Articles
Jesus and Miracles
In his first sermon, Peter introduced Jesus as “a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your presence, just as you yourselves know” (Acts 2:22). Let’s begin a study of Jesus’ miracles with three observations from this verse.
One, Jesus performed miracles. Too many in our day try to dismiss the accounts of Jesus’ miracles as the exaggerations of over-zealous disciples. No, the New Testament is eyewitness testimony. “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16; cf. 1 John 1:1-3).
Jesus did many different kinds of miracles: various physical effects, such as walking on water; instant healing of numerous afflictions, including severed body parts; casting our demons; and in at least three instances He raised the dead. Unlike His disciples (e.g., Matthew 17:14-21), He never failed anything He attempted. Even His enemies acknowledged His miracles. The thousands gathered on Pentecost were well aware of Jesus’ deeds—“just as you yourselves know.”
Two, Jesus’ miracles manifested divine power. The word miracle is used rather loosely in modern times, often to denote merely outstanding or unusual events; for example, a team making a “miraculous” comeback in a game. Such things are not miracles at all. Genuine miracles require supernatural involvement. In Jesus’ activities, “God performed through Him.”
Peter used three terms: miracles, wonders, and signs. Miracle emphasizes the cause, divine power. It is from the same word as dynamite. Wonder points to the effect on witnesses. Sign states the purpose. Miracles say something. They have implications beyond the event, which brings us to. . .
Three, Jesus’ miracles proved who He was. He was “attested by God.” That means accredited or proved. Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh (John 5:18; 10:30). His miracles verified it. Jesus’ miracles are as critical to His identity as His teaching is.
When John the Baptist wanted to know if Jesus was the Expected One, Jesus pointed to His miracles (Matthew 11:2-6). The Lord told audiences who stumbled over His words, “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father” (John 10:37-38). The written record of Jesus’ miracles enablesus to believe as surely as those who saw them firsthand (John 20:30-31).
