Finding Jesus in the Bible…So We Can Follow Him in Life
Bible Reading Plans
- Plan One: New Testament Only
- Plan Two: New Testament + Psalms
- Plan Three: New Testament + History
- Plan Four: The Entire Bible – Year 1 of 3, Year 2 of 3, Year 3 of 3
Don’t know which plan? Go to A Christ-Centered Bible Reading Plan: Quick Start.
Extras
Verse of the Day, Audio Capsule, and Video Minute
***
(Today’s Book Installment)
The One True Church
Chapter 38 – Mark 2 of 10: Miracles
Miracles – also called “signs” or “wonders” in the Bible – were a frequent occurrence in Jesus’ ministry. They were frequent in the ministries of His apostles as well. After all, the apostles were personally representing Jesus.
Miracles are scattered throughout the Bible, but they came in bunches during the time of Moses, and then again during the time of Jesus, His apostles and His church. Another way of saying this is that it was when the Old Testament was first established and then again when the New Testament was established. It’s as though the two bunches came at times when God wanted to make a point – and put it in writing.
God did miracles through humans for multiple purposes. One was bear witness to what the individuals were saying and doing.
As Paul put it:
Hebrews 2:3 …After [our great salvation] was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,
Hebrews 2:4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
During New Testament times and since, many people falsely claimed to be apostles.
2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
Revelation 2:2 ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;
Miracles were one of the ways God distinguished true apostles from false ones.
2 Corinthians 12:12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
But during the church age, God did not limit His miracle-working power to apostles. He granted miracles through many, including Stephen and Philip who helped serve widows.
Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
Acts 8:6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.
Acts 8:7 For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.
In fact, nameless individuals were able to mediate God’s miracles in the church age. Note from the following three passages how frequently God seemed to perform miracles in regular church gatherings.
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 1 Corinthians 12:30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
Galatians 3:5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
James 5:15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
Where can you find church services like these in our time? True, God still does miracles today, but can any denomination or church demonstrate a frequency and quality of miracles over decades as the New Testament church did?
***
