“Lesson 14 Class Preparation Material: Recognizing the Savior’s Miracles,” Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel Teacher Material (2023)
“Lesson 14 Class Preparation Material,” Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel Teacher Material
Lesson 14 Class Preparation Material
Recognizing the Savior’s Miracles
When we talk about the miracles of Jesus Christ, we tend to focus on the inspiring stories we find in the New Testament. While there is much we can and should learn from these scripture accounts, have you considered the miracles the Lord performs in our day—and in your life? As you study, seek to deepen your faith in the Lord’s power and willingness to perform miracles for you and others.
Section 1
What can I learn about the Savior from His miracles?
During His mortal ministry, Jesus Christ “walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead” (“The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org). These miracles were “extraordinary event[s] caused by the power of God” and “are part of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Miracle,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). They were one evidence to the Jews that Jesus was the promised Messiah (see Matthew 11:4–5; John 20:30–31).
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles observed, “[Jesus Christ’s] Atonement, culminating with His Resurrection after three days in a borrowed tomb, stands as the greatest miracle in human history” (“Behold! I Am a God of Miracles,” Liahona, May 2021, 109).
Elder Rasband also explained that while the miracles of Jesus testify of His divinity, they also “remind us of His power, His love for us, His reach from the heavens to our mortal experience, and His desire to teach of that which is of most worth” (“Behold! I Am a God of Miracles,” 111).
Consider what we can learn about the Savior from His healing a man with paralysis. Four people had carried this man to a house where Jesus was teaching. When they found that the house was so crowded they could not enter, they disassembled part of the roof and lowered the paralyzed man down to the Savior (see Mark 2:1–4).
Study in Preparation for Class
Read Mark 2:5–12, and consider what you learn about the Savior and His healing power from this experience.
Notice that the Savior’s miracle addressed both physical and spiritual needs. Regarding the Savior’s ability to heal both the body and the spirit, President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught:
The greatest miracle is not in such things as restoring sight to the blind, healing an illness, or even raising the dead. …
… An even greater miracle is a mighty change of heart by a son or daughter of God (see Mosiah 5:2). A change of heart, including new attitudes, priorities, and desires, is greater and more important than any miracle involving the body. (“Miracles,” Ensign, June 2001, 17)
Record Your Thoughts
Read or watch one or more of the following miracles the Savior performed during His mortal ministry, or select one of your own to read or watch. As you study, ponder and record your thoughts in response to the following questions:
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What do you learn about the Savior from this miracle?
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What meaning can you draw from this miracle for your life?
Miracles of Jesus Christ
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Read John 2:1–11 or watch “Jesus Turns Water into Wine” (2:26).
2:26Jesus Turns Water into Wine
Jesus performs a miraculous act of service in one of the first recorded events of His ministry.
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Read Mark 4:35–41 or watch “Calming the Tempest” (2:17).
2:17Calming the Tempest
The disciples' faith is tested before Jesus calms the stormy sea. Mark 4:37–40
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Read Luke 7:11–16 or watch “The Widow of Nain” (2:22).
2:22Widow of Nain
Jesus raises the son of the widow of Nain from death. Luke 7:11–16
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Read Matthew 14:13–21 or watch “The Feeding of the 5,000” (2:52).
2:52The Feeding of the 5,000
Jesus provides a meal for 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fishes. Matthew 14:13–21
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Read John 9:1–7 or watch “Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind” (7:47).
7:47Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
On the Sabbath day, Jesus heals a man born blind. John 9:1–41
Section 2
How do my faith and the Lord’s will influence miracles?
Early in the Savior’s mortal ministry, a man suffering from leprosy approached Jesus to be healed. As used in the Bible, leprosy can refer to a wide range of skin diseases that can attack the skin, nerves, eyes, and bones. Without medical treatment, it can lead to nerve damage, blindness, deformities, and a painful death. During the Savior’s time, the man who approached the Savior would have been considered “unclean” and would have lived separate from his family and society (see Leviticus 13:45–46).
Study in Preparation for Class
Read Mark 1:40–42, looking for how this man demonstrated faith in the Lord when seeking a miracle.
Elder Jorge F. Zeballos of the Seventy observed:
The leper did not demand anything, even though his desires might have been righteous; he was simply willing to accept the will of the Lord. (“If You Will Be Responsible,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 125)
When we truly desire to accept the Lord’s will, we also need to have the faith not to be healed. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
Righteousness and faith certainly are instrumental in healing the sick, deaf, and lame—if such healing accomplishes God’s purposes and is in accordance with His will. Thus, even if we have strong faith … not all of the sick and infirm will be healed. If all opposition were curtailed, if all maladies were removed, then the primary purposes of the Father’s plan would be frustrated. (David A. Bednar, “Accepting the Lord’s Will and Timing,” Ensign, Aug. 2016, 34)
As you reflect on the miracles you might desire for your life, consider the following counsel from Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
Miracles can come as answers to prayer. They are not always what we ask for or what we expect, but when we trust in the Lord, He will be there, and He will be right. He will suit the miracle to the moment we need it. …
… There are times we hope for a miracle to heal a loved one, to reverse an unjust act, or to soften the heart of a bitter or disillusioned soul. Looking at things through mortal eyes, we want the Lord to intervene, to fix what is broken. Through faith, the miracle will come, though not necessarily on our timetable or with the resolution we desired. Does that mean we are less than faithful or do not merit His intervention? No. We are beloved of the Lord. (“Behold! I Am a God of Miracles,” Liahona, May 2021, 111)
Ponder in Preparation for Class
How can I develop the faith to trust the Lord’s will and timing when seeking a miracle?
Section 3
How can I better recognize the Lord’s miracles in my life?
President Oaks observed, “Many miracles happen every day in the work of our Church and in the lives of our members” (“Miracles,” Ensign, June 2001, 17). Sometimes we can see miracles in the lives of others but may not see them in our own life.
Elder Rasband similarly taught:
Many of you have witnessed miracles, more than you realize. They may seem small in comparison to Jesus raising the dead. But the magnitude does not distinguish a miracle, only that it came from God. (“Behold! I Am a God of Miracles,” Liahona, May 2021, 110)
Record Your Thoughts
Take a few minutes to record miracles you have witnessed or are now experiencing. Consider beginning with prayer and asking the Lord for eyes to see these miracles that have occurred.