jesus’ miracles

19
Jesus’ Miracles Jesus’ Miracles

Upload: drake

Post on 08-Jan-2016

119 views

Category:

Documents


3 download

DESCRIPTION

Jesus’ Miracles. The importance of the miracles. Jesus’ actions, his miracles, are important Affirm the truth of his words. Variety of signs. Healing Miracles Exorcism Restoration of life Nature miracles. Challenge of the Miracles: Take ‘ em or Leave ‘ em ?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Jesus’ Miracles

Jesus’ MiraclesJesus’ Miracles

Page 2: Jesus’ Miracles

The importance of the The importance of the miraclesmiracles

Jesus’ actions, his Jesus’ actions, his miracles, are miracles, are importantimportant Affirm the truth Affirm the truth

of his wordsof his words

Page 3: Jesus’ Miracles

Variety of signsVariety of signs

1.1. Healing Healing MiraclesMiracles

2.2. ExorcismExorcism

3.3. RestoratiRestoration of lifeon of life

4.4. Nature Nature miraclesmiracles

Page 4: Jesus’ Miracles

Challenge of the Miracles: Take Challenge of the Miracles: Take ‘em or Leave ‘em?‘em or Leave ‘em?

•Because of today’s reason-Because of today’s reason-centered world view, Miracle centered world view, Miracle stories are problematic . This stories are problematic . This has led to a two option has led to a two option response to miracles: Take response to miracles: Take ‘em or leave ‘em‘em or leave ‘em•Leave ‘em – miracles are, by Leave ‘em – miracles are, by definition, phenomena that go definition, phenomena that go beyond the laws of nature. This beyond the laws of nature. This group says, therefore, that group says, therefore, that

miracles cannot miracles cannot reallyreally happen. happen. People who believe in miracles People who believe in miracles are easy to foolare easy to fool

Page 5: Jesus’ Miracles

Take ‘em or Leave Take ‘em or Leave ‘em? ‘em?

Take ‘em – all Take ‘em – all miracles are miracles are taken literally. taken literally. This groupThis group

rejects rejects Scientific Scientific explanationsexplanationsSays that Says that symbolic symbolic explanations explanations lack faith.lack faith.

Page 6: Jesus’ Miracles

You can Leave ‘em but…You can Leave ‘em but… There is evidence that Jesus There is evidence that Jesus

truly was a miracle worker.truly was a miracle worker. Non-Christian historians Non-Christian historians

referred to Jesus as a “wonder-referred to Jesus as a “wonder-worker.”worker.”

The Gospels record that the The Gospels record that the Pharisees, while Jesus’ biggest Pharisees, while Jesus’ biggest critics, do not deny Jesus’ critics, do not deny Jesus’ ability to work miracles. ability to work miracles.

There were lots of There were lots of eyewitnesses to Jesus’ miracles eyewitnesses to Jesus’ miracles – they are recorded in the – they are recorded in the Gospels. Gospels.

The large following of Jesus The large following of Jesus during his life and later after during his life and later after his his death/resurrection/ascension death/resurrection/ascension probably did not form only on probably did not form only on hearsay. hearsay.

Page 7: Jesus’ Miracles

You can take ‘em but…You can take ‘em but… The Gospels sometimes The Gospels sometimes

exaggerate the miracle exaggerate the miracle stories over time. stories over time. Markan priority- Compare Markan priority- Compare

w/Matthew, written after w/Matthew, written after MarkMark

Mark 1:35 – Jesus “cured Mark 1:35 – Jesus “cured manymany who were sick” who were sick” Matt. 8:16 – Jesus “cured Matt. 8:16 – Jesus “cured allall who were sick.” who were sick.”

Mark 5:23 – (Jairus) “My Mark 5:23 – (Jairus) “My daughter is daughter is at the point of at the point of death.” Matt. (9:18) – “My death.” Matt. (9:18) – “My daughter has daughter has just diedjust died.”.”

Page 8: Jesus’ Miracles

Ultimately, we Ultimately, we can neither can neither deny miracles deny miracles nor take all of nor take all of them literally. them literally.

Take ‘em or Take ‘em or Leave ‘em is not Leave ‘em is not going to going to produce a produce a satisfactory satisfactory answer to the answer to the problem of the problem of the miracles.miracles.

Page 9: Jesus’ Miracles

Third option?Third option?

A third, or middle, A third, or middle, option can be found option can be found through study of the through study of the miracles – miracles – what is their purpose what is their purpose

in the gospel stories?in the gospel stories? What are they meant What are they meant

to convey? to convey? How did people in How did people in

ancient times ancient times understand understand miracles?miracles?

Page 10: Jesus’ Miracles

Ancient Worldview – Ancient Worldview – “Miraculous”“Miraculous”

Ancient people lacked modern science, Ancient people lacked modern science, medicine, or technology to explain the medicine, or technology to explain the inexplicable.inexplicable.

Ancient people had a distinct belief in God’s Ancient people had a distinct belief in God’s interaction with humanity and the world.interaction with humanity and the world. Jews believed that the One True God intervened in Jews believed that the One True God intervened in

their lives – from Abraham to current times = their lives – from Abraham to current times = salvation historysalvation history

Greeks and Romans believed in a pantheon (temple) Greeks and Romans believed in a pantheon (temple) of gods and goddesses, who, at their pleasure, got of gods and goddesses, who, at their pleasure, got involved in human life.involved in human life.

The Pantheon was dedicated to The Pantheon was dedicated to pan theospan theos, "all the gods.", "all the gods."

Therefore, for ancient people phenomena, Therefore, for ancient people phenomena, “Miracles” explained the mysteries of life.“Miracles” explained the mysteries of life.

Page 11: Jesus’ Miracles

From Acts of the Apostles From Acts of the Apostles (14:8-12)(14:8-12)

““In Lystra, there was a man In Lystra, there was a man sitting who could not use his sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked…feet and had never walked…

And Paul…said in a loud voice, And Paul…said in a loud voice, ‘Stand up on your feet!’‘Stand up on your feet!’

And the man sprang up and And the man sprang up and began to walk. began to walk.

When the crowds saw what When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted, Paul had done, they shouted, ‘The gods have come down to ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’ us in human form!’

Barnabus they called Zeus and Barnabus they called Zeus and Paul they called Hermes…” Paul they called Hermes…”

Page 12: Jesus’ Miracles

Faith, first requirementFaith, first requirement Faith in Jesus is a Faith in Jesus is a

requirement in requirement in understanding the miraclesunderstanding the miracles - Jesus required belief in him and - Jesus required belief in him and

faith in God to perform miracles.faith in God to perform miracles. - Could not perform miracles in his - Could not perform miracles in his

hometown because of their disbeliefhometown because of their disbelief Mark 6:2-6Mark 6:2-6 ““Where did this man get all Where did this man get all

this?”...And they took offense at this?”...And they took offense at him…And he could do no deed of him…And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was and cured them. And he was amazed at their disbelief. amazed at their disbelief.

Page 13: Jesus’ Miracles

Special signs & conversionSpecial signs & conversion By performing miracles, By performing miracles,

Jesus is providing special Jesus is providing special signs that verifies his signs that verifies his identity by showing God’s identity by showing God’s power.power. -Exorcisms: Jesus is the -Exorcisms: Jesus is the

conqueror and Lord over conqueror and Lord over sin.sin.

the central message of all the central message of all miracle stories is that miracle stories is that conversion – changing from conversion – changing from non-belief to belief in Jesus non-belief to belief in Jesus – is the point and meaning – is the point and meaning of the miracle stories.of the miracle stories.

Page 14: Jesus’ Miracles

Nature miracles – God’s Nature miracles – God’s reign is over all of creation.reign is over all of creation.

Jesus overcomes the Jesus overcomes the chaos of the world by chaos of the world by performing miracles.performing miracles.

Jesus calms a storm Jesus calms a storm and walks on water.and walks on water.

Jesus feeds thousands Jesus feeds thousands by multiplying loaves by multiplying loaves and fishes.and fishes.

Page 15: Jesus’ Miracles

Leprosy in the BibleLeprosy in the Bible ““Leprosy,” when used Leprosy,” when used

in the bible, refers to in the bible, refers to any serious skin any serious skin disease that renders disease that renders somebody “unclean” somebody “unclean” under the law.under the law.

Leprosy, like any Leprosy, like any physical or mental physical or mental illness, was largely illness, was largely incurable in incurable in ancient times.ancient times.

Page 16: Jesus’ Miracles

Leprosy, like Leprosy, like any illness, was any illness, was frightening and frightening and believed to be a believed to be a curse from God curse from God or a form of evil or a form of evil possessing the possessing the Body. Body.

Therefore, Therefore, unclean people unclean people were shunned were shunned and feared.and feared.

Page 17: Jesus’ Miracles

Leprosy Leprosy

Often referred to Often referred to as “the living as “the living death.”death.”

Page 18: Jesus’ Miracles

Mark: Jesus’ ministry Map

1. Using your Mark as a story, locate the places in which Jesus performed a miracle (healing, etc.)

2. Label each place using a different color 3. On the left side of the map, write the name of

the places 4. Number and connect the places5. Use the maps on the back of the bible or the

ones included on the textbook as a guide6. You need to include at least 6-8 places7. When you’re done, you may color in the

background of your map

Page 19: Jesus’ Miracles