This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing 
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s 
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

The evil of Ahab’s dynasty 
and his bloody war with Syria  

exist alongside Elijah and 
Elisha’s prophetic ministries.

As prophets they are living symbols of life and 
freedom in an era ruled by evil and oppression.

Without exception each of the miracles they perform—even a miracle about a floating axe head—proclaim good news to
Israel’s oppressed while indicting Israel’s oppressive kings.

While building a home for 
their prophetic community,  

one of Elisha’s men loses a 
borrowed axe head to the river.

Earlier in Elisha’s ministry, a widow 
almost sold her two sons over a debt of oil.

Losing an iron axe will almost 
certainly result in slavery, especially  

when the kings have allowed 
Israel’s slave-trade to thrive.

So, Elisha reverses gravity and the axe floats to the surface.
This is no petty miracle, but proof that God
will dramatically reverse oppression 

and deliver him from slavery.

But Elisha isn’t just fighting Ahab’s
dynastic cruelty within Israel;

he’s fighting Syria’s 
aggression against Israel too.

God gives Elisha some prophetic intel to 
Syria’s battle plans, which he delivers to Israel.

Consistently defeated, Syria's
king realizes that Elisha  

is the supernatural mole, and 
sends an entire battalion to seize him.

But God surrounds Syria’s troops with an
army of his own and blinds every last soldier.

With no other choice, the blind army
follows God’s prophet to the king of Israel  

who wants to massacre
these prisoners of war.

But God restores their sight and Elisha 
demands the king of Israel set a feast  

for these soldiers and
set the captives free.

Elisha is not just a mole, he embodies and enacts the
salvation God wants to provide for
Israel by saving her enemies.

God saves the blind Syrian army in order 
to indict Israel’s king for his failure

to see God’s salvation and
freedom in Elijah and Elisha.

Israel would be saved if only 
they had the eyes to see.

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Elisha’s miracles are both declarations of 
good news to Israel and indictments of Israel.

God is bringing freedom and 
salvation, even to the Syrians.

If Israel will follow the
voice of the prophet,  

their debts will be paid, their blind eyes 
will be opened, and they will be freed.

Like Elisha’s ministry and miracles, Jesus’ ministry and
miracles are more than just demonstrations of power;

they are prophecies of good
news for the oppressed of Israel,  

while at the same time indictments 
against those who have rejected God.

Jesus’ healing of a Roman centurion declares that
healing power is available to all who have faith, 

but it’s also a judgment
on Israel’s lack of faith.

When prostitutes and tax
collectors feast at Jesus’ table,

it’s an invitation for us to admit
our brokenness and sickness  

as much as it is an invitation to 
rejoice that God accepts the outsider.

When Jesus heals a blind man, it’s not just a 
powerful declaration of good news to the blind;  

it’s also judgment on those 
who claim they can see.

In a story very similar to the lost axe, Peter owes taxes
and Jesus says he’ll find the money in a fish’s mouth.

Like the lost axe, the metal coins are
drawn to the surface and his debt is paid for.

This is not just a demonstration of Jesus' power, but
proof that God delivers us from the debts we owe if
we are willing to listen and have eyes to see.

Israel in Elisha’s day, the 
religious leaders in Jesus’ day,  

and most everyone every day dismiss 
God’s prophet and his prophetic signs.

We either limit them to displays of power or—
even worse—dismiss their prophetic dimensions.

But if we admit we are blind and follow the voice
of God’s prophet Jesus, our debts will be paid in full,

our blind eyes will be opened, we 
will be set free from our captors,  

and we will enjoy a feast in 
the presence of our enemies.

So, follow the voice of 
Jesus and see for yourself.

I ask the Holy Spirit would open your eyes
to see the God who has sent his prophet.

And may you see that none
of Jesus’ miracles are petty,  

but both declarations of his good 
news and invitations to repent.