacles they experience it seems like they are blind. Pray for that person today. Pray
that you can share the compassion of Jesus with them.
Saturday, October 10
Read Mark 4:35-41
On certain occasions Jesus did healings in nature. In this story Jesus calmed the windstorm
as the windstorm threated the disciples and Jesus in a boat.
Even though the disciples had witnessed Jesus healing people, they had never seen him
cause a change in nature. We can understand the words they said at the end of the story,
“Who then is this, that even the wind and the se obey him?”
We would have been astounded too.
Think about times in your own life when you have been astounded by God. When has
something happened that you never could have predicted—an occurrence that amazed you
and filled you with awe. Who knows—maybe this event was a miracle?