May the mumbling commence!
Which comes first – miracles or faith? Read a set of miracles from the beginning of Luke chapter seven:
When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." So Jesus went with them.
He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. (Verses 1-10)
In the case of the centurion, faith and devotion and love for God definitely came first. The elders of the Jews defined him as worthy of help because he loves the Jewish people and had built their synagogue. This centurion had a love for the living God before he knew of Jesus. It was through his love of the living God that he heard of Jesus.
He trusted in the might of the living God more so than he trusted in the might of the Roman legions, of which he was a part. It is no wonder that Jesus said that he has not found such faith in Israel! Far too many of the Jewish people were doing everything they could to hold onto any power they had thought they possessed – trusting in the power of Rome to last.
Faith, in this case came before miracle. Read the next miracle story in Luke chapter seven
Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out – the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry."
Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country. (Verses 11-17)
This story begins with grief and despair and extreme vulnerability. A widow has lost her only son – the only hope she had for her wellbeing and support. A large crowd walked with her, helpless to the fate of the woman. They walked with her and cried with her. None thought to go to Jesus…
But Jesus saw and had compassion on the widow. He interrupted the procession and called the widow’s son back from death. The son was raised, and the people were filled with awe and praised God. The news spread like wildfire. In this case, miracle preceded faith… if faith was actually growing within the awe and praise…
When we depend upon the miraculous to sustain our faith, we are always hungry for more miracles. Luke chapter seven goes on to show the doubt of John the Baptist, who was imprisoned. Are you the one, or should we expect another..?
Faith comes most naturally before miracle, because faith gives us the eyes to see – eyes to see that power and might and truth comes from God alone.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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