D. The Miracles of Jesus

JESUS OWN TESTIMONY ABOUT HIS MIRACLES

Jesus told others that they should believe his testimony regarding His identity as the Son of God, his origin as coming from God and His nature being one with the Father based on the miraculous works which he performed in the Father’s name. Here are some examples of Jesus statements to this effect.

“But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. (John 5:36)

The Jews therefore gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” {25} Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these bear witness of Me. (John 10:24-25)

“If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; {38} 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 in the Father.” (John 10:37-38)

In the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Luke we read the account of John the Baptist who was in prison when he sent his disciples to question Jesus. It appears that John may have been doubting who Jesus was because he was in prison and in danger of losing his life. Jesus makes it clear to them and to us, that all of the miraculous works which he was doing at the time were proof that he was the long awaited Messiah and Son of God.

And summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?” {20} And when the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?'” {21} At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He granted sight to many who were blind. {22} And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. {23} “And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me.” (Luke 7:19-23)

THE MIRACLES OF JESUS

The following references provide some examples of the types of miracles Jesus performed in the presence of many witnesses which are recorded in the New Testament.

Jesus healed sickness and disease: Matthew: 4:23, 9:35;

Jesus healed physical handicaps: Luke 6:6-11;

Jesus gave sight to the blind: Mark 10:46-52

Jesus made the crippled to walk: Luke 5:18-26

Jesus raised the dead: Luke 7:11-16; John 11:1-45

Jesus exercised power over nature: Mark 4:35-41

Jesus exercised power over the demons: Luke 8:26-39

THE STATEMENTS OF OTHERS

The following portions of Scripture highlight how others were reporting and confirming the miraculous works of Jesus and affirming the important point that these miraculous signs proved he was the Son of God. In Matthews Gospel, we read the summary of Jesus ministry and his widespread miraculous works.

And Jesus was going about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. {24} And the news about Him went out into all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, taken with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. (Matthew 4:23-24)

The apostle Peter was sent by God to preach the Gospel to the gentiles for the first time when he went to the home of Cornelius the Roman centurion who lived in Caesarea. In his opening remarks, Peter reminds the people assembled about what was already common knowledge to them about Jesus ministry as a worker of miracles to which Peter claimed to be an eyewitness.

And opening his mouth, Peter said: “…you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. {38} “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him. {39} “And we are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. (Acts 10:34-39)

In the gospel of John we read of Jesus meeting with Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader in Jerusalem. Here Nicodemus confirms to Jesus in his own words, that many like him have come to believe that Jesus was a teacher sent by God because no one could do the miraculous signs that Jesus was doing unless God was with him.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; {2} this man came to Him by night, and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (John 3:1-2)

Finally, at the end of the Gospel of John we read,

“Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; {31} but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31)

TWO RESPONSES TO THE MIRACLES OF JESUS

Regarding the miraculous works which Jesus performed the following account illustrates two opposite responses by those who had knowledge of the same facts. Perhaps this highlights the potential reaction of people even today, and serves as a reminder for all to be cautious and careful when drawing conclusions regarding the miracles of Jesus. And perhaps even more importantly what might be the motives of the heart which lead to these conclusions. The Pharisees had been rebuked by Jesus for their hypocrisy. Instead of repenting they became more hardened in their unbelief and opposition to Jesus which led them to the wrong conclusion about the miracles of Jesus. Consider this account in the gospel of John and the reaction of the Pharisees as compared to that of the blind man whom Jesus had healed.

“Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was a division among them. {17} They said^ therefore to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.” {18} The Jews therefore did not believe it of him, that he had been blind, and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight, {19} and questioned them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?” {20} His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; {21} but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he shall speak for himself.” {22} His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed, that if anyone should confess Him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. {23} For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” {24} So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.” {25} He therefore answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” {26} They said therefore to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” {27} He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?” {28} And they reviled him, and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. {29} “We know that God has spoken to Moses; but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.” {30} The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. {31} “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing, and does His will, He hears him. {32} “Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. {33} “If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” {34} They answered and said to him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they put him out.” (John 9:16-34)

We have just surveyed some of the miracles of Jesus and how they provide strong evidence that he was the Son of God. There is another kind of miracle which also confirmed Jesus as the Son of God and that is the miracle of Old Testament prophesies which were fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Please continue to read more as we explore this fascinating aspect of the life of Jesus Christ.