Miracles

Miracles

Lessons

Dr. Mark Scott explores the miracles of Jesus in this series, examining their nature and purpose. Throughout the lessons, he addresses the apologetic aspect of miracles, Jesus' perspective on miracles, the historical context of miracles, terminology and purposes of Jesus' miracles, salvation talk in the miracles, the battle against evil, the numbers and categories of miracles, intensification and distinctives of the miracles, the significance of Jesus' resurrection, and contemporary miracles and miracle stories.

Session 1

Jesus as a Worker of Wonders in Ages of Skepticism

In this first lesson, we want to develop the theme, “Jesus as a Worker of Wonders in Ages of Skepticism.” In other words, we probably have to deal with the apologetic issue right up front. Can we know that these miracles actually happened?

Session 2

Jesus' Love/Hate Relationship with Miracles and the Clusters of Miracles in the Bible

In this second lesson, we want to develop how Jesus felt about miracles and discover where we find the miracles in the Bible at large. The big word that occurs to me when we raise these subjects is irony.

Session 3

Jesus' Miracles and Miracles in the Ancient World (OT and Greco-Roman)

We are soon to look at the actual Gospel material concerning the miracles of Jesus. But in this third lesson, I want us to consider the historical backdrop to those miracles.

Session 4

The Terminology and Purposes of the Miracles of Jesus

In this fourth lesson on the miracles of Jesus, we are getting down to more of the actual study. We want now to consider the terminology and purposes of the miracles of Jesus.

Session 5

Salvation Talk in the Miracles of Jesus and Previews of God's Redemptive Future

This may be the most important lesson in this series of lessons. In the miracles of Jesus, we begin to see previews of God’s redemptive future. Jesus is at war with the devil to get he world back and set the world right!

Session 6

Going to War with Compassion and the Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

In our last lesson, we suggested that the miracles of Jesus were previews of coming attractions. That is, miracles preview a perfect world that right now only exists in hope above us. Jesus started saving the world previous to the cross experience to set the world right and recreate it. In the miracles, Jesus was going to war against the devil.

Session 7

Numbers, Categories, and Elements of the Miracles of Jesus

In this lesson, we want to group three different concerns that relate to the miracles of Jesus. They are: discerning the number of miracles (how many are there?), the categories of those miracles (which might be a Western construct anyway), and the elements of the miracles (how do they come to us?).

Session 8

The Intensification and Distinctives of the Miracles of Jesus

In this lesson, we want to develop the themes of intensification and distinctives of the miracles of Jesus.

Session 9

The Ultimate Miracle: The Resurrection of Jesus

In this lesson, we want to discuss the ultimate miracle which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It would be impossible to overstate the significance of this miracle.

Session 10

Current Miracles and Miracle Stories

Since we have spent time in these nine lessons discussing the miracles of Jesus, it seemed appropriate to end this series of lessons talking about current miracles and miracle stories in our world today. We need to apply our best thinking/study to this as well as a heartfelt sensitivity to this—it is really hard for any of us to stand in judgment of someone else’s experience after all. In this session. there are several considerations that we would need to make to adequately discuss this.