| "This, the first of his miraculous signs, | | | | there is a bad odor, for he has been there |
| Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus | | | | four days.'"), so one can hardly argue that |
| revealed his glory, and his disciples put | | | | "he was not really dead." |
| their faith in Him" (John 2:11). | | | | |
| | | | Still, from an evidence perspective, the most |
| Anyone who does not believe in God finds the | | | | awesome confirmations of Jesus' deity are the |
| concept of a miracle, any event that | | | | nature miracles. There is just no explanation |
| contradicts and even suspends the laws of | | | | for walking on water, calming a storm, |
| nature, impossible to accept. That is, if God | | | | feeding huge crowds from a single lunch box, |
| does not exist, only nature controls life. | | | | or turning water into wine. Such events are |
| Therefore no miracle is possible and any | | | | real miracles and they show Jesus' divine |
| account of a miracle cannot be true. This | | | | power. Keep in mind that such miracles have |
| logical argument against miracles was first | | | | never been claimed by other professed miracle |
| formulated by Benedict Spinoza (1632-1677). | | | | workers. Only Jesus has displayed such power. |
| Spinoza's argument can be summarized as | | | | Look closely at the nature miracles and probe |
| follows: | | | | them for the characteristics for a genuine |
| | | | miracle. We learn: |
| - A miracle violates natural laws. | | | | |
| | | | - Significance: There is no doubt the nature |
| - Natural laws are immutable. | | | | miracles are significant. It is unlikely that |
| | | | anyone present was not awed! This is clear |
| - It is impossible to violate immutable laws. | | | | from people's reactions, such as when Jesus |
| | | | climbed into the boat after walking on the |
| - Therefore, miracles are impossible. | | | | water: "Then those who were in the boat |
| | | | worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son |
| However, if God exists, He created the | | | | of God'" (Matthew 14:33). After Jesus calmed |
| natural laws, so it should be no problem for | | | | the storm: "In fear and amazement they asked |
| Him to move beyond or outside these laws, nor | | | | one another, 'Who is this? He commands even |
| can He be restrained by these laws. | | | | the winds and the water, and they obey him'" |
| | | | (Luke 8:25). |
| Jesus used miracles as signs to his | | | | |
| credentials as the Son of God. Without | | | | - Immediate: All of Jesus' miracles had |
| miracles it would be exceptionally difficult | | | | immediate results. Both healings and nature |
| to believe His claims. As John wrote in John | | | | miracles were instantaneous. |
| 20:30-31: | | | | |
| | | | - Defy the laws of nature: This cannot be |
| "Jesus' disciples saw Him do many more other | | | | disputed, for this is the exact definition of |
| miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in | | | | a miracle. |
| this book. But these are written so that you | | | | |
| may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the | | | | - Multiple witnesses: As a last resort, |
| Son of God, and that by believing in Him you | | | | non-believing critics try to refute Jesus' |
| will have life." | | | | nature miracles by dismissing them as myths |
| | | | or legends. However, the evidence is |
| Observe that the miracles of Jesus not only | | | | overwhelming. First, the miracles were done |
| showed His power over nature, but also | | | | in groups of varying sizes, either the |
| revealed His approach to ministry: helping | | | | disciples (one can argue they are not |
| others, speaking with authority, and | | | | objective) or a crowd of several thousands. |
| connecting with people. The keyword is | | | | Second, five of the nature miracles are |
| compassion. Almost all His miracles were | | | | recorded in multiple gospels, one even in all |
| driven by compassion. He healed people who | | | | four gospels. Third, Jesus' opponents never |
| sought His help. He raised the dead to | | | | denied or even disputed his miracles. They |
| comfort grieving families. He quieted storms | | | | admitted Jesus performed miracles and tried |
| to calm the fears of His friends. He fed | | | | to claim Jesus had teamed with the devil: |
| multitudes to avert their hunger. Don't fail | | | | "But when the Pharisees heard this, they |
| to notice that Jesus never performed a | | | | said, 'It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of |
| miracle for His own benefit or gain. The | | | | demons, that this fellow drives out demons'" |
| miracles aided others, not Him. On five | | | | (Matthew 12:24). Or they tried to destroy the |
| occasions Jesus performed a miracle as a sign | | | | evidence: "So the chief priests made plans to |
| solely for the disciples: walking on water; | | | | kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him |
| cursing of the fig tree; both miraculous | | | | many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and |
| catches of fish by the disciples; and the | | | | putting their faith in him" (John 12:10-11). |
| coin for the temple tax. All other miracles | | | | |
| sprang from compassion for the people around | | | | Among all miracles the astonishing feeding of |
| Him. | | | | a crowd of five thousand men plus women and |
| | | | children, likely a total of ten to twelve |
| The New Testament gospels record thirty-five | | | | thousand or more people, stands out. |
| miracles. Only one miracle (the feeding of | | | | |
| the five thousand) is described in every | | | | This may well be the most impressive nature |
| gospel. About half of the miracles are | | | | miracle of all. Some see a symbolic link |
| recorded in two or more of the gospels. As | | | | between Jesus as the "Bread of Life" and |
| expected, quite a few, eleven in fact, are | | | | God's gift of manna to the Israelites in the |
| shared between all the synoptic gospels | | | | desert long before. |
| (Matthew, Mark and Luke), but only seven are | | | | |
| recorded in only two of the three synoptic | | | | Second, it is the only miracle found in all |
| accounts. Two miracles in John also appear in | | | | four gospels. Each describes the events on |
| one or more of the synoptic gospels. Matthew | | | | that hillside near the Sea of Galilee: only |
| has three unique miracles, Mark has two, | | | | five loaves and two fishes to feed the large |
| while Luke and John each record six. | | | | gathering. Jesus broke the bread and the |
| | | | disciples handed out the food. There was |
| This distribution once more demonstrates | | | | enough for everybody and the leftovers filled |
| Matthew, Mark, and Luke are personal | | | | twelve baskets. Comparing the four accounts |
| testimonies. Even Mark, the gospel "copied" | | | | is rewarding. As to be expected with |
| by Matthew and Luke, has two miracles not | | | | eyewitness recollection, they all describe |
| mentioned in the other two. Why are they | | | | the same storyline, but each provides |
| omitted if Matthew and Luke leaned on Mark as | | | | different details. For instance, Mark and |
| their primary source as the synoptic theory | | | | John estimated "eight months of a man's |
| claims? | | | | wages" would be necessary to feed all the |
| | | | people. All gospels relate that the people |
| As miracles are evidence of Jesus deity, it | | | | were to be seated, but only Mark and Luke |
| is useful to categorize them into: | | | | tell they sat in groups of "fifties and |
| | | | hundreds." John mentions the Sea of Galilee, |
| - Healing miracles: The vast majority (26) of | | | | Mark and Matthew just mention a boat, and |
| miracles in which Jesus heals one person or | | | | Luke adds that they are close to a town |
| more or even raises (Jairus' daughter, a | | | | called Bethsaida. John also reveals it was a |
| widow's son and Lazarus) from the dead. | | | | boy who had brought along the Barley loaves |
| | | | and fishes. John identified a number of |
| - Nature miracles: Nine miracles are recorded | | | | disciples by name. Again there is a random |
| where Jesus does something impossible simply | | | | pattern of details in the various gospels. |
| within our natural world. He defied the laws | | | | Contrary to synoptic theory, Mark, supposed |
| of nature. | | | | to be the briefest and simplest gospel, |
| | | | actually has the most extensive account with |
| The healing miracles are easy targets for | | | | the most details. A total of four independent |
| critics. Many simply insist that the healed | | | | witness accounts to this remarkable event. |
| person was not ill, the person might be | | | | |
| "self-healed" (the "power of positive | | | | Third and last, this miracle is performed in |
| thinking") or there might even have been a | | | | the presence of five thousand men, not |
| type of hypnosis or other "magic." Obviously | | | | counting women and children. Nothing was done |
| our ancestors did not have our knowledge of | | | | in secret. It was born out of compassion for |
| science, but they were not stupid either! | | | | the hungry crowd, but the number of witnesses |
| Even a first century uneducated Jew could | | | | is momentous. And at least three of the four |
| distinguish between a magician's trick and a | | | | gospels were written within a generation of |
| genuine miracle. They would have identified a | | | | this event, many of these witnesses were |
| fake healing. The healed people were not | | | | still alive as these accounts began to |
| selected from the audience willingly | | | | circulate. There were plenty of opportunities |
| participating in a performance. These were | | | | for someone to confirm or deny this miracle. |
| locals, known by the community for their | | | | |
| handicaps, perhaps long-term blindness or | | | | In the words of famous Christian philosopher, |
| injury. Resurrecting someone moments after | | | | theologian and author G.K. Chesterton: |
| his death would suggest he had not actually | | | | |
| died. Lazarus, however, was in the grave four | | | | "The most incredible thing about miracles is |
| days (John 11:39: "'But, Lord,' said Martha, | | | | that they happen. |
| the sister of the dead man, 'by this time | | | | |