The miracles of Jesus: signs of a new period in time

Many people were celebrated as miracle workers in antiquity. In Acts, chapter 8 we read of one such man. In the city of Samaria, a melting pot of cultures and religions, lived Simon the sorcerer. The people were astonished by his magic. He was even called “the great power of God”. But when a group of men by commission of a man called Jesus—who is also called Christ—came and performed real miracles, Simon wanted the same power for himself, and was even prepared to pay money for it.

Anything but tricks

A flashback. Several years before, this Jesus of Nazareth had made clear that He was not at all happy with the fact that people demanded signs from Him to prove that God approved of Him. In Mark 8: 12 it says that He sighed and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign?” But He knew, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe” (John 4: 48)..

Why did Jesus perform miraculous deeds? Certainly not because He was looking for prestige. This is supported by the careful choice of words in the gospels. In the original Greek text, there are a number of words that refer to the miraculous activities of Jesus. Translated they convey the following ideas: amazing things, unbelievable things, mighty works, divine signs. Two notions, however, have not been identified with Him: tricks and showing off.

Everything will change

Then there is the story of the possessed man, who lived in the tombs in the region of the Gadarenes, cried day and night, and cut himself with stones. Many times his hands and feet had been chained, but every time he had broken free. He was too strong for anyone to control. One sentence from Jesus sufficed to free him from a legion, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” (Mark 5: 8).

Miracles such as these—the casting out of demons—show what it is all about. “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12: 28). Even though Moses, Elijah, and Elisha worked miracles in the old covenant, there is a big difference. Never before have such activities marked the end of one era and rung in the beginning of a new one.

Help for the soul

And what does the kingdom of God bring? The miracles of healing testify of this: the blind Bartimaeus, the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda, the ten lepers, the deaf-mute in Sidon. In most cases, a touch or a word from Jesus are enough to heal the people. The actual act of healing is rarely described, which shows that the point of the miracles is their purpose and not how they are performed.

Jesus explained this Himself. “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear”—and finally—“the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11: 5). The dawn of the kingdom of God began in the person of Christ. There is healing and salvation to be found in Christ. His words show the way to salvation, “Your faith has made you well” (Matthew 9: 22; Mark 10: 52; Luke 8: 48; 17: 19; 18: 42). In Luke 7: 50 it says, “Your faith has saved you.”

No limitations

There was a storm raging on the lake. The boat was being tossed about by the waves. As the experienced boaters huddled together they suddenly spied a figure walking towards them on the water. They panicked. But the figure commanded the storm to stop. – Another figure came out of the grave, his hands and feet wrapped in grave clothes. There was already a bad smell about him. It was Lazarus, who had been called back to life.

What do these two categories of miracles—the miracle of nature and the miracle of raising the dead—have in common. Clearly, they show that the authority of the Saviour does not only embrace the natural creation but also the spiritual creation. There are no limitations to the kingdom of God in Jesus. Even death did not constitute a barrier.

A miraculous abundance

Five loaves of bread and two fish, the faith of a child, and the blessing of Jesus. You don’t need more in order to feed thousands of people. – The professional fishermen came back with nothing. Against all odds, they did as the Lord told them and threw the nets out on the other side of the boat. The catch nearly burst the nets and capsized the boat. – The situation for the bride and groom was embarrassing: they ran out of wine. But there was someone who changed water to wine.

Also these miraculous deeds—the miracles of feeding, or the gift miracles such as the rich catch of fish or the wedding in Cana—have a deeper meaning. For the kingdom of God in Jesus also brings divine fullness, and not only in terms of quantity but also in quality. After all, the wine is a biblical image for divine joy.

The miracles and today

And what do these miracles tell Christians today? The Catechism of the New Apostolic Church has some answers. “All the gospels speak of miracles as real events. They attest to the Messiahship of Jesus and clearly show the merciful care of God toward suffering human beings,” it says in section 3.4.8.5.

The miracles of healing are a reference to the divine nature of Jesus Christ, who acted in the way that God says of Himself, “For I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15: 26). The exorcism of evil spirits demonstrated that evil is subject to the power of God. And the raising of the dead makes clear that faith in Jesus Christ means victory over death and thus eternal life. The miracles of feeding finally refer to Holy Communion. “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” (John 6: 51).