Miracles and Discourses
Some of the contents of the Word of God belong on an exceptional level, by themselves, and in a separate group. They remind us of mountain peaks which, however separated, are parts of one range by their very altitude and solitariness attracting special notice. In all things importance is relative; not even in an inspired book are all contents of equal value as revealing God or availing man. To ascertain what the divine Author would have most prominent is one legitimate aim in study.
MO’NG these Scripture prominences three, not already considered, deserve special mention: Bibhcal Miracles, Parables, and Discourses. The first are special exhibitions of supernatural power; the second, of divine illustration of truth; and the third of continuous development of doctrine.
As to miracles, there are reckoned about sixty-two in the Old Testament, which some one has carefully compiled and arranged as follows:
Lot’s Wife becoming a Pillar of Salt. Gen. xix:26. The Burning Bush. Ex. iii :2.
The Changing of the Rod of Aaron into a Serpent. Ex. vii :8-12.
The Plagues of Egypt:
The Turning of the Waters into Blood. Ex. vii: 19-25.
The Frogs. Ex. viii:5-15.
The Lice (or Mosquitoes). Ex. viii:16-19.
The Flies (or Bloodsuckers). Ex. viii:2i-32.
The Murrain upon the Cattle. Ex. ixii-/.
Boils upon Man and Beast. Ex. ix:8-12.
The Hail-Storm. Ex. ix: 13-26.
The Locusts. Ex. x 112-15.
The Darkness. Ex. x:2i-23.
The Death of the Firstborn. Ex. xii:29.
The Pillar of Cloud. Ex. xiii :2i.
The Dividing of the Red Sea. Ex. xiv:2i-22.
The Healing of the Waters of Marah. Ex. xv 123-25.
The Giving of the Manna. Ex. xvi:15.
Water from the Rock in Horeb. Ex. xvii :6.
The Giving of the Quails. Num. xi:3i.
Miriam Smitten with Leprosy. Num. xii:io.
The Judgment of Korah. Num. xvi:3i-33.
The Budding of Aaron’s Rod. Num. xvii :8.
The Brazen Serpent. Num. xxi:9.
Balaam’s Ass Speaking. Num. xxii :28-30.
The Dividing of the Jordan. Josh. 111:15-17.
The Overthrow of Jericho. Josh, vi :2o.
The Sun and Moon Stand Still. Josh, x 112-14.
Gideon’s Sacrifice Consumed by Fire. Judges vi:2i.
Gideon’s Fleece. Judges vi :36-40.
Samson’s Victory with the Jawbone, etc. Judges xv:15- 18-19.
The Fall of Dagon. i Sam. v :3-5.
Thunder and Rain at the Prayer of Samuel. I Sam. xii:16-19.
Three Days’ Pestilence. 2 Sam. xxiv:15.
The Prophecy against Jeroboam and its Attendant Circumstances. I Kings xiii:i-5.
The Slaying of the Disobedient Prophet, i Kings xiii 124.
Elijah Fed by Ravens, i Kings xvii:6.
The Increase in the Widow’s Barrel and Cruse of Oil. I Kings xvii :16.
The Raising of the Widow’s Son. i Kings xvii:17-23.
The Descent of Fire upon the Altar on Mount Carmel. I Kings xviii :38.
Elijah Fed by an Angel, i Kings xix:5-8.
God’s Manifestation to Elijah at Horeb. I Kings
xix:ii-13.
The Destruction of the Two Captains with their Companies. 2 Kings i:9-16.
The Translation of EHjah. 2 Kings ii:ii.
Elisha Dividing the Jordan. 2 Kings ii:14.
The Healing of the Waters of Jericho. 2 Kings 12 :2i-22.
The Scoffers Torn by Bears. 2 Kings ii:24.
Defeat of the Moabites. 2 Kings iii :20.
The Increase of the Oil. 2 Kings iv:3-6.
The Raising of the Shunammite’s Son. 2 Kings iv:3i-37.
The Poisonous Pottage Healed. 2 Kings iv 138-4 1.
The Feeding of a Hundred with Twenty Loaves. 2 Kings iv ‘.42-44.
The Cure of Naaman’s Leprosy. 2 Kings v:14.
Gehazi Smitten with Leprosy. 2 Kings v 127.
The Restoration of the Axe. 2 Kings vi :6.
The IMiracles Wrought by Elisha on Human Vision. 2 Kings vi:17-18.
The Raising of the Siege of Samaria. 2 Kings vii :i-6.
The Resurrection at the Tomb of Elisha. 2 King xiii:2i.
The Destruction of Sennacherib’s Army. 2 Kings xix:35.
The Going Back of the Shadow upon the Dial of Ahaz. 2 Kings xx:8-ii.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the Fiery Furnace. Dan. iii:23-27.
Daniel’s Deliverance from the Lions. Dan. vi:22.
Jonah’s Preservation. Jonah in/.
Of these Old Testament miracles there is a basis for at least a three-fold classification; they serve to exhibit:
I. The powers of nature:
(i) Inanimate J water, blood, oil, light, fire, etc.
(a) Several have to do with water; the Nile plague,
the Red Sea, Jordan, Marah, Meribah and
Rephidim, waters of Jericho, water to allies in
Moab, the iron made to swim, sacrifice at
Carmel, etc.
(b) Two, with oil — widow’s cruse and oil in the
vessels.
(c) Two, with the Sun, Joshua’s long day, and Dial
of Ahaz.
(d) Five, with iire — Pillar of fire, Shekinah fire, fire
from heaven at Carmel, companies consumed,
fiery furnace.
(e) Three, with food — Manna, cruse of oil, meal
and barrel, and feeding of the hundred men
with twenty loaves.
(f) Miscellaneous — Aaron’s rod, darkness, thunder
and hail, earthquake, Jericho’s walls, etc.
(2) Animate;
Aaron’s rod turned to serpent, frogs, lice, flies, murrain, boils and blains, locusts, firstborn, lion’s den, Jonah and great fish, etc.
II. The power of Disease:
Leprosy of Miriam, Naaman, Uzziah; fiery serpents and brazen serpent; Jeroboam’s hand withered, the deadly pottage, etc.
III. Power of Death:
Nadab and Abihu, Burning at Taberah, Kibroth
Hataavah, Korah and company, Uzzah, Widow’s
Son at Zarephath and Shunammite’s Son, Syrian Army, Sennacherib’s Army, Smiting Philistines, Mockers at Bethel, Enoch’s and Elijah’s translation, and Elisha’s bones.
This analysis, however incomplete, may hint the vast scope even of Old Testament wonder working.
The recorded miracles of our Lord number thirty-eight, as follows:
1. Water Made Wine. John ii:i-ii.
2. First Draught of Fishes. Luke v:i-io.
3. Demoniac in the Synagogue. Mark i 123-24. Luke iv :33-36.
4. Leper cleansed. Matt. viii:2-4. Mark i:40-56. Luke v:12-14.
5. Centurion’s Servant. Matt. viii:5-13. Luke vii:i-16.
6. Peter’s Wife’s Mother. Matt. viii:14, ,15. Mark i:30, 31. Luke iv:38, 39.
7. Paralytic, Borne of Four. Matt, ix 12-7. Mark ii :3- 12. Luke V 118-25.
8. Nobleman’s Son. John iv:46^54.
9. Tempest Calmed. Matt, viii 124-27. Mark iv 137-41.
10. Jairus’ Daughter. Matt. ix:18, 19. Mark v:22-24. Luke viii:4i, 42.
11. Bloody Issue. Matt, ix 120-22. Markv:25-34. Luke viii 143-48.
12. Dumb Spirit. Matt. ix:32, 33.
13. Legion of Demons. Matt, viii 128-33. Mark v:2-20. Luke viii:27-39.
14. Blind and Dumb Spirit. Matt. xii:22. Luke xi:14.
15. Withered Hand. Matt. xii:io-13. Mark iii:i-5. Luke vi :6-io.
16. Widow’s Son. Luke vii:il-l5.
17. Impotent Man. John v:2-15.
18. Man Born Blind. John ix:i-39.
19. Blind Man. Mark viii 122-26.
20. Two Blind Men. Matt. ix:27-3i,
21. Walking on the Sea. Matt. xiv:24-33. Mark vi: 47-52. John vi:16-2i.
22. Daughter of Woman of Canaan. Matt. xv:22-28. Mark vii:25-30.
23. Deaf and Dumb Man. Matt. xv:30, 31. Mark vii:
24. Feeding Four Thousand. Matt, xv 132-38. Mark viii :i-9.
25. Exorcism of Mary Magdalene. Luke viii .2.
26. Feeding Five Thousand. Matt, xiv: 15-21. Mark vi:35-44. Luke ix:12-17. John vi:5-13.
2y. Dumb Spirit. Matt. xvii:14-2i. Mark ix:17-25. Luke 1x138-42.
28. Fish and Tribute Money. Matt, xvii 124-27.
29. Woman With Infirmity. Luke xiii:ii-17.
30. Dropsy. Luke xiv:2-6.
31. Ten Lepers. Luke xvii:12-19.
32. Bartimeus and Another Blind Man. Matt. xx:30-34. Mark x :46-52. Luke xviii :35-43.
33. Fig Tree Withered. Matt. xxi:19, 20. Mark xi: 13-21.
34. Lazarus Raised. John xi:i-44.
35. Healing Malchus’ Ear. John xxii:5i.
36. Our Lord’s Own Resurrection. Matt. xxviii:i-lo. Mark xvi. Luke xxiv. John xx. i Cor. xv:4-8,
37. Second Draught of Fishes. John xxi :6.
38. Our Lord’s Ascension. Mark xviiip. Luke xxiv: 50, 51-
To these may be added a secondary list for reasons which are apparent:
1. His Escape from Violence at Nazareth. Luke iv:28- 31-
2. Many Unrecorded Healings. Matt, xii 115, 16. Mark iii:io-12 Galilee.
3. Great Multitudes Healed. Matt. xv:30, 31. Mark ni::^2-2’j Galilee.
4. Many Demoniacs. Tslatt. viii:16, 17. jNIark 1:32-34. Luke iv:40, 41, Galilee.
5. Miracles at Jerusalem, Compelling Belief. John ii 123.
6. Healings in Judea Beyond Jordan. jMatt. xix:2.
7. Healing of Sick at Bethsaida. ]Iatt. xiv :16. Luke ix:ii. John vi:2.
8. All Manner of Sickness in Gahlee. !Matt. iv:23, 24. Mark 1:34.
9. Great Multitude Healed out of Judea, etc. Luke vi: 17-20.
10. Healing Every Sickness. Matt. 1x135.
11. As Many as Touched Made Whole. Matt, xiv 135- 36. ]Iark vi:55-56, Galilee.
12. A Few Sick Folk at Nazareth. Mark vi :5.
13. Certain Women With Evil Spirits. Luke viii:2, 3.
The Discourses of our Lord, like His parables and miracles, are susceptible of a two-fold classification into major and minor utterances.
Of the former we may reckon:
1. The so-called Sermon on the ]Iount. ]Iatt. v, vi, vii.
2. His Instructions to the Twelve Apostles. Matt. x.
3. John the Baptist and His jMission. ]Iatt. xi.
4. Satan Casting out Satan, Holy Spirit, etc. Matt, xii: 22-50.
5. Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven. Matt. xiii.
6. The Externals and Internals of Godliness. IMatt. xv: 1-20,
7. The Confession and Knowledge of Christ. IMatt. xvi: 13-28.
8. The IMagnitude of Small Numbers. IMatt. xviii :i-20.
9. The True Nature and Patience of Forgiveness. IMatt. xviii :2 1 -3 5.
10. The Danger and Destructiveness of Avarice. Matt. xix:16, xx:16.
11. The Peril and IMeanness of Ambition. Matt xx: 20-28.
12. Obedience and Disobedience to Divine Authority. Matt. xxi:23-44.
13. The Called and the Chosen of God. xxii 11-14.
14. The Guilt and Condemnation of Hypocrisy. Matt, xxiii.
15. The Signs of Christs Coming and the End. Matt, xxiv, XXV.
16. The Vineyard and Unfaithful Husbandmen. Mark xii:i-12.
17. The Sermon in the Synagogue at Nazareth. Luke iv 116-30.
18. The Love that is Born of Forgiveness. Luke vii:
37-50-
19. Six Wrong Tempers: Intolerance, Ambition, Revenge, etc. Luke 1x143-62.
20. The Commission of the Seventy. Luke x:i-24.
21. The Good Samaritan and Love to Neighbor. Luke X :25-42.
22. The Lesson of Importunity in Prayer. Luke xi:i-13.
23. The Sin and Folly of Covetousness. Luke xii: 13-59.
24. The Strait Gate and the Shut Door. Luke xiii:
23-35-
25. The Feast and the Guests. Luke xiv :7-35.
26. The Love of God for the Lost. Luke xv.
2^. The Responsibility of Stewardship. Luke xvi:i-3i.
28. Conditions of Prevailing Prayer. Luke xviii:i-14.
29. The Nobleman and His Servants. Luke xix :i-27.
30. The Rebuke of the Sadducees. Luke xx 127-47.
31. The Post-Resurrection Exposition. Luke xxiv: 13-34. ^2. The Nev Birth and Eternal Life. John iii.
^^. The Water that Quenches Thirst. John iv:i-42.
34. The Divine Equality and Authority of the Son. John v:17-47.
35. The Bread Which is from Heaven. John vi:26-7i.
36. The Two Fatherhoods, God and Devil. John viii: 21-59-
37. The Good Shepherd and the Sheep. John x:i-38.
38. The Humility of True Service. John xiii:i-20.
39. The Great Preparatory Discourse. John xiv-xvi.
40. The Intercessory Prayer. John xvii.
Of Minor Discourses we suggest:
1. The True Law of the Sabbath Rest. Matt. xii:i-I3.
2. The Leaven of the Pharisees. Matt. xvi:i-12.
3. Divorce and Marital Relations. Matt, xix :3-12.
4. The Moral Meaning of His Miracles. Mark ii:3-17.
5. The Vice of Intolerance and Bigotry. Mark ix:3S-5o.
6. The Resurrection Life and Its Conditions. Mark xii: 18-27.
7. The First and Greatest Commandment. Mark xii: 28-34.
8. God’s Estimate of Human Gifts. Mark xii:4i-44.
9. The Last Great Command and Commission. Mark
xvi:14-2o.
10. The Barren Fig Tree and Its Lesson. Luke xiii :i-9.
11. Offences and the Forgiving Spirit. Luke xvii:i-io. 12*. The Address on the Last Day of Feast. John vii:
37-39-
13. The Light of the World. John viii:12-20.
14. The Resurrection, Spiritual and Physical. John xi: 25-26.
15. The Corn of Wheat and the Crop. John xii:2i-36.
16. Believing and Rejecting. John xii 142-50.
Among the discourses of our Lord should be ranked
those “Seven Epistles” to the churches of Asia Minor which form the unique seven-fold post-resurrection address of the risen One. Space forbids their adequate treatment here; but they are divisible, each, into the following heads:
1. Our Lord appears in each in a certain character, or with certain characteristic description of Himself adapted to the particular message.
2. There is a word of commendation for what is praiseworthy.
3. A word of condemnation for such things as are undesirable, inconsistent or blameworthy.
4. A word of counsel or exhortation.
5. A promise of reward, with its conditions.
Especially notable is the evident progress of thought in the rewards promised, which are all couched in figures and imagery, drawn from the Old Testament, and following a progressive historic order. There can be no accident in this striking fact. They are all ‘Ho him that overcometh,” the symbolism evidently being drawn from the consecutive history of mankind and of Israel from the creation of Adam to the consummation of the Kingdom under Solomon. To exhibit this correspondence and development we resort again to parallel columns.
I. “Will I give to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
3. “Shall not be hurt of the Second Death.”
3. “Will I we of the Hidden Manna,
A white stone,
And in the stone a new name written.”
4. “Power over the nations, and he shall rule
them with a rod of iron.”
5. Shall be clothed in white raiment; and I
will not blot out his name out of the Book
of Life.”
6. “Will I make a pillar in the Temple of My
God; and he shall go no more out... and
I will write on him My new name.”
7. “To sit with me on My throne, even as I
also overcame,” etc.
Gen, ii: 8, 9.
Joh« i:
n.
Gen. ii: 17.
ui:3.
Exod. xvi: 4... 33.
xxvni -.9... 12.
Exod, xvii: 8... 16
..39.
Exod. xxxii: 26, 33.
I Kings vii: 21, 23.
I Kings X: 18, 20.