The Greatest Miracle
I had never seen anything like it, let alone experienced someone being healed in such a radical way. When I was in South Africa during a mission trip, I was called upon by one of the pastors to pray with him for a woman who had a cancerous tumour on her foot, and had been in a wheelchair for months. We prayed, and he had me lay my hand on her shoulder. Immediately, the woman started manifesting an evil spirit and fell out of the wheelchair. The preacher continued to pray for her, and the tumor began to shrink. That night, the sweet African woman was healed of cancer and delivered from a demon by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was amazing to see and be a part of in a small way, and an experience I will never forget.
As I’ve been studying the Synoptic Gospels over the last few weeks (synoptic meaning “held in a similar view”), it has made me think of the beauty in which God’s Word is arranged. Through this study, I was especially impacted with the chapter on miracles. As someone who loves organization, it lends to the wisdom and care the Lord took in the smallest details. It’s been fun to read the Gospel accounts of His miracles in tandem and see how they all fit together. The Synoptics, which include Matthew, Mark, and Luke, while differing in some of the details, give us a more complete picture of who Jesus is and what He came to accomplish on the earth.
I have often met with people that say the miracles of Jesus were only allegorical explanations of a deeper spiritual lesson, and did not occur in reality. Still others say that while these events did happen, miracles are not for today. I have problems with both viewpoints, and here is why:
The first argument negating Jesus’ miracles that people have stated is that the records differ slightly from Gospel to Gospel, thus we cannot trust the accounts. While it is true that we do not get a story that comes into complete harmony concerning specific details. This does not mean that the biblical account of these miracles are wrong, only that the divinely inspired writers decided to focus on different details of the accounts. As we dig deeper into the customs, cultural contexts, and backgrounds that these miracles took place in, we see that the details are not conflicting, but record different aspects. The accounts recorded in the Synoptic Gospels are essentially giving three dimensions or perspectives, and when taken together, fill out the picture we see more completely than if we only had one Gospel source to go on.
What Are Miracles For?
First, what was the purpose of Jesus’ healing and miracle ministry? The Gospels record thirty-six miracles, wonders, or signs that Jesus did. They either had to do with nature, or with healing people. But why would Jesus want to demonstrate the effects of supernatural force (His Spirit) on an impossible situation or natural circumstance?
I believe that there are a few different reasons Jesus performed miracles.
Miracles, signs, and wonders establish the credibility of the message and the Messenger.
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:17-18
37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” John 10:29 ESV
I have watched and been a part of several miracles during my life. These supernatural occurrences only proved to cement and build my faith in Jesus. Miracles point to Jesus. They are not the reason I serve Him, but they are a byproduct of my faith and trust in Him. I believe that some people have a problem with miracles because they do not want to get off into selfish motives for following Jesus, in essence, simply for “what He can do for me,” rather than a genuine love and devotion to our Savior. I understand this viewpoint, and it is the reason that we must be in connection with Jesus and the Holy Spirit no matter what we do. If we want to perform miracles or be on the receiving end out of selfishness, He will reveal that to us. We need to examine our motives, but not allow fear to keep us from going after the supernatural and all that God has for us.
2. Jesus’ miracles demonstrate compassion
Several times before Jesus performed a miracle, the Word says He was moved with compassion. He loves His people, and while He did not heal everyone or move the laws of nature in every circumstance, his signs and wonders show us that He genuinely cares for us.
17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
3. Finally, his miracles display a measure of our inheritance in Christ
Jesus said that we could ask for anything in His name and it would be done (John 14) and it was to bring glory to the Father. As heirs of Christ seated in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6), we enjoy authority in the spirit to do what He did, and even greater things as well. Why? Miracles point to Jesus. Many times in Acts it records that the apostles first performed signs, wonders, and miracles, and then the Gospel was preached. Miracles draw people in and prepare hearts to receive what is really needed–spiritual healing and transformation by the salvation and redemption afforded by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross!
Jesus Said We Would Do Greater Things…
Far from being a thing of the past, Jesus has called us and given us the authority to do the same things He did–and greater! I can’t imagine what would be greater than walking on water, or miraculously feeding five thousand people, but I want to press in for more of that. I want to have the faith to move mountains, and Jesus said we only needed a mustard seed-sized faith to do that.
12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. Acts 5:12-16
Seeing people set free from demonic oppression or getting out of a wheelchair is amazing. But Jesus said there is something even greater that we should look to. In Luke, Jesus sent out seventy-two of his disciples in pairs, telling them to preach that the kingdom of God was at hand and He was giving them power to do the miracles He did. When they came back, they were so stoked that the demons listened to them and fled:
17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20 ESV
I think the greatest miracle of all is when a wayward son or daughter comes back to Jesus and is healed, transformed and restored from the inside out. How can we step out in faith and see people healed and delivered? How can we be vessels of the Living God and see the supernatural invade our natural, everyday lives for the glory of God? Let’s press into our God-given authority to see people healed–inside and out.