Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D. C. His latest book, The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible, spotlights seven miracles of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John. Each miracle unveils a different dimension of Jesus’ power. Seven miracles are seven signs, each pointing straight to Jesus.
Pastor Batterson stresses that this book is more than a course in miracles. The focus is on Jesus, the only One who can perform them. At the outset, the author offers a word of caution:
“Don’t seek miracles. Follow Jesus. And if you follow Jesus long enough and far enough, you’ll eventually find yourself in the middle of some miracles.”
Everyone, Pastor Batterson observes, wants a miracle. But there’s a catch- the prerequisite for a miracle is a problem. Yet, problems present the perfect opportunity for God to reveal His glory. God can make our impossible possible!
Mark relates the story (Chapter 2) of world-class violinist Joshua Bell and his three-hundred-year-old Stradivarius worth $3.5 million. Playing incognito outside one of the busiest stops on the Washington Metro line and filmed by a hidden camera, only seven out of over one thousand people who passed by stopped to listen. Similarly, Mark states that miracles are happening around us every day, but we will miss them if we don’t know how to look for them.
Today’s question: What is your response to Pastor Batterson’s word of caution concerning seeking miracles? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the latest addition to the Annotated Bibliography, “Waiting on God”
