As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, “This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah. [Luke 11.29]
The article Signs Or Kingdom Work? was written in 2016. In summary, it says that miracles are indeed Kingdom work and as such, are not necessarily signs, but rather the work that any and everyone working for the Kingdom should be doing.
In contrast, Jesus said the only "sign" He would give is the sign of Jonah. He was directly referring to His three-day internment in the grave before rising from the dead.
Now, wait a minute... Didn't Jesus (and even others in the Bible) raise people from the dead? Yes, in fact they did! However, no one ever raised himself from the dead - at least, not until Jesus!
Jesus' "God-side" power was on display at the empty tomb. Jesus' "man-side" faith was on display in every other miracle as He worked for the Kingdom of God and demanded that those who believe in Him should follow suit.
It should not be ironic that the last thing Jesus said before the passage above was:
Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” [Luke 11.28]
And just what does the Word of God do to us? It builds faith. And, what does faith do? Kingdom work. The Word of God builds faith in us so that we might do Kingdom work. Interestingly enough, Jesus is called the Living Word of God. If God's Word (Jesus) lives in us, there will be Kingdom work done - there will be miracles.
Here's a perplexing question... How can a "Christian" expect the "power" of Christ to raise him from the dead in the end, when the "faith" of Christ (the Word) in him does not perform miracles here and now?
Didn't Jesus tell John's disciples that miracles confirmed that Kingdom work was being done?
John’s two disciples found Jesus and said to him, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’” At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.” [Luke 7.20-23]
I think we have failed to see what Jesus was actually replying here to John's disciples. He wasn't only identifying Himself as Messiah (doing Kingdom work), but was identifying every believer in Messiah as they do Kingdom work. How can we know this? Because of the last sentence Jesus spoke in that conversation: “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.” In other words, "don't get hung up on Me, but understand that the Kingdom work I do is for all who believe..."
Kingdom work is the work of the believer in the King! Jesus gave a well-rounded synopsis of what Kingdom work looks like: the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. [Mark 11.22-24]
Now, are we going to proudly manipulate (misrepresent) what the Bible actually says to make ourselves comfortable in our incomplete experience of it, OR, are we going to humbly understand the indictment the Bible places on us because Kingdom work is missing from our lives and repent?
Father, I don't want to make excuses for myself. I want to believe in King Jesus evidenced by Kingdom work flowing from my life. Forgive me that my life has not represented Your miraculous Kingdom! I will persist to believe because Your Word is clear. It is only man's proud religion that complicates it. I will trust in You - I will continue to pray for miracles - I will continue to believe. May Jesus be seen in me! So be it.
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