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Mark 6:3-16 (Common English Bible)
13 They cast out many demons, and they anointed many sick people with olive oil and healed them.
14 Herod the king heard about these things, because the name of Jesus had become well-known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and this is why miraculous powers are at work through him.” 15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah.” Still others were saying, “He is a prophet like one of the ancient prophets.” 16 But when Herod heard these rumors, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised to life.”
Summary: Magic is the art of producing illusions by sleight of hand. A miracle is “an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.” Magic gives the appearance of change, whereas with miracles transformation is real. Sometimes, life can make us so cynical that rather than anticipating miracles, we settle for magic.
In this scripture, everyone is amazed by Jesus’ miracles, but Jesus can’t be who he says he is. He must be a magician, he must be someone else. Jesus can’t be a miracle worker. Thankfully, miracles happen whether people acknowledge their source or not. It’s not about saying the magic words, but trusting that the truth will be revealed. We don’t believe in magic tricks, where we settle for the appearance of change. We believe in miracles, where through trust in God we anticipate transformation of our lives, communities and the world by the grace of God!
Reflection Questions:
- What is the difference between “magic” and “miracles?”
- What makes miracles better than magic?
- What miracle do you see God performing in your life?
Sermon References
- “Do You Believe in Magic?” – The Lovin’ Spoonful (song)
- “They hired Magic Johnson because he has one thing no other person in the 7 billion people on this earth can offer: he’s Magic Johnson.” – Nick Wright, FS1