Unit 14: Jesus Builds the Kingdom of God through Deeds

Section 2: The Miracles of Jesus The Gospel According to Mark The Gospel According to Luke The Gospel According to Matthew The Gospel According to John

The Miracles of Jesus What is a miracle for the Jewish people of Jesus’ day? –Miracle of Miracles from Fiddler on the Roof

The Miracles of Jesus What is a miracle for the Jewish people of Jesus’ day? –Any event or experience that reveals God’s action in the world or desire to have a personal relationship with and participate in the life of his people –Any event or experience that reveals God’s love for the world and its people –A work or deed of God –A blessing, gift, or grace of God

The Miracles of Jesus What is a miracle for the Jewish people of Jesus’ day? –Both a historical and a present-day reality –More inclusive than the modern day understanding Big, extraordinary, tremendous, world-altering events or experiences Small, ordinary, common, everyday events or experiences –The seemingly unexpected or impossible that occurs in the world –Looked to God as explanation for supernatural phenomenon, rather than science, reason, or logic

The Miracles of Jesus The Types of Miracles –Healing Miracles Sickness and disease –The lepers, blind, deaf, and crippled Restorations of Life Exorcisms –Nature Miracles

The Miracles of Jesus Through the Miracles, Jesus teaches us about –God Relationship with God –The Kingdom of God –Discipleship Appropriate response to God’s offer of the Kingdom Relationship with other people

The Miracles of Jesus Jesus teaches us about the Kingdom of God –Promise of Unconditional Love –Commitment to Poor and Outcasts The unclean, indigent poor, women, and children –Power over Sin and Evil –Offering of Healing and Reconciliation Physical, emotional, and spiritual With other people and with God –Divine Presence Incarnated in Jesus

The Miracles of Jesus The Synoptic Gospels –The Healing of a Centurion’s Slave (Luke 7: 1- 10) –The Raising of the Widow’s Son (Luke 7: 11-17) –The Calming of a Storm (Luke 8: 22-25) –The Healing of the Gerasene Demoniac (Luke 8: 26-39)

The Miracles of Jesus Name of Miracle (Citation) The Type of Miracle and Basic Summary of the Plot of the Story Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about the Kingdom of God Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about God Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about Discipleship The Healing of a Centurion’s Slave (Luke 7: 1- 10) Healing Miracle: Sickness and Disease The Raising of the Widow’s Son (Luke 7: 11-17) Healing Miracle: Restoration of Life

The Miracles of Jesus Name of Miracle (Citation) The Type of Miracle and Basic Summary of the Plot of the Story Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about the Kingdom of God Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about God Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about Discipleship The Calming of a Storm (Luke 8: 22-25) Nature Miracle The Healing of the Gerasene Demoniac (Luke 8: 26-39) Healing Miracle: Exorcism

The Miracles of Jesus The Synoptic Gospels –The Calming of a Storm (Luke 8: 22-25) When have you faced a tough and turbulent time in your life, similar to when the disciples of Jesus experienced the storm at sea in the Gospel According to Luke 8: 22-25? How did you respond to this situation? Were you willing to have faith in Jesus and trust that God would provide you with comfort, safety, and protection during this rough time?

The Miracles of Jesus The Synoptic Gospels –The Healing of the Paralytic (Matthew 9: 1-8) –The Healing of Two Blind Men (Matthew 9: ) –The Healing of a Mute Person (Matthew 9: )

The Miracles of Jesus Name of Miracle (Citation) The Type of Miracle and Basic Summary of the Plot of the Story Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about the Kingdom of God Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about God Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about Discipleship The Healing of the Paralytic (Matthew 9: 1-8) Healing Miracle: Sickness and Disease The Healing of Two Blind Men (Matthew 9: ) Healing Miracle: Sickness and Disease

The Miracles of Jesus Name of Miracle (Citation) The Type of Miracle and Basic Summary of the Plot of the Story Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about the Kingdom of God Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about God Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about Discipleship The Healing of a Mute Person (Matthew 9: ) Healing Miracle: Exorcism

The Miracles of Jesus The Synoptic Gospels –The Healing of the Paralytic (Matthew 9: 1-8) How are you like the paralytic from the Gospel According to Matthew 9: 1-8? Provide one example of a “paralysis” that prevents you from lovingly reaching out to others in order to build the Kingdom of God. Are you willing to bring this “paralysis” to Jesus and allow him to perform a miracle and heal you of this problem?

The Miracles of Jesus The Synoptic Gospels –The Healing of Two Blind Men (Matthew 9: ) How are you like the two blind men from the Gospel According to Matthew 9: 27-31? Provide one example of how you are “blind” or “deaf” to the needs of other people in the world. What prevents you from “seeing” or “hearing” other people who are suffering in the world? Are you willing to bring this deficiency to Jesus and allow him to perform a miracle and heal you of this problem?

The Miracles of Jesus The Synoptic Gospels –The Healing of a Mute Person (Matthew 9: ) How are you like the mute person from the Gospel According to Matthew 9: 32-34? Provide one example of when you failed to speak out against inequality and injustice in the world. What prevented you from speaking up to build the Kingdom of God? Are you willing to bring this weakness to Jesus and allow him to perform a miracle and heal you of this problem?

The Miracles of Jesus The Gospel According to John –The Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2: 1-12) –The Son of a Royal Official (John 4: 46-54) –The Curing on the Sabbath (John 5: 1-18) –The Multiplication of the Loaves to Feed the 5000 (John 6: 1-15) –The Walking on Water (6: 16-21) –The Man Born Blind (John 9: 1-41) –The Raising of Lazarus from the Dead (John 11: 1-44)

The Miracles of Jesus Name of Miracle (Citation) The Type of Miracle and Basic Summary of the Plot of the Story Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about the Kingdom of God Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about God Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about Discipleship The Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2: 1-12) Nature Miracle The Curing on the Sabbath (John 5: 1-18) Healing Miracle: Sickness and Disease

The Miracles of Jesus Name of Miracle (Citation) The Type of Miracle and Basic Summary of the Plot of the Story Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about the Kingdom of God Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about God Religious Truth (Deeper Meaning) about Discipleship The Man Born Blind (John 9: 1- 41) Healing Miracle: Sickness and Disease The Raising of Lazarus from the Dead (John 11: 1-44) Healing Miracle: Restoration of Life

The Miracles of Jesus

Section 3: Jesus: A Historical Portrait, Chap. Five: Jesus the Miracle Worker

Jesus the Miracle Worker According to the events contained in the Bible, what is a miracle? –“Signs and wonders” –Acts of power that are attributed to God What are the three basic components of a miracle? –An unusual event that can be perceived by others –No natural explanation –Appears to be the result of an act of God

Jesus the Miracle Worker How is Jesus unlike the other miracle workers (Moses, Joshua, Elijah, and Elisha) in the Bible? –Jesus acts on his own authority and power, not merely as a mediator between God and other persons What are the miracles of Jesus signs of? –The presence of God’s Kingdom in the person of Jesus –God’s victory over Satan –The defeat of the powers of evil

Jesus the Miracle Worker What do the mighty acts of Jesus demand from his followers? –The response of discipleship Why did the early followers of Jesus decide to pass down the miracle stories? –They were interested in exploring the significance of the miracle stories for the lives of the members of the early Church

Jesus the Miracle Worker What was the basic plot structure of a healing miracle? –The sick person (or a friend) approaches Jesus in a spirit of faith and asks for healing –Jesus responds with words (or sometimes with a touch) and the healing is immediate and complete –The narratives often end with expressions of awe on the part of the audience or with some other “proof” that a miraculous healing has taken place

Jesus the Miracle Worker What mystery of the faith is foreshadowed by the restoration of life miracles? –The Resurrection of Jesus What is a nature miracle? –Events in Jesus’ ministry that are dramatic exceptions to the laws of nature Sometimes meet the real, physical human needs of the people What do the nature miracles reveal about Jesus? –Mark Jesus as unique among humans and, indeed, as divine Jesus acts similarly to how God acts in the Old Testament

Jesus the Miracle Worker What experience of the miraculous power of God have you had in your own life or witnessed in the lives of others? What difference do the accounts of Jesus as a miracle worker have in your belief in him as the Son of God? Would it be more difficult for you to believe if he had not performed miracles? Why or why not? Matthew suggests that the mighty acts of Jesus demand the response of discipleship. What is your response to Jesus’ actions in your life? Are you being called to do more?

Jesus the Miracle Worker