{"id":5145,"date":"2021-08-22T12:03:26","date_gmt":"2021-08-22T17:03:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heavens-beauty.info\/wp-hb\/?page_id=5145"},"modified":"2025-05-08T11:43:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T16:43:40","slug":"what-is-a-miracle-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/heavens-beauty.info\/wp-hb\/?page_id=5145","title":{"rendered":"What Is A MIRACLE 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"What \u00a0\u201cWhat Is A MIRACLE\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1 of 5<\/span><\/p>\n

A miracle is a divine act by which God reveals himself to people. The classical definition of miracle assumes that it is contrary to natural law, but this is not true. Many of the miracles of the Bible, such as the wind that parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21<\/b>), used nature rather than bypassed it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding this does not take away from the awesomeness of a miracle. The timing and content of the process can be miraculous, even though the event may seem a part of nature.<\/span><\/p>\n

The significance is God\u2019s presence and revelation. God performed miracles not merely as a\u00a0\u201cwonder\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to inspire awe but as a\u00a0\u201csign\u201d<\/span>\u00a0to draw people to himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

THE VOCABULARY OF MIRACLES<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

In the\u00a0Old Testament<\/b>\u00a0the two main terms are\u00a0\u201csign\u201d<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0\u201cwonder,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0which often occur together. More than one Hebrew term is used for\u00a0\u201cwonder\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>one referring to it as an act of supernatural power and another as something beyond man\u2019s understanding. On the whole, they are used synonymously for God\u2019s providential acts within history.<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0\u201csign\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0refers to an act that occurs as a token or pledge of God\u2019s control over events and as a revelation of God\u2019s presence with his people.<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0New Testament<\/b>\u00a0uses the same basic idiom,\u00a0\u201csigns and wonders,\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0with the same general thrust (John 4:48<\/b>;\u00a0Acts 2:43<\/b>). The\u00a0New Testament<\/b>\u00a0adds another term, however.<\/span><\/p>\n

A third term is that for\u00a0\u201cpower\u201d<\/b>\u00a0or miracle, and this becomes the predominant term in the\u00a0synoptic Gospels<\/b>: Matthew, Mark and Luke. It signifies the mighty act itself by which God is revealed in Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

A fourth term is\u00a0\u201cwork,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0which along with\u00a0\u201csign\u201d<\/span>\u00a0is preferred in the Gospel of John.<\/span><\/p>\n

This term is used in John to show that in Jesus the work of the Father is revealed. While the terms are often synonymous (the first three occur together in\u00a0Romans 15:19-20<\/b>;\u00a02 Thessalonians 2:9<\/b>;\u00a0Hebrews 2:4<\/b>), they designate different aspects of miracles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSigns\u201d<\/span>\u00a0point to the theological meaning of miracle as a revelation of God;\u00a0\u201cpower,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0to the force behind the act;\u00a0\u201cwork,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0to the person behind it; and\u00a0\u201cwonder,\u201d<\/b>\u00a0to its awesome effect on the observer.<\/span><\/p>\n

MIRACLES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

To the Hebrew, a miracle was nothing more or less than an act of God. Therefore, nature herself was a miracle (Job 5:9-10<\/b>;\u00a0Psalm 106:2<\/b>), and an act of kindness or victory over one\u2019s enemies is so described (1 Samuel 14:23<\/b>). The natural order is totally under Yahweh\u2019s control, so a miracle was observable not because of its supernatural nature but because of its character as part of the divine revelation.<\/span><\/p>\n

This connection with salvation history is crucial, for Israel at all times tried to guard against a desire for the spectacular.\u00a0Deuteronomy 13:1-4<\/b>\u00a0warns against accepting a wonder as authenticating a prophet. The authentication must come from the fact that he worships Yahweh, the one true God.<\/span><\/p>\n

Miracles in the\u00a0Old Testament<\/b>\u00a0are restricted to critical periods of redemptive history.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many have discussed the act of Creation as the first miracle, but it is not presented as such in the Genesis account. A miracle is signified by its revelatory significance and\/or its connection with crucial points in the history of God\u2019s people, like the Exodus or the victory at Jericho. Creation is characterized by one major theme: a chronicle of the beginnings.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, the miracles of Genesis-striking blind the inhabitants of Sodom, the Flood, Babel-all signify the wrath of God upon those who have turned against him. This is the other side of redemptive history, the judgment of God upon those who are not his people. The miracles of the Exodus account have more than one focus: The plagues represent the absolute power of Yahweh over the gods of Egypt.<\/span><\/p>\n

The miracles of the wilderness wanderings show God\u2019s absolute care and protection of his people. The plagues are particularly interesting because each one is directed at one of the gods of Egypt and reveals Yahweh as the only true deity. The basic theme is found in\u00a0Exodus 7:5<\/b>\u00a0and is repeated throughout the account:\u00a0\u201cWhen I show the Egyptians my power and force them to let the Israelite’s go, they will realize that I am the LORD.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The miracles were directed not only at the Egyptians but also to the Israelite’s. They needed to know that their God would vindicate them against the Egyptians. This is borne out in the major miracle, the crossing of the Red Sea. The plagues themselves show a gradual increase in severity. The wilderness miracles are intimately connected to the basic theme of the wandering narratives, the trial of Israel in times of desperate need and God\u2019s providential protection of his people when they turn to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

The basic organization of the stories concerns the need itself, which leads to Israel\u2019s complaint. This is followed by Moses\u2019 intercession and then by God\u2019s sovereign intervention. The miracles are interspersed with other stories that tell of God\u2019s punishment when the people\u2019s murmuring and complaining goes too far. Miracles are conspicuously absent in the period of the united monarchy when all of Israel was ruled by one of three kings: Saul, David, and Solomon.<\/span><\/p>\n

This was a time of self-sufficiency, when God worked through the monarchy and did not intervene directly in the life of the nation. The reason is that Israel\u2019s eschatological hopes had been realized and made concrete in the presence of the Holy City and the temple. It was different later during the days of the prophets.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the lives of Elijah and Elisha, miracles were predominant. This was a time of weak faith. Under the reign of Ahab and Jezebel the nation turned to paganism and the worship of Baal. The very existence of the Hebrew religion seemed to be threatened, so the times called for extraordinary measures.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here the wondrous nature of the miracles is more evident than anywhere else in the Old Testament. There are conscious allusions to the Exodus miracles, perhaps looking to Elijah as a new Moses reinstitutions the true worship of Yahweh. Parallels between Moses and Elijah can be seen in the challenge to the priests of Baal (1 Kings 18:16-40<\/b>); the revelation of God on Mount Horeb with the wind, earthquake, and fire (19:9-13<\/b>); and the parting of the Jordan (2 Kings 2:10-14<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Many of the miracles were intended to demonstrate the powerlessness of Baal, such as the drought, the contest on Mount Carmel, and the miraculous sustenance supplied by God. Again, God\u2019s actions within history were part of his self-revelation, the vindication of his messengers, and the punishment of his enemies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Miracles are infrequent in the writing prophets, perhaps because they dealt more in messages rather than actions. The two major exceptions (apart from the recovery of Hezekiah chronicled in\u00a0Isaiah 38:1-22<\/b>) are Jonah and Daniel. In Jonah, the miracle is addressed not to the Ninevites but to the Israelite’s, who are called back to their covenant obligations as the spokesmen for Yahweh.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Daniel the direction is reversed, and the situation is the same as that in Exodus or Kings. The miracles are directed to the Babylonians and Persians and have the same focus as the earlier events of the Exodus and the Elijah-Elisha chronicles, that is, the supremacy of Yahweh over the foreign gods and the vindication of his messengers. This is the third and final time of crisis and illustrates the major theological use of miracles in the\u00a0Old Testament<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

MIRACLES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The presence of the miraculous has a similar purpose in the\u00a0New Testament<\/b>. It occurred at a crisis point in salvation history to authenticate the presence of God in historical acts. It differs, however, in that it is transcended by the presence of the very Son of God, who himself is the greatest miracle of all. God now has not only acted in history; he has entered history and has turned it to himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

The parallels with the Exodus events are obvious and show that the miracles of Jesus paved the way for the entrance of the new covenant in the same way that the Exodus miracles prepared for the old.<\/span><\/p>\n

JESUS\u2019 UNDERSTANDING<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus stressed the connection between his miraculous ministry, especially the casting out of demons (exorcism), and the coming of the kingdom of God. As in the Old Testament, the miracles signify the presence of God, but here it is more direct and also signals the inauguration of his kingdom (Matthew 12:28<\/b>). As such, then, the exorcism miracles mean the binding of Satan and the institution of the reign of God (Mark 3:23-27<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time all the miracles signify the dawning of the age of salvation, as expressed in Jesus\u2019 inaugural address at Nazareth (Luke 4:18-21<\/b>). Yet these miracles are not automatic signposts to the act of God. They must be interpreted by faith. Jesus was well aware of the presence of other miracles in his day (Matthew 12:27<\/b>) and so stressed the presence of faith in the healing miracles (Mark 5:32; 10:52<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n

This faith must be directed to the presence of God in the event and in Jesus himself. The necessity of faith also helps to understand Jesus\u2019 refusal to provide his contemporaries with a\u00a0\u201csign\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(8:11-12<\/b>). Miracles could never\u00a0\u201cprove\u201d<\/span>\u00a0the presence of God. For a better understanding of the connection between faith and miracles, it is best to note each author\u2019s individual portrait of the theological use of miracles.<\/span><\/p>\n

MIRACLES IN MARK<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Mark, the first of the four Gospels to be written, has often been called the\u00a0\u201caction Gospel\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0because of its emphasis on Jesus\u2019 deeds rather than his teaching. This is also true regarding Jesus\u2019 miracles, for Mark contains more proportionately than any of the others. There are five groups or five kinds of miracles in Mark.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first group centers on Jesus\u2019 authority over demons (Mark 1:21-39<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n

The second concerns Jesus\u2019 authority over the law and conflict with his opponents (1:40-3:6<\/b>). They result in his fame, but he refuses to allow his true identity as Son of God to be known.<\/span><\/p>\n

The third group (3:7-30<\/b>) contains exorcisms and the Beelzebub controversy, centering on his power over Satan.<\/span><\/p>\n

The fourth group (4:35-6:43<\/b>) contains especially powerful miracles (stilling the storm, the Gaderene demoniac, the raising of Jairus\u2019s daughter) and probably centers on the disciples, as Jesus thereby reveals to them the meaning of the kingdom and seeks to overcome their own spiritual dullness.<\/span><\/p>\n

The fifth and final group (6:30-8:26<\/b>) continues the theme of the disciples\u2019 misunderstanding and prepares the way for the Cross, with the message regarding the bread, blindness, and the judgment of God.<\/span><\/p>\n

The miracles in Mark center on conflict, first with Jesus\u2019 opponents and then with his own disciples. While the miracles are harbingers of God\u2019s kingdom, their purpose is to force an encounter with Jesus\u2019 true significance.<\/span><\/p>\n

They do not show Jesus as a wonder worker; in fact, they lead only to amazement and then disbelief in those who do not have faith. Jesus\u2019 personhood has been hidden and can only be understood in light of the Cross. The miracles are not proofs but powers. God does not authenticate himself through them but shows himself to those with eyes to see.<\/span><\/p>\n

MIRACLES IN MATTHEW<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Matthew\u2019s is the teaching Gospel, where dialogue takes precedence over action. His focus is on the theological implications of faith. Matthew\u2019s groups of miracles are related to teaching passages. He combines narrative portions and organizes them around teaching sections.<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0first group<\/span>\u00a0(Matthew 8:1-9:38<\/b>) combines miracles from Mark\u2019s first, second, and fourth groups and stresses Jesus\u2019 significance as the servant of Yahweh who exercises sovereign power and forgives sins.<\/span><\/p>\n

The secondary theme teaches discipleship and shows the awakening faith of the disciples and their involvement in Jesus\u2019 ministry.<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0second group<\/span>\u00a0(12:1-50<\/b>) centers on his authority over the law (the man with the withered hand) and over Satan (the Beelzebub controversy).<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0third group<\/span>\u00a0(14:1-15:39<\/b>) parallels Mark\u2019s fifth group but has a different purpose. Rather than arousing conflict, the disciples are seen in positive guise, actively involved in the Master\u2019s work. So the disciples become the means by which Jesus\u2019 ministry is continued. Therefore, the disciples are involved as\u00a0\u201clearners\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(the meaning of\u00a0\u201cdisciple\u201d<\/span>) in his miraculous ministry.<\/span><\/p>\n

MIRACLES IN LUKE<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Luke, and its sequel Acts, is remarkable and extremely important because it establishes beyond dispute the early church\u2019s belief that it was to continue the work of God in the world. Luke\u2019s major stress is on salvation history, so one of his major stylistic methods for showing this direct connection is miraculous deeds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Especially enlightening here is\u00a0Acts 9:32-42<\/b>, where in two healing miracles Peter duplicated the Lord\u2019s miracles (the healing of the paralytic Aeneas,\u00a05:18-26<\/b>; the raising of Dorcas,\u00a08:49-56<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Luke returns to Mark\u2019s interest in the deed more than the teaching. However, Luke goes even further than Mark, for the miracles validate Jesus more directly.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first group of miracles follows the inaugural address, which itself presents the miraculous deeds as authenticating signposts to Jesus\u2019 personhood. They center on Jesus\u2019 power and authority (4:18-41<\/b>) and validate God\u2019s power in Jesus (5:17<\/b>;\u00a08:39<\/b>) as well as faith in Jesus (especially in\u00a0Acts 9:35<\/b>;\u00a013:12<\/b>;\u00a019:17<\/b>). The presence of\u00a0\u201cfear\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>at the miracles is a human response to having witnessed God\u2019s power (Luke 5:26<\/b>;\u00a07:16<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n

The call to the disciples occurs in the presence of miracles. Luke views miracles as having redemptive significance. However, this is not contrary to Mark\u2019s picture. Luke still avoids picturing Jesus as a mere wonder worker. Jesus still refuses to satisfy people\u2019s curiosity for an external sign (Luke 11:29-32<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (16:19-31<\/b>) he teaches that the unbelieving heart can never be convinced by such events. Nevertheless, miracles can lead to repentance (10:13-16<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n

MIRACLES IN JOHN<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

John is the most theological of the Gospel writers. Miracles are characteristically given a distinctive coloring by him. In the other three Gospels, miracles are\u00a0\u201cacts of power\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>signifying the entrance of God\u2019s reign into this world through Jesus. Jesus establishes Satan\u2019s defeat and God\u2019s sovereign control of history.<\/span><\/p>\n

John, however, contains no exorcisms, and the miracles are seen as\u00a0\u201csigns.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0At the same time miracles are part of the larger category of\u00a0\u201cworks\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(the other term for miracles used in John), by which Jesus shows the Father\u2019s presence in himself (John 10:32-39<\/b>;\u00a014:10<\/b>). They give witness to Jesus as the sent one (5:36<\/span>;\u00a010:25<\/span>). John selects only seven\u00a0\u201csign miracles\u201d<\/span>\u00a0from many others (20:30<\/span>) and uses them as part of the thematic development.<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, changing the water into wine is a messianic act, signifying the outpouring of the kingdom blessing in the ministry of Jesus, the Messiah (2:1-11<\/b>) The multiplication of the loaves builds upon the\u00a0\u201cbread of life\u201d<\/span>\u00a0and points to the messianic banquet as spiritually present in Jesus (6:1-15<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n

The paradoxical nature of miracles is even greater in John\u2019s Gospel. He gives more stress to the wondrous nature of the events by providing such details as the stupendous amount of water changed into wine (John 2:6<\/b>, approximately 120 gallons, or 454.2 liters); the distance over which Jesus\u2019 healing power works (4:46<\/span>, almost 20 miles, or 32.2 kilometers); the length of time the man of Bethesda had been lame (5:5<\/b>, 38 years; see also\u00a09:1<\/b>, where the man had been born blind); the amount of bread needed to feed the 5,000 (6:7<\/b>, where Philip said 200 denarii, or days\u2019 wages, would not have bought enough); and the proof of Lazarus\u2019s death (11:39<\/b>; he had already begun to decay).<\/span><\/p>\n

John has a great interest in the miraculous. Yet at the same time there is even greater stress on the inadequacy of miracles for faith. The miracles as\u00a0\u201csigns\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0have saving value and point to the true significance of Jesus but are related to an awakening faith and in themselves are insufficient (2:11<\/b>;\u00a04:50<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n

They look to Jesus\u2019 sonship and the Father\u2019s authentication of him but are based on the salvation decision of the individual. As\u00a0\u201csigns,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0they contain the very presence of God in Jesus, the spiritual reality of the\u00a0\u201csight\u201d<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0\u201clife\u201d<\/span>\u00a0he brings (9:35-38<\/b>;\u00a011:24-26<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet they divide the audience with the need to decide: seek understanding or merely watch and wonder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some refuse to consider the signs, and thus they reject them (3:18-21<\/b>). Others see them as mere wonders and fail to see in them the true significance of Jesus (2:23-25<\/b>). On the other hand, some view them with the eye of faith and go on to a realization of Christ\u2019s identity (John 2:11<\/b>;\u00a0John 11:42<\/b>). In John the highest faith of all is that which does not need outward confirmation (20:29<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n

MIRACLES IN THE REST OF THE NEW TESTAMENT<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Apart from Acts, several passages in the\u00a0New Testament<\/b>\u00a0speak of the value of miracles. Paul in\u00a02 Corinthians 12:12<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0Romans 15:18-19<\/b>\u00a0considered them as\u00a0\u201csign-gifts,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0which authenticated the divine authority of the\u00a0\u201ctrue apostle.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>He listed healing and miracles as specific\u00a0\u201cgifts of the Spirit\u201d<\/span>\u00a0in\u00a01 Corinthians 12:9-10<\/span>. In\u00a0Galatians 3:5<\/b>\u00a0he considered them evidence for the presence of the Spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n

The author of the letter to the Hebrews in\u00a0Hebrews 2:4<\/b>\u00a0said\u00a0\u201cGod bore witness\u201d<\/span>\u00a0to the true message of salvation by way of miracles. Therefore, in the age of the apostles the miracles performed by God\u2019s servants were seen as authenticating signs of God\u2019s presence and power in his messengers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Miracles 1<\/a> \u00a0Miracles 2<\/a> Miracles 3<\/a> \u00a0Miracles 4<\/a> Miracles 5<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u201cWhat Is A MIRACLE\u201d 1 of 5 A miracle is a divine act by which God reveals himself to people. The classical definition of miracle assumes that it is contrary to natural law, but this is not true. Many of the miracles of the Bible, such as the wind that parted the Red Sea (Exodus […]<\/p>\n

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