Why Miracles?

by David Gibson

Jesus was constantly demonstrating His divine power over disease, demons, death, and nature.

Why did He perform miracles?

• Miracles were designed to bring glory to God. Many praised God for the wonders they witnessed (Luke 5:24-26; 18:43; 19:37; John 11:4).
• Miracles were also intended to motivate people to repent, though many refused, even so (Matthew 11:20-24).
• The most emphasized purpose of miracles was proving Jesus’ claims to be God’s Son (John 5:36; 10:25, 37-38; 14:11). Many who witnessed the miracles came to believe (John 2:11, 23; 11:41-45).

But what about us?

Even though we did not see what they saw, we can believe as a result of reading the credible eyewitness testimony recorded by the apostles:

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).

Jesus chastised the apostles “for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen” (Mark 16:14). Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). In other words, Christ values faith based on eyewitness testimony as superior to faith based on seeing.

Let’s never underestimate our privilege in possessing the complete, faith-building written record.

It is enough!