While I was in Guanajuato, Mexico, I learned about how the pastor there had received a very grim cancer diagnosis a couple of years ago. Every doctor the pastor saw not only gave the same news but an even worse prognosis. The situation looked grim; however, he and his congregation continued to pray.
After rounds of chemotherapy, the pastor visited a specialist in the United States who agreed with the original prognosis but also decided to take his case to a medical review board. He returned to the pastor confused. “This cancer seems to check every box of your diagnosis, but we can’t figure out why it has responded to chemotherapy – not to mention the antiquated chemotherapy you’ve received in Mexico. The type of cancer we originally thought it was wouldn’t do that.”
When the pastor saw another doctor shortly after, she confirmed that this wasn’t the type of cancer they had been originally diagnosed. In fact, the cancer cells were already dead. He was completely healed.
Miracles are central to the Judeo-Christian faith, and God many times commanded the retelling of them so people would hear the testimony of His work. Tonight, many will begin celebrating Hanukkah. Central to this Festival of Lights is the phrase “nes gadol hayah sham” – “a great miracle happened there.” The story of Hanukkah revolves around the Maccabean revolt found in the apocryphal book of Maccabees, but it also focuses on an added tradition that one day of Temple oil lasted for eight days.
In John 10, we read that Jesus Himself was in Jerusalem for Hanukkah (the Feast of Dedication). It was there that the Jewish leaders began pressuring Him and even threatened to stone Him. Jesus responded by challenging them to look at His miracles. “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me? Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
How fitting that Jesus said this. It’s almost as if Jesus was challenging the Pharisees that if they were so willing to believe a tradition that may or may not be true, why would they deny the miracles that they had seen with their very eyes?
I think many hear the word “miracle” and like the Pharisees become instantaneously skeptical, as though they must find a scientific understanding to what occurred. It’s easy to look at the story of the pastor healed of cancer and just say, “Oh, well, he was just misdiagnosed… by many, many doctors.” In fact, I used to think that the presence of science negated the need for a miracle. It’s almost as if I thought, “Do we really need God since we have such incredible scientific medicine?” How many times have we neglected to credit God because we think that the healing was done totally by a doctor or a vial of medicine? But as I’ve seen God choose to use me and work in me despite my lack of ability, I find myself crediting God more and more. “Thanks God for doing that miracle. And thanks for being a God that invites others into Your miraculous work.” The Pharisees remind us that no matter how obvious God’s work is, acknowledging Him is a choice of perception.
I was reminded of that as I spoke with a woman in our congregation in the middle of a battle with cancer. As we talked the other day, she exuded joy, joking about how her wig made her look younger and sharing the good news about how the cancer has already shrunk 30%. She explained how this experience has caused her to lean on Jesus, who absolutely can do anything He chooses. Moved by her attitude and perception, I shared with her the story of the Mexican pastor healed from cancer. It almost seemed like God had showed me that story to encourage this dear woman.
I think it’s fitting that this year Hanukkah begins around the time of Thanksgiving – something it rarely does. Hanukkah is a celebration of God’s provision, and during Thanksgiving we remember all that God has done for us. Let me encourage you to share with others the miracles that God has done for and around you. You never know how God will perpetuate His work and use it to change lives. I learned that lesson a couple of weeks ago as I preached in Mexico. I shared the story of two children, Joseph and Alannah, who suffered through surgery on the same night and came through by God’s faithful hand. Nine people who heard of God’s work came forward to receive Jesus that day. God had miraculously healed two children one night and some days later in a place far away, He used His miracle to save nine more.