The Call of the The Call of the Apostles and Apostles and

MiraclesMiracles

The Call of the Apostles The Call of the Apostles 1.1. Peter Peter 2.2. AndrewAndrew3.3. JamesJames4.4. JohnJohn5.5. PhilipPhilip6.6. Bartholomew Bartholomew 7.7. Simon Zealot Simon Zealot 8.8. James the LesserJames the Lesser9.9. JudeJude10.10. Matthew Matthew 11.11. Thomas Thomas 12.12. Judas Judas

Apostles: Jesus’ closest followers, who know Jesus like a best friend, Apostles: Jesus’ closest followers, who know Jesus like a best friend, and who are given a very important mission to spread the Good and who are given a very important mission to spread the Good News that Jesus is preaching. News that Jesus is preaching.

What is a Miracle?What is a Miracle?

• A miracle may be defined as an event that occurs in nature but that has a cause lying outside nature, that is, a supernatural cause. – God, the creator of all things, can use nature to

suite the divine plan. – They are above nature – thus supernatural.

– super = above natural = nature

• The Miracles of Jesus show us something important about who Jesus is! Jesus has the power of the Creator.

The 1The 1stst Miracle Miracle

• The Wedding Feast at Cana The Wedding Feast at Cana –Read John 2:1-12Read John 2:1-12

What is Mary’s Role Here? What is Mary’s Role Here?

Miracles - Human BodyMiracles - Human Body

• Mark 1:29 - 31Mark 1:29 - 31• Mark 1:40-45Mark 1:40-45• Mark 5:25-34Mark 5:25-34

• Matthew 9:27-31Matthew 9:27-31• Matthew 15:21 – 28Matthew 15:21 – 28• Matthew 20:29 -34Matthew 20:29 -34

• Luke 13: 10-17Luke 13: 10-17• Luke 14:1-6Luke 14:1-6• Luke 17: 11-19Luke 17: 11-19

• John 4:46-54John 4:46-54• John 5: 2-47John 5: 2-47

Miracles of the Human BodyMiracles of the Human Body

• The largest group of miracles mentioned in the New Testament involve cures or healing.

• The Gospels give varying amounts of detail for each episode, sometimes Jesus cures simply by saying a few words, at other times employs material such as spit and mud.

• One day Jesus was One day Jesus was teaching a group of teaching a group of people in a house.people in a house.

• Some men carried their Some men carried their friend on a bed to see friend on a bed to see Jesus. Jesus.

• The friend could not The friend could not walk. The men could walk. The men could not get him into the not get him into the house because of all house because of all the people.the people.

• The men took The men took their friend up their friend up onto the roof. onto the roof.

• They removed part of the roof They removed part of the roof and lowered their friend into the and lowered their friend into the house.house.

• When He saw the great faith of When He saw the great faith of these men, Jesus told the sick these men, Jesus told the sick man that his sins were forgiven. man that his sins were forgiven.

• Some of the scribes thought what Some of the scribes thought what Jesus had said was wrong.Jesus had said was wrong.

• The scribes thought only God The scribes thought only God could forgive sins. could forgive sins.

• Jesus told them He Jesus told them He could forgive sins could forgive sins

because He was because He was the Son of God. the Son of God.

• He told the man to pick up his bed He told the man to pick up his bed and go home. and go home.

• The man stood The man stood up. He was up. He was healed. healed.

• He picked up his bed and walked He picked up his bed and walked home. He was very thankful to God.home. He was very thankful to God.

• Everyone in the house was amazed Everyone in the house was amazed and glorified God.and glorified God.

• What did Jesus first say to the What did Jesus first say to the man with palsy (uncontrollable man with palsy (uncontrollable shaking of the muscles)? shaking of the muscles)?

• What was the What was the scribes’ reaction scribes’ reaction to Jesus’ remark?to Jesus’ remark?

• What is What is blasphemy?blasphemy?‾ Showing a lack of respect for God Showing a lack of respect for God

or falsely claiming to be God.or falsely claiming to be God.

• Did Jesus blaspheme? Did Jesus blaspheme? • Jesus can forgive sins because He is Jesus can forgive sins because He is

the Son of God, but the scribes did not the Son of God, but the scribes did not believe that Jesus is the Son of God.believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

• What did Jesus say to the scribes? What did Jesus say to the scribes?

• What did He say to the What did He say to the man with palsy? man with palsy?

• A woman had been very sick for 12 A woman had been very sick for 12 years. She had been to many years. She had been to many doctors, but they could not help her.doctors, but they could not help her.

• She had spent all that she had, but She had spent all that she had, but only got worse.only got worse.

• One day she saw Jesus surrounded One day she saw Jesus surrounded by many people. by many people.

• She believed that she would be healed She believed that she would be healed just by touching His clothing. just by touching His clothing.

• She walked through She walked through the crowd, touched the crowd, touched His clothing and was His clothing and was healed immediately. healed immediately.

• Jesus turned Jesus turned around and asked, around and asked, “Who touched my “Who touched my clothes?”clothes?”

• She knelt in front of the Savior and She knelt in front of the Savior and said that she had touched Him. said that she had touched Him.

• Jesus told her that her faith in Him Jesus told her that her faith in Him had made her well.had made her well.

• The woman The woman was afraid. was afraid.

Faith and Miracles Faith and Miracles

• Miracles do not need faith, but Miracles do not need faith, but sometimes great acts of faith are sometimes great acts of faith are accompanied by miracles. accompanied by miracles. –Many people touched Jesus. Were all Many people touched Jesus. Were all

cured?. cured?.

–The point is, it was her faith that The point is, it was her faith that saved her! saved her!

Miracles of RestorationMiracles of Restoration

• All four Canonical Gospels report Jesus' own resurrection from the dead but the Gospels also relate three other occasions on which Jesus calls a dead person back to life. –These show us how truly powerful

Jesus was.

Pericope Mark Matthew Luke John

Raising from the Dead a Widow's Son at Nain

-- -- 7:11-17 --

Raising from the Dead the Daughter of Jairus

5:21-24,35-43 9:18-19,23-26 8:40-42,49-56 --

Raising Lazarus of Bethany from the Dead

-- -- -- 11:1-44

• One day Jairus, a One day Jairus, a leader of a synagogue, leader of a synagogue, fell at the Savior’s feet.fell at the Savior’s feet.

• Jairus said that his Jairus said that his 12 year-old daughter 12 year-old daughter was very ill. was very ill.

• He begged Jesus to come and bless her. He begged Jesus to come and bless her. • He believed that Jesus could heal her.He believed that Jesus could heal her.

• Jesus started to Jesus started to follow Jairus follow Jairus home, but He home, but He stopped to heal stopped to heal a woman. a woman.

• As He was talking to her, someone As He was talking to her, someone came to tell Jairus that it was too came to tell Jairus that it was too late—his daughter was dead.late—his daughter was dead.

• Jesus heard what was Jesus heard what was said. He told Jairus not said. He told Jairus not to be afraid but to to be afraid but to believe in Him.believe in Him.

• Then Jesus went with Jairus to Then Jesus went with Jairus to Jairus’s house. Jairus’s house.

• The house was filled The house was filled with people who were with people who were crying because of the crying because of the little girl’s death.little girl’s death.

• Jesus told them the girl was not dead Jesus told them the girl was not dead but was sleeping. but was sleeping.

• The people laughed The people laughed at Him. at Him.

• They were sure the They were sure the girl was dead.girl was dead.

• The Savior had everyone leave the The Savior had everyone leave the house except His disciples, Jairus, house except His disciples, Jairus, and Jairus’s wife. and Jairus’s wife.

• They went to the They went to the room where the room where the little girl was lying.little girl was lying.

• Jesus took the girl Jesus took the girl by the hand. He by the hand. He told her to get up. told her to get up.

• She stood up and walked. Her parents She stood up and walked. Her parents were amazed. Jesus told them not to were amazed. Jesus told them not to tell anyone what had happened. tell anyone what had happened.

What do these Miracles show us?What do these Miracles show us?

• Jesus has power over death!Jesus has power over death!–Although one prophet also was able Although one prophet also was able

to bring someone back to life, this to bring someone back to life, this means Jesus is very powerful. It means Jesus is very powerful. It would have told all of his followers would have told all of his followers that something very special was that something very special was happening. happening.

Miracles of Exorcism Miracles of Exorcism

• Many miracles are related to a spiritual Many miracles are related to a spiritual warfare – the warfare – the exorcismexorcism of Demons! of Demons!– In most cases, the demons recognize In most cases, the demons recognize

that Jesus (an ordinary looking that Jesus (an ordinary looking person) is the Son of God. person) is the Son of God. – Jesus shows his true authority. He has Jesus shows his true authority. He has

control over the forces of Evil! control over the forces of Evil!

Pericope Mark Matt Luke

Jesus is tempted/tested in the desert by the Devil/Satan Mark 1:12-13 Matt 4:1-11 Luke 4:1-13

Unclean Spirit/Demon in Synagogue at Capernaum Mark 1:23-28 x Luke 4:33-37

Jesus casts out a demon that made a man dumb (mute) x Matt 9:32-33

Matt 12:22-23 Luke 11:14

Beelzebul Controversy: What power does Jesus use? Mark 3:22-30 Matt 9:34

Matt 12:24-30 Luke 11:15-23

Gerasene/Gadarene Demoniac possessed by "Legion" Mark 5:1-20 Matt 8:28-34 Luke 8:26-39

Syro-Phoenician Woman's Daughter Mark 7:24-30 Matt 15:21-28 x

Boy with an Epileptic Spirit Mark 9:14-29 Matt 17:14-21 Luke 9:37-43a

Another Exorcist Mark 9:38-41 Matt 10:42 Luke 9:49-50

Exorcizing the DemonsExorcizing the Demons

• Jesus has power of the forces of Evil. Jesus has power of the forces of Evil. –Shows that Jesus has the highest Shows that Jesus has the highest

authority!authority!• A question of authority! The scribes A question of authority! The scribes

and Pharisees wonder where this and Pharisees wonder where this authority comes. Jesus shows us by authority comes. Jesus shows us by defeating demons. defeating demons.

Over NatureOver Nature

• Other miracles Jesus performed had to Other miracles Jesus performed had to do with bending the laws of Nature. do with bending the laws of Nature. – It shows that Jesus is like the Creator, It shows that Jesus is like the Creator,

and able to have power over all the and able to have power over all the elements of the Earth. elements of the Earth.

Pericope Mark Matthew Luke John

Catching Unusually Many Fish in the Sea of Galilee -- -- 5:1-11 [cf. 21:1]

Stilling a Storm on the Sea of Galilee 4:35-41 8:23-27 8:22-25 --

Feeding Five Thousand People 6:32-44 14:13-21 9:10b-17 6:1-15

Walking on the Water 6:45-52 14:22-33 -- 6:16-21

Feeding Four Thousand People 8:1-10 15:32-39 -- --

Finding a Coin in the Mouth of a Fish -- 17:24-27 -- --

Cursing a Fig Tree near Bethany 11:12-14 21:18-19 -- --

Turning Water into Wine at a Wedding in Cana -- -- -- 2:1-11

Catching Numerous Fish at the Sea of Tiberias -- -- [cf. 5:1] 21:1-14

Miracles over Nature

WHY MIRACLES?WHY MIRACLES?

• There are two general reasons why There are two general reasons why Jesus performs miracles. Jesus performs miracles. –To Inspire and reward the faith of his To Inspire and reward the faith of his

disciples. disciples. –To make doubters believe. To make doubters believe.

Why be quiet?Why be quiet?

• Practical: he didn’t want people to always get in his way– they would attract so much attention and create so much

excitement that his movements would be inhibited

• Finally, Jesus did not want people focusing on the miracles He performed, but rather the message He proclaimed and the death He was going to die.

• He didn’t want people to misinterpret what this all meant. – He wasn’t some magician, or merely a prophet. People would be

attracted to him much like they would be attracted to a carnival sideshow. They would not be interested in the truth he came to teach, but in having their senses dazzled by seeing a miracle.

Matthew 12:38