October 2020 — pg. 17
Yet throughout the entire story, from generation to
generation, everywhere they went, they carried the sign
of Genesis 1 and 2. It said:
THERE WILL BE MIRACLES HERE.
We must now get to the miracle of all miracles.
It is fascinating how the Fourth Gospel begins. Into the
midst of the first century, a decidedly Genesis 3 epoch of
world history, John calls us back to Genesis 1.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. He was with God
in the beginning. Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made. In
him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not
overcome it” (John 1:1–5).
And behold the miracle of all miracles:
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among
us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only
Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”
(John 1:14).
Now, notice the first words of Jesus from Mark’s Gospel:
“The time has come,” He said. “The kingdom of God
has come near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mark
1:15).
What is the good news here? How about “the time has
come” and “the kingdom of God has come near”? Might
repentance hold a richer meaning than just “believe and
behave”? Might it mean something more like “realign your
entire life with this new and now in-breaking reality”?
Now, watch what happens. By a conservative estimate,
before the first chapter is done, we witness upwards of at
least a hundred miracles.
Miracles 1 and 2: Two sets of brothers suddenly leave
their well-established vocation as fishermen at the
invitation of Jesus to “fish for people” (Mark 1:16–20).
Miracle 3: He teaches people in a synagogue with an
astonishing transcendent authority, which amazes the
people (v.21–22, 27).
Miracle 4: He confronts and casts out an impure spirit
from a man in the synagogue (v.23–26).
Miracle 5: He goes to Simon and Andrew’s home and
heals Simon’s mother-in-law from a fever (v.29–31).
Miracles 6–101: The whole town gathered outside
the home and Jesus healed many who were sick and
delivered many who were demon-possessed; shutting the
mouths of the demons (v.32–34).
Miracle 102: Jesus wakes early, goes to a solitary place
and meets with His Father, the God of heaven and earth
(v.35–37).
Miracle 103–142: “So he traveled throughout Galilee,
preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons”
(v.39).
Miracle 143: Jesus touches and cleanses a leper by the
power of His word (v.40–42).
Indeed, before the end of the first chapter of the shortest
gospel, we have already witnessed more miracles than we
can count. In the on-earth-as-it-is-in-heaven kingdom of
God, miracles are the rule — not the exception.
It is as though Jesus carries a sign everywhere He goes
that reads:
THERE WILL BE MIRACLES HERE.
I used to believe Jesus performed miracles
like some kind of fireworks show — in order
to prove He was the Son of God. I know
better now. There was a much deeper
agenda afoot. Jesus is restoring lost Eden.
He is bringing New Creation, and it looks
neither like legalistic religious fidelity
to the rules nor deliverance from the
empire of Rome. It looks like the famed