Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July 10
Tuesday


MIRACLE
OR MAGIC?

READ:
John 10:24-42
________________________

Though you do not
believe Me, believe the
works, that you may
know and believe that
the Father is in Me, and
I in Him. __John 10:38
________________________

Did Jesus really walk on water or simply use some nearby sandbars? Did He actually multiply bread and fish to feed 5,000 or just hypnotize the crowd into thinking He did? Was it miracle or magic?

When Christian illusionist Brock Gill explored those questions for a BBC television program, he set aside his personal beliefs to examine the biblical miracles with an open mind. Producer Jean-Claude Bragard said, "Even if an atheist had been chosen as host, the conclusions wouldn't have changed." In every case, Gill concluded that Jesus could not have tricked people into believing they had witnessed a miracle.

But many who actually saw Jesus' miracles refused to believe that He was the Messiah. They were ready to execute Him for claiming to be God (John 10:30-31). Jesus told them, "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the [miracles], that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him" (vv.37:38).

The miracles of Jesus identified Him as the Son of God, the Savior who had come to give His life for the sins of the world. His works and resurrection were not magic tricks, but miracles of love and grace. __David McCasland
____________________________________________________________

~~~~~~~~~It took a miracle to put the stars in place;~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~It took a miracle to hang the world in space.~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~But when He saved my soul, cleansed and made me whole,~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~It took a miracle of love and grace!~~~~~~~~~~~~
____________________________________________________________

*************Today's Bible Reading __ John 10:24-42**************

24 Then the Jews
surrounded Him and said
to Him, "How long do You
keep us in doubt? If You are
the Christ, tell us plainly."

25 Jesus answered them,
"I told you, and you do not
believe, The works that I do
in My Father's name, they
bear witness of Me. 26 But
you do not believe, because
you are not of My sheep, as
I said to you. 27 My sheep
hear voice, and I know
them, and they follow Me.

28 And I give them eternal
life, and they shall never
perish; neither shall anyone
snatch them out of my
hand, 29 My Father, who has
given them to Me, is greater
than all; and no one is able
to snatch them out of My
Father's hand. 30 I and My
Father are one."

31 Then the Jews took up
stones again to stone Him.

32 Jesus answered them,
"Many good works I have
shown you from My Father.
For which of those works
do you stone Me?"

33 The Jews answered
Him, saying, "For a good
work we do not stone You,
but for blasphemy, and
because You, being a Man,
make Yourself God." ...

37 "If I do not do the
works of My Father, do not
believe Me; 38 but if I do,
though you do not believe
Me, believe the works, that
you may know and believe
that the Father is in Me,
and I in Him." 39 Therefore
they sought again to seize
Him, but He escaped out of
their hand... 42 And many
believed in Him there.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Joshua, whose name means "Jehovah saves" (the same as the New
Testament name Jesus), was the military leader under Moses.
After Moses' death, Joshua took them into the land of promise,
establishing a national home there. __WEC