Reckless GraceSample

All the Signs, All the Wonders

Up to this point everything Jesus did on earth, another person also did in his name. Let’s unpack a few of these signs, wonders, and miracles.

Walking on water: Jesus did it and Peter did it. Admittedly, Peter wasn’t too great at it, but he did it (Matthew 14:22–33).

Miraculous transportation: Jesus did it and Philip did it. He was zapped from zip code to zip code in the blink of an eye in order to witness (Acts 8:39–40).

Multiplying food: Jesus did it and his disciples did it. And the result was that thousands were physically and spiritually fed (Matthew 14; Mark 8).

Healing the sick. Casting out demons. Raising the dead: Jesus gave his disciples power and authority to do all these things in his name. (Matthew 10:8).

Oh, but he doesn’t stop there. Skip ahead to John’s Gospel with me, just before the ascension. 

In John 14:12–13 Jesus extends to all who believe in him the same power and authority he gave his disciples. You have been given power and authority to do even greater things than Jesus displayed, so long as you do them in his name. This is your current reality—your power and authority as a believer are a direct outpouring of your identity in Christ fully embraced.

Everything Jesus did, another person also did, except for one thing—the forgiveness of sins. And even now, grace is the one thing we still have a hard time with. We’re far more comfortable declaring physical healing than extending radical grace. It’s bizarre when you think about it. As Spirit-filled believers, we want all the signs, all the wonders. We want the supernatural “wow” factor, and we think we mean it when we cry out, “More, Lord!” But releasing forgiveness through the reckless love of God is the greatest supernatural gift Jesus imparts to us. We know it’s true, because he saves his best gift for last.

After creation, we fall. After the resurrection, we are restored to our original identity. And out of that identity come power and authority in the spirit realm. Jesus already gave authority to cast out demons and disease before his death but it isn’t until after the resurrection that he invited us to represent him in everything, including his grace.

Christ alone erases your sin. All you do is choose to come into agreement with him by aligning yourself with the redemption of the cross. “He who was delivered over because of our transgressions and was raised because of our justification” (Romans 4:25). When you withhold forgiveness, you fail to recognize the power of the cross, you misrepresent Christ, and the world remains blind to the love and grace of the Father.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is offensive to our post-Christian culture and for good reason. It almost always comes down to radical grace. Grace that makes no sense by earthly standards. Grace we cannot possibly steward faithfully in our own strength.

God has given you a gift of radical, unthinkable, supernatural grace, and you are uniquely suited to use that grace to help bring God’s kingdom here and now.