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What is a miracle?
An event or effect considered as a work of God
What are the three kinds of miracle?
Power over nature
Power over sickness
Power over death
Explain the story of ‘Jesus calms the storm’:
It was evening and Jesus and his disciples took a boat on the Sea of Galilee to get a break from the crowds that had gathered to hear Jesus. Then, a fierce storm appeared and bashed against the boat. Jesus was asleep in the boat when the Disciples woke him up saying, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’. Jesus got up and rebuked the sea and wind, ‘Hush, be still’ and the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. Jesus asked his disciples, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you have no faith?’. They became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him'?’
What is the significance of the ‘Calming of the storm’?
Jesus was asleep representing the complete faith in God
Suggests Jesus had the powers of God
Shows God’s ability to control over darkness and the evils in the world
Gives Christians faith to trust Godin times of trouble and uncertainty
Shows you don’t always need complete faith for a miracle to happen
Explain the story of Blind Bartimaeus:
Jesus went to Jericho and as him and his disciples as well as a large crowd were leaving the city, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’. Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet but he continued to shout'. Jesus got the crowd to get the blind man and asked him ‘What do you want me to do?’ and he replied, ‘Rabbi, I want to see’. Jesus replied, ‘Go, your faith has healed you’ and immediately the man was healed and followed Jesus down the road.
What is the significance of Blind Bartimaeus?
Reminds Christians to reach out to everyone regardless of their social standing
Shows and encourages people who have doubts about Christianity there is nothing to worry about, Blind Bartimaeus may not have understood what it was like to follow Jesus yet he still had faith
The Blindness of Bartimaeus could resemble the spiritual blindness of non-believers and the disciples described in the story of a request of James and John
Describe the story of ‘Jesus drives out the evil spirit’:
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed as he taught them as someone who had authority and not other teachers. A man who was possessed with an impure spirit cried out, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!’. ‘Be quiet!’ Jesus replied sternly, ‘Come out of him!’. The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked themselves ‘What is this? He gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him’. News about him quickly spread over the region of Galilee.
What is the significance of ‘Jesus drives out an evil spirit’?
You can’t heal on the Sabbath
The use of ‘Gods Holy messenger’ implies that even the evil spirits recognized that Jesus was the Messiah
Jesus shows his authority
Shows Jesus overpowering the evil of the spirit
Explain the story of ‘Jesus heals many people’:
Jesus went to the home of Andrew and Simon. He healed Simon’s mother-in-law who was bedridden; he took her hand and the fever left. After being healed, she was helped up ad began to serve on James, John and Jesus. That evening many people brought the sick and demon-possessed and Jesus healed them. he drove out many demons but would not let them talk as they knew who he was.
Why did Jesus not let the demons talk?
He didn’t let them speak as they knew who he was and he ordered them not to share the Messianic secret and because he wanted to be followed for his teachings and not because of his miracles.
What is the significance of ‘Jesus heals many people’ and especially the mother?
The mother-in-law can be used to show Christians today that there is never a scenario where you can’t be kind and help out and she also trusted Jesus completely without hesitation
Explain the story of ‘A man with a dreaded skin disease’:
A man came to Jesus and begged to be cured if Jesus was ‘willing’. Jesus replied with ‘I am willing’ and touched the man and cured him. Jesus warned him not to spread what happened and offer testimony to Moses. Instead the man shared what happened. This led to Jesus gaining fame and him being unable to enter a town as more people came to him.
What was the significance of ‘A man with a dreaded skin disease’:
It was highly contagious and the people who had it were deemed as outcasts. In touching the man who was deemed unclean Jesus went against the social norm in order to heal a man
Only time Jesus heals out of pity
Explain the story, ‘Jesus heals a paralytic’:
Jesus was teaching to a large crowd in Capernaum when four men lowered their paralytic friend down from an opening they made in the roof. This was because they could not reach him by other means. When Jesus saw the paralytic man, he said to him ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’. Some teachers of the law were listening and were outraged claiming he was committing Blasphemy. Jesus called out to the teachers, ‘Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: say “Your sins are forgiven” or "Get up, take your mat and walk”?’ Jesus continued with ‘I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’. Jesus told the man to walk out with his mat, and so he did with full view of them all. This amazed everyone as they exclaimed, praising God.
What is the significance ‘Jesus heals a paralytic’:
This miracle marks the beginning of the conflict between Jesus and the religious readers
It is the only place in Mark’s Gospel where Jesus claims authority to forgive sins
The ‘Son of Man’ title used again to show he has authority from God
Shows the faith from the friends of the paralytic
Explain the story ‘Man with paralyzed hand’:
Jesus went to a synagogue and a man with a shriveled hand was there. People were looking at Jesus for reasons to accuse him and see if he would heal on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man, ‘Stand up in front of everyone’. Jesus then asked the watchers, ‘What is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or do evil, to save life or to kill?’ but they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and distressed by their stubborn hearts said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand’. He stretched it out and was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
What is the significance of ‘Man with a Paralysed hand’?
He did the healing on the Sabbath which was considered Blasphemy
The Pharisees taught that healing was work and that assistance should only be given if someone’s life is in danger
Teaches that compassion comes before the law
Explain the story of ‘A dead girl and a sick woman’:
After crossing the Lake Galilee, Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue approached him and fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, ‘My daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live’. So Jesus went with him as well as a large crowd along with a woman who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years. She touched Jesus’ cloak as nothing seemed to heal her. Immediately after touching her, she was healed completely. At once, Jesus turned around and asked the crowd, ‘Who touched my clothes?’. The woman trembling with fear confessed at his feet and Jesus replied ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering’. While speaking to the woman, some men from the house of Jairus explained that his daughter was dead and ‘Why bother the teacher any more?’. Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue rulers, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe’. Jesus did not let anyone follow him except some of James, John, Peter and James’ brother. When they arrived, Jesus said to them, ‘Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep"‘ but they laughed at him. Jesus went in and said to the girl, ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’. The girl immediately got up and walked around as they were astonished. He gave them strict orders not to let anyone know what happened and to giver her something to eat.
What is the significance of ‘A dead girl and a sick woman’?
Jairus was from the synagogue and his begging shows his desperation and belief in Jesus to heal
‘Don’t be afraid, just believe’
Only God has power over death
This miracle is about the importance of faith
Describe the story of ‘Jesus feeds the 5000’:
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they have done and taught. Though, they didn’t have a chance to eat and Jesus said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’. However many who saw them leaving ran ahead of them to towns. When Jesus arrived he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd and so he began teaching them things. It was getting late when the disciples said to Jesus to send the crowd away in order to get food but Jesus answered, ‘You give them something to eat’. The disciples complained that that would take too much money and so Jesus reassured them asking how much food they had’. They answered with 5 loaves and 2 fish. Then, Jesus made them all sit in groups as he split the bread and fish to feed the 5000. The disciples shared out the 12 basketfuls and everyone was satisfied.
What is the significance of ‘Feeding the 5000’?
Symbolized he was the Messiah as one of the beliefs was that the Messiah would have a Messianic banquet for all those who are faithful to him
Relates to how Jesus broke bread at the Last Supper as a sign he was going to die. Breaking the bread is now a key element in the Christian Church
Explain the story of ‘The faith of the Syrophoenician woman’:
Jesus went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house wanting no one to know yet he did not fulfill this wish. As soon as she heard about him, a woman with a possessed daughter fell at his feet. The woman was Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. Jesus told her, ‘First let the children eat all they want for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs’. She replied with, ‘Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs’. He then told her, ‘For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.’ She went home and found her child lying on the bed with the demon gone.
What is the significance of ‘The faith of the Syrophoenician woman’:
Woman at the time were treated as second class let alone her being a gentile
The Gospel is for everyone - Universalism
Explain the story of ‘A boy with an evil spirit’:
They saw a large crowd and the teachers of the law arguing with them(Immediately after the Transfiguration). Jesus asked, ‘What are you arguing about?’ and a man in the crowd ‘Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of his speech, I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not’. Jesus replied, ‘You unbelieving generation, How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.’ When the spirit saw Jesus it instantly threw the boy into a fit. Jesus asked the father how long he’d been like this and the father replied saying since birth. The man asked, ‘If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.’ in which Jesus exclaimed, ‘If you can? Everything i possible for one who believes’. The boy’s father replied, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief’. Jesus went to the spirt and told it, ‘I command you, come out of him and never enter him again’. Once Jesus left, the disciples privately asked why they couldn’t do it and Jesus replied, ‘This kind can only come out with prayer’
What is the significance of ‘The healing of the boy with an evil spirit’
Jesus states that ‘everything is possible for those who believe’ which indicates that having faith is good , prayer is used to strengthen people faith
Jesus was frustrated as they had no faith that God would heal. He gives advice to the disciples saying that prayer or having faith is required to drive out the demon
