ISRAELS SIGNS MIRACLES AND WONDERS

ISRAELS SIGNS MIRACLES AND WONDERS

“And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.” Mark 16:20

That is Mark's last word about the Lord. He is co-operating with His messengers in the delivery of their message, and confirming the word by deeds of power (Heb. 2:4) which are the signs of His presence. The previous statement reveals Him as sitting at the right-hand of God, having been received up into Heaven. These two pictures should always be in our mind as we go forth on His business. He is the triumphant One. All He came to do, He did. His return to the Father was that of VICTORIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT. But it was not a return to inactivity. From that supreme place of authority and power He directs and accompanies all the journeying’s and activities of those who are His messengers to men.

Two matters should be carefully noted. First, that He works with the preachers of the Word, in the actual work of preaching and here in His attempt to VERIFY THE MESSAGE AND THE MESSENGER SENT TO THE NATION. He has changed His method with the preaching of the Church to Gentiles as it differs from preaching to Israel, but too often we are in danger of preaching as though in the act we are alone. It is not so. In proportion as we are true to Him and His message, we may rest assured that He is Himself actually, by the Holy Spirit, working with us, making His own direct appeal to those who are listening to us. The truth is full of comfort. Then, second, we must recognize that it is He Who gives the signs, as He was doing to Israel He has changed His method with the church. It is not for us to choose what He should do and how He does these things. Today they are wholly spiritual; sometimes they are wrought in the mental and physical realms. The methods He uses to save men today are of His doing. He shall change His methods again at His Second Coming as Israel comes back into the picture as He brings His Kingdom rule to be established on this earth. Our only responsibility today is that of preaching the Word, and baptizing as He commanded (Matt. 28:19). He will use the methods as He knows to be necessary for the fulfillment of His purpose, and to the glory of His name. It is through the foolishness of preaching that men are saved.

<signs, miracles,wonders> See Holman article. The three Greek terms here are quite generally used in the New Testament to describe miracles. Dunamis {miracles}points to the source of the miracle: it is an act or display of divine "power." Teras {wonder} describes the immediate effect it is intended to produce: it is a prodigy or "wonder." Simeion {signs}indicates the purpose of the miracle: it is a "sign" pointing to something beyond it. Men are attempting to reproduce those things which lack that purpose today but they shall begin at the second return to again produce wonder in Israel, pointing the nation the right direction and they shall recognize the true Source of those displays and they shall finally respond correctly and the whole nation shall be saved as prophesied (Rom. 11:26), part of the plan before the very beginning (Eph. 1:11).

Cf. Acts 2:43; 2 Cor 12:12; Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:4; John 5:20.