Parables and Miracles

Public Ministry

Part 8

IV. Parables and Miracles

A. Parables

1. Four Views of Parables

a. Pre-Modern Allegorical

b. Julicher

c. Modified Julicher

d. Modified Allegorical

2. Some Common Parable Structures

a. Triadic Parables

i. Monarchic

ii. Non monarchic

b. Dyadic Parables

i. Master – servant

ii. Good example – bad example

c. Monadic Parables – one main character

3. Examples of Jesus' Parable Structures

a. Triadic Parables

i. Monarchic

ii. Non monarchic

b. Dyadic Parables

i. Farmer – seed growing secretly

ii. Tax collector – Pharisee

c. Monadic Parables – treasure hunter

B. Jesus' Miracles in Relationship to Faith

1. In response to faith

a. Raising Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:36)

b. Healing the hemorrhaging woman (Mark 5:34)

c. "Failure" in Nazareth (Mark 6:6)

2. To instill faith

a. Stilling the storm (Mark 4:40)

b. Water into wine (John 2:11)

c. Healing official's son (John 4:48, 53)

C. Subordinate Themes in Jesus' Miracles

1. Compassion

a. Feeding 5,000 (Mark 6:34)

b. Healing Bartimaeus (Matthew 20:34)

2. Breaking down social barriers

a. Cleansing leper (Mark 1:41; Luke 17:16)

b. Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:24-30)

3. Challenging Jewish law and faith

a. Healing on Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6; Luke 13:10-17; 14:1-6)

b. Centurion's servant (Matthew 8:10-12)

4. Links with sin

a. Paralytic at Bethesda pool (John 5:14)

b. Blind man at Siloam pool (John 9:2-3)

D. Jesus' Miracles, the Kingdom and the Identity of Christ

1. Matthew 12:28

2. Matthew 11:3-6

3. Mark 2:10-11

4. Mark 9:1

5. John 11:25

6. Matthew 4:23

E. "Parabolic" Miracles in the Gospels

1. Water into wine [new joy of kingdom] (John 2:1-11)

2. Cursing fig tree [destruction of temple] (Mark 11:12-14; 20-25)

3. Feeding 5,000 [bread of life] (John 6:1-15, 35-59)

4. Walking on water [Divine "I AM"] (Mark 6:45-51)

5. Healing deaf-mute [sign of age to come] (Mark 7:31-37)

6. Widow's son at Nain [like Elisha in Shunem] (Luke 7:11-17)