Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

Oh, those miracles of the New Testament! Stories that continue to amaze each new generation of people for the past two thousand years! But what about the people that walked with Jesus during His time upon this earth? To have actually witnessed the works he wrought right before your very eyes from healing the sick and blind to casting out evil spirits and raising the dead! The question that may come to mind for each of us: "How would have I reacted to the scenes that those people saw? Would have I believed? Well, I think the answer lies within each of us this day. And that is this: Do you believe the truths today? Jesus says in John 17:17 "Sanctify them in truth, thy word is truth." So, if we are honest, we can conclude that the word of God is indeed truth.

The question that may arise is this: "why were the miracles done?" To Mark chapter six we go to see Jesus after He has fed the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fishes and He then sends His disciples across the sea against a headwind and while rowing see Jesus walking across the sea and they are very afraid:

Mark 6:49-52 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and they

cried Out: for they all saw Him and were terrified. He spoke with them and said to them, "Take courage;

it is I, do Not be afraid." Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were

utterly astonished, For they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heat was

hardened.

As we can see, the "incident" of feeding the multitudes should have built their faith in Jesus, but not only was the disciples hearts hardened but the people only followed Him for the food:

John 6:25-27 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did you

get Here?" Jesus answered them and said, "Truly truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw

signs, But because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for

the food Which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father,

God, has set His Seal."

The people were more interested in filling their belly's with the physical food than with the spiritual food which Jesus spoke to them that would bring eternal life. Their faith which comes by hearing the word of God was found lacking. Some believed without much effort as Philip was told by Jesus "Follow Me," (John 1:43) and he followed.

John 1:45-51 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law

and Also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can any

good thing Come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to

Him, and said to Him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael said to Him.

"How do you know Me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were

under the fig tree, I saw You." Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the

King of Israel." Jesus Answered and said to him, "Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree,

do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you,

you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Some of the rulers who believed did not confess Him because of fear of being put out of the synagogue (John 12:42) while others were afraid of loosing their position after Lazarus was raised from the dead:

John 11:47-48 Therefore the chief priest and Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, "What are

we doing? For this Man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in

Him, and the Romans will come and take away our place and our nation."

So, for our answer to today's question: what was the first miracle performed by Jesus? To John chapter two we go to find Jesus at a wedding in Cana of Galilee and Mary, His mother, tells Him, "They have no wine." Jesus rebukes her and says, "My hour has not yet come." Jesus rebuke was because she wanted Him to show who He truly was as she had treasured so many sayings about Him over the years. But His "hour" would not come for about three more years as He says shortly before His crucifixion in John 12:27 that His purpose was for "this hour".

Mary tells the servants to do what ever He says and He asks for six waterpots to be brought before Him and to be filled with water. Then the headwaiter is asked in to taste the contents. The headwaiter tells the bridegroom:

John 2:10-11 …"Every man serves the good wine first, and then when the people have drunk freely, then

he Serves the poorer wine: but you have kept the good wine until now." This is the beginning of His signs

Jesus Did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed Him.

Not only do we have the answer to our question of turning the water to wine, but more importantly the effect it had on His disciples for they believed in Him. Just as these are written that we might believe.

John 20:30-31 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of His disciples, which

are Not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son

of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.