How important were the miracles in the book’s account of Jesus’ early ministry? Last week, my lessons in English were based on the book of Mark and the ministry of Jesus. Here is a little about the book of Mark.
Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels in the Bible. The Gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The word “Gospel” in Greek literally means “good news”. This means that the Gospels were meant to bring good news to people. It is said that it is the earliest of the four Gospels, recording from the time of Jesus’ birth, to the time of his ascension.
Miracles were very important in the life and ministry of Jesus. He did not use them just because he was nice (and he was nice). He used them to preform certain ideas in the minds of people. And the miracles did not just impact the people of that era and time. They also impacted people throughout history, today, and even in the future. One of these miracles can be found in Mark 1:23-28,
23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.
According to Thomas Nelson, “This miracle demonstrated Jesus’ power over the forces of evil. The people of Capernaum were amazed and asked, “What new doctrine is this?”” These people were really surprised and impacted. Some even thought that he could cast out demons because he himself was possessed by one, which is stupid.
Another one is Mark 2:1-12,
2 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 a]Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has b]power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
According to Thomas Nelson, “Jesus’ displays His power over sickness and His authority to forgive. The Pharisees questioned Jesus’ authority to forgive, but the people glorified God.” Jesus impacted a lot of people, so much even, that people wanted to kill him! Jesus can do these things because he is the Son of God.