The Book of John focuses on seven of Jesus’ miracles, and a careful study of each can provide us with principles of encouragement.
- Disappointments? Remember when Jesus addressed an embarrassing moment, turning the water into wine (Jn. 2:1-11)? He is still the One we can turn to when life turns on us. With Paul we say, “The Lord stood by me and strengthened me” (2 Tim. 4:16, 17)!
- Doubts? Remember when He healed a boy and told his daddy to return home, only for the father to go without question (Jn. 4:46-54)? He is still the one in whom we place our faith and our dreams, “Christ… the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27)!
- Disabilities? Remember when He healed a thirty-eight year old invalid (Jn. 5:29)? Via His loving providence, we can still “be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might” (Eph. 0; cf. Phil, 4:13)!
- Desires? Remember when He fed five thousand with a sack lunch (Jn. 6:1-14)? He still meets the desires of those who cry, “For me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21)!
- Despair? Remember when He reached out for Peter (Jn. 6:16-21)? Aren’t we thankful that His hand extends to us with the promise: “I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee” (cf. Heb. 13:5, 6)?!
- Darkness? Remember when He gave sight to a blind man (Jn. 9: 1:11)? But wait! To man stumbling in the wretched darkness of Satan, He is still “the light of the world” (John 2)!
- Death? Remember when He stood outside the tomb of a friend, cried and said, “Lazarus, come forth” (Jn. 11:1 -44)? Better still, there will come a day “in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth” (Jn. 5:28, 29)!
He is “Jesus” [literally, “he who saves”], a man of miracles. But, even more, as one who touches our own lives in so many marvelous ways, we are blessed to call Him, “My Lord and My God” (John 20:28)!
—Dan Winkler, Nashville, TN
