Miracles Spoken Here

I've heard Christ's miracles dismissed by folks who have a hard time believing that scripture means what it says.

Like, I've heard some believers suggest that Jesus didn't literally feed 5000 men (and their families) from a single basket of bread and fish, but that his preaching inspired people to share the food they brought hidden in their clothes.

I've heard others argue that Christ's resurrection was purely symbolic ... explaining that Christ's message- but not his human body- is what actually rose from the grave.

Their faith suggests Symbolism matters most.

But can you imagine people who were blind, lame or deaf standing around waiting for Jesus ... so he could lay on his hands and hook 'em up with a terrific and inspiring symbolic healing that proved he was who he said he was?

Wouldn't they all go home feeling enthusiastic and on-fire about how God had revealed himself through Symbolism to permanently change their lives?

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Explaining away miracles in terms of legend and symbolism, albeit dismissing scripture, makes us feel more sophisticated and comfortable around non-believers.

Which is what happens every time our focus ignores God and we settle instead on Living Smooth n' Easy and insist that Me = Happy and Content.

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Symbolism? Really?

In the first place, eye-witnesses were still alive who could've reputed the gospels' claim that Christ's resurrection was physical and real. Any of the 11 disciples, or any of the hundreds of witnesses scripture reported seeing Jesus alive after the crucifixion, could've stepped forward at any time and clarified for all posterity, "No, you don't understand. He's still dead, we only meant that Jesus' message is alive."

But that's not what happened. The disciples suffered and were martyred, rather than renounce what they had seen.

In the second place: imagine you were Martha, the friend who saw Lazurus raised from the dead, or that you were one of the lame beggars who walked home unassisted. Or that you were the parent of a blind person whom Jesus had healed.

Would it make any difference- or would it all be the same to you- if the miracle you'd seen happen to someone you loved was real... or just purely symbolic?