The Story of Jesus According to Mark, Pt 11: A Lesson in Miracles

 

June 30, 2024               NOTES NOT EDITED
The Story of Jesus According to Mark, Pt 11,  “A Lesson in Miracles”
Mark 4:35-41

SIS – If the Kingdom of God is supernatural, then miracles are possible and every miracle communicates a message about God.

Last week in my message we established that the Kingdom of God—all the activity we are currently a part of and will be throughout all eternity—is supernatural. Therefore, miracles are not only possible, but are to be expected as Yahweh interacts with us in His Kingdom.

Today, from that springboard of the “supernatural nature of God’s Kingdom,” one truth about miracles in the Bible can be established without question:  miracles always have a message.  To put it another way, God does not do miracles simply to show off his power—that is called magic and is condemned outright in the Bible.f

I am going to tackle the Biblical truth of “miracles.” This will be like emptying the Pacific Ocean with a shovel.  I will not be able to prove to you this morning, in any way we normally define “proof,” that God has done miracles in the past and is still doing miracles, today. I may get you to nod your heads in agreement with me theoretically in regard to miracles, but you will probably leave hear with more questions, than answers.

Miracles pose problems for both believers and non-believers, the faithful as well as the skeptic.  One preacher identified four questions that the idea of miracles raise in peoples’ minds:  The first question is historical--did this really happen? The second question is: theological--why did this happen?  Third, miracles raise a personal question--can something like this happen to me? Finally, miracles raise an emotional question--why doesn’t something like this happen to me?
(http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/2006-11-23-Dont-You-Believe-in-Miracles)

Miracles have been debated by scholars and skeptics for as long as there have been “scholars and skeptics.” And, no uniformly agreed upon conclusion has been reached—even among those who consider themselves Bible believing Christians.

Paul, however, clearly states that without the supernatural basis of the Kingdom of God, Christianity is a joke, a failure, a system of thought that should be rejected. Paul says this based upon the most significant miracle in the Bible, the resurrection. Here’s what Paul says about the resurrection specifically and the miraculous in general (1Corinthians 15:13-14

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty.

So, I will not be solving the problems of miracles in this sermon.  I am going to begin with a conclusion:  Christianity without miracles would be nothing more than a religion of ethical suggestions.

Without miracles, there is no incarnation.  There is no sinless Savior and no resurrection.  Paul said that without the resurrection,

^{ICor 15  17} And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless;

Therefore, I will begin with the premise that miracles are not only possible, but absolutely necessary to the gospel story.

One more foundational bit of information before we jump into the “why” of miracles. What exactly do I mean by “miracle.” One of the best definitions is given by one of the most significant atheists of the 20^th century, Anthony Flew. Before he died, he became a “theist” writing a book titled, “There Is a God.” Flew gives this definition of a miracle:

“A miracle is something which never would have happened had nature, as it were, been left to its own devices.” I would say, “Miracles are what happens when the Supernatural interrupts the natural for His own purposes.”

Today, I want to examine the “why” of miracles.  God does not do miracles simply to “show off” His power.  Miracles have a message.  Miracles move forward the plan and purposes of God.

Now, this is not the first miracle we encounter in the Book of Mark, but it is the first miracle in which the “crowd” is not around.  This is just an incident involving the disciples.  I think it was a serious, “training session” in “miracle-working.” Three truths become abundantly clear to me when we discuss this message of the calming of the storm:

1.  Miracles always move the plan of God forward 2.  Miracles always magnify the Person and Work of Jesus  3.  Miracles meet human needs.

Let’s read about a great miracle, together:

MARK 4:35-41

A technical point would be in order here.  Miracles are a specific aspect of God’s Providence.  God’s Providence refers to “God’s ongoing participation in and care for His creatures and creation.”  Miracles are one aspect of God’s providence.  Miracles happen when God “interjects Himself supernaturally into the affairs of men by interrupting “natural” processes and laws.  He does not “suspend” natural law, but he specifically and locally “supersedes” it.

ILLUS:  Floating Ax Head (2Kngs 6).  If you recall the story of Elisha, a group of “prophets in training” under Elisha’s leadership set out to build a new learning center.  In the course of the project, a borrowed axhead fell into the water.  The item was borrowed and expensive so this was no small matter. In the course of the search for the axhead, Elisha made the iron axhead float to the surface of the water so it could be retrieved.  It was a “miracle.”  God did not suspend the law of gravity but he superceded it in the “3 cubic feet of water at that place and time.”  Somewhere, an apple was still falling to the ground and little Jewish boys were tripping and falling down.

Miracles do not contradict anything we know about God and His universe.  In fact, miracles are quite logical given the God of they Universe has revealed Himself as an “active participant in the affairs of His creation.” So, while miracles are not common in God’s universe, they are consistent with God’s providence.

Now, here’s why it is important to understand that miracles are connected with God’s Providence.  When we know that God is good and through His providence His ultimate plan will be worked out perfectly, then we can “have confidence in the ultimate outcomes of the events of life” (Erickson). 

Therefore, whether we receive a specific answer to a specific prayer or not, we can be confident that God is working “all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”

Whether the miracle is immediate, delayed, or ultimately delivered in eternity, God’s perfect will and providence is always at work.

In the life of a believer we can be confident that pain always has a purpose and a miracle always has a message.

Now, let’s examine what the “message of miracles” really is.

1.  M’s always MOVE forward the plan and purpose of God (35)

 

⁵ On  that day, when evening had come, He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side _⌊of the sea” 

If a miracle is a true miracle of God, it will always be related to God’s redemptive plan for mankind—it will always be related to the “message of the gospel.”

Many people mysteriously get well from diseases or mysteriously escape serious injury in some devastating accident, or mysteriously receive some kind of “answer” to a prayer.  That does not mean that there has been a “miracle” from God.

Christians must be careful not to “overuse” the term, miracle.  Many times during my high school career I passed a test that I really was not prepared for.  More than once when the tests were passed back after grading I said to myself, “It’s a miracle.”  Well, it might have been a coincidence.  It might have been my good fortune to have caught the teacher on a night he or she was feeling particularly generous, or it might have been a combination of one or more things—but it was not a miracle in the Biblical sense.  Not once do I remember in those situations giving glory to God and improving my attendance record in church.

Here’s something many churches and most Christians in those churches completely miss in regard to life:  God is moving in a purposeful direction toward a predetermined end.  Nothing happens in God’s universe that does not in some way or another “fit into His plan.”  God is moving.  God is going somewhere.  History is linear, not circular as many teach. 

Job said (42:2), I  know that You can do anything and no plan of Yours can be thwarted.

 

Paul echoed Job’s trust in God’s plan (Rom. 8:28), We know that all things work together  for the good  of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 

I’ve often told you about my experience in visiting Niagra Falls.  As fascinating as the falls were—and they were fascinating to be sure—I was almost as fascinated, maybe more so, with the American River that creates the Falls.

At one point as we were heading to the town of Niagra, I looked out the driver’s side window.  I was nearly level with the American Channel of the Niagra River.  The speed limit was only 55 mph if I recall, and it seems to me that the American Channel of the Niagra was almost keeping up.  In fact, the American Channel of Niagra clocks speeds from 25 mph increasing to as much as 68 mph at the Falls. 

Here’s my point:  all that water is “going somewhere.” It has a destination, and nothing is going to stop it.  In fact, several signs upstream from the Falls state:  “Point of No Return.”  If you get in the Channel at this point, you will be going over the Falls.

God’s plan and purpose for humanity I like that and one way God assures His plan and purpose will be fulfilled is by “intervening in life at strategic moments.”  We call these interventions, “miracles.”  Miracles are one tool God uses to make sure His purpose is fulfilled.

Now, let’s read our text again in verse 35:

 

³⁵ On  that day, when evening had come, He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side _⌊of the sea_⌋.”

There’s a gospel song based upon this idea that says,

He didn't bring us this far to leave us
He didn't teach us to swim to let us drown
He didn't build His home in us to move away
He didn't lift us up to let us down

Many people put their confidence in life in God’s miracle working power.  That is a mistake and can lead to great discouragement and disillusionment.  Our trust is never in a miracle, it’s always in a God who loves us and has a plan for our lives—a good plan—that will absolutely be fulfilled.  Paul reminds us (Phil 1:6):

⁶ I am sure of this, that He who started a good work  in you  will carry it on to completion  until the day of Christ Jesus.

 

2.  Second, Miracles always have a message and that message is always, to MAGNIFIY the Person and Work of the Lord (41)

⁴¹ And they were terrified  and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey  Him!” 

Miracles get people talking about Jesus!

If you are looking for miracles, you will miss Jesus, but if you are looking for Jesus, you get heaven.

Mat 12:39:  “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah 

There’s a very good reason why miracles always point to Jesus.  The great evangelical preacher, Chuck Swindoll, sums it up:

If our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our greatest need was forgiveness,
So God sent us a Savior.

Our greatest need is Jesus.  That’s why sometimes people who are sick are not healed this side of heaven, and some are.  It all depends “on what will bring the most glory to God, and therefore, the greatest blessing to man.” 

The “main message” of a miracle is to MAGNIFY the Person and Work of Jesus Christ.

Notice something very interesting in this story.  At one point the only thing the disciples could think of was the physical need they had.  A few moments later, all they could talk about was Jesus.  What made the difference?  A miracle.

Miracles always MAGNIFY the Person and Work of Jesus Christ and get people talking about “Who HE is.”

3.  Third, understanding that miracles always have a message
     we see that Miracles MEET human needs (37-40)

Every miracle is a reminder that God loves us and will care for us. That’s the key point arising from the doctrine of Providence.

³⁷ A fierce windstorm  arose, and the waves  were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸ But He was in the stern, sleeping  on the cushion. So they woke Him up  and said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?”

³⁹ He got up, rebuked  the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence!  Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

(1)  God uses miracles to meet our physical needs (“swamped”)

The physical needs of the disciples on this day were great: v37:

A fierce windstorm  arose, and the waves  were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.

……………………….

verse 38, we’re going to die?” 

Nothing drives people to pray like a great physical challenge. Sometimes, the prayer is nothing more than a “cry of desperation,” but “even a bad prayer can lead to a good outcome if you send it in the right direction.”

Notice the language, “fierce windstorm, waves breaking into the boat, until it was swamped.”  This was a definite, physical need.  There is no physical need to great for a miracle-working God to handle.

(2) It meets our emotional needs (do not fear, great calm).

Notice the gentle, calm, reassuring words of the master:  “Do not fear.”  Then the Word says, “there was a great calm.”

All struggles in life that need a miraculous touch from God are not “physical.” The trials and tribulations of life can extract a great emotional toll from our lives as well. We often face such raging storms in life that we are exhausted emotionally.  We need miraculous touch of God that gives us the “peace that passes all understanding.”  There is no emotional need too great that a miracle working God cannot handle it.

(3) The miracles of God meet our spiritual needs (“faith”).

Notice v. 40 again: “Do you still have no faith?” 

The greatest needs in our life are not physical, as great as those needs might be and they might be really great.  The greatest needs in our lives are not emotional, and some emotional needs are truly great.  No, the greatest needs in our lives are “spiritual”—we need faith!

Failing to realize that faith is our greatest need has caused many people to be disappointed in prayer, when God does not answer in the way, or in the time, that we expect.  This happens more often than not, because God doesn’t do miracles to show off.  God does miracles because they have a message.  That message is far more important than any physical or emotional need we might have. 

4.  M’s Are Always a Surprise (v41)

(NIV84) 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Why were these disciples so “terrified” at seeing such a miracle? Because, it was a “holy surprise.” It is what Rudolph Otto would refer to as a “mysterium tremendum”­­—something so “out of this world, or supernatural” that it was “shocking.”

If miracles were common, they would not have been so “surprised, amazed, pleasantly terrified,” or however you want to describe it.

If miracles were “common,” well, they wouldn’t be miracles would they. You’ve probably heard someone describe the birth of a baby as a “miracle.” But babies are born all the time. Or you might have someone talk about the “miracle” of a beautiful sunset. We have one of those almost every day it seems. When God’s Hand reaches directly into our world it is a unique event every time—thus a “holy surprise.” We can never—should never—get used to the miracles Yahweh performs for us.

It's interesting to note the different aspects of “fear” displayed in this discussion of the miraculous calming of the sea. Just a moment ago we see Jesus gently rebuking the disciples for “fear” (verse 40), and here in this verse 41, “fear” leads to a positive picture of Jesus Christ as God Almighty. In this one story we see both the “negative” and “positive” aspects of fear.

In v40 the word used is δειλός deilos (day loss). It is always negative in the New Testament. It means “cowardice or timidity.” It is the word used in 2Timothy 1:7: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” In v41 the Holy Spirit switches to the word, φοβέω phobeō (foe beh oh). This is almost always used in a positive sense referring to reverence, respect, or even surprise (awe). In the Greek translation of the Old Testament (LXX, Septuagint) phobos is used to translate the Hebrew word for fear in Proverbs 1:7 and other places. Proverbs 1:7 tells us, “The fear [phobos] of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This is a healthy fear we all should have.

No, when a miracle happens—it is a great surprise—it is a jarring, soul-stirring, foundation-shaking experience that causes a sense of deep reverence and respect for Who Jesus is.  It is described as something “fearful.”

Miracles always have a message, or they are simply not miracles from God.

Miracles always move the plan and purpose of God forward.  Miracles always magnify the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, Miracles always meet human needs—most importantly the need for faith.

Today, I want to make something as clear as I can possibly make it.  God is a “miracle-working God,” but He doesn’t do miracles just to show off His power or just to make our lives easier.

The miracles of God have a message.  And, the main point of that message is “Jesus.” I do not know what you might be facing today.  You might be facing some disease that has the potential to take your life.  You might be facing financial pressures so great it feels like it is going to squeeze you to death.  You might have a heart-break over a loved one so intense that you feel your heart is about to explode.

I do not know what great need you may be facing today, but I do know this:  your greatest need is NOT a miracle—your greatest need is Jesus!  When a person has a vibrant, deep, growing relationship with God through Jesus Christ, miracles will happen exactly how and exactly when God determines they help move forward His plan, magnify His Son, and meet the needs of those whom He loves.

As a great pastor, Adrian Rogers reminded his church years ago, “Believe in miracles, but trust in Jesus.”