If the whole world cannot contain the things that Jesus did for us (John 21:25), there is no way that this devotional is going to accomplish that, but let’s take an overview. The 4 Gospels record the miracles that Jesus performed. Can you imagine watching Jesus opening the eyes of the blind (Matthew 9:27-30), or healing a leper (Mark 1:40-43)? How would you like to have been around that pool called Bethesda when Jesus brought the man who was crippled for 38 years to his feet (John 5:1-9)? I cannot even begin to imagine what I would have felt if I were there when Jesus touched the bier carrying that woman’s only son, who was dead (Luke 7:11-16), or spoke at the gravesite of Lazarus (John 11:38-44), and raised them back to life!
You see, all that Jesus did on earth was an expression of the heart of The Father (John 14:9) and proof that He was the expected Messiah (Isaiah 35:4,5)! Since our focus this morning will be on what Jesus did for us, time does not allow us to develop the power and authority of Jesus over the forces of nature (Matthew 8:26,27), or His miraculous turning of water into wine (John 2:1-11), or His multiplication of the loaves and fishes to feed the hungry (John 6:1-14).
But what I want us to “walk away with” is this truth: We need to guard against only speaking of what Jesus did in the past tense. Jesus still does miracles today! The heart of Jesus for the multitudes is the same today as it was when He was on earth (Matthew 9:36-38). The first public message that Jesus preached reveals His heart for lost and hurting man (Luke 4:18). Jesus is not a “dispensational Jesus”, Who used to do miraculous things 2,000 years ago. He is The Living Lord Who never changes (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus Christ still moves in the lives of His people according to His will and for His purposes (Philippians 2:13).
The greatest work of Jesus of course was His redemptive work on the cross for our sin. Jesus was “made sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) He died for our sin in order to bring us into sweet fellowship with Himself and The Father (1 John 1:1-4). It is this Jesus Who said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) He is still both willing and able to give that rest to those who come to Him.
May the grace and compassion of Jesus Christ touch your life in a special way today.
Amen