The Miracles of Jesus #2462

25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee (Mark 1:25–28, NKJV).

Why did Jesus work miracles? The answers are in their motive and effect. The motive of compassion is stated repeatedly for His miracles that removed powerfully removed people’s pain and suffering (Mark 1:41; 5:19; 8:2; Matt. 20:33). (It is noteworthy that His compassion also moved Jesus to teach the word of God, Mark 6:34.) The effect of His miracles was to provide evidence that God sent Him and that His teaching is the word of God (Mark 1:27; John 3:2; 5:36; 20:30-31; Acts 2:22). As in today’s passage, the power of His miracles grabbed people’s attention and supported the authority by which He spoke (Mark 1:21-22, 27-28). God does not work miracles through us today (1 Cor. 13:8-10). Instead, the inspired record of first-century miracles shows Jesus is the Christ, and His gospel is God’s word (John 20:30-31; Acts 14:3). Compassion continues to be His disciples’ motive for helping the weak and teaching the gospel to the lost (Luke 10:33-37; Col. 3:12; 1 Pet. 3:8-9; Matt. 9:35-38; Jude 22-23).

Don’t Be A Fool #2457

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good (Psalm 14:1, NKJV).

April 1 is April Fools’ Day, celebrated with fun, good-hearted practical jokes. But there is nothing funny about Bible fools. “Fool” is used almost five hundred times in English translations of the Bible. Opposite of wise, the fool is associated with senselessness, ignorance, and transgression (Ps. 94:8; 107:17; Prov. 15:14). The ones who deny God comfort themselves in their understanding while refusing to accept the evidence of God’s power and presence (Rom. 1:20, 28). Professing their wisdom and trusting in themselves, they become fools (Rom. 1:21-22). As David’s psalm observes, refusing to believe in God comes from a corrupt mind that leads to sinful conduct. This rebuke is not only reserved for atheists. A similar indictment exists against those who “profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work” (Titus 1:16). It is foolish to say one believes in God while disobeying Him because disobedience denies God. This person is self-deceived and disqualified from fulfilling the good works of God (Eph. 2:10). Fellow Christians, let us not live like unbelievers while condemning those saying, “There is no God” (Rom. 1:28-2:1). To do so makes us as much a fool as them (Eph. 5:17). And that’s no joke.

“I am the Son of God” #2399

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” ’? 35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”” (John 10:34–38, NKJV)

Jesus supported His teaching that He is the Son of God from Psalm 82:6 by making a logical progression from the lesser to the greater. (His reasoning was sound; Scripture’s binding authority “cannot be broken,” John 10:35.) This Scripture described men as “gods” in their capacity as judges (John 10:34). Since men (who worked as judges among the people) were called gods, Jesus (who worked miracles among the people) could be called the Son of God (John 10:36-38). His mighty works were sufficient evidence that He and the Father “are one” (i.e., “the Father is in Me, and I in Him,” John 10:25, 30, 38). Jesus did not commit blasphemy by saying so; He spoke the truth (John 10:36). Those who wanted to stone Jesus for blasphemy were not convinced and unsuccessfully tried to seize Him (John 10:31-33, 39). The miraculous signs of Jesus demonstrate He is the Son of God. The question to ask ourselves is whether we believe this truth or deny the words and works of Jesus like they did (John 10:37-39). What will your answer be?

Listen to Jesus for the Truth #2231

33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. (Luke 4:33–35, NKJV)

Why did Jesus rebuke and silence demons when casting them out? After all, this one and others declared the truth that Jesus is “the Holy One of God,” the Messiah (Lk. 4:34, 41). The answer is one of contrasting the sources of truth and the authority of Christ. As Jesus was teaching in the Galilean synagogues, He showed Himself to be the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy (Lk. 4:16-21, 31-32, 42-44). The Messiah, not demons, would “preach the gospel” and “set at liberty those who are oppressed” by sin (Lk. 4:18, 35, 41). Christ gave miraculous evidence of His authority to save souls from sin’s power when He miraculously freed people from demonic possession, (Lk. 4:32, 35-36). Jesus applied His authority as the source of truth when He silenced demons from declaring Him to be the Christ, the Son of God. Christ, not demons, would proclaim “the acceptable year of the Lord” (Lk. 4:19). Therefore, we must listen to Christ as the final authority for salvation and service to Him (Matt. 28:18-20; Heb. 1:2).

Acting on The Evidence of Truth #2094

1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (John 3:1–2, NKJV)

Yesterday’s Sword Tips (#2093) observed Philip telling Nathanael to “come and see” whether anything good could come from Nazareth (Jno. 1:43-47). The evidence proving Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God is abundant, but we must “come and see” for ourselves. Christians will not force you to believe and follow Jesus. (But note, Jesus said your choice will have eternal results, John 12:48-50.) Nicodemus had seen Jesus work miracles, or he had heard about them from credible witnesses. He drew a necessary conclusion that God had sent Jesus and God was with Jesus from the signs Jesus did. The process of learning and examination is how God presents the truth of the gospel to the world. Competent eyewitnesses of the words and works of Jesus (His apostles) preached the gospel message of salvation in Jesus Christ (Mk. 16:15-20; Acts 1:8; 10:38-43). We preach that same gospel today (2 Tim. 4:2-4). Those who heard the apostolic message had a choice to make: Believe, obey, and be saved, or disbelieve and be lost (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:36-41; 13:44-48). You and I and the whole world have the same decision to make. By the way, Nicodemus was not saved because he believed Jesus came from God. Only when he entered the kingdom of God by the new birth of water and the Spirit would he be saved from his sins (Jno. 3:3-5). So it is for every lost soul today.

Let God’s Word Abide In You #2078

37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. (John 5:37–40, NKJV)

Those who rejected Jesus as the Son of God did not do so for a scarcity of evidence. John had testified of Jesus, but they did not receive his testimony (Jno. 5:31-35; 1:29-34). The miraculous works of Jesus testified the Father had sent Him, but they would not believe (Jno. 5:36). The Father who sent Him testified Jesus is His Son, and still, they refused the truth (Jno. 5:37). The Father had testified of Jesus at His baptism (Jno. 1:33-34; Matt. 3:16-17). The Father also bore this testimony of Jesus in the Old Testament Scriptures (Jno. 5:39; Lk. 24:44-45). Why wouldn’t they believe the evidence? Because God’s word did not abide in them (John 5:38). The Scriptures contain the message of eternal life in the Son of God. Although searched the Scriptures for that life, but were unwilling to come to the very One they spoke of for that life. We must be willing to receive the evidence that Jesus truly is the Christ, the Son of God (Matt. 27:54). Do not close your heart to the word of God. Spend time with the Scriptures with a willing heart to accept the truth they teach. Let God’s word abide in you, and you in it (Jno. 8:31-32).

“What is Truth?” #2068

Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.” (John 18:38, NKJV)

Many people believe truth is relative, not absolute. A recent social cartoon captured the post-truth mindset. It depicts a witness in the courtroom with hand raised being asked, “Do you solemnly swear to speak your truth, your whole truth, and nothing but your truth?” (Fishman, 9/20/2020, King Features Syndicate, Inc.). Post-truth is “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief” (Cambridge Dictionary). Again, “Post-truth is a philosophical and political concept for ‘the disappearance of shared objective standards for truth’ and the ‘circuitous slippage between facts or alt-facts, knowledge, opinion, belief, and truth’” (“Post-truth,” Wikipedia.org). Pilate did not let the objective truth he discovered by investigating evidence (“I find no fault in Him at all”) get in the way of his political agenda. Let us be clear; Truth is absolute. Truth is God’s word (Jno. 17:17). Truth is Jesus Christ (Jno. 1:1-3, 14; 14:6). The Scriptures provide truthful evidence that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God who can save you from your sins (Jno. 20:30-31; Acts 17:2-3). Will you believe and obey the truth? Or will you stand with Pilate? Have I “become your enemy because I tell you the truth” (Gal. 4:16)?

Judge What is Right #1911

56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? 57 Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? (Luke 12:56–57, NKJV)

Jesus scolded the people for being unwilling to judge the time of the Messiah’s presence among them. They read the signs of the sky and the earth and drew correct conclusions about the weather (Lk. 12:54-55). Yet, when they saw the signs that identified Jesus as the Messiah, they resisted and refused to judge what was right (Lk. 11:29-32). Even what is apparent is obscured when hearts are hard against the truth. God has made His power and presence known through His creation, yet many refuse to believe in Him. They do not judge what is right. God has revealed Jesus to be the Son of God by raising Him from the dead. Still, multitudes refuse to believe in Him. They do not judge what is right (Rom. 1:4). The gospel plan of salvation is preached to the whole world, yet few enter the narrow gate and walk the way that leads to life (Mk. 16:15-16; Matt. 7:14). They do not judge what is right. You see, Jesus expects us to make judgments, but they must be righteous (Jno. 7:24). Like judging changes in the weather, we are to assess the evidence given in God’s word and judge what is right and be without offense until the day of Christ (Phil. 1:9-10).

Faith that Saves the Soul #1882

39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 10:39-11:1, NKJV)

Faith that saves the soul does not draw back out of fear or neglect. It endures present trials, and by doing so receives the promised salvation (Heb. 10:36-39). This is the faith introduced in Hebrews 11:1 and described throughout that chapter. Faith is the substance of hope. “Substance” is a “setting under,” hence, faith is set under hope, supporting and stabilizing it. But, what supports and assures faith? We are told faith is the “evidence of things unseen.” Faith is conviction formed by the evidence of things that cannot be seen. For example, the swaying of the trees causes us to confidently believe in the wind, although we have never seen the wind itself. Faith concludes that “God is” (though unseen by human eyes) because this existence and order of the visible world announces His unseen presence, eternal power, and Godhood (Heb. 11:3, 6; Rom. 1:20; Psa. 19:1). Faith that God rewards those who diligently seek Him is shaped by the word of God (Heb. 11:6; Rom. 10:17; Mk. 16:20; 1 Cor. 2:10-13). Without accepting the evidence of unseen tings, there is no faith. And without faith, there is no hope. Thanks be to God who gives us evidence of His presence and the revelation of His will, so we can believe He exists and be blessed by diligently seeking Him (Acts 14:15-17; 17:22-31).

Testimony about Jesus Produces Faith #1816

40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed. 41 Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.” 42 And many believed in Him there. (John 10:40–42, NKJV)

In reaction to His teachings, the enemies of Jesus took up stones to stone Him and tried to seize Him (Jno. 10:31, 39). But, it was not yet time for Jesus to lay down His life, and so He escaped them and went beyond the Jordan where John had taught and baptized (Jno. 10:17-18). Many of the people believed in Jesus because of what John said about Him. John had testified the truth about Jesus (Jno. 5:33). He proclaimed that Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jno. 1:29, 36). In addition to John, the words and miracles of Jesus and the Old Testament Scriptures bear witness that He is the Christ (Jno. 5:34-39). The gospel calls on us to assess the body of evidence left in the pages of inspiration to also believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Jno. 20:30-31). The gospel calls on us to believe in Jesus Christ because of the word of truth that proclaims Him to be the Christ, the Savior of the world (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:18-25).