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Miracles.

From: The New Topical Textbook

By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 2 min. read • grade level: 13

Power of God necessary to. John 3:2²The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. (John 3:2)

DESCRIBED AS

Marvellous things. Psa. 78:12¹²Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. (Psalm 78:12).

Marvellous works. Isa. 29:14¹⁴Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. (Isaiah 29:14). Psa. 105:5⁵Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; (Psalm 105:5).

Signs and wonders. Jer. 32:21²¹And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror; (Jeremiah 32:21). no. 4:48. 2 Cor. 12:12¹²Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. (2 Corinthians 12:12).

MANIFEST

The glory of God. John 11:4⁴When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. (John 11:4).

The glory of Christ. John 2:11¹¹This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. (John 2:11). John 11:4⁴When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. (John 11:4).

The works of God. John 9:3³Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. (John 9:3).

Were evidence of a divine commission. Ex. 4:1-5¹And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee. ²And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. ³And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. ⁴And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: ⁵That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. (Exodus 4:1‑5). Mar. 16:20.

The Messiah was expected to perform. Matt. 11:2, 3²Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, ³And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? (Matthew 11:2‑3). John 7:31³¹And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? (John 7:31).

Jesus was proved to be the Messiah by. John 5:36³⁶But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. (John 5:36). Acts 2:22²²Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: (Acts 2:22).

Jesus was followed on account of. Matt. 4:23-25²³And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. ²⁴And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. ²⁵And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan. (Matthew 4:23‑25). Matt. 14:35, 36³⁵And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; ³⁶And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. (Matthew 14:35‑36). John 6:2, 26²And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. (John 6:2)
²⁶Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. (John 6:26). John 12:18¹⁸For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. (John 12:18).

A gift of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. 12:10¹⁰To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: (1 Corinthians 12:10).

WERE PERFORMED

By the power of God. Ex. 8:19¹⁹Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. (Exodus 8:19). Acts 14:3³Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (Acts 14:3). Acts 15:12¹²Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. (Acts 15:12). Acts 19:11¹¹And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: (Acts 19:11).

By the power of Christ. Matt. 10:1¹And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. (Matthew 10:1).

By the power of the Holy Ghost. Matt. 12:28²⁸But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. (Matthew 12:28). Rom. 15:19¹⁹Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:19).

In the name of Christ. Mar. 16: 17. Acts 3:16¹⁶And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. (Acts 3:16). Acts 4:30³⁰By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. (Acts 4:30).

First preaching of the gospel confirmed by. Mar. 16:20. Heb. 2:4⁴God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:4).

They who wrought, disclaimed all power of their own. Acts 3:12¹²And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? (Acts 3:12).

Should produce faith. John 2:23²³Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. (John 2:23). John 2:30, 31.

Should produce obedience. Deut. 11:1-3¹Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway. ²And know ye this day: for I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the chastisement of the Lord your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched out arm, ³And his miracles, and his acts, which he did in the midst of Egypt unto Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and unto all his land; (Deuteronomy 11:1‑3). Deut. 29:2, 3, 9²And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; ³The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: (Deuteronomy 29:2‑3)
⁹Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do. (Deuteronomy 29:9).

Instrumental to the early propagation of the gospel. Acts 8:6⁶And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. (Acts 8:6). Rom. 15:18, 19¹⁸For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, ¹⁹Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:18‑19).

FAITH REQUIRED IN

Those, who performed. Matt. 17:20²⁰And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Matthew 17:20). Matt. 21:21²¹Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. (Matthew 21:21). John 14:12¹²Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12). Acts 3:16¹⁶And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. (Acts 3:16). Acts 6:8⁸And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. (Acts 6:8).

Those for whom they were performed. Matt. 9:28²⁸And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. (Matthew 9:28). Matt. 13:58⁵⁸And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:58). Mar. 9:22-24. Acts 14:9⁹The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, (Acts 14:9).

Should be remembered. 1 Chron. 16:12¹²Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; (1 Chronicles 16:12). Psa. 105:5⁵Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; (Psalm 105:5).

Should be told to future generations. Ex. 10:2²And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the Lord. (Exodus 10:2). Judg. 6:13¹³And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. (Judges 6:13).

Insufficient of themselves, to produce conversion. Luke 16:31³¹And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:31).

THE WICKED

Desire to see. Matt. 27:42⁴²He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. (Matthew 27:42). Luke 11:29²⁹And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. (Luke 11:29). Luke 23:8⁸And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. (Luke 23:8).

Often acknowledge. John 11:47⁴⁷Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. (John 11:47). Acts 4:16¹⁶Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. (Acts 4:16).

Do not understand. Psa. 106:7⁷Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. (Psalm 106:7).

Do not consider. Mar. 6:52.

Forget. Neh. 9:17¹⁷And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. (Nehemiah 9:17). Psa. 78:1,11¹<<Maschil of Asaph.>> Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. (Psalm 78:1)
¹¹And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had showed them. (Psalm 78:11).

Proof against. Num. 14:22²²Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; (Numbers 14:22). John 12:37³⁷But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: (John 12:37).

Guilt of rejecting the evidence afforded by. Matt. 11:20-24²⁰Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: ²¹Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²²But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. ²³And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. (Matthew 11:20‑24). John 15:24²⁴If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. (John 15:24).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Meat-Offerings.

• Medo-Persian Kingdom.

• Mercy of God, the.

• Mercy-Seat.

• Methods of Bible Study

• Midianites.

• Miracles.

• Miracles of Christ, the.

• Miracles Through Evil Agents.

• Miracles Wrought Through Servants of God.

• Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Ghost.

• Missionaries, All Christians Should Be As.

• Missionary-Work by Ministers.