Miracles of Christ

Miraculous Power Admitted

What testimony did the chief priests and Pharisees bear concerning Christ’s work?

Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing”: they asked. “Here is a man performing many miraculous signs.”

John 11:47.  

By what did Peter, on the day of Pentecost, say that God had approved Christ?

“Men of Israel, listen to this Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.” Acts 2:22. 

By what means did Christ claim to cast out devils?

“But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.” Luke 11:20. Matthew 11:28 says “by the Spirit of God.”

Note – Under the third plague in Egypt – that of turning the dust into lice – the magicians, failing to duplicate it, said to Pharaoh, “this is the finger of God.” (Exodus 8:18,19.)

Upon what ground did Nicodemus rest his belief that Christ was a teacher from God?

He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:2.

Opposition Arises

After the healing of the blind man, upon what charge did some of the Pharisees seek to prove that Christ was not of God? 

Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided.  John 9:16.  

Note – This was a false charge. Christ did keep the Sabbath, but not according to the Pharisees’ idea of Sabbath keeping.

What question did others raise in opposition to this view?

But others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided.

Verse 16.   

The Faith of Many

What was the result of Christ’s working miracles at His first Passover?

“Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.” John 2:23. 

What question did the performing of these miracles lead many to ask?

Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?” John 7:31.

How many were attracted to Christ?

“And a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick.” John 6:2.

Note – A miracle is the display of divine or super human power in some unusual or extraordinary manner; hence its nature to attract attention. Christ fed the five thousand with the multiplied loaves and fishes, and all men wondered. Every day God feeds millions of humanity with the multiplied fruits of the earth, and no one marvels. Christ, by a shortened process, changed water into wine, and everybody was astonished; but every year God does this in the usual way – through the vine – in almost limitless quantities, and no one is astonished. A divine miracle, therefore, whenever performed, is wrought to heal and to save, and to call attention to the Source of divine power.

What did the people say when they saw these things?

People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” Mark 7:37.

What kinds of disease and sickness did Jesus cure?

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” Matthew 4:23.

Who were brought to Him for healing?

“News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill from various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.” Matthew 4:24.

To the woman who had been healed by touching His garment, what did Christ say that made her whole?

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.  Matthew 9:22.   

What did He say to the two blind men as He healed them?

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.”

Verse 29.

To another whose sight He had restored, what did Christ say?

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Luke 18:42.  

Why did not Christ work many miracles in His own country?

“And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” Matthew 13:58.

What lesson did Christ design to teach in healing the man sick of the palsy?

“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralyzed man, I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”

Luke 5:24.  

Note – By His miracles, therefore, Christ designed to teach faith in the power of God not only to restore the body but also to heal the soul.

What effect did Christ’s miracles have upon individuals and the people who witnessed them?

“Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they praised God.”  Luke 18:43; 13:17.

What message did Christ send to John the Baptist while John was in prison, to strengthen his wavering faith?

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” Matthew 11:4-6.

The Climax of His Miracles

In what miracle did Christ bring to a climax His works on earth?

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off his grave clothes and let him go.” John 11:43,44. 

What was the result of this great miracle?

“Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.” Verse 45.

Because of the interest in Him that this miracle created, what did the Pharisees say?

So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” John 12:19

What did Jesus present to the people as a basis of confidence in Him?

“Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. John 10:37,38; 14:11.

Why were the miracles of Christ recorded by the inspired writers?

“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30,31. 

Because of Unbelief

“He could not do any miracles there, except to lay hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith.” Mark 6: 5,6.

There was a town in Galilee, when Jesus walked on earth.

Wherein His coming brought no joy, His going left no mirth;

No leper hailed Him from afar; no crippled child was brought;

No blind man groped a way to Him; no sick His healing sought.

He could not free them from their sin, or give their pain relief,

He could not work His miracles, because of unbelief.

The hand that fashioned all the worlds and spread the heavens above,

The mighty hand of power divine, the tender hand of love,

Was impotent to help or save, or cast the demons out,

The arm of strength grew weak and small before men’s scornful doubt.

Today, as then, Christ’s mighty works the world will not receive;