I Wonder About The Miracles In The Bible
Faith Development
Charles D. Reeb
Answers to Our Most Troubling Questions
Object:
Premarital counseling can be an adventure for pastors. You never know what two people filled with passion will say. I recall talking with a couple a few years ago about their upcoming nuptials. I was explaining to them the wedding ceremony. When I got to the reference of Jesus being at a wedding reception in Cana of Galilee and turning the water into wine (John 2), the soon-to-be groom interrupted me mid-sentence and asked, "You really don't believe that happened, do you? I mean, that sounds like a trumped up story, to me." He went on to say that he did not believe any of the miracles of Jesus actually happened.
I am sure you have been part of similar conversations. You have either been on the skeptical end or the believing end. And I am sure there are frequent times when you find yourself somewhere in the middle and ask, "I do wonder about the miracles in the Bible. Did they really happen?"
As you read through the Bible, you see miracle after miracle. Miracles are a significant part of Holy Scripture. In the book of Exodus, God rescues his people from bondage in Egypt through twelve dramatic plagues and by parting the Red Sea. In 2 Kings, Elisha feeds a poor widow and heals Naaman from leprosy. In the New Testament, the gospels tell us of a variety of miracles performed by Jesus. Many of the miracle stories of Jesus tell of the healing of those with physical ailments. In other cases, Jesus casts demons out of people suffering from spiritual or mental disorders. Three times we read that Jesus raised people from the dead, and the remaining stories reveal Jesus' power over things -- like when he changed water into wine, fed a great crowd with very little food, walked on water, and calmed the storm.
There is no doubt that miracles are a significant part of the Bible. We must deal with them. As Christians, we don't take the part of the Bible we like and throw the rest away. We take the whole Bible, so we must take the miracles, too.
Do I believe the miracles recorded in the Bible really happened? Yes, I do. Now, I don't have irrefutable proof. I can't take you in a time machine and have you witness the miracles firsthand. But I tell you what I can do. I can tell you that I have firsthand experience with God. He speaks the truth to me over and over again in prayer and through scripture. I believe God when he tells me the truth about my life, so I should believe him when it comes to the miracles that he performed. Wondering about the miracles in the Bible is an issue of faith. If I trust God for my salvation, I should trust him about the miracles he performs.
The Purpose Of Miracles
If we choose to believe in the miracles of the Bible, then what should we believe about their purpose? Surely, there is more to miracles than just God impressing those who experience them. I believe miracles reveal the nature of God. They reveal his love, his priorities, his purposes, and his power. They give us a glimpse at the heart of God. For example, when we read about Jesus reaching out to heal those who are suffering, we see the grace, love, and kindness of God at work.
The miracles of Jesus were also performed so that we would come to believe that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. For instance, the reason John wrote about miracles was to lead us to believe that Jesus is the Christ and to have abundant life through him. John did not record the miracles of Jesus so we could say, "Wow, that's amazing!" like when we read a science-fiction novel. John wants us to respond, "Jesus is the Christ!" Miracles are not an end in themselves; they are a means to an end. We don't worship miracles. Miracles point to the Lord and lead us to worship him (John 20:30-31).
Do Miracles Still Occur?
A common question that needs to be addressed is, "Do miracles still happen?" Yes, I believe they do! God did not say, "I will perform miracles during this period of history and then stop forever." God is still active in our world today. Remember, God is not a static entity. God is always creating, always transforming, always moving among us and transforming us. Therefore, God is still performing miracles every single day.
The problem we have in our culture is that we like to separate unique events into two categories: natural/supernatural. If we can explain something scientifically, we don't think it is a miracle. But a miracle is any event that has God's power behind it. Life itself is a miracle! Medical doctors can explain the scientific process of child-birth, but this does negate the miracle of having a baby. Just ask mothers who have been through that experience. You cannot convince them that it was not a miracle. The miracles of God are all around us.
The Sunday School Times once published a story about an eastern king who was seated in a garden. One of his counselors was speaking on the wonderful works of God. The king said, "Show me a sign, and I will believe!" The counselor gave the king four acorns and said, "Majesty, plant these in the ground, and then stoop down for a moment and look into this clear pool of water." Then the counselor said, "Now, Majesty, look up." When the king looked up, he saw four oak trees where he had planted the acorns. The king said, "Wonderful. This is a work of God!" The counselor asked, "How long were you looking into the water?" The king said, "Only a second." The counselor replied, "Eighty years have passed as a second." The king looked at his garments and they were coming apart. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, and he had become an old man. The king said in anger, "Then there is no miracle here!" The counselor replied, "Yes, it is God's work, whether he did it in one second or eighty years." The miracles of God are all around us.
I am aware of what comes to some people's minds when they wonder about miracles. They want to know whether God can change something for them. They have a disease -- they need money -- they want an impossible event altered to make everything right again. They want a miracle! Well, I believe that God can and does perform these kinds of miracles. I cannot explain how and why these miracles happen, nor can I explain why some people are cured miraculously of a disease and some are not. But I believe we should pray for these miracles to occur. We should never limit God.
The Limitations Of Miracles
When we pray for miracles, we need to keep in mind one thing: Miracles are limited. For example, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus eventually became sick again and died. In addition, throughout scripture we observe that many who witnessed miracles did not end up following God. Amazingly enough, miracles do not always lead others to faith. This is just as well because miracles don't last and they don't ultimately save us. Only Jesus Christ can save us and give us eternal life.
When it comes to miracles, it is important to understand that there is a difference between a healing and a cure. A cure is a temporary solution. A healing is an eternal solution. A cure is a physical response. A healing is a spiritual event. A cure does not last. A healing lasts forever. A healing is discovering God's power within you to rise above any circumstance you face, even death!
If it comes down to a choice, I will take a healing over a cure, for a cure will only help one problem for a while, but a healing will give me the ability to cope and deal with any circumstance that comes my way. This is a true miracle: a life changed and empowered by God. In the end, this is what miracles point to: God's ability to transform us to live with his power and strength, no matter the circumstances of life.
The Greatest Miracle Of All
I recall visiting a lady in the hospital who was dying of cancer. Naturally, she was very sad and depressed. I took her hand at her bedside and asked God to work in and through her circumstance. I came back a few days later to discover that she was laughing with the nurses and enjoying the hospital meat loaf! She saw me and said, "I have been healed!" I asked, "What happened to the tumor?" "Oh, the tumor is still there," she replied. I was a bit confused. Helping me to understand, she said, "Pastor, I am enjoying every moment as a gift, and I am on my way to heaven to be with my Savior. Why shouldn't I be happy?"
That day I witnessed a miracle.
I am sure you have been part of similar conversations. You have either been on the skeptical end or the believing end. And I am sure there are frequent times when you find yourself somewhere in the middle and ask, "I do wonder about the miracles in the Bible. Did they really happen?"
As you read through the Bible, you see miracle after miracle. Miracles are a significant part of Holy Scripture. In the book of Exodus, God rescues his people from bondage in Egypt through twelve dramatic plagues and by parting the Red Sea. In 2 Kings, Elisha feeds a poor widow and heals Naaman from leprosy. In the New Testament, the gospels tell us of a variety of miracles performed by Jesus. Many of the miracle stories of Jesus tell of the healing of those with physical ailments. In other cases, Jesus casts demons out of people suffering from spiritual or mental disorders. Three times we read that Jesus raised people from the dead, and the remaining stories reveal Jesus' power over things -- like when he changed water into wine, fed a great crowd with very little food, walked on water, and calmed the storm.
There is no doubt that miracles are a significant part of the Bible. We must deal with them. As Christians, we don't take the part of the Bible we like and throw the rest away. We take the whole Bible, so we must take the miracles, too.
Do I believe the miracles recorded in the Bible really happened? Yes, I do. Now, I don't have irrefutable proof. I can't take you in a time machine and have you witness the miracles firsthand. But I tell you what I can do. I can tell you that I have firsthand experience with God. He speaks the truth to me over and over again in prayer and through scripture. I believe God when he tells me the truth about my life, so I should believe him when it comes to the miracles that he performed. Wondering about the miracles in the Bible is an issue of faith. If I trust God for my salvation, I should trust him about the miracles he performs.
The Purpose Of Miracles
If we choose to believe in the miracles of the Bible, then what should we believe about their purpose? Surely, there is more to miracles than just God impressing those who experience them. I believe miracles reveal the nature of God. They reveal his love, his priorities, his purposes, and his power. They give us a glimpse at the heart of God. For example, when we read about Jesus reaching out to heal those who are suffering, we see the grace, love, and kindness of God at work.
The miracles of Jesus were also performed so that we would come to believe that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. For instance, the reason John wrote about miracles was to lead us to believe that Jesus is the Christ and to have abundant life through him. John did not record the miracles of Jesus so we could say, "Wow, that's amazing!" like when we read a science-fiction novel. John wants us to respond, "Jesus is the Christ!" Miracles are not an end in themselves; they are a means to an end. We don't worship miracles. Miracles point to the Lord and lead us to worship him (John 20:30-31).
Do Miracles Still Occur?
A common question that needs to be addressed is, "Do miracles still happen?" Yes, I believe they do! God did not say, "I will perform miracles during this period of history and then stop forever." God is still active in our world today. Remember, God is not a static entity. God is always creating, always transforming, always moving among us and transforming us. Therefore, God is still performing miracles every single day.
The problem we have in our culture is that we like to separate unique events into two categories: natural/supernatural. If we can explain something scientifically, we don't think it is a miracle. But a miracle is any event that has God's power behind it. Life itself is a miracle! Medical doctors can explain the scientific process of child-birth, but this does negate the miracle of having a baby. Just ask mothers who have been through that experience. You cannot convince them that it was not a miracle. The miracles of God are all around us.
The Sunday School Times once published a story about an eastern king who was seated in a garden. One of his counselors was speaking on the wonderful works of God. The king said, "Show me a sign, and I will believe!" The counselor gave the king four acorns and said, "Majesty, plant these in the ground, and then stoop down for a moment and look into this clear pool of water." Then the counselor said, "Now, Majesty, look up." When the king looked up, he saw four oak trees where he had planted the acorns. The king said, "Wonderful. This is a work of God!" The counselor asked, "How long were you looking into the water?" The king said, "Only a second." The counselor replied, "Eighty years have passed as a second." The king looked at his garments and they were coming apart. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, and he had become an old man. The king said in anger, "Then there is no miracle here!" The counselor replied, "Yes, it is God's work, whether he did it in one second or eighty years." The miracles of God are all around us.
I am aware of what comes to some people's minds when they wonder about miracles. They want to know whether God can change something for them. They have a disease -- they need money -- they want an impossible event altered to make everything right again. They want a miracle! Well, I believe that God can and does perform these kinds of miracles. I cannot explain how and why these miracles happen, nor can I explain why some people are cured miraculously of a disease and some are not. But I believe we should pray for these miracles to occur. We should never limit God.
The Limitations Of Miracles
When we pray for miracles, we need to keep in mind one thing: Miracles are limited. For example, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus eventually became sick again and died. In addition, throughout scripture we observe that many who witnessed miracles did not end up following God. Amazingly enough, miracles do not always lead others to faith. This is just as well because miracles don't last and they don't ultimately save us. Only Jesus Christ can save us and give us eternal life.
When it comes to miracles, it is important to understand that there is a difference between a healing and a cure. A cure is a temporary solution. A healing is an eternal solution. A cure is a physical response. A healing is a spiritual event. A cure does not last. A healing lasts forever. A healing is discovering God's power within you to rise above any circumstance you face, even death!
If it comes down to a choice, I will take a healing over a cure, for a cure will only help one problem for a while, but a healing will give me the ability to cope and deal with any circumstance that comes my way. This is a true miracle: a life changed and empowered by God. In the end, this is what miracles point to: God's ability to transform us to live with his power and strength, no matter the circumstances of life.
The Greatest Miracle Of All
I recall visiting a lady in the hospital who was dying of cancer. Naturally, she was very sad and depressed. I took her hand at her bedside and asked God to work in and through her circumstance. I came back a few days later to discover that she was laughing with the nurses and enjoying the hospital meat loaf! She saw me and said, "I have been healed!" I asked, "What happened to the tumor?" "Oh, the tumor is still there," she replied. I was a bit confused. Helping me to understand, she said, "Pastor, I am enjoying every moment as a gift, and I am on my way to heaven to be with my Savior. Why shouldn't I be happy?"
That day I witnessed a miracle.
