THE MIRACLES OF JESUS: WHAT DO THEY TEACH US?

THE MIRACLES OF JESUS: WHAT DO THEY TEACH US?

As you read the Bible, you might be surprised to learn that the four Gospels that recount Jesus' earthly life never directly use the word "miracle." Instead of using the word miracle to tell us about Jesus' miraculous works, they use these three Greek words: Dunamis, Teras, and Semeion.

DYNAMIS: (POWER)

The Greek word (dunamis), sometimes translated "miracle," literally means "power" (Luke 8:46). It can also be translated "ability" or "mighty works" (Matthew 25:15).

This term "emphasizes the infinite power of God in action."

LUKE 8:4 :

But Jesus said, "Someone has touched me; I know that power has gone out of me."

MATTHEW 25:15.

To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his ability, (STRENGTH) and he left. Immediately.

TERAS: (SIGNS AND WONDERS)

The second word used in the Gospels to describe Jesus' miracles is (teras), generally translated as "sign" or "wonder" in several Bible versions (John 4:48; Acts 2:19).

The word (teras) emphasizes the emotional effect that Jesus' miracles had on those who witnessed them. The Gospels tell us that, during these miracles, the crowd and the disciples were often amazed and awed by Jesus' mighty works.

Mark 2:12; 4:41; 6:51; Luke 9:43.

JOHN 4:48

Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe."

ACTS 2:19

I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth beneath: blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

MARK 2:12

And immediately he got up, picked up his bed, and went out in front of them all. They were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

MARK 4:41

They were greatly afraid and said to one another, "Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

MARK 6:51

He got into the boat with them. The wind died down, and they were amazed.

LUKE:943

And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at everything Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples,

SEMEION: (SIGNS)

The third Greek word used in the Gospels to describe Jesus' miraculous works is semeion, which means "sign." The specific use of this word in the Gospels is intended to emphasize Christ's messiahship: "The signs recorded in the Gospels are miracles that reveal the divine truth about the identity of our Lord Jesus" as the Son of God, the promised Messiah.

THE ANSWER TO OUR QUESTION:

Based on the use of these three words, we can draw conclusions to answer our question: "THE MIRACLES OF JESUS: WHAT DO THEY TEACH US?" Jesus' miracles therefore teach us three things: first, we must believe in the power of God. Second, we must understand the emotional impact miracles can have in our local communities. Third, they reveal to us the true identity of Jesus.

WE MUST BELIEVE IN GOD'S POWER:

Jesus' miracles teach us, above all, the existence of divine power. As Christians, we must believe in God's infinite power. The Word confirms that God is all-powerful.

"GOD IS OMNIPOTENT"

He is all-powerful, so he can execute his judgments without facing any other force. GENESIS 17:1 When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless."

The Bible does not present Jesus' miracles as illusions intended to entertain. They symbolized the manifestation of divine power, as evidenced by the case of a boy whose demon Jesus cast out in the Gospels (Luke 9:37-43).

LUKE 9:37-43

37 The next day, as they were coming down the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 A man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, please look at my son, for he is my only son.” 39 A spirit seized him, and suddenly it cried out, convulsed, foamed at the mouth, and almost continually left him, killing him. 40 I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they could not. 41 “You faithless and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long must I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42 When the child arrived, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

Before God, our problems are therefore less than his immense power. Whenever we come before God, we must have faith that God is more powerful than our problems; that he is more powerful than our enemies.

THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF THE MIRACLE:

The second lesson Jesus' miracles teach us is the emotional impact they can have on the Christian community or our local communities. Miracles therefore have a great emotional impact on witnesses and can strengthen their faith to believe more deeply in God.

The Gospels show how the crowds and the disciples were often amazed and awed by Jesus' powerful works. People were amazed, impressed, moved, and even overwhelmed by some of his miracles.

MARK 2:12

And immediately he got up, picked up his bed, and went out in the presence of everyone. They were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

LUKE 9:43

And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at everything Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples:

The miracles of Jesus inspired more and more people in his time to believe in him; even some of his enemies could not turn away, seeing God at work. Likewise, in our time, we cannot ignore miracles, for they are an effective means of evangelizing unbelievers, for some will only believe if they see God through miracles.

JOHN 4:48

Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe."

THEY REVEAL TO US THE IDENTITY OF JESUS:

As we see in the Gospels, "the signs recorded are miracles that reveal the divine truth about the identity of our Lord Jesus" as the Son of God, the promised Messiah.

If we ask ourselves: WHO IS JESUS?, the answer is also found in these miracles, for they demonstrate to us that he is the true messenger of God, the promised Messiah, the Son of God, and that we should not expect any other savior. Jesus is the Savior of the world, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. If you believe in him, you will be delivered, healed, and saved.

MARK 4:41

They were greatly afraid and said to one another, "Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

The Scriptures confirm that divine power enabled Jesus to perform miracles. Indeed, the apostle Peter speaks of Jesus as "a man who appeared to us by miracles, signs, and wonders, which God performed through him."

ACTS 2:22

Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God among you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God performed through him in your midst, just as you yourselves also know.

ACTS 10:37-38

37 You know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John was baptized. 38 Jesus of Nazareth was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, and he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.