WAITING FOR PENTECOST –
JESUS’ MANY MIRACLES
Reading for today:
John 20:30-31
John 21:25
We just acknowledged Jesus’ ascension back to heaven 6 days ago. In our parallel journey through Lent, to and then beyond the cross, the story is still unfolding. At this point in the disciples’ lives, they are meeting together intentionally in the upper room as they were instructed to do, obediently praying for the promise Jesus left them with in his instructions for what was to come next. “Wait….” They are waiting – which means we are too, as we’re intentionally attempting to follow the day-by-day journey as they experienced it. Right now – all we have recorded is that they were told to wait….
So while we are waiting – it gives me an opportunity to explore some more portions of the Gospel’s messages. (I suspect the disciples were sharing their memories of messages as encouragement to each other as well during this time.)
His Word tells us everything we need to know – but still, these two references in John intrigue me. After all of the amazing miracles that John recorded, he lets us know near the end of his writing of his testimony that Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples. The most captivating statement is in John 21:25, when he says, “If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
That is such a ‘wow’ statement. It intrigues me. All the reports in the gospels of Jesus’ interaction with man during his three whirlwind years of ministry on earth represent only the tip of the iceberg. And, yet, it is enough. These are written so that we may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in his name. (John 20:31)
I cannot help but reiterate that – we may have life in his name. There is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved. None.
Right after Luke tells us that Jesus is the one who was the stone the builders rejected – who has become the capstone, he tells us in Acts 4:12: “…Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Jesus paid the price. He extends the offer of salvation through His blood – but we have a part to play. We have to reach out and accept the gift.
The
chorus of a song by Don Moen springs to mind:
No
other name but the Name of Jesus
No
other name but the Name of the Lord
No
other name but the Name of Jesus
Is
worthy of glory, and worthy of honor
And
worthy of power and all praise
