Indeed, the Bible is full of examples of miracles Jesus performed. Similarly, the scriptures repeatedly tell of the many times that Jesus healed people who were sick. Those with diseases and afflictions from birth. Those people who had almost given up hope of ever being healed or their situation in life changing. But the one message that remains clear is the following promise from our Lord God and Saviour.
"Behold, I will bring it health and healing. I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of [my] peace and truth." (Jeremiah 33:6)
Yes, Jesus never changes. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Amazingly, as we read in the scriptures, the response to the miracles Jesus performed often differed.
In John chapter six, for example, Jesus answered them and said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled." (John 6:26) Earlier in the book of John, the scriptures state that the same came to Jesus by night and said unto Him, "Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." (John 3:2)
Two Biblical examples proving the extent to which Jesus performed miracles during His time on earth and yet both garnered very different responses. In the first scripture, it is easy to reflect on those that seek Jesus -- even today -- not because of the miracles -- but rather because the people ate of the loaves and were filled. These believers in Jesus were receiving the manna from heaven. The bread which the Lord hath given us to eat, according to his or her eating, and the number of persons within the household. At the time, some had gathered much bread with nothing left over. In fact, Exodus chapter sixteen states that they had little or no lack. God had promised that " in the morning ye shall be filled with bread." He also said that ye shall know that I am the Lord your God. (Exodus 16)
In the second example, the people recognized from the miracles that Jesus performed -- as elaborated upon in the scriptures -- that He was no ordinary man. They did not look at the action itself but beyond the healings and miracles and accepted that our Lord God and Saviour was responsible for giving people hope. The fact that Jesus could was because He was God in the flesh. (John 1:1-14) Jesus was the Word. (I John 5:7) "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God." (I John 4:2)
Still, at the end of the day, it is not the response that should be the focal point. The good news is that we can receive the manna too. The bread from heaven in which our Lord God and Saviour -- the same God who created the world in the beginning -- became flesh and died on a cross so that we might have salvation. It is His love that fills us, leaving us with no lack -- wanting nothing.
How can we know the love that Jesus has for us? Because He told us so. For God so loved the world! Yes, Jesus knows each and every one of us by name. Believe in His goodness. His grace. His love. Find peace in His resting place. Then will our light break forth like the morning. So that our healing -- whether physical, spiritual, or social -- can spring forth speedily. As a consequence, righteousness will go before us each day and the glory of the Lord will be our rear guard. (Isaiah 5:8)
Stand in the confidence that Jesus knew you even before you were formed in your mother's womb. That Jesus loves you more than we can ever understand. That Jesus shed His Holy Spirit blood on the cross for our transgressions. Stand in the offering plate.
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