Q1. Maturing Faith

[pickledilly]

True miracles demonstrate the glory and power of God as He intervenes in supernatural ways. They are God's confirmation of the authenticity of His messengers and evidence of His leading. When we understand the purpose for miracles, our faith is strengthened in the Miracle-Giver.

 

Seeing miracles, on its own, doesn't build faith. When we only look with human eyes, we see miracles as some kind of sensational thrill show. We get all excited about the miracle and entirely miss the Person who performed it. The religious establishment of Jesus' day saw Him perform countless signs and wonders, yet in their utter hardness of heart they demanded signs “from heaven” according to what they desired to see. When we approach it this way, we will never see God and His purpose in the miracle.

 

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, and in John 4:48 He rebuked the people of Galilee. He had just come from Samaria, where the people believed Him to be the Savior of the world “because of His Word” (4:41-42) without ever seeing a miracle. Now He was dealing with people who just wanted to see the signs and wonders, people who would never see enough to make them believe His message, thus missing the purpose of the miracles. They hadn't cared a thing about Him until they saw the miracles in Jerusalem during Passover, and now everybody wanted to claim Him as their “home-boy”! It was the miracles, not the Son of Man that enthralled them. This must have been so discouraging to Jesus!

 

Miracles are amazing testimonies of God at work. But to only see the spectacle with some superficial belief is to miss the Person. We are to live our lives by faith, not by sight. And the Person is the only trustworthy object of faith. Knowing Him is far more important than knowing what He can do.

[Old Jerry]

I think that if you can see what he can do, then I think that you will believe in what they are saying. If the only thing that you see is miracles then you might think that he is a magician and that is that he can do. The reason that Jesus rebuke the Galileans is because they had already seen what he could do miracles but they still didn’t believe in his message.

[Godswriter]

Q1. (John 4:43-48) Many of the Galileans believe mainly because they have seen miracles. In what ways do miracles help build faith? Why does only seeing miracles not build a mature faith? Why does Jesus rebuke the Galileans in 4:48?

They show that God can be trusted, He answers prayers, that He heals and He is the Great Physician. 

Only seeing miracles does not build a mature faith because you are not believing in the Healer, Great Physician and the Creator. You are only believing in in God as a Healer but not anything more. Because He is so much more than that. He is the Creator of the universe and you and me. 

He rebuked them because they chose to believe in the miracles but not in Him.

[Paula Price]

God used miracles through out the bible to show His power to weak people who would not believe other wise.  He used miracles to deliver the Hebrews from bondage, to show His might and power, so they would believe, so that all who witness would believe.  God does not have to prove anything to anyone, HE IS GOD.  But He knows man is weak and needs to be assured of things in order to believe.  Once we see proof of something that we can not explain, we seem to believe in it.  That is our nature.  There are many who will see these miracles and choose to believe and there are those who will want to believe, but still have doubt.  God wants our faith in Him, miracles or not, He wants us to choose belief in Him.....and when we do,  miracles happens!!.  Only Believe!!!.  God rebukes the Galileans because they only want to see Him perform miracles, they do not want to know him, they only want to know and see what He can do for them or what will benefit them.  They are treating Him as a performer!  One who does tricks to entertain.  (Hebrews 11:1) "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for , the evidence of things not seen.."  A matured faith is built on trusting and believing.  Miracles or not....

[newwine50]

(John 4:43-48) Many of the Galileans believe mainly because they have seen miracles. In what ways do miracles help build faith?  They show you that miracles are possible.  If you didn't have miracles you wouldn't be able to believe in them. 

Why does only seeing miracles not build a mature faith?  Faith must be built on the Word of God not the miracle itself.  People can get miracles but if they don't continue in God's Word that says they are healed they can lose the miracle.  The Word of God is what we are to stand on not the miracle. 

Why does Jesus rebuke the Galileans in 4:48?  They would only believe if they saw
They would not believe unless they saw miraculous signs and wonders. 

[Jonathan Edwards]

On our rationalistic and cynical age, miracles are a way to raise the consciousness of quasi-Christains, agnostics or simply those who are on pilgrimages of faith.  In past healing revivals of evangelists of notable repute, people have been converted when they heard testimonies of divine healing or who have been to healing services and witnessed genuine healings.

Relying or centering on signs and wonders is not mature Christianity.   St John of the Cross, a 16th century spiritual writer, was very adamant about undue reliance on visions and miracles.   He always stressed that the believer is to be centered on Christ alone; we need to develop a close relationship with Christ day by day.  John of the Cross' poetry and magnus opus on the Song of Solomon underscores this point.

Christ rebuked the Galileans because He knew what layer ahead: Garden of Gethsemane and many would not continue to follow Him after He gave the Bread of Life sermon.    Like people today, the Galileans had a superficial faith, they did not know all the aspects of faith but Christ was so loving that He honored what faith they had in their hearts.  The royal official's  faith matured.   What a tremendous statement in  verse 53 "...and himself believed, and his whole household".  The royal official came to believe that NOW is God's power to heal is available.   Verse 51 underscores that God is  NOW.   A theme that is very characteristic in St John's Gospel.

 

[Daniel R]

1. Many of the Galileans believe mainly because they have seen miracles. In what ways do miracles help build faith? 

Often times, God works miracles in times of trouble and distress and when an individual doesn't know God or is further away from Him than they have been in a long time. When individuals experience miracles, they experience the Power and Love of God as well, which oftentimes draws an individual to, back to, or closer to God, creating a (more) intimate relationship.

2. Why does only seeing miracles not build a mature faith?

The problem with "miracle-faith" is that when the miracles go, the faith goes with them. There is nothing to sustain or uphold the faith because the whole faith was rooted in signs, wonders, and miracles, not in Jesus Christ!

3. Why does Jesus rebuke the Galileans in 4:48?

Jesus rebuked the Galileans in John 4:48 because they had "miracle-faith." Their faith and interest was found in Jesus' miracles, and not in Him, meaning that when the miracles would stop, their faith would also stop and they would fall away from Jesus and from the faith itself!

 

THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!!!

[Irmela]

1. (John 4:43-48) Many of the Galileans believe mainly because they have seen miracles.

1.1 In what ways do miracles help build faith?

Miracles are almost like bait to draw people to faith in the first place. When miracles do take place, it is a confirmation that our faith is not in vain. 

1.2 Why does only seeing miracles not build a mature faith?

Only relying on seeing miracles does not build a mature faith, because miracles do not occur at the snap of a finger. 

1.3 Why does Jesus rebuke the Galileans in 4:48?

The Galileans wanted signs and wonders (that was the attraction). They did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, as the Samaritans, in Sychar did.