Are they any Christians ready for a test?

Question

Jesus in John 14:12 & Mark 16:17-18 said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth in me, the works that I do shall he also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." This implies that Jesus’ true followers should be able to routinely perform the following tricks: 1) cast out devils, 2) speak in tongues, 3) take up serpents, 4) drink poisons without harm, and 5) cure the sick by touching them and MANY other of Jesus’ "works". Curiously I have yet to see a Christian that can do any of the above on demand.

Answer 1

Most of them pray to Jesus not to God , they are all useless

Answer 2

Well, the Apostles and many of the first diciples did practice powerful works after Pentecost , many of these being recorded in the book of Acts. The apostle Paul himself performed a resurection of a boy that had died from falling out a window. However, at 1 Corinthians 13; 8 - 10, Paul says " 8Love never fails; but if there are gifts of (S)prophecy, they will be done away; if there are (T)tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

9For we (U)know in part and we prophesy in part;

10but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.

In those times, only the Apostles had the power to bestow gifts of the HOly Spirit on believers, so when they died, the gifts stopped. Love and understanding would take over.

As far as the end of Mark, some ancient manuscripts contain it and some don't , so there 's a question about whether verses 9 - 20 were added or not. Jesus never performed a miracle of picking up serpents drinking poisons - remember what he told Satan when tempted to show his powers by throwing himself off a wall. He said You shall not put God to the test.

A sign of true Christians is ones who love one another and obey Jesus' simple commands and do the will of his Father.

Answer 3

The fact that you have not seen any of these things is far from proof that they cannot be done. Furthermore, on many occasions Jesus was asked to prove his identity or abilities by doing a miracle but He refused to put on a show for skeptics. When Christ's followers work miracles in His name it is because God is working through them, not because they are trying to prove anything or impress anyone.

Jesus knew that if these people had already rejected Him that even if he had done a miracle for them, they would have found some way to discount it and still would not have believed. I think it is the same today... Think about it... if you saw someone do one of those things, would it make you believe in God, or would you automatically assume that it was a cheap trick and rationalize it away?

Answer 4

I think your taking it wrong. Others would do better works in that Jesus only had 3 1/2 years to preach to the people before he had to die. Others would be able to communicate with many more people than he did and they would be able to preach for a greater amount of time that he did and might be able to convince more people than he did at his time. The work that Jesus had to do was his preaching work. He only did the miracles so that some would believe that he was God's son and listen to him. His miracles are a preview of what's to come for those who will get to live in his kingdom. His miracles only provided temporary relief. They weren't the answers to everyones suffering. Some people didn't even believe in Jesus even though they saw his miracles. It in no way implies that Jesus followers are to be magicians and perform tricks for the unbelievers out there like you.

Answer 5

Because you haven't
seen it, it doesn't logically follow that it hasn't happened. It just means that you haven't seen it. A miracle is an act that defies natural law. But since God created the natural laws, He is able to by-pass them whenever He wants to. So if there is a God then, not only are miracles possible but one would expect them on occassion. But by definition they don't happen very often. They are rare events. You occupy a little small space on this earth. There's a lot of things you haven't seen. These things do happen, even today, but they don't happen very often. They happen less than is reported. Many of the so-called miracles done by these so-called miracle healers are frauds. But that doesn't mean they do not happen somewhere in the world at some times.

Answer 6

Gee. I see you're a real Bible scholar. Well you overlooked something. Jesus also said, "This is the work of God, That ye believe on him whom he hath sent." John 6:29. In John 9:4, Jesus states, "I must work the works oh him that sent me..."
So, what are the "works" that Jesus did that we also do, and greater? Jesus said, "For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10

Now, I'm sure you'll quit bashing Christians when you see them doing "His Works."

Answer 7

The passages from Mark's Gospel do not appear in the most ancient manuscripts....most probably they were added by Christians later on.

John's Gospel says nothing about "poisons" or "snakes". Mark 16:17-18 are not consistent.

I say that they were clearly added.

Answer 8

From the Concordia Self Study Bible NIV

In reference to Mark 16:9-20

"Serious doubt exists as to whether these verses belong to the original Gospel of Mark. They are absent from important early manuscripts and display certain peculiarities of vocabulary, style and theological content that are unlike the rest of Mark. His Gospel probably ended as 16:8, or its original ending has been lost".

Answer 9

each thing means something else, never(well sometimes) ever take the bible literally!!! always a hidden message!!! cast out devils-console the depressed and seemingly mean tongues-christianity wil be made up of various nations with different languages serpents-pick up snakes whast so hard about that?im sure theres soemthing else but wtvr
poison-some **** about the blood of christ or will not be pursuaded to evils so easily cure-console basically

im not a christian anymore, just i wnet to catholic school for many years and any religion teachers answer would be similar to this, always some cheap way out

Answer 10

yet we are in a position to do it. speaking in tongues isn't which you would be able to pay attention yet is a holy language spoken between us and God. with the aid of faith and an severe religious point are while those issues could be performed. If the believer won't be able to do it its particularly a mistake or blunders on the believer's area. we are waiting to do those signs and indicators that may not in basic terms help human beings yet enable disbelievers to believe yet its not in basic terms for a stupid prepare and for pointless issues.

Answer 11

Of COURSE you don't understand this. The Bible even shows us why:

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

I'll pray for you. God loves you, and so do I.

BTW, NO ONE can do any of those things. It is only GOD that can do any of them.