Tag Archives: Miracles

Revelation 13

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Revelation 13: The Devil has NO Power

                John sees a monster rise up out of the sea; “…having seven heads and ten horns… and the dragon gave him his power… and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly would was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast, And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?…” (Revelation 13:1-4)

Many people marveled at the dragons “power” and even began to worship the dragon, mocking God by exclaiming that no one else had more power. John explains that the beast was even given power; “…to make war with the saints, and to overcome them… And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb…” (Revelation 13:7-8) Essentially, if you are not following Christ, you could be vulnerable to fall under the power of Satan. Many will be deceived because of the ‘miracles’ that the beast will perform. The number of the beast is 666.

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Acts 13

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Acts 13: Saul = Paul

                In the church at Antioch, the Holy Ghost calls Barnabas and Saul to missionary work. They are both set apart by the Holy Ghost to administer this missionary work (see Acts 13:2). This act of ‘separating’ them for the work is the same way LDS Missionaries are set apart for 18-24 months to preach the Gospel throughout the world.

Barnabas, John and Saul depart for Seleucia, Cyprus, Salamis, Paphos and during their travels they encounter a man named Bar-jesus, who was a false prophet and a sorcerer. Another man named Sergius Paulus, who was a prudent deputy of the country desired to hear the word of God from Saul and Barnabas. However, Bar-jesus [Elymas, as it was being interpreted] desired to turn him away from the faith. Saul, who is also called Paul looked at Elymas and said; “…O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10) Sergius wanted to learn about Jesus and the His Gospel; however those with evil intent were trying to say him away from hearing the truth. Paul causes Elymas to go blind for a season. When Sergius saw this, he believed. John departs back to Jerusalem and Paul and Barnabas continue on to Perga where Paul delivers a sermon in the synagogue on the Sabbath day.

Paul gives a extended history of Israel, and explains how Jesus came from the lineage of David. Paul preaches the risen Christ. When the Jews see the popularity of Paul’s message, they become envious. Paul quotes Isaiah, saying that Christ is a light to the gentiles. Paul explains that they need to be careful if they don’t want the wrath of God, as promised by the prophets of old. Paul explains that God will “…work a work in your days, a work which ye shall no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.” (Acts 13:14, see also Habakkuk 1:5) Paul is explaining the great Restoration the Gospel of Jesus Christ that will happen in the Last. Many will not believe of the great work, even if someone were to tell them. That Restoration has already occurred, and the Church of Jesus Christ is back on the Earth today; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These statements angered the Jews, which causes them to expel Paul and Barabas from the region; they shake the dust from their shoes, and move on to Iconium.

John 11

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John 11: Lazarus

                In the town of Bethany there was a sick man by the name of Lazarus, who was the brother of Mary, the one who anointed the feet of Jesus. Upon hearing this news that He was sick, He stayed where He was for two days, then He told His Apostles that they should go down into Judea. But having been recently rejected from that are, the Apostles were confused as to why Jesus would want to go there again. Jesus teaches them; “…Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is not light with him.” (John 11:9-10) Essentially if we don’t have the light of God with us, we will always stumble among the world of darkness. We should always walk among others of good crowd, so that the light from all can shine together.

Jesus tells them that “…Our friend Lazarus sleepeth…I go, that I may awake him out of a sleep.” (John 11:11) Later Jesus told His Apostles, that Lazarus was indeed dead. When they arrived to meet Lazarus, they learn that four days had passed since he was laid to rest in his tomb. When Mary and Martha (Mary’s sister) find out that Jesus has come, Martha runs to meet Him, and says to Jesus; “…if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” (John 11:21) But she knew the power of God and the miracles that Jesus had performed and says; “…I know, that even not, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” (John 11:22) Jesus reassures her; “…Thy brother shall rise again.” (John 11:23) Martha knew of the Resurrection and explains that she knows he would one day rise again, in the last day. Jesus then tells her; “…I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on my, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25) Jesus asks Martha if she believe this and she responds that she does. Jesus then calls for Mary and she came running out of the house, those who were gathered with her followed her, thinking she was going to the tomb of Lazarus.

When Mary met Jesus she fell at His feet and cried, those Jews who followed her out of the house also wept, even “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35) The Jews and all those gathered said to “…Behold how he loved him!” (John 11:36) and those same people wondered if Jesus could perform such a great miracle of raising someone from the dead. Jesus asked to see where Lazarus was buried and before entering the tomb, lifted up His eyes and said; “…Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always; but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 11:41-42) This is very interesting, because the people believed in Jesus, they were given signs. Throughout the scriptures people have asked for signs to believe, but it doesn’t work that way. Signs follow those who believe, and that is evident here. You don’t have to KNOW, you just have to BELIEVE and by BELIEVING, God will give you signs and wonders, to make you KNOW!

Jesus then “…cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.” (John 11:43) At that very moment, Lazarus came forth, bound in his grave clothes. Jesus commanded that those around him go and loose him from those bands. Many of the Jews gathered did believe on Jesus.

Some of the Jews who did not believe went their ways to tell the Pharisees, and they held a council; “…What do we? For this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.” (John 11:47-48) The Chief Priest Caiaphas came to the conclusion that Jesus must die for the nation, so that only one many perish and not the entire nation. Jesus knew of their desires and fled from the Jews, no longer teaching among them. He and His Apostles continued to teach in a city called Ephraim. During this time, the Feast of the Passover was occurring, and the Jews waited for Jesus to show, so they could capture Him.

John 5

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John 5: Salvation of the Dead

                After the feast of the Jews, Jesus left to Jerusalem. While in Jerusalem, Jesus stopped at a ‘sheep market pool’, which was called Bethesda. This pool had many lined up to be healed, but only for a short period after the waters were troubled could anyone be healed. A certain man, who had an infirmity for 38 years couldn’t walk and it made it difficult for him to jump into the water. The man asks for Jesus to help him into the water; however Jesus decides to just heal the man.

Jesus said unto him; “…Rise, take up thy bed and walk.” (John 5:8) and immediately the man was cured and took his bed and ran off. Soon after, a Jew spotted the man carrying his bed and was told him; “…It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.” (John 5:10) The man responded that he was cured by a man, and that man told him to take his bed and walk.

The Jews find out that it was Jesus who had been healing people on the Sabbath day, and begin to persecute Him. But Jesus responds to them; “…My father worketh hitherto, and I work.” (John 5:17) But this only angered the Jews more, because Jesus had said His Father, was God! Jesus tells them; “…The son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (John 5:19) Jesus goes on to explain that the Son does the will of the Father, but that the “…Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” (John 5:22) Everyone should honor both the Son [Jesus Christ] and the Father [God], for not honoring one, you dishonor the other. For God has given His Son power and authority (see John 5:27).

Jesus teaches about Baptisms for the dead; “…for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29) In modern day LDS temples, baptisms for the dead are performed so that those who did not have a baptism by the proper authority in this life can be baptized by proxy. Meaning, someone else is baptized in place of the deceased. Because without baptism, no one can enter into the kingdom of heaven. Therefore it is necessary that someone acting on their behalf is baptized in the flesh so that they can receive the baptism and the saving ordinances that come with it, while still in the Spirit. Later in the New Testament Peter also teaches about this; “…for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Peter 4:6)

Jesus explains that in the judgment day, He will be the one doing the judging; “…as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30)

                Jesus tells the Jews, that they received Moses and he came in the form of Moses. Jesus, being the Son of God comes in the form of the Son, and is rejected. Essentially Jesus is telling them; If you do not believe the Son, you do not believe in God. Moses wrote of Jesus, and rejects those who reject Jesus. Yet the Jews were so fond of Moses, yet not fond of Jesus.

Jesus ends with this wisdom; “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

John 4

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John 4: Men Worship the Father

                Jesus goes to Galilee, and on His journey He passed through Samaria, in a small city near Samaria named Sychar. This was also near a parcel of land that Joseph received from his father. In this area was Jacob’s well and sitting near the well was a Samarian woman…

Jesus: “…Give me to drink.” (John 4:7)

Samaritan woman: “… How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” (John 4:9)

Jesus: “…If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked him, and he would have given thee living water.” (John 4:10)

Samaritan woman: “…Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?” (John 4:11)

Jesus: “Art thou greater than our father Jacob…? …Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:12-14)

Samaritan woman: “…Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not…” (John 4:15)

Jesus then asks the woman to go and comeback with her husband, the woman tells Jesus that she doesn’t have a husband and Jesus points out that she has actually had five husbands and the man she is currently with was not her husband. The woman perceives Jesus to be a prophet.

Jesus goes on to explain that man must worship the Father, because the people now do not know what the worship; “Ye worship ye know not what…” (John 4:22) But Jesus goes on to explain that the true worshippers shall come and worship the “…Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” (John 4:23)

Jesus goes on to explain; “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) But is God a Spirit? No. God has a body of flesh and bones, because we were created in His image; “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26) God is like us, because we are His children. The only difference is that He is God and has a PERFECT BODY, a GLORIFIED BODY of FLESH AND BONES.

In the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible it clears up what centuries of corruption and error on the part of historians and translators of the Bible had made; “For unto such hat God promised his Spirit. And they, who worship him, must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24; Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible)

So instead of saying ‘God is a Spirit’, it was actually meant to read ‘God has promised us His Spirit’. It is easy to see how over thousands of years, the Bible could have been changed by corrupt men or by simple error when translating or making hand written copies of the Bible.

The Samaritan woman then said to Jesus:  “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.” (John 4:25) Jesus responds to her: “… I that speak unto thee am he.” (John 4:26)

The Apostles came to Jesus and marveled that He would speak to such a woman, the woman left her waterpot and went her way into the city to tell them of her experience. Soon, she brought a multitude of people who desired to know if Jesus was truly the Christ. Shortly before the group of people came to Jesus, His Apostles desired that He would eat, but Jesus refused and said; “

…I have meat to eat that ye know not of…My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” (John 4:32,34)

Jesus then looks at the Apostles and tells them; “…behold…Lift us your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that repeat may rejoice together” (John 4:35-36)

Many of the Samaritans that had gathered believed on the words of Jesus, and the people sought that Jesus could stay with them a while, and Jesus stayed for two days. After the two days had come to an end, Jesus departed for Galilee. When He arrived, the Galilaeans received Him, because they had seen and heard of all the miracles He performed in Jerusalem. Jesus went to Cana of Galilee, where He made the water into wine and was able to heal the son of a noble man in Capernaum, who was sick.

Jesus taught that some people; “…Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” (John 4:48)

Luke 8

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Luke 8: Miracles of Jesus

                Jesus went throughout all the cities “…preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God…” (Luke 8:1)

Jesus relates the Parable of the Sower:

“A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold…” (Luke 8:5-8) Jesus then explains to His Apostles that “…the seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are those who hear… The rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” (Luke 8:11-14)

Essentially those who hear the words of God and plant the seed of that goodness in good ground, they will rise up and produce good fruit. Those however that are around thorns (temptations or evils) will be choked out. Those who simply don’t have a standing will wither. We must plant our seeds of the gospel in good ground and surround ourselves with good things or else we will wither or choke.

After giving this Parable the Apostles along with Jesus travel by boat to their next destination, however a storm rises… The Apostles, scared, turn to Jesus and say; “…Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was calm.” (Luke 8:24)

The Apostles were scared and had forgotten the power of the Lord, after all they had seen many miracles by Jesus, yet forgot that He would not let them perish. Jesus turns to them; “…Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! For he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” (Luke 8:25)

They arrive in the country of Gaderenes, which is against Galilee. When they were there they ran into a man possessed of many devils. The man’s name was Legion, and he had been possessed by devils for years. Jesus commands the devils to leave the man, and they do. But they plead to have a body, so Jesus permits them to enter into a herd of swine (pigs), which upon entering them ran off a cliff and choked in a lake. The man Legion proclaims the miracle of Jesus throughout all the land!

Jesus continues His journeys and while walking a woman, who had suffered a disease of the blood reached out and touched the garment of Jesus, in hopes of being healed. Jesus upon feeling the touch, stopped, and said; “…I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.” (Luke 8:46) The woman admitted to touching Jesus and comes and kneels down before Him, Jesus heals her and says; “…Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” (Luke 8:48)

Before Jesus could finish what He was doing, there came a ruler of a synagogue’s house that said his daughter was dead. He turns to the man and says; “…Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.” (Luke 8:50) Jesus explains that she is not actually dead, but sleeps. He comes into the girl and tells her to arise, and she does! Jesus tells the parents to tell no man of what they saw.