I was recently watching Captain Marvel. The movie was a fun superhero origin story, but the thing that stood out to me most was probably not what others remember about the movie. Carol Danvers, also known as Captain Marvel, is trying to convince her best friend of the incredible journey she has been on. Her friend is skeptical. Carol reaches out and places her hand on a nearby teapot. Her hand turns glowing orange, and she boils the contents of the pot within seconds. This simple miraculous act is all that is needed to convince her friend that she's telling the truth about her astounding story.

In a sense, this is what Jesus was doing during His earthly ministry. Jesus made some incredible claims that He was sent to earth to make. Knowing that earthlings are skeptical creatures, the Father saw fit to allow Him enough power to convince, but not so much as to overwhelm.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn't do more? He could have. He could have melted Jerusalem down to a molten pile of smoking rubble. He could have called down fiery meteorites from heaven. He could have obliterated the unbelievers with a laser blast from His eye sockets, but He didn't. Why? Because He came to convince, not to make people cower.

Indeed, He could have frightened everyone into a fitful submission. That was not His goal. He needed to do enough to convince people but not so much that they lost their wits. All His miracles were constructive, not destructive. He didn't strike anyone with blindness, or leprosy, or an intense bout of diarrhea. Clearly, He could have done that, but He didn't.

He wanted people to come to Him willingly, not cower before Him woefully. He didn't come by forcible conquest with the death and blood of His enemies; He came with faithful compassion and offered His own death and blood for the world.

His miracles were not only evidence of His identity, but they are a lesson in incredible self-restraint. He could force His listeners to submit, but instead, He restricted Himself to miracles that would leave people with the ability to resist. He did enough that anyone could be convinced, but not so much that all would be compelled. He refused to force Himself upon mankind, and by so doing allowed the human race the right to refuse His offer.

This blog is based on "Eternal Life: Believe To Be Alive" by Lucas Kitchen. To see all of Lucas Kitchen's books go to here.