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