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Miracles Happen

There are so many amazing and supernatural acts of Jesus, revealing and confirming his Messianic credentials, and the coming of God’s kingdom. The miracles of the Messiah are to be seen as an integral part of his ministry, then and now. Jesus is so amazing! In this study, we will look at some where Jesus heals the sick.

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.

During his earthly ministry, Jesus the Messiah touched and transformed countless lives. Like other events in the life of Jesus, his miracles were documented by eyewitnesses. The four Good News books record 37 miracles of Jesus, with Mark’s recording the most.

Jesus still heals! I have been healed, multiple times. I know others have as well. Jesus IS!

These accounts represent only a small number of the multitudes of people who were made whole by our Master Jesus. The closing verse of John explains:

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)

Examples of Jesus healing the sick

  • Matthew 4:24  — 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  — 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  — He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him.
  • Matthew 9:22  — 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  — Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them: “See that no one knows about this!”
  • Matthew 12:13  — 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  — And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly.
  • Luke 17:14  — 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  — 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.” 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  — Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” 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  — When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, 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.

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.”

The 37 miracles of Jesus the Messiah that were written down in the New Testament serve a specific purpose. None were performed randomly, for amusement, or for show. Each was accompanied by a message and either met a serious human need or confirmed the Messiah’s identity and authority as the Son of God. At times Jesus refused to perform miracles because they did not fall into one of these two categories:

In the New Testament, three words refer to miracles:

  • Power (dynamis), which means “mighty deed;”
  • Sign (sēmeion), which refers to a miracle that figuratively represents something else, such as the kingdom of God;
  • Wonder (teras), which indicates something extraordinary.

Sometimes Jesus called on God the Father when performing miracles, and at other times he acted on his own authority as the Son of God.