Monday 30 December 2013

Teaching the Word of God

Teaching the word of God, Mark 6:5 tells us “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” Jesus also got tired and slept (4:38), something we would never expect an all-powerful God to do. Yes, Jesus at His first coming had limitations – limitations he placed on himself. This is clearly stated in Philippians 2:5-8:

“... Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage;
rather, He made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!”

In the Mark 6:5 incident, Jesus was in His hometown of Nazareth where they 'took offense at Him' (Mark 6:3). The crowd was so hostile to Him that they even wanted to kill Him (Luke 4:28-30). Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith (Mark 6:6). But there were a few sick people who believed in Him and He healed them (Mark 6:5). If you are bleeding to death and only a blood transfusion can save you but you fiercely reject the only doctor who can provide the transfusion, the doctor can't do anything to save you.

As for the healing of the blind man (8:22-26), couldn't Jesus have healed him immediately? Of course, He could have but He chose to make it a process. Why? Because, Jesus healing of the man is an illustration of how some people come to faith in Jesus. Immediately after this healing we have the passage where Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ (8:27-30). Peter has recognised something of who Jesus really is, but he doesn’t yet see this clearly (like the blind man only seeing partially at the start), since Peter then rebukes Jesus when Jesus says he must die (8:31-32). So this healing is an illustration, not a limitation of Jesus.

If you are still not convinced that Jesus is all-knowing and all-powerful, please read the passages below.

Revelation 1:12-18
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead,and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
By Martin Ebere

 

 

 

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