Miracles Why are we surprised?
What is it about the miracles that throws us off balance? When God does one of His mighty acts, we call it a miracle. God seems to act like it was not a problem for Him, and why should we be so surprised?
We are looking for something different
Jesus rose from the dead three days after He died. It caught everyone off guard. He deliberately explained to His disciples ahead of time that He would suffer, die and rise from the dead three days later. His disciples could not absorb it. Their expectations and longings were for an earthly king to deliver them from oppression. They wanted a national hero (Matthew 17:22-23, Mark 9:31, Luke 9:22).
It seems impossible
Luke recorded something that happened three days after Jesus died. Two followers of Jesus were going back home to Emmaus. They may have been in Jerusalem for the Passover. Jesus joined them on their three mile walk. They didn’t know who He was. The two followers sought to bring Him up to date on the latest developments. They told Him Jesus “was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people” (Luke 24:19).
Our finite minds can understand it
They couldn’t understand why “the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and have crucified Him” (Luke 24:20).
Puzzling to them beyond measure was a report that very day. “Certain women also of our company make us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when they found not His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that He was alive” (Luke 24:23).
Miracles: We have not interpreted scriptures accurately
To which Jesus replied, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:25-26). Then Jesus “expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27).
Why did Jesus call these people fools? They apparently were believing what the religious leaders taught about Christ. They overlooked the suffering servant passages in the prophets in favor of the triumphant, conquering king picture. Suffering is never popular.
Jesus seemed to be calling on these individuals to discern the scriptures for themselves.
MIracles! Ask Seek and Knock with expectancy
We too can seek God as we read scripture. When we read God’s Word, may we expect Him to speak into our concerns His resources appropriate for our needs. As we grow, we should gain understanding into the ways of God. Then we can register delight when He responds to our cry for help with one of His mighty acts, big or small.
Jesus promised a reward for those who ask, seek and knock (Matthew 7:7-8). Paul expanded on this, explaining how we can know God’s will for our life. The formula is to present our bodies to God for His use; refuse to be conformed to this world; and renew our minds. If we do this daily, we can keep up with God’s action plan for each day (Romans 12:1-2).
Miracles happen everyday when you walk with God
May we resolve to get as much of God as we can today so we can get as much out of life as God intended. May God pour out on you His blessing as you seek Him.
Shirley Logsdon
Another blog about miracles
Thanksgiving Precedes the Miracle
