Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. John 6:1-2
Most people do not think of themselves as walking miracles. They do not think about waking up in the morning, breathing, good health, and sound minds as miracles. But they are! We have no guarantee that when we go to sleep at night, we will wake up in the morning. The fact that the roof of our houses does not collapse on us while we are in it is a miracle. People who have recovered from the Covid infection have received a miracle.
In Jesus’ day, healing diseases were considered miracles. Raising people from the dead was a miracle. Well, people are being healed from a variety of diseases today, but we give all the credit to medicine. Some people are declared brain dead or put in an induced coma, yet we credit science and medicine when they wake up.
The evidence of God’s greatness is all around us. Because of God’s greatness, we have food to eat, clothes to wear, houses to live, jobs to work, and money to spend. God’s greatness is evident in medicine, science, and technology. The Lord is above all things, controls everything, and determines the success or failure of everything. The greatness of God prevents the sun’s heat from destroying life on earth. His greatness is keeping giant asteroids from crashing into the earth and killing every living creature.
The devil and his demons would have wreaked havoc in our lives if it had not been for the greatness of God. In today’s text, Jesus goes to a mountain top to spend private time with His disciples. Yet He is followed by a multitude of people because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Consequently, Jesus fed five thousand people with just two fish and five small barley loaves of bread. Not too long after that, He crossed to the other side and the crowd met Him to get more food. When He told them that He would give them spiritual bread, they asked for a sign.
In truth, most of us are just like the people in the crowd. No matter what miracle God performed for us in the past, we often want further evidence of His greatness. This is what I call spiritual amnesia, and most people struggle with it. For example, when we lose a job, we panic and forget how God gave us the last job we had, and how He provided for our needs the last time we were unemployed. Or, when we are diagnosed with an illness, we forget how God healed us from our last sickness as we worry about dying.
Every now and then, God would remind me of the miracles He has done in my life. I wish I could say that I am not susceptible to spiritual amnesia, but I can’t. At times, I worry when faced with trials and forget how the Lord delivered me in the past. My very existence is evidence of God’s greatness. I should have been dead so many times, but God protected my life by the power of His might.
What about you, what is the evidence of God’s greatness in your life? In times of crisis, just count your blessings and name them one by one. Think about what God has done in your life since you entered this world. Then you will see evidence of God’s greatness in your life.
We should not need earth-shattering miracles or signs to see the evidence of God’s greatness. Just think about the spiritual transformation you’ve experienced since you gave your life to Jesus Christ. Think about the addictions God delivered you from, the sinful lifestyle you are no longer practicing, or the sinful desires you have defeated. Indeed, the fact that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ with a kingdom worker mindset is a miracle and evidence of God’s greatness.
Questions for Personal Reflection
What is your definition of miracles?
How often do you thank and praise God for the evidence of His greatness in your life?
Prayer- Blessed Lord, I thank you for the numerous miracles you do for me every day. Please help me to overcome my spiritual amnesia when I am faced with a crisis. Open my spiritual eyes so I can see you working in the world and glorify you for being a mighty God who never ceases to display evidence of His greatness.