SIGNS, WONDERS, AND MIRACLES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
After moving through 1500 years of Jewish history and seeing signs, wonders, and miracles manifested at only two different points within that history, things suddenly changed. Israel’s Messiah (following the ministry of His forerunner, John the Baptist) appeared with a message concerning the kingdom of the heavens; and this message was accompanied by numerous signs, wonders, and miracles (Matt. 4:17-25; 8:1ff).
After moving through 1500 years of Jewish history and seeing signs, wonders, and miracles manifested at only two different points within that history, things suddenly changed. Israel’s Messiah (following the ministry of His forerunner, John the Baptist) appeared with a message concerning the kingdom of the heavens; and this message was accompanied by numerous signs, wonders, and miracles (Matt. 4:17-25; 8:1ff).
Then, in conjunction with and very early in His ministry, Christ called twelve disciples to help carry this message; and they were empowered to perform signs, wonders, and miracles in connection with their ministry as well (Matt. 10-5-8).
(Also, Jesus later “appointed” seventy others to go “before His face in every city and place, where He himself would come” – though very little is said about them in the gospel accounts – and empowered them to perform signs, wonders, and miracles [Luke 10:1-19]. Thus, at this time, there was a manifestation of supernatural signs in the camp of Israel unlike anything heretofore seen in the history of the nation.)
Christ had been sent only to ‘the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 15:24), and Christ sent His disciples whom He called to Israel alone (Matt. 10:6). Both Christ and His disciples went to Israel with the same message and the same accompanying manifestations of supernatural powers. It was a message surrounding the offer of the kingdom of the heavens to the nation, attended by a manifestation of signs, wonders, and miracles.
Whether it was Jesus or His disciples proclaiming the proffered kingdom; signs, wonders, and miracles accompanied their ministry and formed the credentials of those carrying the message. They were supernatural events which authenticated their message as being true and from God (John 3:1, 2; Acts 2:22; c.f. Exo. 4:1-9).
The religious leaders in Israel were to see these signs, wonders, and miracles and know, from these, that the messengers were God-sent. Then, believing and understanding the message which they had heard, they were responsible for carrying it to the people of Israel (c.f. Exo. 4:29-31; Num. 13:1-26).
However, exactly the opposite occurred when the message was proclaimed by Christ and His disciples. The religious leaders not only refused to believe the message, but they, in their unbelief, carried a false message to the people of Israel (Matt. 12:14-32; 23:13).
This is why Christ near the end of His earthly ministry, condemned the actions of the Scribes and Pharisees – the fundamental religious leaders of that day – in no uncertain terms [Matt. 23:1ff]. They had heard the true message, and they had seen the accompanying miraculous powers, authenticating the message; but they had rejected the message and sought to do away with the accompanying supernatural powers mainly through attacking the Messenger.
The Scribes and Pharisees had sought to discredit the message in the eyes of the people, bringing about reproach on the Messenger and casting doubt on His message [e.g. Matt. 9:27-34; 12:22-24; c.f. John 12:10, 11]. And, whether by word or deed, this resulted in their bearing a false message to the people of Israel [Matt. 23:13]).
This all resulted in Israel’s rejection of not only the message but the Messenger as well, the removal of the kingdom of the heavens from Israel, the crucifixion of Israel’s Messiah, and the bringing into existence of a separate and distinct entity to be the recipient of that which was offered to and rejected by Israel. Israel failed to bring forth fruit in relation to the kingdom of the heavens, and “the one new man” in Christ was called into existence to be accorded the opportunity to bring forth fruit in this realm (Matt. 21:33-43).
Thought the kingdom was taken from Israel and the Church was called into existence to be the recipient of the offer, there was a reoffer of the kingdom to Israel. If for no other reason, this was evident because of the continuance of signs, wonders, and miracles. That would be to say, if God had terminated His dealings with Israel at or before the time that the Church was called into existence signs, wonders, and miracles would have ceased to exist. These supernatural works have nothing to do with the “one new man” in Christ (who is “neither Jews not Greek” [Gal. 3:28]). They have to do with Israel alone (1 Cor. 1:22), and they have to do with Israel in relation to the kingdom.
The supernatural works were manifested by those carrying the message to Israel (Acts 2:4; 3:1ff; 4:29-33; 5:12ff; 6:8ff); and when Gentiles began to be added to the body of Christ, they were manifested within Churches comprised of saved Gentiles, such as the Church in Corinth (chs. 12-14). A manifestation of supernatural works in the Church after this fashion was centered around the thought of provoking Israel “to jealousy” (Rom. 10:19; 11:11, 14). That is, God was using those whom Israel considered Gentile dogs to manifest supernatural powers which naturally belonged to Israel in order to provoke the nation to jealously.
Between a segment of the “one new man” in Christ carrying the message to Israel and another segment seeking to provoke the nation to jealousy – all being done through the manifestation of signs, wonders, and miracles – the Jewish people were dealt with in what might be considered a maximum manner. In one respect, God pulled out all stops (c.f. Luke 10: 13-24; 11:19-32); but the religious leaders in Israel would still have nothing to do with the message.
VIEWING THINGS FROM THE BEGINNING
The true nature of events which occurred on the day of Pentecost, as recorded in the first two chapters of the Book of Acts – when the reoffer of the kingdom of the heavens to Israel began – is not understood in Christendom today at all. Whole denominations have been built on a false understanding of these chapters, and cult groups have seized upon Acts 2:28 as revealing the way in which a person is to be saved; and practically the whole of Christendom, to counter the teachings of the cults, have taught things concerning this verse which are equally erroneous. If either understood that which is stated in the verses leading up to Acts 2:28, the whole matter wouldn’t even exist. Neither would have acted so completely out of line with the Scriptures.
(Also, Jesus later “appointed” seventy others to go “before His face in every city and place, where He himself would come” – though very little is said about them in the gospel accounts – and empowered them to perform signs, wonders, and miracles [Luke 10:1-19]. Thus, at this time, there was a manifestation of supernatural signs in the camp of Israel unlike anything heretofore seen in the history of the nation.)
Christ had been sent only to ‘the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 15:24), and Christ sent His disciples whom He called to Israel alone (Matt. 10:6). Both Christ and His disciples went to Israel with the same message and the same accompanying manifestations of supernatural powers. It was a message surrounding the offer of the kingdom of the heavens to the nation, attended by a manifestation of signs, wonders, and miracles.
Whether it was Jesus or His disciples proclaiming the proffered kingdom; signs, wonders, and miracles accompanied their ministry and formed the credentials of those carrying the message. They were supernatural events which authenticated their message as being true and from God (John 3:1, 2; Acts 2:22; c.f. Exo. 4:1-9).
The religious leaders in Israel were to see these signs, wonders, and miracles and know, from these, that the messengers were God-sent. Then, believing and understanding the message which they had heard, they were responsible for carrying it to the people of Israel (c.f. Exo. 4:29-31; Num. 13:1-26).
However, exactly the opposite occurred when the message was proclaimed by Christ and His disciples. The religious leaders not only refused to believe the message, but they, in their unbelief, carried a false message to the people of Israel (Matt. 12:14-32; 23:13).
This is why Christ near the end of His earthly ministry, condemned the actions of the Scribes and Pharisees – the fundamental religious leaders of that day – in no uncertain terms [Matt. 23:1ff]. They had heard the true message, and they had seen the accompanying miraculous powers, authenticating the message; but they had rejected the message and sought to do away with the accompanying supernatural powers mainly through attacking the Messenger.
The Scribes and Pharisees had sought to discredit the message in the eyes of the people, bringing about reproach on the Messenger and casting doubt on His message [e.g. Matt. 9:27-34; 12:22-24; c.f. John 12:10, 11]. And, whether by word or deed, this resulted in their bearing a false message to the people of Israel [Matt. 23:13]).
This all resulted in Israel’s rejection of not only the message but the Messenger as well, the removal of the kingdom of the heavens from Israel, the crucifixion of Israel’s Messiah, and the bringing into existence of a separate and distinct entity to be the recipient of that which was offered to and rejected by Israel. Israel failed to bring forth fruit in relation to the kingdom of the heavens, and “the one new man” in Christ was called into existence to be accorded the opportunity to bring forth fruit in this realm (Matt. 21:33-43).
Thought the kingdom was taken from Israel and the Church was called into existence to be the recipient of the offer, there was a reoffer of the kingdom to Israel. If for no other reason, this was evident because of the continuance of signs, wonders, and miracles. That would be to say, if God had terminated His dealings with Israel at or before the time that the Church was called into existence signs, wonders, and miracles would have ceased to exist. These supernatural works have nothing to do with the “one new man” in Christ (who is “neither Jews not Greek” [Gal. 3:28]). They have to do with Israel alone (1 Cor. 1:22), and they have to do with Israel in relation to the kingdom.
The supernatural works were manifested by those carrying the message to Israel (Acts 2:4; 3:1ff; 4:29-33; 5:12ff; 6:8ff); and when Gentiles began to be added to the body of Christ, they were manifested within Churches comprised of saved Gentiles, such as the Church in Corinth (chs. 12-14). A manifestation of supernatural works in the Church after this fashion was centered around the thought of provoking Israel “to jealousy” (Rom. 10:19; 11:11, 14). That is, God was using those whom Israel considered Gentile dogs to manifest supernatural powers which naturally belonged to Israel in order to provoke the nation to jealously.
Between a segment of the “one new man” in Christ carrying the message to Israel and another segment seeking to provoke the nation to jealousy – all being done through the manifestation of signs, wonders, and miracles – the Jewish people were dealt with in what might be considered a maximum manner. In one respect, God pulled out all stops (c.f. Luke 10: 13-24; 11:19-32); but the religious leaders in Israel would still have nothing to do with the message.
VIEWING THINGS FROM THE BEGINNING
The true nature of events which occurred on the day of Pentecost, as recorded in the first two chapters of the Book of Acts – when the reoffer of the kingdom of the heavens to Israel began – is not understood in Christendom today at all. Whole denominations have been built on a false understanding of these chapters, and cult groups have seized upon Acts 2:28 as revealing the way in which a person is to be saved; and practically the whole of Christendom, to counter the teachings of the cults, have taught things concerning this verse which are equally erroneous. If either understood that which is stated in the verses leading up to Acts 2:28, the whole matter wouldn’t even exist. Neither would have acted so completely out of line with the Scriptures.
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