MIRACLES OF THE BIBLE
By Timothy Glover
A miracle is an extraordinary power designed as a sign of divine authority. It is incorrect to understand a miracle as unusual occurrence which is difficult to explain. Miracles defy the laws of nature. There are natural laws, like the law of gravity that cannot be changed without the hand of God. Yet, when a person is given a few months to live and they defy the odds, no miracle has occurred. Their recovery was through natural law rather than in opposition to it. I have never seen a miracle. I have never seen the dead raised, the deaf healed, or feeding 5,000 with a few loaves and fish. Yet, the first century was full of these divine proofs.
The nature of bible miracles are to be distinguished from so-called miracles today. Notice some differences. Jesus was not intent on gaining as much publicity as possible (Mat. 8:4, Matt. 9:30) like miracle workers are today. When miracles occurred, no screening occurred to remove people whom they could not cure. They healed " all manner of disease and sickness" (Acts 5:16). The healings were complete. The sick did not feel better or improve with time or later relapse into their illness again. The healing was complete and instant. Finally, Jesus did not make faith on the part of the sick a condition of healing. More than 30 healings were performed by Jesus and only one was required to have faith. In 15 cases no faith was required, in 9 nothing is said of its presence, in 1 case the sick had it, but it was not required, and in 4 cases faith was impossible. The requirement of faith was the exception rather than the rule. Yet, we are told by modern “healers” that faith is required to be healed. Why?
Another clear difference between N.T. miracles and modern so-called miracles is in the purposes of each. Jesus did not heal the sick just so they could have good health but to produce faith in him as God’s Son (John 20:30-31). It was designed to confirm the claims of the spoken word (Mark 16:20, Hebrews 2:3,4). That the Jews understood miracles to be a sign of divine authority it is seen in John 2:18, “What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that you do these things?”. This is the reason they were so irate with Jesus. On one occasion they asked, “By what authority do you do these things, and who gave you this authority?” Once, they claimed he performed miracles by Beelzebub, the prince of Demons. They could not deny the miracles. So, they credited his power to be of the Devil.
Do we have miracles today? God can do anything if He wants to do it. But, does he perform miracles today? The apostles Peter and John were required to give miraculous spiritual gifts to the Samaritans (Acts 8:18). Seeing that the word is revealed and confirmed by miracles (their purpose has been served) and that the apostles were the only ones to transfer the power, we believe they have ceased and God works providentially through natural law.
