Can Jesus still perform miracles over nature to provide for us?
https://www.the-sun.com/tech/12799598/bible-disproved-jesus-miracles-explained-science
The study has revealed that 2 separate acts in the Bible involving fish could be the result of a mass fish-killing due to the lack of oxygen in the water at the time. These include his “Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes” and…”Miraculous Catch of Fish”. Both Gospel-based miracles involved the holy figure creating an excessive amount of fish for his disciples when they ran out of food – but the scientists’ findings prove this may not have been the case…The team of experts believe heavy winds heaved lower levels of the water, leading to an oxygen-deprived state that suffocated the fish in the Sea of Galilee…This of course makes them float to the surface dead in the water – and in this state are easy to net…This natural phenomenon…”may explain the appearance of large numbers of easy-to-collect fish close to the shore described in biblical narratives.”… in the tale of “Loaves and Fishes”, researchers believe they’ve been able to gauge a more precise timing for the event due to their knowledge on fish kills. In the miracle, Jesus converted five bread loaves and two fish into enough food for around 5,000 followers. [Rom 1]
Creation knows and obeys the voice of Jesus Christ [lower 1/3]
“God said” 10 times in Genesis 1
Colossians 1:16-17 For by him [Jesus Christ] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
When on earth, Creation recognized the authoritative voice of Jesus Christ
- 9 recorded miracles where Jesus ruled over nature (pg 64 study guide)
- -1x paid taxes -2x big catch fish – 2x Jesus fed large crowd w/little food
= Provision Miracles (God cares about all of you – soul & body)
Jesus Gets a Coin from a Fish [1 slide]
Matthew 17:24–27 – When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”
- Rabbis (religious teachers) were exempt from paying tax.
- Jesus was not an official certified teacher, so He humbly paid the tax.
- God came to earth, & we taxed Him.
- Kings sons in gov’t did not pay taxes. ??? Why should God’s Son pay taxes?
- Unable to pay (Judas stealing)
- This was for Peter to learn
- Faith Test: Creative – $100 bill x2; parked car #3X
| 1.Godly Rich | 2.Godly Poor |
| 3.Ungodly Rich | 4.Ungodly Poor |
Jesus Provides a Large Catch of Fish [1 slide]
Luke 5:11 – On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret [Sea of Galilee], and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s [Peter], he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
- Jesus drew large crowds to hear Him preach Word of God. Crowd good if for Word.
- Voice amplified over water
- Up all night, 0 fish. Hard work pull nets up. Exhausted & done.
- Jesus’ carpenter tells Simon/Peter fisherman how to fish (?ur speciality?)
- Obedience Test: “at your word”
- Humility Test: Peter- humbled, “I am a sinful man”
- Called from fishing to fishing for men = ministry. -Cross. -Tomb. -2 books Bible
- Brought 2 bros James/John
2 hands – 1. unseen/providence time & place 2. Seen/miracle provision
? What are you willing to give up to follow Jesus?
Jesus Feeds the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15) [1 slide]
John 6:1–15 – After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
- Only miracle all 4 gospels (?best known miracle0
- Passover = Jewish holiday pointing to Jesus (Last Supper GOSPEL)
- Faith Test: No food for miles
- Denari – silver coin = 1 days wages
- 5000 men plus women & children took day off work/school (church priority)
- Poor kid – barley bread & small fish like sardines
- Jesus taught us to pray for Daily Bread = pray specifically
- Jesus prayed grace before the meal
- God meets physical and spiritual needs
- God cares about all of you so ask – job, house, car, etc. (specific)
- = 12 baskets (Jesus believes in to go boxes for take home)
- Jesus refused to be a mere earthly King = too early King & Kingdom Coming!
- Solitude = reset
- “SIGN” – Total Provision KINGDOM
Close – Band & Prayer Team/Pastors Up
Kingdom principle of multiplication
- God works through the boy. God could have not used the boy. Means/Ends
- Not how much you give, but heart & who you give it to
?What do you give to Jesus?
- Benefits of prayer – unburden, ministry presence, join faith, love (ask!)
