 | As we peruse the gospel accounts of Jesus, some of our favorite portions are the miraculous transactions of Jesus during His ministry. We read these accounts rapt with wonder as Jesus time and again demonstrates His authority over the forces of nature, sick and damaged bodies, tormenting demonic forces and even death. Yet as we focused this Sunday on Mark 4:35-41 (the account of Jesus commanding a storm to cease as He and His disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee) Pastor Ellery showed us how these spectacular events were not the main thrust of Jesus’ plan. |
While His calming the storm understandably amazed the disciples in the boat, as it does us, when we read this narrative today, this miracle pales in comparison to the pivotal task that Jesus came all the way to earth to perform.
The miracles Jesus performed while He was here were merely signs to confirm to us that He was in fact God in the flesh. Sometimes we get it backwards and focus on the signs and wonders, as we lose sight of the One who makes the miracles. In Sunday’s text we see that Jesus had a simple, matter-of-fact attitude as he spoke to the storm. It did not seem to be a big deal to Him to cause a tumultuous storm to instantly disappear.
Now, I am not here to discount or play down this or any of the wonderful deeds Jesus orchestrated. Healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead, feeding multitudes with a small boy’s sack lunch are divinely inspiring and we get to see glimpses of the heart of God through them. Yet all of these signs combined do not begin to compare with the one main event in Jesus life, the culmination of His purpose, which was His death and resurrection. The apparent tragedy of the cross was actually the biggest miraculous intervention in all of history.
The miracles Jesus performed while He was here were merely signs to confirm to us that He was in fact God in the flesh. Sometimes we get it backwards and focus on the signs and wonders, as we lose sight of the One who makes the miracles. In Sunday’s text we see that Jesus had a simple, matter-of-fact attitude as he spoke to the storm. It did not seem to be a big deal to Him to cause a tumultuous storm to instantly disappear.
Now, I am not here to discount or play down this or any of the wonderful deeds Jesus orchestrated. Healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead, feeding multitudes with a small boy’s sack lunch are divinely inspiring and we get to see glimpses of the heart of God through them. Yet all of these signs combined do not begin to compare with the one main event in Jesus life, the culmination of His purpose, which was His death and resurrection. The apparent tragedy of the cross was actually the biggest miraculous intervention in all of history.
He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still! ” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. - Mark 4:39 HCSB
When we look back at the account of Jesus, this seems - in the natural - rather anti-climatic when compared to His miraculous birth heralded by an angelic host, or to the start of His public ministry at the Jordan river when he was audibly approved by God the Father Himself. Then there are the other miracles that captured the attention and admiration of the masses. Three years into His very successful ministry, it takes an unusual turn. He goes from being adored by the multitudes to being arrested; from being lovingly touched and even anointed with perfume and tears to receiving severe beatings and scourging from toughened Roman soldiers; from being heralded as a prophet, the son of David, the Deliverer of Israel, to being a falsely accused blasphemer and trouble maker; from being surrounded by throngs of worshipers to angry mobs screaming for His death.
What seems to be a tragic end to His life changing-miracles and captivating, frequently difficult teachings, was the very reason He came to us in the first place. The biggest miracle is that He endured the act of being arrested for our crimes as He was beaten and punished for our iniquity. He was put to death because that was the price for the sin everyone - except Him - committed. And He was raised from the dead so His righteousness could be freely given to us in exchange for the sin He so dearly paid for.
Looking through Mark and the other three gospel accounts in the Bible at the miracles of our Lord Jesus, we can be encouraged by the loving compassion that He demonstrated to those in need around Him. But we must not let the “little” miracles cloud our focus on the one big miracle that Jesus did for all of us. I can think of no bigger miracle than the fact that the Lord of all creation loved me enough to take on flesh, die for the sin that I committed and rose from the dead so that I could receive His righteousness and have eternal life. He did this for all of mankind, not just me. That is the biggest miracle anybody could possibly imagine.
John Clark
John Clark is a husband to Julie, a father of one son living in Valrico, Florida. He has an Associate Degree of Theology from Life Christian University, and serves at Life Center of Brandon where he is a teacher and writer.