Jesus’ Miracles  The Source of Jesus’ Power  The Purpose of the Miracles  Types of Miracles

 The Source of Jesus’ Power Deity or Spirit Empowerment  Authority = exousia  (Matthew 10, Mark 10, Luke 16, and John 8.  Power = Dynamis  (Matthew 12, Mark 10, Luke 15.

In the person of Jesus Christ we see this authority and power: ◦ Jesus Anointed by God ◦ Isaiah 9:6-7 ◦ Luke 4:16-21 ◦ Luke 7:22-23  Jesus’ Deeds Evidence of the Power ◦ Jesus performed healings, miracles, exorcisms as evidence of his authority and power.

 Jesus’ authority was seen in both his teaching and his acts: a) Jesus’ presence had authority – Mark 10:32 b) Important men knelt – Mark 5:22; 10:17 c) Disciples followed without question – Mark 1:17- 20; 2:14 d) Demoniacs recognized his authority before he spoke – Mark 1:24; 3:11; 5:7; 9:20

 Jesus was a miracle-worker ◦ The key word is dunamis = mighty works ◦ Acts 2:22 – Jesus is attested by mighty works - Mark 6:2, 5, 14 ◦ God performed the mighty works through Jesus. Jesus was aware of the power within him – Mark 5:30

 Jesus’ authority was divine ◦ Jesus was recognized as having a special authority by the Roman centurion – Matthew 8:8-9 ◦ The religious critics questioned him about the source of his authority – Mark 1:28 ◦ Jesus was conscious of a direct, unmediated authority from heaven. His sense of his authority is found in the way he said ‘I SAY TO YOU’ rather than ‘THUS SAYS THE LORD’ – Isaiah 40:6; Mark 13:31

1. Miracles as signs of the Kingdom The significance of Jesus’ miracles  As evidence of the presence of the Kingdom of God: (i)The manifestation of the power of God through the work of the Holy Spirit in and through Jesus – Mark 3:28; Matthew 12:31; Luke 11:20, Matthew 12:28-32

(ii) Jesus claimed that he cast out demons by the power of God ‘hand of the Lord’ – Exodus 3:20; 8:19; Psalm 8:3, 33:6 and that in his ministry the last days were already present. (iii) By criticizing Jesus as he demonstrated this power, his critics were in fact blaspheming the Spirit. To reject or deny the power he displayed was to put the critic beyond forgiveness since it meant that he was rejecting God.

 As fulfilment of Scripture (i) Virginal conception  Isaiah 7:14  Matthew 1:22-23 (ii) Exorcism and healings  Isaiah 53:4  Matthew 8:17

 As evidence that Jesus was the Christ  Jesus saw the miracles as evidence of him being the Messiah. He was the anointed one of Isaiah 61:1 Fulfilled in:  Luke 4:18  Luke 6:20  Matthew 11:2-6

 The Messiah was expected to work miracles The crowd’s reaction to the bread miracles – John 6:12,14 and the ‘miracles’ of false Christ's – Mark 13:21-22

 As part of Jesus’ teaching on sin  Sickness can result from sin. Jesus healed one man who had been sick for 38 years and commanded him to stop sinning or something worse would happen – John 5:14  Our foolish choices incur a toll on our lives which may or can result in sickness with dire consequences: ◦ This is in line with much of the OT teaching on blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience – Deut 27, 28 Exodus 23:22-26 ◦ Sickness was not always as a result of sin – John 9:1-3

 Jesus looked for faith in those to whom he ministered  Jesus called others to faith in God  Jesus understood that miracles can encourage faith  Some will not believe even with a miracle

 As evidence of Jesus’ compassion  (i)Jesus had compassion on those who were suffering  Jesus was moved at suffering ◦ Mark 1:41; 8:2; ◦ Luke 7:13 ◦ Matthew 14:14, 20:34

 The miracles were signs ◦ Every physical healing pointed forward to a time of re-creation to come and gave a glimpse of what it would be like on day ◦ The miracles gave a glimpse of restoration in which death and decay are the true suspension of God’s laws.

 Healings ◦ The Blind ◦ Lepers ◦ Other recorded healings  Deliverances  Inspiration & Knowledge  Authority of nature

Jesus and People  Jesus and His Disciples  Jesus and Sinners

1. Calling The disciples were the students of Jesus during his ministry. While Jesus attracted a large following, the term disciple is commonly used to refer specifically to “the Twelve”, an inner circle of men whose number perhaps represented the twelve tribes of Israel.

 The term disciple is derived from the New Testament Greek word mathetes, "μαθητής", coming to English by way of the Latin discipulus meaning "a learner".New Testament Greek "μαθητής"EnglishLatin  The number twelve was symbolic; as a result the twelve were themselves symbolic. They were symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel.

 2. Training  From among a larger number of followers Jesus called a circle of men who accompanied him constantly and learned from him by both word and example – Matthew 3:13-19

 1. Calling through preaching & teaching  2. Touching through miracles  3. Table fellowship

4.Could sinners be saved? Jesus laid down his life for sinners This was the good new that was preached to lost sinners This makes Jesus a friend to all of us, since we are all sinners Jesus loved us all. He is touched with our weakness – Hebrews 4:15 Jesus calls on us to be his friends: How did he show his friendship Jesus calls all men to be his friends

5. Rebuke for self-righteousness  In Luke 18, Jesus describes two men who went into the temple to pray.  The Pharisee was full of self-righteousness, which the Bible says before God is as filthy rags.  The tax collector confessed he was a sinner and begged for mercy. That’s the man Jesus said went home righteous. Jesus was, is and will be the friend of sinners.