Read: 1 Corinthians 1:13-24
FOR THE JEWS REQUIRE A SIGN
Jesus’ ministry was validated by signs-miracles which can be divided into four main classes: (1) Signs of nature, (2) signs of physical healing, (3) signs over demons, and (4) signs over death.
Starting in the spring of A.D. 27, when Jesus changed water into wine, He performed these miraculous signs into every period of His ministry. These miraculous signs had at least a threefold purpose: (1) they showed that He was God, (2) they brought kingdom conditions wherever He ministered, and (3) they fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.
It is interesting to compare the results of these miraculous signs with the prophesied conditions of the kingdom. For instance, turning water into wine and feeding the four thousand and the five thousand point to times of plenty. The land will be very productive and there will not be famine or lack of food in the kingdom age.
The many physical healing reminds us of the prophecy that life will be greatly extended and the curse of disease lifted. The casting out of demons foreshadows the time in the kingdom when Satan will be bound and the forces of evil greatly restricted. The miraculous signs over death, reminds us that the believers who have died will be raised to have their part in the kingdom, and eventually, death itself will be abolished.
After John the Baptist had been jailed about a year, he begun to wonder if Jesus was really the Messiah, so he sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus. Jesus in turn performed a special series of miraculous signs that day to answer their question and told them to go back and tell John “how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached” (Luke 7:22). These were the OT prophecies of the Messiah – His credentials (Isa. 29:18, 19; 35:5, 6; 61:1).
A few weeks before this, Jesus had healed a leper and sent him down to Jerusalem to show himself to the priest. The leper was to be a special testimony to them, but the Jewish leaders did not receive this testimony (Mk. 1:40-44). Two years later, just before He was crucified, Jesus healed ten more lepers and told them to do the same thing. One was Samaritan, so it is doubtful that he would go to Jerusalem, but this would still be a nine - fold miraculous sign to prove His Messiahship (Luke 17:11-19)
Therefore, the church’s desire to do miraculous signs might be out of character as far as the teachings of the Scriptures are concerned. Let us have a serious look at that.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved
FOR THE JEWS REQUIRE A SIGN
Jesus’ ministry was validated by signs-miracles which can be divided into four main classes: (1) Signs of nature, (2) signs of physical healing, (3) signs over demons, and (4) signs over death.
Starting in the spring of A.D. 27, when Jesus changed water into wine, He performed these miraculous signs into every period of His ministry. These miraculous signs had at least a threefold purpose: (1) they showed that He was God, (2) they brought kingdom conditions wherever He ministered, and (3) they fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.
It is interesting to compare the results of these miraculous signs with the prophesied conditions of the kingdom. For instance, turning water into wine and feeding the four thousand and the five thousand point to times of plenty. The land will be very productive and there will not be famine or lack of food in the kingdom age.
The many physical healing reminds us of the prophecy that life will be greatly extended and the curse of disease lifted. The casting out of demons foreshadows the time in the kingdom when Satan will be bound and the forces of evil greatly restricted. The miraculous signs over death, reminds us that the believers who have died will be raised to have their part in the kingdom, and eventually, death itself will be abolished.
After John the Baptist had been jailed about a year, he begun to wonder if Jesus was really the Messiah, so he sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus. Jesus in turn performed a special series of miraculous signs that day to answer their question and told them to go back and tell John “how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached” (Luke 7:22). These were the OT prophecies of the Messiah – His credentials (Isa. 29:18, 19; 35:5, 6; 61:1).
A few weeks before this, Jesus had healed a leper and sent him down to Jerusalem to show himself to the priest. The leper was to be a special testimony to them, but the Jewish leaders did not receive this testimony (Mk. 1:40-44). Two years later, just before He was crucified, Jesus healed ten more lepers and told them to do the same thing. One was Samaritan, so it is doubtful that he would go to Jerusalem, but this would still be a nine - fold miraculous sign to prove His Messiahship (Luke 17:11-19)
Therefore, the church’s desire to do miraculous signs might be out of character as far as the teachings of the Scriptures are concerned. Let us have a serious look at that.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved
it is the power of God 1 Cor. 1:18
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