Words, Ways, Wonders.
I have realised that I have a small issue with a commonly and popularly held way of looking at the life and ministry of Jesus. I think it was John Wimber in the late eighties who coined a popular phrase; 'the words, the works, and the wonders of Jesus'. This was a neat little alliteration that summed up the three areas which most people saw as the life of Jesus; his amazing teaching (words), his remarkable acts of kindness (works) and his supernatural miracles (wonders). This remains a valuable lens. However, it is possible in some peoples minds that there is a distinction between Jesus' 'acts of kindness' and his supernatural acts. I am referring to the fact that some people will point to Jesus' feeding of the 5000, or his healing of the sick, as examples of a kingdom value of kindness and justice, but in so doing miss the fact that most of his 'acts of kindness' were simultaneously miraculous! He fed the hungry supernaturally! He healed ...