Our 5 E100 readings this week cover 5 of Jesus’ miracles:
-the feeding of the 5,000
-Jesus and Peter walking on water
-healing blindness
-stilling a storm and driving out demons
-raising Lazarus from the dead.
These are not all of Jesus’ miracles, they are merely a representative sample. During his ministry in Israel, Jesus performed many more miracles that are not recoerded or only referred to in general. For example what led up to the feeding miracle: “He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed it.” Who were they? What were their needs? How many were there? We have no record from which to answer those questions. In the 2,000 years since those days, Jesus has performed countless more miracles. It is likely that we all have a miracle story that we can relate. Or we could if we thought about it. It may be quite dramatic or it may be subtle, perhaps in the timing of things that anyone else would call a coincidence but in which we see the hand of God bringing things together at the right time.
The feeding of the 5,000 teaches us valuable lessons. Just prior to this Jesus had sent the disciples out to heal people and share the Good News (9:6). Then their debrief was interrupted by a large crowd. Soon after, he chose to feed the large crowd. “They all ate and were satisfied…” (9:17). In this, Jesus gave his followers an unforgettable symbol of what he had been teaching them: that God’s Kingdom multiplies as it is given away. This miracle also demonstrated that Jesus really is the Son of God.
The walking on water is about creative solutions to life’s problems. It is also about becoming like our Rabbi (Teacher). Remember that the objective of every Rabbi’s disciples was to become like their Rabbi in every way. Jesus made it clear that even his ragtag bunch of also-rans could become like him – and if they could we can too.
The healing of the blind man is representative of Jesus’ healings of our infirmities, illnesses, diseases and disabilities be they physical, emotional or mental.
The stilling of the storm on the lake is followed by a second stilling of a storm. Jesus’ driving out the mob of demons is representative of his numerous exorcisms. It shows Jesus’ complete power over the dark side – over evil – and his power of spiritual healing. Jesus wants to bring the most radical kind of healing into our lives; he wants to break our co-dependence on sin and free us from the power of evil. Jesus also wants to empower us to share the Good News. Notice that he didn’t spend time teaching the formerly demon-possessed man. All he told him was, “Go… tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (5:19).
The raising of Lazarus from the dead shows Jesus power over death.
Wherever we are, whatever we’re doing, however old we are when death comes, it stops us in our tracks. That’s it, the end, kaput, finished. There is nothing else that we can do, accomplish, achieve in the this life once we’re dead. But in Christ the death of the body is not the end of life, rather it is the entry into the wonderful, glorious, abundant, eternal life that Jesus promised. The life that has already begun but which reaches its fulfilment beyond the grave.
Pour Out is a good title. Jesus poured himself out. Philippians says he emptied himself of all that was Him as God and King and Creator. He made his infinitude finite to become a human. But he kept in tune with God the Father so that Jesus became the conduit through which God poured his life, his power, his love, grace and truth into his created world.
In the feeding miracle, Jesus challenged his disciples to “feed” others by sharing the Good News of his kingdom (9:2) so that it multiplies. He also challenged them to do good works in his name (9:2, 13) and in all this he demonstrated that he is the Son of God.
In like manner, Jesus challenges us to figure out how we share the Good News, and what good works we can do in his name. Ask yourself, “How does your life proclaim Jesus?” and remember that the best way to expand God’s Kingdom is to give it away.
When we think of pouring ourselves out we may wonder what do we have to pour out? Well…God. But God has first to be poured into us – or at least through us. Like the song says, we are to pour out what God pours into us from the Bible. We say the Bible has power to transform us because it is God’s primary means of pouring himself into us so that he pours out of us.
Shawn McDonald, writer of the song, “Pour Out” is a good example of the Bible’s power to transform. Some of his story can be read at this address: http://biblesunday.org.nz/resources/artist-profile. The lyrics of his song are here: http://biblesunday.org.nz/resources/song-lyrics.
The Bible Sunday mantra of, “drink it, think it, live it, give it” means take the Bible in and give it out. (See: http://biblesunday.org.nz/resources/bible-sunday-video-script). Before the feeding Jesus sent his team to give what they’d gained from him to the people they encountered in their travels. Then Jesus added food. He showed that his resources are not finite, that there’s always more to be given. His love is not a finite thing that we can each get a piece of. It increases as it is given away so that we all get all of it. It only decreases if it is witheld.
The lesson of the man relieved of many demons is: “Go and tell people what the Lord has done for you.” Training in eveangelism can be useful but we can all tell what we know.