Jesus’ miracles over nature

(Part 2 of a series on The Miracle Working God)

We are in the midst of what looks like continuous bad weather. Storms come and go in the Philippines perhaps symbolizing our political mess.

Paul Smith in the book, His Miracles, stated, "Nature may groan and suffer as a result of the fall of humanity (Romans 8:22), but it remains obedient to the Master’s voice. Creation may be marred by sin, but it is not deaf to the Creator."

Let us reflect on how nature’s awesome power instantly yielded to Jesus’ instruction. People gave mixed reactions to Jesus’ words, but winds and waves obeyed. People clung to old wineskins while water gleefully became wine. Dried fish and crusty loaves multiplied in a small cascade of food enough to fill a multitude. Fish found their way to the other side of a boat and waiting nets.

People paid more attention to the miracles than his teachings

Those miracles I mentioned confirmed what Jesus at the age of 12 had taught earlier in the synagogues in Nazareth, when He claimed to fulfill the prophecy of the One who, as the Lord’s anointed, would bring ‘good news to the poor’ as well as God’s salvation.

The miracles were not only intended to accomplish wonderful things, although they did that. They were also intended to establish Jesus’ identity and ultimately to give credibility to the good news He had come to proclaim.

They revealed Him as the Power who could reverse the very forces of death and destruction that plague our world. This is certainly good news!

Our oppressors today: Politicians or the Power of Darkness

I cannot help but observe the clash of goodness with evil is quite evident these days. From childhood our fairy tales would narrate how the good heroes fight the evil stepmother or treacherous wizard.

Today, it is Star Wars that teach our children "may the force be with you!" However, when Skywalker grew up to be the conqueror of evil, he succumbed to the "dark forces" and was transformed to the villain Darth Vader.

And so, it is the same situation in our country, and in the world — the clash of goodness with evil.

Therefore, I agree with F.F. Bruce when he said, "The enemy, which Jesus confronted and challenged in His ministry was not the Roman oppressor, but the spiritual power of darkness, the dominion of Satan (Luke 11:20)."

The unassuming miracles of Jesus

Have you ever noticed how humble, unassuming and un-miraculous the miracles of Jesus are? The first one, turning water into wine, was recognized only by a few slaves at the wedding feast in Cana. Jesus said, "Go fill up those water jars." Then, He added, "Now take it to the master of ceremonies." Did you miss it? The miracle happened.

We could say the same about the feeding of the five thousand. There was no shouting, no waving of arms in the air, no hocus-pocus. Jesus simply prayed and passed the food out.

There was something indescribable about the way Jesus performed His miracles that always miraculously directed the attention away from Himself and toward the Father. Jesus heals someone who is sick, and those who witness the healing inevitably "praise God". Jesus wins praise for the Father, not for Himself. "I can do nothing without the Father. I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me" (John 5:30).

Indeed, Jesus was not ashamed to confess His total dependence on God.

The first public Miracle of Jesus

Capturing the beauty of the water into wine, the poet Alexander Pope said, "The conscious water saw its Master and blushed." This description could be re-worked to explain the other miracles of Jesus.

Max Lucado has an interesting point of view, "May I state an opinion that may raise an eyebrow? May I tell you why I think Jesus went to the wedding? I think Jesus went to the wedding to have fun."

"Think about it. It’s been a tough season. Forty days in the desert. No food or water. A standoff with the devil. A week breaking in some greenhorn Galileans. A job change. He’s left home. It hasn’t been easy. A break would be welcome. Good meal with some good wine and some good friends… well, it sounds pretty nice. So off they go."

Max Lucado continues, "His purpose wasn’t to turn the water to wine. That was a favor for his friends. His purpose wasn’t to preach. There is no record of a sermon."

"Really, this leaves only one reason. Fun. Jesus went to the wedding because he liked the people, and he liked the food."

Deep waters

"Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break" (Luke 5:5-6).

Picture the scene, Simon and other experienced career fishermen have been trying all night to catch fish. They know the lake, and they know their trade, yet they have caught nothing. Jesus, a carpenter, tells them to move out into the deeper water and try again. Simon and the others must have felt like telling Jesus he should stick to building furniture and leave the fishing to the experts.

But, they did not. Instead, they obeyed Him. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt that Jesus couldn’t possibly understand your needs? Many acts of service for God require moving out into the deeper water. Learn a lesson from a bunch of fishermen — Listen to Jesus and obey His commands, however difficult they may be to do.

Confidence amidst crisis

"There arose a great storm in the sea that the ship was covered with waves, but Jesus was asleep. The disciples woke Him and said, ‘Lord, don’t you care if we drown?’ But He said to them, ‘Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith?’ Then, He arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. They were amazed, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him? (Matthew 8:24-27)

When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. Yet, our trust in God is only up to a certain point. Then, we turn back to panic-stricken prayers of people who do not even know God. We come to our wits’ end, showing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To us, He seems to be asleep, and we can see nothing but giant, breaking waves on the sea ahead of us.

‘O you of little faith!’ What a stinging pain must have shot through the disciples as they thought to themselves, ‘We missed the mark again!’ And, what a sharp pain will go through us when we realize that we could have produced complete and utter joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, in spite of what we are facing. It is during crisis that we reveal whom we rely on.

A chance to bless

"And they say unto Him, ‘We have here but five loaves and two fishes.’ He said, ‘Bring them hither to me" (Matthew 14:17-18).

Are you encompassed with needs at the very moment, and almost overwhelmed with difficulties, trials, and emergencies? If you rightly understood their meaning, they would become vessels of opportunities for receiving new blessings and deliverances which you can get in no other way.

Bring these vessels to God. Hold them steadily before Him in faith and prayer. Keep still, and stop your own restless working until He begins to work. Do nothing that He does not Himself command you to do. Give Him a chance to work, and He will surely do so. The very trials that threaten to overcome you with discouragement and disaster will become God’s opportunities for the revelation of His grace and glory in your life.

Battered by the waves

The disciples were being battered by the waves and wind. The harder they rowed in one direction, the wind pushed in the other direction. The disciple Mark pictures them ‘straining on the oars’ (Mark 6:48). These men were sweating and they did not even want to be out there.

Tony Evans asks, "Are you in a storm today? Can you feel the wind pushing against you? You say, ‘I am not only in a storm, but I am also being pushed backwards.’

"I hear you. I’ve been in those kinds of trials, too. The first thing I want to tell you about trials is that for a Christian, there is no such thing as random, pointless trials. If Jesus sent you into the storm, His authority is reigning over it even though it may be raining on you."

His timing is always right. He will always do His best. Though we hear nothing, He is speaking. Though we see nothing, He is working. With God, there are no accidents. Every incident is intended to bring us closer to Him.

The devil brings storms into our life to intimidate us. We glorify God when we continue to do what we know is right even in adverse circumstances.

Have faith!

Jesus’ power over nature carried a quiet, sure demeanor. His actions were deft. It was not his command or His prayer that got people’s attention — it was what happened after He spoke.

As you read these reflections on Jesus’ ongoing role as the ruling Creator, visualize the effects of His authority in your life. Listen for His voice.

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