Miracles

by Noble Harber

We have all heard someone exclaim, after seeing or experiencing an unusual event, “It’s a miracle!” Various events happen in our lives that are difficult to explain or have extremely low probabilities of occurrence, yet occur anyway. A coin may be flipped into the air and end up standing on its edge. Though a highly improbable outcome, it is not a miracle. A person may walk away from a terrible car accident without a scratch. Though such an occurrence is truly a wonderful thing, it is not a miracle. A miracle, by definition, is an effect or event that is supernatural; that can only occur outside the realm of physical laws.

Two Greek words, namely DUNAMIS and SEMEION, are translated in our English Bibles as “miracle.” DUNAMIS means “power” and refers to works of supernatural origin. SEMEION means “sign” and applies to actions signifying divine authority.

Here are a few examples of miracles:

  •  5,000 people fed with five loaves and two fish

  •  A violent storm immediately stopped by command

  • A walk on water

  • A man born blind bestowed with eyesight

  •  A dead man raised to life

 Such events can only come about by supernatural cause. Any individual who affects such events must operate outside the constraints of physical, natural laws. 

The Bible is replete with accounts of miracles that were performed by God, by His Son Jesus Christ, and by godly men whom they commissioned. Elijah, the prophet of God, raised a child from the dead (I Kings 17:17-24).  Once the child’s mother saw her child restored to life, she said to Elijah:

“Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth.”

I Kings 17:24

 The child’s mother was convinced by the miracle that Elijah was a man of God and that the word he spoke was from the Lord!

Consider the following account of a miracle performed by Jesus, the reason why Jesus said that He performed the miracle, and its impact on those who witnessed it:

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.  When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”

Luke 5:17-26

 In this situation, the words of Jesus’ antagonists — the scribes and Pharisees — rang true. God alone has the power and authority to forgive sins. In order to confirm that He was God and that His Word was authoritative, Jesus performed a supernatural action — healed a lame man. 

Regarding the performance of miracles by Jesus, the apostle John states:

 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are 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  

 Here, again, is the reason for miracles (i.e., signs) performed by Jesus, namely, to confirm that Jesus is, indeed, the Son of God and that His Word is the life-giving message from God. Whether performed by a prophet, by an apostle, by Jesus the Christ, or by God Himself, every miracle establishes the authority and power of God and His Word.