JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Luke 7 verses 16 and 17.
These verses show the response of the crowd to the miracles of Jesus.
“They were filled with awe and praised God. They said, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us. God has come to help his people.’ This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.”
The miracles of Jesus had a healing and life-giving impact on those who were blessed by His gracious hand. In this case, Jesus raised a young man from the dead and gave him back to his mother. His miracles were praiseworthy deeds, pointing to His identity as God’s anointed One. According to the Gospel of John, Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The miracles of Jesus reveal the goodness of God and are reasons to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 2:11.
What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
The glory of God is a light that draws people to faith and worship. One of the ways Jesus revealed His glory was through signs and miracles.
A miracle is an extraordinary event that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws. Jesus healed people instantly from sickness. He raised the dead. He walked on water. He fed 5,000 people from five loaves and two fish. In Cana of Galilee, Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding banquet. This miracle led His disciples to put their faith in Jesus.
The miracles of Jesus were written for our benefit too. John 20:30 and 31 says, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
This Light Reflection inspires us to believe in the miracles of Jesus in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason To Believe is the miracles of Jesus.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus performed various types of miracles that set captives free, healed the sick, raised the dead, and fed the hungry. He opened the eyes of the blind, and opened the ears of the deaf, and opened the mouths of those unable to speak.
If we read the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we will see at least 37 miracles of Jesus. John 20:31 says, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Indeed, there are many more miracles. Every soul converted to Christ becomes a living miracle of a life touched by God’s grace.
The miracles of Jesus are reasons to believe in God’s good news.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
