Skip to main content

Miracles - Teaching Outline by Dr. Matthew Thomas

Mark 5:24-34
The Miracles of Jesus Christ
1. Clarification
2. Calling
3. Counting
4. Categories
5. Critics
6. Cause or Purpose

1. Clarification:
Miracles of Christ are supernatural acts caused by the will of Jesus Christ which contrast to and interrupt the way in which life ordinarily functions

2. Calling
What are miracles called in scripture?
Dunamis - Power: mighty works, virtue, power, miracle
Semeion - Sign or indication, miracle
Ergon - Acts, deeds, work
Teras - Extraordinary, wonders

Dunamis emphasizes the Power behind the miracle
Semeion emphasizes the Purpose behind the miracle.
Ergon emphasizes the Performing of the miracle
Teras emphasizes the Praise from the miracle

3. Counting
Some think Jesus performed only 37 miracles, but the Bible says that they were innumerable (Jn.21:25)
a. Many miracles were summarized (Matt 8:16).
    12  summary statements in Matthew
    10 in Mark
    5 in Luke
    6 in John
b. Some miracles are similar; they could be the same or different (Matt 9:32,33; 12:22; Lk.11:14)

4. Categories
There are 33 prominent miracles that can be divided into 4 classes
a. Ruling Over Nature
b. Restoring of Health
c. Removing Demons
d. Raising the Dead

Dangers - 9 Miracles
Diseses - 17 Miracles
Demons - 4 Miracles
Death - 3 Miracles
I believe in miracles but I trust in Jesus

5. Critics
3 Major Attacks
a. Day. Sabbath Day. 7 out of 33 miracles on Sabbath Day (Lk.13:15)
b. Devil (Matt.9:34; 12:24)
c. Denial

People criticize miracles because they do not want to accept the authority and message of Jesus Christ

The Message of Christ and the Miracles of Christ are connected

6. Cause and Purposes
a. For the Glorification of God
b. The Confirmation of Christ's Claims as Son of God, Messiah, and Savior of men.
c. The Demonstration of Divine Power
Miracles are happening not because of you but because of the power of God
d. The Alleviation of the Needs of Humanity
e. The Subjugation of Satan's Power and Evil
f. The Education about Matters of Faith
Your life should not be based on miracles but on the Miracle worker Jesus Christ
g. The Fulfillment of OT Prophecies (Isa 29:18-19; 35:4-6; Mat.8:17; 11:1-5)
Jesus is the Master of every situation
Matt 4:23

One section that has all categories of miracle (Mark 4:35-5:43)
1. Victory Over Danger (Mk.4:35-41)
2. Victory Over Demons (Mk.5:1-20)
3. Victory Over Disease (Mk.5:21-34)
4. Victory Over Death (Mk.5:35-43)

Miracle by themselves are not proof that a man is sent by God (2Thess.2:9).
Jesus did not perform miracles to get crowd. He usually avoided the crowd

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Poll Results: Are all Mission Fields Harvest Fields?

On Monday, April 30, I started a poll on the following question: Jesus said: "The fields are ripe for harvest... I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." (Jn 4:35,38) DOES IT APPLY 2 NON-JUDEO LANDS AS WELL? They don't need preparation and sowing? Rather, they are as equally ripe for harvest as Judea-Samaria was because of previous labor by somebody (local indigenous religions and prophets!)? A total of 18 votes were cast with the following main results: YES = 9 I believe it wherever the gospel is preached and people respond. = 5 NO = 1 I'M NOT SURE = 0 One Scholar responded saying: "I think God's Spirit is at work with all people all the time through various way, and sundry ways as Hebrews says. hence they are ready for harvest... but the church is too slow to go." A Pastor responded saying: "I do believe that even in the remotest areas, the fields are alread...

Rocketing Prices Make Vegetables and Fruits a Luxury in India

Prices of agro-products soar higher in India, making fruits and vegetables almost a luxury. The Times of India reports: "The price of almost every vegetables except onion and potato has gone up to 25 to 30 per cent in the wholesale market and retail price staggering up to 45 to 50 per cent. A random market survey revealed an increase in the price of spinach to Rs 40-45 from Rs 10-15 kg a few days back. "The price of tomato has gone up to Rs 55-60 from Rs 40 a kg and capsicum to Rs 60-80 from Rs 40 per kg at the start of this month. The price of onion has gone up to Rs 20 from Rs 15-18 per kg but still remained steady in the market. "Variation between the wholesale prices and retail prices is staggering between 25%-30%." (Lucknow: July 17, 2009). Lauki (bottle gourd) went from being Rs. 7-10 per kg to Rs. 40 per kg. The price of lentils has shot up to Rs. 85 per kg from Rs. 40-45 per kg. The saying "dal bhat ab ameeron ka khana hei" (lentils and rice are n...

Three Divisions of Philosophical Theology

Also discussed as "God of the Rationalist or God of the Empiricists " at Philpapers.org Philosophical theology can be basically divided into three classes: Rationalist theology, Empirical theology, and Intermediate Theology. Rationalist Theology  includes isms such as monism (e.g. Parmenides and Zeno) and non-dualism (Advaitins of India) whose assertions are usually supported by arguments that rationally dismiss experience as false and irrational. This they do with reference to ultimate concepts such as unity, necessity, infinity, immutability, and transcendence (none of which can be predicated of the things of experience). Thus, God becomes the "wholly other" transcendent reality that can only be talked about  via negativa. Empirical Theology,  on the other hand, is quite the opposite of the previous. It actually brings religion down to the earth. The gods and goddesses are more human like, and earthly; and, of course, positively understandable in empirical categor...