Miracles in Jesus’ time
Lazarus
Jesus liked to go to the house of Lazarus. One day Lazarus caught a sickness. Then Lazarus died. When he was dead Mary and Martha put him in a grave. Jesus received the message but still didn’t go to the house. The message was that Lazarus was dead. When two days had passed Jesus told the disciples that Lazarus was dead.
The next day Jesus told the disciples He was going to the house. When He arrived at the house of Mary and Martha He went to the grave site. While they were at the grave site, Jesus wept.
Jesus was not weeping for Lazarus because He was going to resurrect him.
Jesus was weeping because after He would raise Lazarus from the dead, the people would kill Him. He was also weeping because the people would not believe in Him and so they would die in their sins.
Finally Jesus was about to resurrect him. So when He did, somebody opened the grave, and Jesus said “Lazarus, come forth.” So Lazarus stood up and came out of the grave.
“The beholders are at first speechless with amazement. Then there follows an inexpressible scene of rejoicing and thanksgiving. The sisters receive their brother back to life as the gift of God, and with joyful tears they brokenly express their thanks to the Saviour. But while brother, sisters, and friends are rejoicing in this reunion, Jesus withdraws from the scene.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 536
The Hunchback Lady
The second miracle is when a lady who had a hunched back was healed. The people were in the church, then a hunchback lady came in. Jesus went to her and did something to her back and she got cured. This means she was born again. So the people got angry at Jesus because He did a miracle on Sabbath. We don’t work on the Sabbath, but we can do good things for other people.
Jesus did these miracles so the people would believe in Him, so they could have eternal life.
This is my wish and prayer that we may believe in Jesus and not plan to kill Him, also that if we are born again, we will be in the house of the Lord, in heaven and in the New Jerusalem. Amen.
Sarah Newby
Miracles In The Apostle’s Time
Let us look at some of the miracles that happened during the apostle’s time. “And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galilaeans?” Acts 2:1–7. These men who were in Jerusalem who were from other countries understood when Peter said something in Galilaean and they heard it in their own language. If they were French they would hear it in French. If they were German they would hear it in German. If they were English they would hear it in English.
“Pentecost brought them the heavenly illumination. The truths they could not understand while Christ was with them were now unfolded. With a faith and assurance that they had never before known, they accepted the teachings of the Sacred Word. No longer was it a matter of faith with them that Christ was the Son of God. They knew that, although clothed with humanity, He was indeed the Messiah, and they told their experience to the world with a confidence which carried with it the conviction that God was with them.
“They could speak the name of Jesus with assurance; for was He not their Friend and Elder Brother? Brought into close communion with Christ, they sat with Him in heavenly places. With what burning language they clothed their ideas as they bore witness for Him! Their hearts were surcharged with a benevolence so full, so deep, so far-reaching, that it impelled them to go to the ends of the earth, testifying to the power of Christ. They were filled with an intense longing to carry forward the work He had begun. They realized the greatness of their debt to heaven and the responsibility of their work. Strengthened by the endowment of the Holy Spirit, they went forth filled with zeal to extend the triumphs of the cross. The Spirit animated them and spoke through them. The peace of Christ shone from their faces. They had consecrated their lives to Him for service, and their very features bore evidence to the surrender they had made.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 45–46. This Early Rain allowed the disciples to speak in many different languages. They travelled from city to city, country to country spreading the word of Jesus and His love. They also performed miracles among the people.
One of the disciples who performed a miracle was Peter. “Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man that was lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. And he took him by the right hand, and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received strength.” Acts 3:1–7. Peter helped this man have the ability to walk.
Another apostle who performed MANY miracles was Paul. One day in a place called Troas on the coast of Asia Minor, Paul was visiting its church and gave a very big missionary speech. In the window there was a boy named Eutychus. He suddenly fell through the window, three stories down. Everyone ran outside to see the body. Paul came through the crowd and put his arms around the boy. After a prayer, Paul said “He lives.” How could this boy still be living after falling down a three-story building?
There is another miracle that Paul performed. Once Paul was on a boat crossing the sea when there was a shipwreck. They came to an island and made a fire to dry their clothing. Suddenly a venomous snake came upon Paul and bit him. But Paul did not drop dead. The natives of that island thought that Paul was a god because he didn’t die. But Paul said, no.
These men didn’t perform miracles for worldly things. They used them to help others and to help the church of God. If we grow to be like these men, during the latter rain, we will get the same power to speak different languages like these men and be able to speak to many people about Jesus. We will also see these prophets and disciples in heaven. This is my wish and prayer. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.
Stephen Newby