Miracle of Miracles
“He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.“
Matthew 4:13 NLT
When Jesus left Nazareth, he went to Capernaum, a city where He spent much of His time preaching and healing the sick.
Even though it was here that He performed many miracles, few of the inhabitants believed in Him.
“Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority.“ (Luke 4:31-32 NLT)
When he commanded an evil spirit to come out of a possessed man, “the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!” (Luke 4:36 NLT)
They watched Him perform miracles, yet they would not believe. He admonished them for their unbelief, telling them that Sodom would be better off on Judgement Day than they would.
“And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.” (Matthew 11:23-24 NLT)
We wonder at their unbelief, after watching Jesus with their own eyes. Is it because they refused to believe, whatever He did? Is it because they didn’t want God in their lives no matter what the cost?
Even the Roman officer who petitioned Jesus to heal his favoured servant had much more faith than they. Jesus said of him, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” (Luke 7:9 NLT)
There was also the miracle of the paralyzed man who was lowered down through the roof in Mark 2. Those in attendance knew exactly what happened. They knew the disabled man and watched him be healed. Why wasn’t there a great outpouring of belief when this happened?
We hear much talk about those who say “if God will show me a miracle, then I’ll believe”. The Jewish leaders said the same thing. Jesus answered them, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.“ (Matthew 12:39 NLT)
Is not the gospel its own sign and wonder? Is not this a miracle of miracles, that ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish’? Surely that precious word, ‘Whosoever will, let him come and take the water of life freely’ and that solemn promise, ‘Him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out,’ are better than signs and wonders! A truthful Saviour ought to be believed. He is truth itself. Why will you ask proof of the veracity of One who cannot lie? Charles Spurgeon