# Miracles Week 10: The True Mission of Jesus

In the tenth week of our series on miracles, we explored the intriguing relationship between Jesus' miraculous works and his ultimate mission. This sermon challenges the notion that Jesus sought to promote his miracles for popularity, drawing a parallel with the promotional tactics of the Ringling Brothers Circus.

## **Mark 1:23-45**

### Key Themes:

- **Misconceptions About Miracles:**

- Pastor Chris begins by drawing a parallel between the promotional strategies of the Ringling Brothers Circus and the way Jesus’ miracles were perceived. The circus used vibrant promotion to draw crowds, but Jesus did not seek to advertise his miraculous works.

- The sermon emphasizes that Jesus never used miracles to draw a crowd or gain fame. Instead, he often instructed those he healed to remain silent about their experiences.

- **Jesus’ True Mission:**

- The sermon highlights that Jesus' primary mission was not to perform miracles but to offer forgiveness and establish the kingdom of God. This is evident in **Mark 2:1-12**, where Jesus forgives a paralyzed man's sins before healing him physically.

- Jesus’ miracles served as signs pointing to his divine authority and the coming kingdom, but they were not the main focus of his ministry.

- **The Importance of Discretion:**

- Pastor Chris discusses the need for wisdom in sharing our personal experiences with God. Not every divine encounter or miracle is meant to be shared publicly, as they can sometimes distract from the true message of the Gospel.

- **Mark 1:40-45** illustrates this point, where Jesus heals a leper and instructs him to tell no one. The leper’s disobedience led to Jesus having to stay in lonely places due to the overwhelming crowds.

- **The Greatest Miracle: Forgiveness of Sins:**

- The sermon underscores that the most significant miracle Jesus offers is the forgiveness of sins, which reconciles us with God and grants us eternal life.

- This miracle of salvation is accessible to all through faith in Jesus Christ, as emphasized in **Ephesians 2:8-9**: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."

### Conclusion

The sermon concludes by urging believers to focus on sharing the core message of the Gospel: the miracle of salvation through Jesus Christ. While personal testimonies of divine encounters can be powerful, they should always point back to the central truth of Jesus’ mission—our redemption and forgiveness.

In essence, while miracles can draw attention, the true miracle we must proclaim is the transformative power of Jesus’ forgiveness and the new life it brings. This is the story we are compelled to share, a story that transcends our personal experiences and points to the eternal hope we have in Christ.

Miracles Week 8: Finding Thin Places

In the eighth installment of our "Miracles" series, we delve into the concept of "thin places"—moments where God breaks into our world to reveal His love, power, and glory. These moments, though rare today, were abundant during Jesus' time on Earth, particularly through His miracles.

## **John 1:14** - The Incarnation as a Thin Place

The sermon highlights the incarnation of Jesus as the ultimate "thin place." As described in **John 1:14**, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." Jesus' presence on Earth was a continual revelation of God's glory, bridging the gap between heaven and earth.

## Learning from Miracles

The sermon focuses on two miracles that exemplify how we can cooperate with God to create these "thin places":

### **John 2:1-11** - Water into Wine

- **Setting**: A wedding in Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle by turning water into wine.

- **Key Figures**: The servants, who filled the jars with water at Jesus' instruction, played a crucial role.

- **Lesson**: The servants' obedience and trust in Jesus' instructions allowed them to witness and participate in a miracle. This teaches us the importance of making ourselves available to God, even when the task seems mundane or illogical.

### **Matthew 14:13-21** - Feeding the Five Thousand

- **Setting**: A remote location where a large crowd gathered to hear Jesus.

- **Key Figures**: The disciples, who distributed five loaves and two fish to feed thousands.

- **Lesson**: The disciples' willingness to offer what little they had and follow Jesus' instructions resulted in a miracle. This illustrates that God can multiply our limited resources when we trust Him.

## Four Key Lessons on Creating Thin Places

1. **God's Desire for Our Involvement**: God wants us to participate in His divine work. As seen in these miracles, our involvement strengthens our faith and demonstrates that "we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength" (**Philippians 4:13**).

2. **As You Go Principle**: Miracles often occur in the midst of our daily lives. We must be sensitive to God's voice and embrace the opportunities He presents as we go about our routines.

3. **Offering What We Have**: Whether it's time, energy, or resources, offering what we have to Jesus allows Him to use it for His glory.

4. **Trusting Jesus**: Trust is foundational. Neither the servants nor the disciples knew Jesus' plans, yet their trust led to miraculous outcomes. We must trust Jesus with both our lives and our circumstances.

## Conclusion: Trust and Obedience

The sermon concludes with a call to trust Jesus as the way to experience the ultimate "thin place"—a personal relationship with Him. By trusting in His sacrifice, we receive forgiveness and eternal life. This trust extends beyond salvation to every aspect of our lives, as we follow His lead and participate in His kingdom work.

As we reflect on these lessons, let us strive to be available, obedient, and trusting, so that we may witness and partake in the miracles God desires to perform in and through us.