Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:15-20, Psalm 77:13-15, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 11:18-23, Matthew 8:14-17
I once became a vegetarian just because I wasn’t fluent in Spanish. Although I’d never before considered myself a picky eater, a few weeks of traveling in a foreign country taught me that these exotic dishes were a real game-changer.
One night, I’d decided to play it safe by ordering the catch of the day. What the menu didn’t specify, however, was that not much had been done since the fish had been caught that day, leaving me with a scaly, slippery dish and two beady eyes staring mockingly back at me.
The next night, I knew better. Using my handy translator’s dictionary, I learned the word for “eyes,” and walked into the restaurant with a newfound resilience.
“Ojos?” I asked with confidence, ordering the chicken this time.
“No, no,” the waiter responded, chuckling.
The dish arrived just as I’d ordered it—no eyes this time, but… there were feathers. Like I was just supposed to put them in my hat and carry on.
I’m the queen of asking the wrong questions.
I’ve always had lots of questions about miracles. And if I’m being completely transparent, most of the time it hurts to ask them. Because while learning about Jesus’ healing power and His heart for His people, my questions inevitably turn to, Will He do this for me? or Why didn’t He do this for me?
Hope does not come from belief in power; it comes from trust in a Person. When we don’t understand what Jesus is doing, we must seek to know Him more.
As C.S. Lewis said, “Christianity does not involve the belief that all things were made for man.” So our first question needs to change from “What does this say about me?” to “What does this teach me about Jesus?” Or, as Mark 4 says, miracles should cause us to ask, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (v.41).
Before we get any further into this miracle-studying business, let that be our default question: Who then is this Jesus?
He is the victorious Lord of all (Colossians 1:15).
He is Lord over creation (Mark 4:39).
He is the One who overcomes evil (Luke 11:18-23).
He is the Suffering Servant who bears our infirmities (Matthew 8:17).
Miracles are breadcrumbs that lead us to the One who answers our need. They themselves are not the prize or the point, because He is already actively both. Miracles teach us that Jesus is God’s glory purposed for redemption. He came to show us His power to heal, but more importantly, to show us we’ve already been healed in Him.
If and (inevitably) when I begin to ask the wrong questions, may I look to the fullness of Christ and find that my need for Him is a privilege. May I praise Him for His miracles, but not miss the biggest miracle of all: Jesus Himself.
“For God was pleased to have
all His fullness dwell in Him,
and through Him to reconcile
everything to Himself
by making peace
through the blood of His cross
whether things on earth or things in heaven.”
– Colossians 1:19-20
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83 thoughts on "What Do Miracles Teach Us About Jesus?"
“Like I was just supposed to put them in my hat and carry on…” roooffffllllllllll it’s been a solid 10 minutes and I’m still laughing at this.
As for the message: we’ve already been healed!!! AMEN! The healing is a gift. It is a miracle. We just have to accept it. One way to do so is by focusing more on Jesus and what he wants for our lives and less on what we want. It’s funny how when you put your focus and trust in God how anxieties melt away. Amen to this message! Loved it! Needed the reminder too!
Haha, Lana! I still laugh just thinking about it. Thanks for your kind words!
Reminds me of a song with a reassuring truth, “When your eyes are the storm, you wonder if I love you still. When your eyes on on the cross, you’ll remember that I love you and I always will.”
Thank you so much for the reminder that it’s ALL about Jesus.
“Hope does not come from belief in power; it comes from trust in a Person. When we don’t understand what Jesus is doing, we must seek to know Him more.”
Truth bomb!
Ooh, yes. Love the lyrics of this song, Sarah! Thanks for stopping by today!
“I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer…You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?” -C.S. Lewis
Love this Kristine !! I really need to add CS Lewis books to my “to read” list as well
This quote is perfect. Thank you!
“You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.” Psalm 77: 14 – “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Mark 4:40 – “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Luke 11:23 – “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8 : 17
I’ll make this personal today – these are the scriptures that grabbed my attention in this reading this morning…….along with the word “preeminent” from Colossians.
Who then is Jesus…..”Preeminence” -Supreme, Outstanding, Leading, Top, Foremost, Dignity of importance, Renowned, Illustrious…..having Paramount Rank….may this be the miracle that resonates in my thinking, but is sealed within my heart!
When our central focus is on Jesus alone, we start to witness the wonders of all He does in our lives. We witness the miracles we tend to miss when we’re so preoccupied asking the wrong questions or focusing on anything other than Jesus actively working in our lives. Maybe He is telling us to be still as He told the wind and the sea so we can take a moment and move our center of attention back on Him. He encourages us to ask questions but He also wants them to be the right questions. Miracles teach us so much about Jesus and how vital He is to have in our lives ❤
I love that: “maybe He is telling us to he still as He told the wind and the sea.” Thank you for sharing!
Miracles point to the One ! He is !! We trust in you Lord today !! You lead us to the still waters!!…. you grant us Your peace!! No one name can we call out to receive miracles, answered prayer. Not always when expect it .. but sometimes when we do !! Thank you Lord !!
Kathy, I’ll be praying with you as my son wait to hear if his teaching position goes from a limited to a regular full time contract. He’s had the job since January but is waiting to see if the position is still active for next year. The statement in the devotional
“Hope does not come from belief in a power; it comes from trust in a person.” Hit me square between the eyes. Jesus has the best things for our children.
“Miracles are breadcrumbs that lead us to the one who answers our needs.” My family is currently in a holding pattern as we wait to hear whether or not my oldest daughter has gotten a teaching job that she desperately wants. Waiting is not for sissies!!! While it won’t be a miracle if she gets the job this devotion has opened my eyes to several things. The first is that my first question in the midst of either a miracle or not-a-miracle has to be “What does this teach me about Jesus?” I want to ask the same questions that Kaitlyn does.
So, what am I learning about Jesus in this time of waiting? There can be joy and peace in the waiting but my focus has to be on Jesus. If I focus on what I’m waiting for then I become anxious and worried. Today, I choose to focus on Jesus.
“He is before all things and by Him all things hold together.” Col. 1:17.
“If I focus on what I’m waiting for then I become anxious and worried. Today, I choose to focus on Jesus.” I, too, am in a waiting period know what it’s like to feel the anxiety creep in when I focus on what I’m waiting for. Making Jesus my focus as well during this waiting season. Thank you for this!
thank you! it’s the same in all our life situations – focus on the issue equals anxiety and stress, focus on Jesus equals calm reassurance regardless of the outcome