What Miracles Can Reveal
Why does one person with cancer get healed while another person dies? Why does one person receive a financial miracle while somebody else struggles with debt? This article can't begin to fully answer these difficult questions, but it begins with an important realization - Jesus specifically addressed this issue.
While speaking in his hometown synagogue, Jesus told the the people "I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” (Luke 4:24-27)
Jesus gave two historical examples to prove a point - there are people who are in need of a miracle who won't receive a miracle. Before taking a closer look at these historical examples, let's back up a moment to get an idea of the context of Jesus' teaching.
Jesus had recently been baptized and was beginning his public ministry. In his hometown synagogue he began speaking by quoting Isaiah 61:1,2 - a prophetic passage about the deliverance ministry of the messiah. Jesus finished by declaring "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:21) In no subtle way, Jesus was announcing to his hometown that he was the messiah they had been waiting for.
How did his neighbors respond? With mild interest...
"Oh my, wasn't that a nice little Bible verse."
"He is such a nice young man."
"Isn't that Joseph's son?"
"He has quite a way with words."
Jesus perceived their hearts and said to them "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’" Jesus anticipated a time when these people would hear of Jesus' miraculous deeds and would ask him to perform those same miracles in their midst. But, Jesus knew they weren't really interested in accepting him as their messiah, they were only interested in seeing some miracles.
At this point, Jesus gave two historical examples where many people needed miracles, but very few received them. In the first instance, Israel was being ruled by the evil King Ahab. Israel was not a very hospitable place for those faithful to God. During a time of drought, Elijah was commanded to leave Israel and go to stay with a widow in a foreign country. When Elijah told the widow God would provide for her in the time of drought if she cared for him, the widow obeyed by entrusting to Elijah the last of her life-sustaining possessions. The widow experienced a miracle.
In the second instance, an Aramean captain named Naaman was suffering from leprosy. When he was made aware that the prophet Elisha could provide a healing miracle, word was sent to the King of Israel to facilitate this miracle. But, the King of Israel thought it was a trick. He answered "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy?" (2 Kings 5:7) When Elisha heard of Naaman's request he said to the King of Israel "Let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." (2 Kings 5:8) Naaman was healed of his leprosy when he obeyed the command of Elisha to dip seven times in the Jordan river (despite Naaman's initial protest that there were better rivers in his own country).
In both instances, the people that should have been the most familiar with the majesty and power of God were the ones who were the most ignorant. The nation of Israel had a history of experiencing God's miracles and deliverance - yet during the time of these two prophets, there was very little trust in God. And so it was that many who were sick and many who were in need of provision never received it. I doubt they ever asked. Instead, the miracles were granted to two people who were not Israelites, but they were willing to obey the instructions of the prophet to receive their miracle.
In the same way, the people of Jesus' home town should have known him the best, yet they were the first to reject Jesus' as their Messiah. Jesus understood that the people of his hometown needed miracles - they would love to see miracles - but that is all they would see... a miracle. Their eyes would be blind to the greater truth, that Jesus was their deliverer.
We can contrast this scenario to another one that occurred soon after. In Luke 5, Jesus was borrowing Simon-Peter's boat to preach to the crowds. When Jesus finished speaking, he told Simon to set out for another catch of fish. Despite Simon's apprehension, he and his companions set out to cast another net. A miracle occurred, and they hauled in a massive load of fish.
Like the widow, and like Naaman, Simon and his friends expressed their trust in God by obeying a peculiar request that seemed counter-intuitive in the natural. Bake a cake for a stranger with the last remaining flour. Take a dip in a river. Receive fishing instructions from a carpenter. Their obedience was a sign of their faith, and the doorway to receiving a miracle.
It was in this last instance that something very peculiar occurred - something that should perk up our attention and give us some insight into the purpose of miracles.
Jesus invited Simon and his friends to join him in his journey. "And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him." (Luke 5:11) They left their miracle. They left the fish. Think about it. Jesus ordered up a custom miracle just for them. Only they, as seasoned fisherman, would have fully understood how big a miracle it was to catch that many fish on a fished-out evening. This miracle was the perfect provision. It was just the thing they were searching for every single day. They could make a lot of money by selling these fish. They might be able to take it easy for the next couple days - maybe take a vacation. But, they left them behind.
When Simon and his friends heard Jesus' teachings and saw this miracle, they realized that their quest for fish was too small. They realized they needed Jesus. Instead of relishing in their miracle, they left everything to have the miracle-worker.
This is the biggest difference between the people of Jesus' hometown and his new followers. The people of Nazareth didn't care who Jesus was. They just wanted to see miracles. Simon saw something more amazing than the miracles. Simon wanted Jesus.
Seeing the difference in these two responses to miracles challenges me even as I seek my own miracle. Do I just want to see something amazing? Or do I want to know someone amazing? Would I leave my miracle behind if it meant I could get closer to Jesus? I think the application to these challenges is very clear. While it is not wrong to ask Jesus for miracles, my first goal should be to seek Jesus. He is more fulfilling than any supernatural demonstration. He is more desirable than a miraculous sign. He is worth more than a pile of fish.
Why does one person with cancer get healed while another person dies? Why does one person receive a financial miracle while somebody else struggles with debt? This article can't begin to fully answer these difficult questions, but it begins with an important realization - Jesus specifically addressed this issue.
While speaking in his hometown synagogue, Jesus told the the people "I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” (Luke 4:24-27)
Jesus gave two historical examples to prove a point - there are people who are in need of a miracle who won't receive a miracle. Before taking a closer look at these historical examples, let's back up a moment to get an idea of the context of Jesus' teaching.
Jesus had recently been baptized and was beginning his public ministry. In his hometown synagogue he began speaking by quoting Isaiah 61:1,2 - a prophetic passage about the deliverance ministry of the messiah. Jesus finished by declaring "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:21) In no subtle way, Jesus was announcing to his hometown that he was the messiah they had been waiting for.
How did his neighbors respond? With mild interest...
"Oh my, wasn't that a nice little Bible verse."
"He is such a nice young man."
"Isn't that Joseph's son?"
"He has quite a way with words."
Jesus perceived their hearts and said to them "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’" Jesus anticipated a time when these people would hear of Jesus' miraculous deeds and would ask him to perform those same miracles in their midst. But, Jesus knew they weren't really interested in accepting him as their messiah, they were only interested in seeing some miracles.
At this point, Jesus gave two historical examples where many people needed miracles, but very few received them. In the first instance, Israel was being ruled by the evil King Ahab. Israel was not a very hospitable place for those faithful to God. During a time of drought, Elijah was commanded to leave Israel and go to stay with a widow in a foreign country. When Elijah told the widow God would provide for her in the time of drought if she cared for him, the widow obeyed by entrusting to Elijah the last of her life-sustaining possessions. The widow experienced a miracle.
In the second instance, an Aramean captain named Naaman was suffering from leprosy. When he was made aware that the prophet Elisha could provide a healing miracle, word was sent to the King of Israel to facilitate this miracle. But, the King of Israel thought it was a trick. He answered "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy?" (2 Kings 5:7) When Elisha heard of Naaman's request he said to the King of Israel "Let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." (2 Kings 5:8) Naaman was healed of his leprosy when he obeyed the command of Elisha to dip seven times in the Jordan river (despite Naaman's initial protest that there were better rivers in his own country).
In both instances, the people that should have been the most familiar with the majesty and power of God were the ones who were the most ignorant. The nation of Israel had a history of experiencing God's miracles and deliverance - yet during the time of these two prophets, there was very little trust in God. And so it was that many who were sick and many who were in need of provision never received it. I doubt they ever asked. Instead, the miracles were granted to two people who were not Israelites, but they were willing to obey the instructions of the prophet to receive their miracle.
In the same way, the people of Jesus' home town should have known him the best, yet they were the first to reject Jesus' as their Messiah. Jesus understood that the people of his hometown needed miracles - they would love to see miracles - but that is all they would see... a miracle. Their eyes would be blind to the greater truth, that Jesus was their deliverer.
We can contrast this scenario to another one that occurred soon after. In Luke 5, Jesus was borrowing Simon-Peter's boat to preach to the crowds. When Jesus finished speaking, he told Simon to set out for another catch of fish. Despite Simon's apprehension, he and his companions set out to cast another net. A miracle occurred, and they hauled in a massive load of fish.
Like the widow, and like Naaman, Simon and his friends expressed their trust in God by obeying a peculiar request that seemed counter-intuitive in the natural. Bake a cake for a stranger with the last remaining flour. Take a dip in a river. Receive fishing instructions from a carpenter. Their obedience was a sign of their faith, and the doorway to receiving a miracle.
It was in this last instance that something very peculiar occurred - something that should perk up our attention and give us some insight into the purpose of miracles.
Jesus invited Simon and his friends to join him in his journey. "And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him." (Luke 5:11) They left their miracle. They left the fish. Think about it. Jesus ordered up a custom miracle just for them. Only they, as seasoned fisherman, would have fully understood how big a miracle it was to catch that many fish on a fished-out evening. This miracle was the perfect provision. It was just the thing they were searching for every single day. They could make a lot of money by selling these fish. They might be able to take it easy for the next couple days - maybe take a vacation. But, they left them behind.
When Simon and his friends heard Jesus' teachings and saw this miracle, they realized that their quest for fish was too small. They realized they needed Jesus. Instead of relishing in their miracle, they left everything to have the miracle-worker.
This is the biggest difference between the people of Jesus' hometown and his new followers. The people of Nazareth didn't care who Jesus was. They just wanted to see miracles. Simon saw something more amazing than the miracles. Simon wanted Jesus.
Seeing the difference in these two responses to miracles challenges me even as I seek my own miracle. Do I just want to see something amazing? Or do I want to know someone amazing? Would I leave my miracle behind if it meant I could get closer to Jesus? I think the application to these challenges is very clear. While it is not wrong to ask Jesus for miracles, my first goal should be to seek Jesus. He is more fulfilling than any supernatural demonstration. He is more desirable than a miraculous sign. He is worth more than a pile of fish.
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