We Don't Need Miracles.
We Don’t Need Miracles
-By: Dr. Danny Purvis
Anyone who has been attending Harmony Community Church for any amount of time knows that one of my favorite events in the life of Jesus takes place at the end of Luke’s Gospel. Though Mark’s Gospel alludes to this event, Luke is the only one to give us a detailed treatment of this amazing encounter. This event can be found in Luke 24:13-32. It takes place following Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection and it focuses on two people. One named (Cleopas) and one unnamed. The story goes like this.
Cleopas and his friend are headed back to their (presumed) home of Emmaus. To say that they are disillusioned would be to engage in extreme understatement. In fact, Jesus asked them why they are so sad (Luke 24:17). But let’s not get ahead of the story. These two men are walking home and discussing the events that took place in Jerusalem over the Passover weekend. The events, of course, are centered around the crucifixion of Jesus. After Jesus asked them why they were so sad, they told Him it had to do with Jesus’ death. Interestingly enough, they had no idea they were actually talking to Jesus (Luke 24:15). In other words, He used His supernatural power to hide His identity from them. We will see why in a few minutes.
Their response to His question related to their sadness told Him that they had hoped that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. However, because He had been betrayed and murdered by not only the Romans, but by the Jewish “chief priests and rulers” (Luke 24:20). It is clear from their response that Jesus’ death must have meant the He was actually NOT the Messiah after all. Because clearly Israel’s Messiah would not be murdered by His own people. And even though they had heard rumors that Jesus had risen from the dead, it was clear they did not believe it (Luke 24:22-24). Here’s the extremely interesting point. This was tailor-made for a miracle moment where Jesus could have revealed Himself to them and show them that He had, in fact, risen from the dead and was, in fact, the Messiah. But He did not do that. What did He do?
According to Luke’s Gospel, after hearing their doubt about Jesus being the Messiah, He did not miraculously reveal Himself to them but instead…He taught them the Scriptures (Luke 24:25-27). Specifically, he taught them the Scriptures (which they had always had access to) that had to do specifically with Him (Luke 24:27). Why would He do that instead of merely performing a dramatic miracle? That’s a Hollywood ending…right? Can’t get more dramatic than that. He chose the Scriptures to reveal Himself to them because the simple fact of the matter is that not everyone who is a Believer will experience a miraculous intervention by God. In fact, from Old Testament times up until today the percentage of people who have actually seen a bona fide, physical miracle is astronomically small.
Even in Jesus’ day…the number of people who actively experienced a legitimate miracle were waaaay outweighed by the number of people who did not. What God is trying to tell us is…you don’t need miracles…you need My Word. Jesus even said once that an “evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign” (Matthew 16:4). He wanted us to rely on His Word…easily accessible and trustworthy…than to look for miracles. For Jesus, miracles were an ends to a mean…not an end of itself. Here Jesus is putting the preeminence of His Word above any miracle that could be [performed on our behalf. He wanted Cleopas and his friend to come to the conclusion that Jesus was the Messiah because that is what His Word said. Why?
Because those 66 books are the only way we can know Who He is. Miracles can be forgotten, explained away, or chalked up to coincidence. I mean, for crying out loud, a group of people who had just witnessed Jesus feed five thousand people with a few fish and pieces of bread deserted Him after He presented a teaching they did not understand (John 6:1-70). How much good did that miracle do for their belief? Here Jesus is saying to these two men…and us…all that you need, you have. And it is His Word. Does God do miracles? Yes. But He does not do them for everyone (John 5:1-9). But God’s Word? That has all we need to know Who He truly is. And only after He taught Cleopas and his friend the Scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Messiah did He reveal His true visage to them (Luke 24:31). Jesus followed the same strategy in Luke 4 when he announced in the synagogue in Nazareth that He was the Messiah. He quoted Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah and then said: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). He didn’t then perform a miracle to prove His point. Why? He had the Word. His Word. And that’s all that matters.
Miracles are cool…there is no doubt. But I do not need any physical miracle to know that Jesus is Lord. Why? I have His Word. And that is all I will ever need.
-Dr . Danny Purvis
-By: Dr. Danny Purvis
Anyone who has been attending Harmony Community Church for any amount of time knows that one of my favorite events in the life of Jesus takes place at the end of Luke’s Gospel. Though Mark’s Gospel alludes to this event, Luke is the only one to give us a detailed treatment of this amazing encounter. This event can be found in Luke 24:13-32. It takes place following Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection and it focuses on two people. One named (Cleopas) and one unnamed. The story goes like this.
Cleopas and his friend are headed back to their (presumed) home of Emmaus. To say that they are disillusioned would be to engage in extreme understatement. In fact, Jesus asked them why they are so sad (Luke 24:17). But let’s not get ahead of the story. These two men are walking home and discussing the events that took place in Jerusalem over the Passover weekend. The events, of course, are centered around the crucifixion of Jesus. After Jesus asked them why they were so sad, they told Him it had to do with Jesus’ death. Interestingly enough, they had no idea they were actually talking to Jesus (Luke 24:15). In other words, He used His supernatural power to hide His identity from them. We will see why in a few minutes.
Their response to His question related to their sadness told Him that they had hoped that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. However, because He had been betrayed and murdered by not only the Romans, but by the Jewish “chief priests and rulers” (Luke 24:20). It is clear from their response that Jesus’ death must have meant the He was actually NOT the Messiah after all. Because clearly Israel’s Messiah would not be murdered by His own people. And even though they had heard rumors that Jesus had risen from the dead, it was clear they did not believe it (Luke 24:22-24). Here’s the extremely interesting point. This was tailor-made for a miracle moment where Jesus could have revealed Himself to them and show them that He had, in fact, risen from the dead and was, in fact, the Messiah. But He did not do that. What did He do?
According to Luke’s Gospel, after hearing their doubt about Jesus being the Messiah, He did not miraculously reveal Himself to them but instead…He taught them the Scriptures (Luke 24:25-27). Specifically, he taught them the Scriptures (which they had always had access to) that had to do specifically with Him (Luke 24:27). Why would He do that instead of merely performing a dramatic miracle? That’s a Hollywood ending…right? Can’t get more dramatic than that. He chose the Scriptures to reveal Himself to them because the simple fact of the matter is that not everyone who is a Believer will experience a miraculous intervention by God. In fact, from Old Testament times up until today the percentage of people who have actually seen a bona fide, physical miracle is astronomically small.
Even in Jesus’ day…the number of people who actively experienced a legitimate miracle were waaaay outweighed by the number of people who did not. What God is trying to tell us is…you don’t need miracles…you need My Word. Jesus even said once that an “evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign” (Matthew 16:4). He wanted us to rely on His Word…easily accessible and trustworthy…than to look for miracles. For Jesus, miracles were an ends to a mean…not an end of itself. Here Jesus is putting the preeminence of His Word above any miracle that could be [performed on our behalf. He wanted Cleopas and his friend to come to the conclusion that Jesus was the Messiah because that is what His Word said. Why?
Because those 66 books are the only way we can know Who He is. Miracles can be forgotten, explained away, or chalked up to coincidence. I mean, for crying out loud, a group of people who had just witnessed Jesus feed five thousand people with a few fish and pieces of bread deserted Him after He presented a teaching they did not understand (John 6:1-70). How much good did that miracle do for their belief? Here Jesus is saying to these two men…and us…all that you need, you have. And it is His Word. Does God do miracles? Yes. But He does not do them for everyone (John 5:1-9). But God’s Word? That has all we need to know Who He truly is. And only after He taught Cleopas and his friend the Scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Messiah did He reveal His true visage to them (Luke 24:31). Jesus followed the same strategy in Luke 4 when he announced in the synagogue in Nazareth that He was the Messiah. He quoted Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah and then said: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). He didn’t then perform a miracle to prove His point. Why? He had the Word. His Word. And that’s all that matters.
Miracles are cool…there is no doubt. But I do not need any physical miracle to know that Jesus is Lord. Why? I have His Word. And that is all I will ever need.
-Dr . Danny Purvis
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1 Comment
It's important that we read the Bible and know God's word. 🙏 That in itself us a miracle and blessing. Right at our fingertips.
Thank you