Jar wrote:
For the most part, Jesus miracles are after the fact and NOT done to impress.
I think Jar’s “for the most part” disclaimer is simply a result of the fact that we (even if we know better) tend to think of the Bible as one book instead of 66 (or 73, or 78, or 62, or whatever group you are in) separate books that say very different things.
“for the most part” implies that Jar’s statement is sometimes true and sometimes false. I agree.
In the synoptic gospels (Mk, Mt, Lk), Jar’s statement is almost always true - it’s stated over and over that Jesus will not do miracles to help people believe (to prove he’s the messiah), even when asked. Open up to any synoptic miracles and you’re likely to find that (ask me if you want examples).
In the fourth gospel (Jn), the opposite is true - Jesus does miracles over and over specifically to help people believe (to prove he’s God). He even says so, and walks around doing just about everything he can to focus attention on himself and his miracle working ability to prove his divinity. He even purposefully stays away waiting for the sick lazarus to die, so he can make a big show of resurrecting him. (see John chap. 11).
Bible scholars have noticed this difference (among many others) between the Jesus of the synoptics and the Jesus of John. They are practically two different Jesuses.
This all makes sense if one remembers that the synoptics were written earlier, perhaps when the stories of the miracles hadn’t yet built up as much, so the Christians who wrote the synoptics had to write their stories such that it was understandable that most people had never heard of all these miracles or even of Jesus - hence, a modest and secretive Jesus. By the time John was written, the miracle stories had been further exaggerated by retelling, and many people in the Christian communities had heard them. Thus, whoever wrote gospel of John was able to portray a flashy and grandiose Jesus without losing credibility, thus stoking the hype about Jesus being a great miracle worker and God incarnate.
Have a fun memorial day-
-Equinox
™ Version 4.2
