The Miracles of Jesus: How the Savior's Mighty Acts Serve as Signs of Redemption

by Vern S. Poythress

Overview

Showing how Jesus’s miracles serve as “signs of redemption,” this book gives readers a framework for applying such stories to their own lives and then examines 26 specific miracles from the Gospel of Matthew.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433546075
Publisher:	Crossway
Publication date:	01/31/2016
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Vern S. Poythress (PhD, Harvard University; ThD, University of Stellenbosch) is Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Biblical Interpretation, and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he has taught for four decades. In addition to earning six academic degrees, he is the author of numerous books and articles on biblical interpretation, language, and science.

Table of Contents

Illustrations 11

Part I Introducing Miracles

1 The Reality of the Miracles of Jesus 17

2 The Significance of Miracles 25

Part II Miracles as Signs

3 Illustrative Miracles from the Gospel of John 33

4 The Pattern of Redemption 47

5 The Pattern of Application of Redemption 53

6 Typological Reasoning about Miracles 65

7 Broader Implications of the Miracles of Jesus 73

8 Specific Applications 83

Part III Miracles in Matthew

9 The Virgin Birth (Matt. 1:18-25) 95

10 The Baptism of Jesus (Matt. 3:13-17) 105

11 Many Healings (Matt. 4:23-25) 113

12 Cleansing a Leper (Matt. 8:1-4) 119

13 The Centurion's Servant (Matt. 8:5-13) 123

14 Peter's Mother-m-Law (Matt. 8:14-17) 127

15 Calming a Storm (Matt. 8:23-27) 131

16 The Gadarene Demoniacs (Matt. 8:28-34) 137

17 Healing a Paralytic (Matt. 9:1-8) 143

18 Raising Jairus's Daughter (Matt. 9:18-26) 149

19 Healing Two Blind Men (Matt. 9:27-31) 155

20 Healing a Mute Demoniac (Matt. 9:32-34) 159

21 Many Healings (Matt. 9:35-38) 161

22 Healing a Withered Hand (Matt. 12:9-14) 167

23 Many Healings (Matt.l2:15-21) 171

24 A Blind and Mute Man (Matt. 12:22-23) 175

25 Feeding the 5,000 (Matt. 14:13-21) 179

26 Walking on Water (Matt. 14:22-33) 183

27 Healing Many (Matt. 14:34-36) 189

28 The Syrophoemcian Woman (Matt. 15:21-28) 193

29 Healing Many (Matt. 15:29-31) 197

30 Feeding 4,000 (Matt. 15:32-39) 201

31 The Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-8) 203

32 A Boy with a Demon (Matt. 17:14-20) 209

33 The Coin in the Fish's Mouth (Matt. 17:24-27) 213

34 Many Healings (Matt. 19:2) 217

35 Two Blind Men at Jericho (Matt. 20:29-34) 219

36 Cursing the Fig Tree (Matt. 21:18-22) 223

Part IV The Resurrection of Christ and its Application

37 The Resurrection of Jesus (Matt. 28:1-10) 231

38 Applications to Particular Needs 239

Conclusion 245

Appendix: Miracles in the Whole Bible 247

Bibliography 257

General Index 258

Scripture Index 266

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Vern Poythress rescues the miracles of Jesus from neglect and confusion by means of his sanctified scholarship. As a pastor, I am indebted to him for helping me make sense of the miracles for myself and in turn for my congregation.”
—Alistair Begg, Senior Pastor, Parkside Church, Chagrin Falls, Ohio

“Poythress serves as a sure-footed guide through the towering magnificence of Jesus’s miracles, so that we readers can see them as the pulsing signs of redemption that they are—radiating his power and his lordship and, ultimately, the greatest work ever—the cross. The precision and tender pastoral practicality of The Miracles of Jesus will be sure to refresh every reader. Those who preach and teach will find the carefully layered depth of application a welcome help in unfolding the miracles to their people.”
—R. Kent Hughes, Senior Pastor Emeritus, College Church, Wheaton, Illinois

“Because the miracles that marked the ministry of Jesus are the most significant in Scripture, this volume largely confines its attention to them and shows with rich insight how they are essential for revealing the full scope of the salvation he accomplished. Written with a broad audience in view and in the author’s characteristically clear and winsome way, it will be read with great profit by those wanting to grow in understanding how the miracles of Jesus are essential for the gospel.”
—Richard B. Gaffin Jr., Professor Emeritus of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary

“Blending profound insight with clear explanation, Vern Poythress shows us that Jesus’s miracles are not merely random acts of kindness and power, but—most importantly—are signs pointing to the central events of his redemptive mission: his sacrificial death and mighty resurrection. Poythress leads us from the incarnation, healings, stilled seas, transfiguration, and other supernatural displays of Jesus’s identity as glorious God, last Adam, and promised Messiah to the cross and empty tomb. Then he leads us on to the application in our own lives and struggles with sin and suffering. I highly recommend this reader-friendly and Christ-glorifying study.”
—Dennis E. Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Practical Theology, Westminster Seminary California; author, Him We Proclaim; Walking with Jesus through His Word; and Journeys with Jesus

“We all encounter both believers and unbelievers who firmly deny that miracles of any kind happen today. Then we meet other believers and unbelievers who claim to experience miracles at nearly every turn. Poythress speaks to both extremes in a way that strikes at the heart of the matter. Jesus of Nazareth was the greatest miracle-worker the world has ever seen. But why? His miracles bore witness to him as the Savior and to the good news of God’s miraculous kingdom coming to earth as it is in heaven.”
—Richard L. Pratt Jr., President, Third Millennium Ministries

“Vern Poythress is a master of New Testament interpretation, whose scholarship has shaped a generation of preachers. The Miracles of Jesus is a treasure trove that will radically influence the reader’s understanding of Jesus’s miracles. Poythress shows that, beyond proving Jesus’s divine authority, the miracles are actually powerful gospel displays of the wide scope our his saving work. If you wish to understand better how deep and wide is the redeeming love of Jesus, read this book and rejoice!”
—Richard D. Phillips, Senior Minister, Second Presbyterian Church, Greenville, South Carolina; Chairman, Philadephia Conference on Reformed Theology

“I am delighted to see available the principles and particulars of interpreting miracle stories that shaped my own understanding as a student of Vern Poythress. In characteristic fashion, he develops profound principles in the most accessible terms and proceeds to demonstrate their application through numerous examples from Matthew’s Gospel. I’m enthused to be able to put this book into the hands of my students.”
—Michael J. Glodo, Associate Professor of Practical Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary