The Last Miracle: Leading Up To Easter

Sermon Title: The Last Miracle, The Moment We Become a Miracle

Good News Statement: Jesus encourages us to be a miracle

Preached: Sunday, March 17, 2024 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Luke 22:47-53 Today’s scripture reading comes from the Gospel of Luke. While Jesus is found praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and just before he is overturned to the authorities, Jesus is caught performing his last miracle before he is crucified. Jesus heals, not a disciple, not a faithful follower, and possibly not even a believer; rather he heals an enemy. Our Scripture Reading comes from the Gospel of Luke Chapter Twenty-Two, verses Forty-seven thru Fifty-three. May the hearing and reading of this scripture add understanding and meaning to your life.

Luke 22:47-53

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, ⁴⁸ but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” ⁴⁹ When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” ⁵⁰ Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. ⁵¹ But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. ⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as though I were a rebel? ⁵³ When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour and the power of darkness!”

Mark 14:53-52

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

⁴³ Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived, and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. ⁴⁴ Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” ⁴⁵ So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. ⁴⁶ Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. ⁴⁷ But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. ⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a rebel? ⁴⁹ Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.” ⁵⁰ All of them deserted him and fled.

⁵¹ A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, ⁵² but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.

 

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

Introduction:

What is a miracle? As followers of Jesus Christ, we have read about, envisioned, been taught, and possibly witnessed several miracles in our life. We have read about Jesus’ first miracle of when he turned water into wine. We read about Jesus returning sight to the blind, healing a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, made the paralytic man walk, cast out demons, heal those labeled as lepers, and raised several people from the dead like the ruler’s daughter (Matthew 9:23-25), the widow’s son (Luke 7:11-17), and his friend Lazarus (John11:38-44). We were taught about the miracle of Jesus taking two little fish and five loaves of bread and feeding 5,000 men plus women and children on the shores of Galilee. What about Jesus walking on water? Additionally, we prepare our heart, mind, body, and soul throughout the year for the greatest miracle of them all.

Outside the Bible, you have probably experienced or heard about several miracles. You have heard about people experiencing victories after being diagnosed with cancer. You have seen people walk again with the help of prosthetic legs or those who are able to hug their loved ones again with the help of prosthetic arms. You may know of someone who was addicted to drugs or alcohol who has been clean and sober for several years now. You may have even heard about or seen someone turn from their wicked ways to follow Jesus Christ. In 2016, the world witnessed a miracle when the Chicago Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians (now the Guardians) to receive the title of being World Series Champions, the second time that franchise has accomplished this great victory (miracle) in its 153 years of existence.

In the 2003 movie Bruce Almighty, starring Jim Carey, Morgan Freeman, and Jennifer Aniston, God—played by Morgan Freeman—is with Bruce—played by Jim Carey—in heaven. Just before Bruce prays, God has this to say about miracles: “Parting your soup is not a miracle, Bruce. It’s a magic trick. A single mom who’s working two jobs and still finds time to take her kid to soccer practice, that’s a miracle. A teenager who says “no” to drugs and “yes” to an education, that’s a miracle. People want me to do everything for them. But what they don’t realize is THEY have the power. You want to see a miracle, son? Be the miracle.”

So, what is a miracle? I begin our time asking you this question and highlighting a few Biblical and personal miracles because during the Easter Season, we are preparing for the greatest miracle of all. Not only are we preparing for the miracle of Jesus’ Resurrection, but we are preparing for our own resurrection: of being made new, of letting things go, of being set free. Leading up to the miracle of being resurrected—meaning remembering what Jesus went through, being present as Jesus paraded down the streets of Jerusalem while palm branches were waving high in the air and shouts of “Hosanna” echoed off every wall, and sitting in the upper room with the twelve disciples—we must not forget the last miracle Jesus performed before things went dark.

While Jesus is found praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and just before he is overturned to the authorities, Jesus is caught performing his last miracle before he is crucified. Jesus heals, not a disciple, not a faithful follower, and possibly not even a believer; rather he heals an enemy. We, too, need to be healed; and Jesus wants to perform a miracle within our own lives. But, will we let him?

Body:

Throughout the centuries, the word “miracle” has morphed and changed. In ancient Sanskrit the word miracle meant “to smile and laugh.” Then in the mid-12^th century the word miracle referred to “an object of wonder.” In Latin, it means “to wonder at, marvel, be astonished” (mirari). Now, in Greek, “miracle” (thauma) is defined as “something that excites wonder or astonishment, extraordinary or remarkable feat.” In the New Testament, the words “sign, wonder, and power” are often used as another means to define miracle.

For example, “power” (dunamis) means “mighty deed.” Jesus’s miracles were overwhelmingly powerful acts that revealed his omnipotence and authority. “Sign” (sēmeion) refers to a miracle that figuratively represents something else, such as the kingdom of God. The miracles of Jesus were signs, authenticating his ministry and revealing him to be the Messiah and Son of God. Lastly, “wonder” (teras) indicates something extraordinary. Christ’s miracles were wonderful, compelling, supernatural acts that caused people to marvel and confirmed his divine nature. Just within the four gospels, Jesus performed approximately thirty-seven miracles, powers, signs, or wonders. The thirty-seven miracles of Jesus Christ that were written down in the New Testament serve a specific purpose. None were performed randomly, for amusement, or for show. Each was accompanied by a message and either met a serious human need or confirmed Christ’s identity and authority as the Son of God. When one looks up the etymology—the origin—of the word miracle, one will find phrases such as “miracle-worker” which appeared in the 1560s, “miracle-play” from the 1740s, “miracle-whip” which appeared on shelves in 1933, and the phrase “miracle-drug” in 1939.

Today , miracle is defined as an “act not fully explained by natural forces but attributed to supernatural forces; an amazing product or achievement; God doing something uncommon and usually awe-inspiring in order to reveal himself to mankind.” One scholar defines miracle as “a wondrous work of God.”

The idea and understanding of a “miracle” has been part of our history for many years. But have you ever given consideration to the last miracle that Jesus performed before his crucifixion and what it teaches us today?

Do you remember his last miracle?  Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane. The religious authorities had sent a troop of temple security guards to arrest him. Among them was a servant of the Jewish High Priest.  John 18:10 identifies him as Malchus. After Judas marked Jesus with a kiss, rough hands reached out to bind him with ropes:  a commotion of shouting, shoving, and scuffling ensued amongst those present. The Gospel of Mark, in a terrible situation, throws humor into the scene when he shares, “A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked” (Mark 14:51-52). Both Mark and Luke indicate that “one of them” who stood near, most likely Peter, pulled out a sword and swung it wildly, barely missing Malchus’ head—but cutting off his ear.  It was certainly a moment of commotion and chaos.

We can imagine the shock and searing pain that Malchus experienced. There is pain in the peaceful Garden of Gethsemane. As he touched the stump where an ear had been, he surely realized that he would bear this incident for the remainder of his days. To his surprise, the Galilean Rabbi, the name Judas calls Jesus before he kisses him, rebuked his assailant. Jesus, in an alarming tone, says, “No more of this! (Luke 22:51). Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a rebel? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled” (Mark 14:48-49).

Then, according to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus picked up the ear and reattached it—unbloodied, unscathed, and as good as new: “He touched his ear and healed him” (Luke 22:51). Malchus must have felt both bewilderment and amazement that his sworn enemy could show him such kindness: someone that he didn’t believe in healed him; someone who could destroy him healed him; and someone who was concerned and worried about the next several hours, paused to heal a stranger. This was Jesus’ last miracle before his death, and maybe the one that is most significant for us; a true “wondrous work of God” through Jesus Christ.

If you were able to perform one miracle, what would it be? If given the opportunity to perform one last act of kindness, what would you do and who would it be for? If you were given a magic wand, where would you wave that magic wand? May I suggest that, in these polarized and toxic times, you perform a miracle similar to that of Jesus’ last miracle before his death. Why? Because in that miracle we learn what Jesus needs us to do. Here are three things to consider about Jesus healing the ear of Malchus, who was not a disciple, who was not a faithful follower, who was not a believer at first, and who was an enemy. Jesus healed someone who came to arrest him.

 

Movement One: Jesus Didn’t Fight Back

First, Jesus didn’t duke it out with the opposition. Jesus didn’t fight back. When the temple security guys showed up with swords, Peter decided to pull his out too. Yes, a disciple had a sword, a weapon. It wasn’t uncommon for followers of Jesus, back in those days, to carry items with them that could protect them. It wasn’t a fair fight. These were professionals, trained in the art of wielding swords. Peter was a fisherman, unskilled in swordsmanship. He swung for the head and lopped off an ear.  Like Peter, Jesus calls us to be fishers of people, not back alley brawlers seeking to fight those who don’t agree with us or putting down those who make mistakes or finding the most minute thing to hold against someone.  It’s no wonder Jesus quickly rebuked his hot-headed disciple: “Put your sword away! He who lives by the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).

Jesus said that people will hate his followers in the same way they hated him (John 15:18). So, how do we respond when enemies of the Gospel come against us?  We remember two Biblical teachings: First, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood…but against spiritual forces in heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Second, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal…” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Our sword is the Word of God. Our power is in the Holy Spirit who is summoned by our prayers. In the presence of our enemies, we must not fight with physical weapons, but instead rely on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. We must not let weapons define us: instead, we should let the love of Christ define us: turn the other cheek and pray for them. We must not resort to fighting our enemies, but instead treat our enemies with the same compassion that Jesus showed his enemies and us today.

The sad history of the Church is that Jesus’ disciples too often turn to the tactics of this world, thinking that they can go toe-to-toe like a fisherman against temple men or possibly that they have the faith of David and conquer the giants in their life on their own. Our Enemy is better skilled than we in the art of warfare like nagging, guilt-manipulation, screaming, shouting, accusing, and misunderstanding. Why do we feel as if we need to pull out our sword against our enemies? When will we learn to not fight back, but to instead be civilian Jesus-loving disciples, we remember that Jesus doesn’t fight back. So, if you had the time to do one last miracle, or a few final acts of kindness that might bring healing, what would you do?

 

Movement Two: Jesus Fixed A Disciple’s Mistakes

Second, Jesus fixed a disciple’s mistake. Keep in mind that although what Peter did, cut off the ear of Malchus with possible intentions of causing a more fatal wound, Peter was sincerely trying to help his Master, but he messed up big time. He thought that he could protect our Lord from being nailed to a cross by using a sword to injure one out of several armed and trained Roman Soldiers. Peter and the disciples wanted Jesus on a throne, not a cross; so they took action and risked their life for the protection of one: for the protection of the one who had come down to earth from heaven to save and serve them (Philippians 2:1-11). Even though, Jesus, on several occasions, bluntly told his disciples that they are a “faithless generation” (Mark 9:19) and tells them “you of little faith” (Matthew 8:26), they still stood up for him and he stood up for them. Jesus never gave up on his disciples. He was even, hours before his death, willing to fix their mistakes.

Often, we think we have a better plan for our lives than God does.  Inevitably, our sword-swinging ends badly—not only for us, but for our families, and even our nonbelieving neighbors. Before we can go from faithless to faithfulness, Jesus has to fix our mistakes; and we are not alone when it comes to making mistakes. Jacob was a cheater, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, and Peter had a temper. Paul was a murderer, Moses created excuses, and Sarah was impatient. Jonah ran from God, Gideon was insecure, and Judas betrayed God’s one and only Son. Just like the stories of these men and women, Jesus works the same way with every soul that turns to him. He takes our mistakes and cultivates a good out of them. Paul said it well in Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Jesus works though our mistakes knowing there is strength in pain that can be gained through our messes. But how does Jesus help fix our mistakes?

First, Jesus uses our mistakes to correct us. Proverbs 20:30 reminds us, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.” Paul tells us that we will experience suffering. Just think about your own life: have you ever made a mistake but realized that through that mistake something good came out of it? You did something that you shouldn’t have done or said something that you shouldn’t have said, but God used those moments to help you learn from your mistakes? Mistakes are the training grounds that create powerful change and yield life’s biggest lessons. They point out areas in our lives that need to change. Let Jesus fix your mistakes: turn your messes into messages and be changed.

Second, Jesus uses mistakes to refine us. First Peter 1:6-7 tells us, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” When we respond with a right heart filled with reverence, love, and awe of God, mistakes and problems become character builders. I’m sure you have all heard the saying, “Learn from your mistakes.” When we learn from our mistakes, we allow Jesus to refine us, to help us, and to support us. We aren’t perfect. We are, like the disciples, going to make mistakes because we are still learning: learning who Jesus is, who God is, what we are called to do, what it means to be a disciple, how we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ on earth, who we are as a church, and what it means to create God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. We are going to make mistakes. We are going to do things that aren’t going to work. We will fail. However, through our mistakes and our willingness to take risks, to get out of our comfort zone, Jesus will refine us: he will make us whole again.

Lastly, third, Jesus uses mistakes to protect us. Genesis 50:20 notes, “You planned evil against me, but God used those same plans for my good…” A problem can either be the catalyst for growth or stunt us. It’s up to us and how we respond. But here’s the truth that may be hard to swallow, God may have purposely intervened. Have you ever thought that God planned for you to make that mistake? Have you ever thought that God intended for you to fail at something? Have you ever thought that God is purposefully reminding us through our mistakes that we are not perfect: that we need him in our life and that we can’t leave without him? God planned these mistakes against us because God uses those mistakes for creating plans of goodness in the future. Paul writes in Romans 18:18, “I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Proverbs 16:3 offers us similar wisdom, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Jesus uses our mistakes to protect us and to ensure us that God has good plans waiting for us.

Hours before his death, Jesus performs one last miracle that fixes the mistakes of his disciples. At a time when Jesus had every right to be concerned about himself, he was concerned with those around him and helping them get back on the path of goodness. Does the last miracle you are thinking about performing involve helping others and mending your mistakes?

 

Movement Three: Jesus Healed An Enemy

In the third place, Jesus healed an enemy. Do you remember what Jesus told his disciples about enemies? Jesus said in Matthew 5:43-44, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” Jesus didn’t say fight your enemies but love them. Paul wrote to the people of Rome, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink…” (Romans 12:20). Paul didn’t say ignore your enemies and let them suffer; instead he said help them. Paul wrote to the people of Ephesus, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). Paul tells us that we should love and forgive our enemies not push them down and continually make them feel terrible. Keep in mind what King David wrote in his 23^rd Psalm, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5). Knowing that we have enemies is tough enough, then to realize that we are going to be eating at the same table with them almost sounds unbearable. But that is what Jesus needs us to do: eat with and love our enemies.

Make no mistake about it: Malchus was Jesus’ sworn enemy. He had come to arrest this rabble-rousing Rabbi who was a clear and present danger to his beloved temple. But Jesus didn’t scream at him, Jesus doesn’t fight back, or even try like Peter to hurt him. Instead, Jesus healed him. Luke is the only Gospel that reports the following text, “And Jesus touched his ear and healed him” (Luke 22:51). After that, the man with a new ear fades into the story. There is no historical evidence of what happened to Malchus after that miracle. And yet, he was remembered years later when the Gospels were written. I’d like to think that he became one of Jesus’ followers after the Resurrection, and was caught walking through the streets singing, “He touched me, oh He touched me; and oh the joy that floods my soul! Something happened and now I know he touched me and made me whole” (William and Gloria Gaither). Malchus was not only physically healed, but he was spiritually healed. Jesus wants to spiritually heal us so that we come to love our enemies.

Do you have any enemies in your life? Are you an enemy to someone? Hours before his death, Jesus helps an enemy: someone who was against him, someone who didn’t initially believe in him, someone who came to arrest him, and someone who worshipped another King. But yet, Jesus healed him. Even better, Jesus healed him in front of his own disciples. Does your last miracle involve healing your enemy? Does your last miracle involve talking to those who you disagree with instead of constantly putting them down? Does your last miracle involve making it a point to see your enemies as someone you can love? Does your last miracle involve having an open heart and open mind for those who believe differently than you? Does your last miracle involve praying to Jesus to not have any enemies but to realize that “we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)? Jesus healed his enemy and forgave all them while on the cross; but yet, we struggle to even talk to our enemies here on earth.

Jesus healing an enemy, hours before his death, is a powerful reminder to all of us that what Jesus teaches we need to learn, where Jesus walks we need to follow, and how Jesus lived we need to live. Following Jesus and living in his footsteps will not be easy; however, it does lead to being a miracle and showing others how wondrous the works of God are, through Jesus Christ, in their own life. By healing rather than hurting our enemies, the Gospel is best advanced.

 

Conclusion: Be the Miracle

Just hours before his death, during his last miracle, Jesus demonstrated what he was going to do on the cross. On the cross, Jesus is going to bear all of our sins, worries, doubts, uncertainties, and mistakes so that we are not only forgiven of our transgressions and gifted eternal salvation, but that we learn to put our weapons down and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, that we allow Jesus to fix our mistakes, and that we no longer ignore those whom we classify as enemies but instead seek to love them. Most importantly, Jesus’ last miracle invites us to put others first: to notice them, to stop ignoring them, to stop putting them down, but instead to lift them up, to hear them out, to see them, to not judge them, and to simply be there for them.

At times, defining what a miracle is can be rather difficult. However, Jesus needs us to live out the wondrous acts of God in our life so that others can witness what we get to witness every day through the eyes of Christ: miracles that save people and lead them to Christ. If you want to see a miracle, then maybe it’s time to be the miracle.

If you were able to perform one miracle, what would it be? If given the opportunity to perform one last act of kindness, what would you do and who would it be for? If you were given a magic wand, where would you wave that magic wand? May I suggest that, in these polarized and toxic times, you perform a miracle similar to that of Jesus’ last miracle before his death. Why? Because in that miracle we learn what Jesus needs us to do: to not fight back, to allow Jesus to fix our mistakes, and to love our enemy. Simply doing any of those three is a miracle. So not let Jesus help you be a miracle for someone in your life.

Let it be so…

 

Closing Prayer:

            Let us Pray: Dear Miracle Worker, as we continue to learn what it means to follow you, may we learn from your last miracle before your death that we are not perfect but that you will fix our mistakes, we must not fight back but lead with love, and that we must not ignore our enemies but love them. O Lord, help us to be the miracle you need us to be for your creation. In your heavenly name we pray, Amen.

 

Benediction:

We are just a few weeks away from experiencing and embracing the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, so there is still time to prepare your heart, mind, body, and soul for that miraculous day. What are you going to do to make sure that you continue to be the miracle that Jesus needs you to be? May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go forth finding ways to practice the acts of Jesus’ last miracle in your life. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.