Transcript Pontius Pilate - Christian Education in Canada | Crandall

Jesus as Miracle Worker
Ruins at Bethsaida
Fisherman’s
House at Bethsaida
Main Road at Bethsaida
Site of
Chorazin
Sea of Galilee
Galilee
Introduction
The issue of ultimate presuppositions cannot be avoided in dealing
with the topic of Jesus as miracle worker. It is clear that inclusion
of the gospel data on Jesus as miracle worker will result in a much
different Jesus as compared to one that excludes such data.
Many modern scholars have worked with the assumption that the
universe is a closed system of cause/effect relations in which the
extraordinary things reported in the gospels could not happen.
This leads them to deny a priori the historicity of the narratives
reporting Jesus' miracles. The miracles stories in the gospels are
explained as exaggerations, naive misinterpretations, clumsy
symbolism or just pure fabrications.
The Purpose of Jesus' Miracles in the Gospels
The Synoptic Gospels
Matthew 11: 20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which
most of his miracles (dunameis) had been performed, because
they did not repent. 21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you,
Bethsaida. If the miracles (dunameis) that were performed in you
had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented
long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more
bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you
will go down to the depths. If the miracles (dunameis) that were
performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have
remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable
for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
Why are the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum
condemned? To which other cities are these cities compared? What
does this imply about the purpose of Jesus’ dunameis?
The Purpose of Jesus' Miracles in the Gospels
The Synoptic Gospels
Mark 6:1-3 Jesus left there and went to his hometown,
accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he
began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were
amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked.
"What's this wisdom that has been given him and such dunameis
as these are performed through his hands? 3 Is not this the
carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph,
Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took
offense at him…6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith.
How did Jesus expect that his miracles (dunameis) would function?
Why did the people from Nazareth reject Jesus as someone
extraordinary?
The Purpose of Jesus' Miracles
The Synoptic Gospels
Luke 19:37: When he came near the place where the road goes
down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began
joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles
(dunameis) they had seen.
How did the people respond to Jesus’ miracles (dunameis)?
Why did they respond in this way?
The Purpose of Jesus' Miracles
Gospel of John
Jesus’ signs (semeia)
John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus,
a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to
him, "Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher; for
no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."
Jesus’ works (erga)
John 5:6: "But the testimony which I have is greater than the
testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given me to
accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about me, that the
Father has sent me"
How did Nicodemus respond to Jesus’ semeia? How did Jesus
interpret his own erga?
The Purpose of Jesus' Miracles
Gospel of John
John 9:16 Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, "This
man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath."
But others were saying, "How can a man who is a sinner
perform such signs?" And there was a division among them....
39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, so that
those who do not see may see, and that those who see may
become blind." 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him
heard these things and said to him, "We are not blind too, are
we?" 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have
no sin; but since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains."
Why was there confusion about Jesus’ identity? How did
some interpret Jesus’ signs? How might the Pharisees have
explained them?
Testimonium Flavianum
About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one
ought to call him a man. For he was a doer of amazing deeds
and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly.
He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was
the Messiah. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men
of the highest standing amongst us, had condemned him to
be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love did
not give up their affection for him. On the third day he
appeared to them restored to life, for the prophets of God
had prophesied these and countless other marvellous things
about him. And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him,
has still to this day not disappeared."
Based on the hypothetical original text, how did Josephus
present Jesus to his readers?
Specific Miracles of Jesus in the Gospels
Mark 6:35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him.
"This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. 36 Send the
people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and
buy themselves something to eat." 37 But he answered, "You give them
something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a
man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to
them to eat?" 38 "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see."
When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish." 39 Then Jesus
directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green
grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the
five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and
broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the
people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and
were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken
pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five
thousand.
Specific Miracles of Jesus in the Gospels
John 2:1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.
Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been
invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said
to him, "They have no more wine." 4 "Dear woman, why do you involve
me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." 5 His mother said to
the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Nearby stood six stone
water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each
holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill
the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told
them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had
been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from,
though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the
bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine
first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to
drink; but you have saved the best till now." 11 This, the first of his
miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed
his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
Jesus as Miracle Worker in Historical Context
Interpretive Possibilities
Two categories available by which to interpret
Jesus as Miracle Worker.
Sorcerer (or Magician)
Jewish “Holy Man”
Jesus as Miracle Worker in Historical Context
Interpretive Possibilities
Once it happened that they said to Choni the circle-drawer, "Pray that rain
may fall." He replied, "Go forth and bring in the Passover ovens, so that they
might not be softened." He prayed, but no rain fell. What did he do? He drew
a circle and stood within it, and said before Him, "Master of the universe,
Your children have set their faces to me, because I am as a son of the
household before you. I swear by Your great Name that I will not move from
here until you have compassion on Your children." Rain began to trickle. He
said, "Not for such rain did I pray, but for rain that will fill the cisterns, pits and
caves." The rain began to fall with violence. He said, "Not for such rain have I
prayed, but for rain of benevolence, blessing and graciousness." The rain fell
according to their preference until the Israelites had to go up from Jerusalem
to the Temple Mount because of the rain. They came to him and said, "Just
as you prayed for the rain to fall, so now pray that it might stop." He
answered them, "Go and see if the Stone of Strayers has been washed
away." Simon ben Shetach sent to him saying, "If you had not been Choni I
would have pronounced a ban of excommunication against you. But what
could I do since you are petulant before God and He performed your will as a
son who importunes his father and he does his will." (m. Ta‘an. 3:8)
Jesus as Miracle Worker in Historical Context
Interpretive Possibilities
Now there was a certain Onias, a righteous man and especially loved by
God, who had once in a rainless period prayed to God to end the
drought, and God heard his prayer and sent rain; this man hid himself
when he saw that the civil war continued to rage, but he was taken to the
camp of the Jews and was asked to place a curse on Aristobolus and his
fellow-rebels, just as he had by his prayers, put an end to the rainless
period. But when in spite of his refusals and excuses he was forced to
speak by the mob, he stood up in their presence and said, "O God, King
of the universe, since these men standing beside me are your people,
and those who are besieged are your priests, I ask you not to pay any
attention to them against these men, nor to bring to pass what these
men ask you to do against those others." And when he prayed in this
manner the evil ones among the Jews who stood around him stoned him
to death. (Josephus, Ant. 14. 22-24)
What was Onias (Choni) reputed to have done? How is he
parallel to Jesus as a religious figure (as a Jewish “holy man”)?
How did his contemporaries respond to Onias (Choni)?
Jesus as Miracle Worker in Historical Context
Davidic Messiah and Miracles
John 7:31: When the Christ comes, he will not perform more signs
(semeia) than those which this man has, will he?
4Q521 (Messianic Apocalypse): [For the heav]ens and the earth
will listen to his Messiah....and the Lord will perform marvelous
acts such as have not existed, just as he sa[id] for he will heal
the sick and will make the dead live, he will proclaim good news
to the poor.
How do these two references suggest that the expectation
was that the Davidic Messiah would perform “miracles”?
Jesus' Criticism of Those Who Demand Signs
Mark 8:10 And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples and came
to the district of Dalmanutha. 11 The Pharisees came out and began to
argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, to test him. 12
Sighing deeply in His spirit, he said, "Why does this generation seek for a
sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."
Matt 16:1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus,
they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But he replied to
them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is
red.' 3 And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red
and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky,
but cannot discern the signs of the times?“ 4 "An evil and adulterous
generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the
sign of Jonah." And he left them and went away.
How does Matthew modify his Markan source? Why does Jesus
condemn his generation for seeking for a sign? In Matthew’s version
what comparison does Jesus use in his criticism?
Jesus' Criticism of Those Who Demand Signs
Luke 11:16 Others, to test him, were demanding of him a sign
from heaven..... 29 As the crowds were increasing, he began to
say, "This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign,
and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. 30 For
just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the son of
man be to this generation."
Why does Jesus condemn those Jews who look for a sign?
Why is the “sign of Jonah” not really a sign?
Jesus' Criticism of Those Who Demand Signs
John 4:46 Therefore he came again to Cana of Galilee where
he had made the water wine. And there was a royal official
whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that
Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him and
was imploring him to come down and heal his son; for he was
at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, "Unless you
people see signs and wonders (semeia kai terata), you simply
will not believe." 49 The royal official said to Him, "Sir, come
down before my child dies." 50 Jesus said to him, "Go; your
son lives." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him
and started off.
Why does Jesus criticize people for not being willing to believe
without signs and wonders?
John’s Explanation of Continuing Unbelief
John 12:37 Even after Jesus had done all these signs (semeia) in
their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to
fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our
message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
[Isaiah 53:1] 39 For this reason they could not believe, because,
as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40" He has blinded their eyes and
deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor
understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them."
[Isaiah 6:10] 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and
spoke about him. 42 Yet at the same time many even among the
leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would
not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the
synagogue.