Today we begin a new series of sermons which will focus on some of the miracles of Jesus which are recorded in the Gospels.

This is a wonderful topic for us as we enjoy hearing about the miracles experienced by the people who were there with Jesus during His earthly ministry. We shall think about what the miracles mean for us in our own lives too.

In the Gospels, we see that Jesus’ miracles showed that he was the long-expected Messiah and that God’s promise of a new kingdom is about to dawn.

However, Jesus doesn’t give miraculous signs to prove his authority. In Mark’s Gospel, in particular, there is the idea of the “messianic secret” whereby Jesus performs a miracle but then tells people to keep quiet about it. It’s as if he doesn’t want people to follow him because of signs and wonders. Yet, at the same time, the miracles also convey his divine identity.

The miracles also show us the humanity of Jesus. The miracles are not just about demonstrating power and divinity but are also about compassion. Jesus is often moved by compassion when He performs a miracle.

The miracles are as important as the teaching of Jesus. Indeed, often points of teaching are illustrated by the miracles. The emphasis is often made that faith saves the person who receives and experiences the miracle. This is also a good reminder for us today that our faith brings many blessings too.

The miracle we heard about today in the Gospel of Matthew caused controversy. The people have just seen Jesus heal a man who was possessed and restore his sight and speech. We find the crowd of people wondering if Jesus is the Messiah, “the Son of David”, as He has the power to cast out demons. However, the Pharisees are eager to discredit Jesus by any means they can. He is a threat to their stronghold of power and authority.

But Jesus has an answer for them! He replies to their accusations by declaring, ‘But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you’.

We really are hearing about something wonderful and amazing. Jesus has brought the man’s suffering to an end. We can only begin to imagine the man’s reaction as he receives a miracle. The crowd are loving it, but the people at the top are feeling threatened. They want everyone to think that they have the monopoly on God. Clearly, this is not the case, so they try to ‘rubbish’ Jesus and discredit His healing touch.

Jesus says, ‘For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks’. How true! He knows that the Pharisees can’t stand Him and that the accusations they make against Him are not just being said in the heat of the moment. They want the people to turn against Jesus. Jesus just isn’t the Pharisees’ idea of a Messiah at all. I am sure that the man who received God’s healing by the ministry of Jesus would strongly disagree with them!

The miracle was powerful and liberating. It reveals so much about God to us today as well as to all the witnesses at the time. We see the compassion of Jesus and the power of God at work. We discover that God’s Kingdom is about bringing release to the suffering.

Jesus wanted the people to believe in Him and to experience joy in knowing God. He wants that for you and for me too.

I believe that God works miracles in all our lives but that we usually miss them. Our very existence is really a miracle! We live on this earth only because the conditions are just right for us. The diversity of creation we take for granted has yet to be found on another planet. The atmosphere we live in enables us to find food and water and daily experience the miracle that is God-given life.

God has not only given us life but is intimately involved in it too. His Spirit is with us! The Holy Spirit can transform our outlook in an instant, so we need to ask for God’s guidance and for refreshment for our hearts as often as we can. The miracle is that we will feel better just knowing that God is with us.

Let’s also remember, as we enjoy this sermon series about miracles, that not only are we hearing about what Jesus did in the past, we are also going to become even more aware of what He is doing in the present. As we welcome the Holy Spirit gladly into our hearts each day we will find we are shown that we can share God’s miraculous and liberating love in all sorts of new and unexpected ways with the people we spend our days with. Thanks be to God!

Amen.