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Image result for miracle jesusThere are so many stunning, amazing and supernatural acts of Jesus. They reveal and confirm his Messianic credentials. They announce the coming of God’s kingdom. The miracles of the Messiah are to be seen as an integral part of his ministry and are signs that point to the power of God.

We tend to think of the dramatic miracles where Jesus heals the sick. Jesus also casts out demons with evil obeying Him. Most amazing of all, Jesus raises the dead. Jesus also had authority of nature and natural forces. Jesus establishes that “nothing is impossible with God”.

John tells us that “many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

The Greek word for miracle is δύναμις dunamis, doo´-nam-is. Think of the power of dynamite. It is stunning and amazing power, i.e. the power of the Holy Spirit from God the Father. It is the power that raised Jesus from the dead, never to die again. 

The greatest miracle is the resurrection of Jesus to an incorruptible body and His ascension to heaven. Jesus was a walking, talking miracle machine. Everywhere He turned, people came in faith to be healed. Frequently the religious leaders asked for a sign (aka miracle) from Jesus. His answer was they would only get the sign of Jonah. 3 days of  death and then the resurrection. Now that is a big deal and a stunning sign! And He did it. Jesus poured out His blood, died, was buried and then rose again after 3 days.  Jesus told the religious leaders who want a sign “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign.”

So what about today? Are miracles, signs and wonders still happening? Some say that they ceased after the demise of the Apostles. My opinion is yes, they still happen. I have personally experienced the healing power of Jesus as have countless others. Jesus promised “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

The Apostle Paul says to the church in Corinthians “and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.” And again Paul says to the same church  “God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?”

Let’s dig into the scriptures.

Examples of the kind of miracles Jesus Christ performed – Jesus performed every kind of miracle you can imagine, including raising the dead. Here are some examples.

Authority over natural forces

Matthew 8:27 (NASB) — 27 The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Matthew 14:19–20 (NASB) — 19 Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, 20 and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets.

Matthew 14:25 (NASB) — 25 And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.

Matthew 17:27 (NASB) — 27 “However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”

Luke 5:4 (NASB) — 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

Luke 5:6 (NASB) — 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break;

John 2:9 (NASB) — 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom,

Healing the sick

Matthew 4:24 (NASB) — 24 The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.

Matthew 8:13 (NASB) — 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.

Matthew 8:15 (NASB) — 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him.

Matthew 9:22 (NASB) — 22 But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.

Matthew 9:29–30 (NASB) — 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them: “See that no one knows about this!”

Matthew 12:13 (NASB) — 13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other.

Mark 7:35 (NASB) — 35 And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly.

Luke 17:14 (NASB) — 14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed.

John 4:52–53 (NASB) — 52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household.

John 5:8–9 (NASB) — 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” 9 Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.

John 9:6–7 (NASB) — 6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.

Casting out demons

Mark 1:34 (NASB) — 34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

Matthew 9:33 (NASB) — 33 After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

Matthew 12:22 (NASB) — 22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw.

Matthew 17:18 (NASB) — 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once.

Raising the dead

Luke 7:14–15 (NASB) — 14 And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Matthew 9:25 (NASB) — 25 But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.

John 11:43–44 (NASB) — 43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” 44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

The purpose of Jesus Christ’s miracles

To bring healing and wholeness

Luke 8:35 (NASB) — 35 The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened.

Matthew 15:28 (NASB) — 28 Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.

Luke 17:14–15 (NASB) — 14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. 15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice,

John 9:38 (NASB) — 38 And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.

To reveal God’s kingdom

Matthew 12:28 (NASB) — 28 “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Matthew 11:4–5 (NASB) — 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

To fulfil God’s word

Matthew 8:16–17 (NASB) — 16 When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.”

Isaiah 53:4 (NASB) — 4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.

Matthew 12:15–17 (NASB) — 15 But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all, 16 and warned them not to tell who He was. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

Luke 4:18–19 (NASB) — 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, 19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

Isaiah 61:1–2 (NASB) — 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,

Luke 4:21 (NASB) — 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

To bring glory to God

John 11:4 (NASB) — 4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

Matthew 15:31 (NASB) — 31 So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

John 2:11 (NASB) — 11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

To show Jesus to be the Messiah

Acts 2:22 (NASB) — 22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—

Matthew 11:3–5 (NASB) — 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

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

John 10:25 (NASB) — 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.

John 10:37–38 (NASB) — 37 “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, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”

John 11:42 (NASB) — 42 “I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”

Varying responses to Jesus Christ’s miracles

Terror and fear

Mark 4:41 (NASB) — 41 They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Matthew 8:34 (NASB) — 34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they implored Him to leave their region.

Mark 5:15 (NASB) — 15 They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the “legion”; and they became frightened.

Wonder and amazement

Luke 4:36 (NASB) — 36 And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, “What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.”

Matthew 9:33 (NASB) — 33 After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

Matthew 12:23 (NASB) — 23 All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?”

Luke 9:43 (NASB) — 43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples,

Luke 11:14 (NASB) — 14 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute; when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed.

Faith and gratitude

Luke 19:37 (NASB) — 37 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen,

Mark 5:18–20 (NASB) — 18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. 19 And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

Luke 17:15–16 (NASB) — 15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16 and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan.

John 9:38 (NASB) — 38 And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.

John 14:11 (NASB) — 11 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

John 20:30–31 (NASB) — 30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Opposition and hatred

John 15:24 (NASB) — 24 “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.

Matthew 11:20–21 (NASB) — 20 Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Matthew 12:24 (NASB) — 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

John 12:10–11 (NASB) — 10 But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.

John 12:37–38 (NASB) — 37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

Limitations on Jesus Christ’s miracles

Jesus Christ restricted his miracles because of superficial faith

John 2:23–24 (NASB) — 23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men,

Matthew 12:38–39 (NASB) — 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” 39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet;

Matthew 16:1–4 (NASB) — 1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 “And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? 4 “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.

John 2:18 (NASB) — 18 The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?”

John 6:30 (NASB) — 30 So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform?

Miracles require faith

Matthew 13:58 (NASB) — 58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

Matthew 14:28–31 (NASB) — 28 Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 17:14–20 (NASB) — 14 When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 “I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” 17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” 20 And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

Jesus Christ’s miracles performed through others

Through the disciples during Jesus Christ’s lifetime

Matthew 10:1 (NASB) — 1 Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

Mark 9:38 (NASB) — 38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.”

Luke 10:17 (NASB) — 17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

Through the apostles after Jesus Christ’s ascension

Acts 3:6 (NASB) — 6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”

Acts 3:16 (NASB) — 16 “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Acts 4:10 (NASB) — 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.

Acts 5:12 (NASB) — 12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico.

Acts 6:8 (NASB) — 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

Acts 8:6–7 (NASB) — 6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. 7 For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

Acts 16:18 (NASB) — 18 She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.

Acts 19:11 (NASB) — 11 God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,

2 Corinthians 12:12 (NASB) — 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.

Through the church

1 Corinthians 12:10 (NASB) — 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:28–29 (NASB) — 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?