Miracles That Astonish

MIRACLES THAT ASTONISH

a prayer to open

Open my eyes and help me to see you.

Open my heart and help me to know you.

Jesus, my Lord and my God.

One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge. . . . Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. . . . [He] taught the crowds from there.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. . . .

Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, “Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”

But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

The miracles in this passage tend to steal our attention, but it’s interesting to shift our focus to the way Simon Peter and the man with leprosy respond to Jesus. In experiencing Jesus’ power over nature, Simon seems to discover something not only about himself but about Jesus, too. And although we don’t see it as clearly in the text, we can assume that because news spread about Jesus quickly, the man with leprosy didn’t hold his tongue about what he’d experienced. Do we respond with this same kind of humility and awe to what we see God do?

• What do the responses to Jesus’ miracles bring to light about Simon Peter and the man with leprosy?
• Simon, James, and John pulled their boats ashore, left everything, and followed Jesus. What behaviors, attitudes, or relationships is Jesus calling you to leave to follow him?
• What does today’s passage reveal to you about Jesus?

Father, thank you for calling me to follow Jesus and giving me the courage to say yes. I long to leave the destructive behaviors and attitudes that keep me from following after you wholeheartedly. Give me eyes to see your miracles in the world, whether it’s the transformation of a life or the healing of a heart, and let me be someone who cannot keep quiet but must shout from the mountaintops about your goodness and healing. Amen.