Who Is Our "Intelligent Designer"? Part 7

(See Part 6)

For more than three years, the Son of God, the true designer and creator of all things in heaven and on the earth, personally (and through the preaching of John the Baptist, the 12 apostles and the 70 messengers) offered to Israel the magnificent kingdom that had been promised to them for many centuries (i.e., Isa. 2, 11, 35 and 65; cf. Alva J. McClain, [Winona Lake, IN: BMH Books, 1959]).

This genuine offer was contingent on one thing only: repentance (i.e., a radical change of heart toward God) on the part of Israel. And no one had any valid reason for doubting His true identity. His claim to be Israel’s divine Messiah was overwhelmingly confirmed by hundreds of spectacular sign-miracles. None of the “fingerprints of God” that we see today, from microscopic flagella to the galaxies above us, can compare to the persuasive power of those supernatural works. The Lord Jesus said: “the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me” (John 5:36 KJV).

Nicodemus, the outstanding theologian of Israel, confessed to Jesus: “Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:2).

But the nation of Israel, with some exceptions, rejected these great Messianic sign-miracles. Our Lord told them: “If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.” (John 15:24). The Jewish leaders even attributed His miracles to the power of Satan (John 8:48, 52).

What does all of this say to us concerning the Intelligent Design Movement? The conclusion is shocking indeed. The Bible tells us that even an acknowledgment of the divine origin of the sign-miracles of Jesus was not sufficient for spiritual salvation! To the brilliant Jewish rabbi Nicodemus, who rationalistically discerned the true source of Jesus’ miracles, and who risked his reputation by coming to Jesus one night to tell Him, “No man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him,” our Lord replied: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:2, 3). He was so far from the Kingdom, he couldn’t even see it! Why?

The answer is found in the three verses that immediately precede this amazing interview. (The chapter division tends to obscure the connection). The apostle John wrote: “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for He knew what was in man” (John 2:23-25).

What did John mean by this? The answer comes in the next verses: “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus” (3:1). Here was a clear example of a man who “believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did” (John 2:23). Nicodemus not only believed in ID, he also believed in DM (divine miracles). But even this was vastly insufficient! Something of infinite and eternal significance was still missing, namely, child-like, genuine faith in Him, resulting in new birth (i.e., regeneration, salvation).

Throughout the gospel of John this theme keeps re-appearing: to accept the divine origin of the miracles of Jesus was essential, but totally insufficient for salvation. The Lord Jesus was not simply a great miracle worker. He was God’s own Son, the Messiah and Redeemer of Israel, and the Savior of all mankind. What, then, was the purpose of His sign-miracles?

They were to attract attention to His words, His person and His uniqueness as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). As He explained to unbelieving scribes: “But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house” (Matt. 9:6).

Although the majority of Israel’s leaders attributed His miracles to Satan, there were 5,000 men (plus their families) who wanted to acclaim Jesus as King when they beheld His healing miracles and ate the loaves and fishes He created for them (see John 6:1-14). But He was not deceived by this: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek Me, not because ye saw (the true significance of) the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” (John 6:26).

Graciously and patiently He explained to them: “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen Me, and believe not” (John 6:35-36).

He continued to explain their desperate need of eternal life through faith in Him, but, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with Him” (John 6:66).

Dr. John C. Whitcomb is president of Whitcomb Ministries, Inc., and founder and professor of Christian Workman Schools of Theology. He has taught the Old Testament and theology for more than 50 years, and is widely recognized as a leading Biblical scholar.