Miracles

From: Bible Handbook: New Testament By: Walter Biggar Scott

• 21 min. read • grade level: 6

THE miracles of the Lord and of His followers have been much debated. What is a miracle? Is a miracle possible? Can the laws of nature be violated? For what purpose were miracles wrought? Are all miracles of the same nature, whether wrought by the priests of Egypt, by the Lord when on earth, or by Antichrist by-and-by? These are a few of the questions that have been warmly discussed.

Those who believe in the inspiration of the scriptures are happily never troubled with another and further question with which some are occupied, namely, Are the miracles duly authenticated?

It is scarcely possible for them to have been better authenticated than they are. As another has said, they

hear these three infallible proofs:1. The miracles were such that they could he appreciated by the natural senses of mankind, seeing, hearing, &c.

2. They were accomplished in the open day before many witnesses.

3. Records of them were published in the lifetime of those who witnessed them.

As to the first point, the water that was turned into wine was tasted, and declared to be the best wine; those who had been dead, or blind, or lame, were seen walking about alive or healed; those that had been dumb were heard to speak; and those that had been sick or diseased, felt that they had been cured. There was no mysticism surrounding the cases to make it at all questionable as to whether the cures had been real. As to death, in one instance the corpse was on its way to be buried, and was met, as we say, incidentally; in another, the body had been long enough in the grave to be thought to be stinking. As to those possessed by demons, one who could not be bound by chains was seen sitting in his right mind. As to sickness, one had had an issue twelve years, and had spent all her money on physicians; another had waited at the pool for the troubling of the waters who had been afflicted thirty-eight years. Four of the cures were effected upon those who had been afflicted from birth: one had been deaf and dumb, one blind, and two lame. There cannot therefore be any question but that the death, the afflictions, and the sicknesses were all real. In proof of this the second point is valuable.

2. The miracles were done before many witnesses. And what adds greatly to this proof is, that many of these witnesses were the Lord's enemies, who would have been only too glad to have been able to deny the reality of what was wrought. It is recorded that His enemies labored to catch Him in the words He uttered, and we may be quite sure that they sifted well the evidence of the miracles wrought as to whether they were real, as we know they did in the case recorded of the man blind from his birth in John 9 At the raising of Lazarus they were compelled to admit that " this man doeth many miracles " (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)), and on another occasion they admitted that a notable miracle had been done, and added, " We cannot deny it." (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).)

3. The gospels were written during the lifetime of those who had witnessed the miracles. Such a thing would never have been done if they had not been real, and the record had not been true; for there were multitudes living who could have proved the deception had there been any, and many of whom would have been only too glad to have been able to prove them false.

We thus see that respecting the miracles they were such that any one could judge of their reality; that they were done before many witnesses; and that the record of them was made known while the witnesses were alive. They were therefore indisputably real and are truly recorded.

Let us proceed to some further questions. What is a miracle? May we not say that it is something which no mere man can, of his own power, accomplish? Something brought about without ordinary means, and which ordinary means never have accomplished? It may not have been always by the power of God that miracles have been accomplished, if we view the doings of the wise men and sorcerers of Egypt as miracles (Ex. 7;8); they were by the power of Satan. And it is revealed that the Antichrist will, by-and-by, be able to work miracles also, but we know that they also will be accomplished by the agency of Satan. In all and every case it is not by merely human power that a miracle can be wrought: it must be by the agency of some superior power.

If it is admitted that some miracles have been wrought by Satan, and that others will yet be wrought by him, then the question naturally arises, What was intended to be taught by the miracles of the Lord? And in what respect do His miracles differ from those of Satan? Did not the sorcerers of Egypt do some of the same things that Moses did?

It is quite clear from scripture that Satan can work no miracle except by permission of God. This is seen in the case of Job, though no actual miracle was wrought then; Satan could only touch the surroundings of Job, and afterward the person of Job, just as far as it pleased God to allow him.

In the case of Pharaoh, we are distinctly told that God hardened his heart-He did not make him wicked-and it was doubtless for this purpose that Satan was allowed to enable the sorcerers to imitate some of the miracles wrought by God in the person of Moses. But even in this God did not leave Himself without a witness. On the rods becoming serpents, Aaron's rod swallowed up the rods of the magicians; and at the fourth plague their imitation was stopped, and they had to confess to Pharaoh, This is the finger of God."

It is also clear that when the Antichrist will be able to work miracles it will be by permission of God, though " after the working of Satan; " for God tells us that He will send to apostate Christendom strong delusion that they should believe a lie. They had had the truth presented, but they believed it not; therefore Satan and Antichrist will he allowed to deceive them. The Jews, who received not the Lord Jesus, though He had come to them in the name of His Father in whom they professed to believe, will also receive the same deceiver, who will come in his own name. (John 5:43⁴³I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (John 5:43).)

It must be noted that the Lord constantly appealed to His words as well as to His works. So in the case of Pharaoh, Moses did nothing in his own name; the demand that the people should be let go was in the name of the Lord God of Israel. Pharaoh also had his words, saying,

" Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go."

(Ex. 5:2²And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. (Exodus 5:2).) This was in harmony with the works of his magicians; so that no stranger could be at any loss to know which were the works of God, and which were not.

So will it be with the Antichrist: he will also have his words: he will deny both the Father and the Son (§ John 2:22²²When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. (John 2:22)), and that Jesus Christ came in the flesh (2 John 7⁷For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2 John 7)). His. works will correspond: he will exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God will sit in the temple of God and skew himself that he is God. And by means of Satan's power, he will deceive by signs and lying wonders.

So with the Lord, His works and His words agreed. He constantly spoke of God, yea, He spoke the words of God, what the Father had taught Him; and the words that He spoke were with power; they were spirit and life. So that the people had to confess, " Never man spake like this man," and Peter said, " Thou hast the words of eternal life." With all this His works agreed. He went about doing good, and undoing the work of Satan. He " was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8⁸He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8).) Besides delivering souls from the power of Satan He delivered men's bodies. The woman released by Christ) had been bound by Satan eighteen years; and in many cases demons were cast out from the persons possessed.

It is the utmost folly to pretend that these were merely cases of lunacy. Matt. 4:24,²⁴And 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. (Matthew 4:24) gives a list of cases, and it will be seen that lunatics are put as distinct from those possessed by demons. Besides the demons recognized our Lord, and spoke to Him respecting the torments that they knew were in store for them; but One stronger than their master was there, and they were cast out. The Lord Jesus was that strong One, yea, He was God manifest in the flesh. His words and His works proved that He was God.

Let us next inquire what words are used in scripture to represent miracles. No one word would, in itself, convey the meaning we have endeavored to give to what is a miracle. We therefore find that God has been pleased to use in the main three words.

1. " WONDERS," τέραδ. The people wondered, were amazed at what they saw, and hence what was done was called "a wonder." It must at least imply that the work wrought was not an ordinary occurrence, though it does not necessarily imply a miracle. But the word never stands alone: it is constantly associated with the word " sign "; the church prayed that signs and wonders might be done by the name of the holy servant Jesus. (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).) In Acts 2:19¹⁹And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: (Acts 2:19) it is in connection with heaven, " wonders in heaven; " and in 2 Thess. 2:9⁹Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (2 Thessalonians 2:9) it is " lying wonders." The word is always translated " wonders."

2. SIGNS, σηυεῖον. A sign must he a sign of something. When our Lord was on earth the Jews asked for a sign from Him-" a sign from heaven," they said. They constantly saw the signs that He did; but these did not satisfy them, but we read that they were tempting Him. The works that He did were signs that God was there. " Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind." (John 9:32³²Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. (John 9:32).) There was One there with a power greater than that of the strong man (Satan); and whose power could that be but God's? Whether exercised by the Lord Himself or by His disciples, the works accomplished were signs of the finger of God. It may he noted that this Greek word in Matthew, Mark, and Luke is always translated " sign " except Luke 23:8,⁸And 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) where it is " miracle." It is always translated " miracle " in John, except chapters 2:18; 4:48; 6:30; 20:30, where it is " signs." In the Acts it is " signs," except chapters 4:16, 22; 6:8; 8:6, 15:12. In 2 Thess. 3:17¹⁷The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. (2 Thessalonians 3:17) it is " token." In Rev. 12:1,3; 13:13¹And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: (Revelation 12:1)
³And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (Revelation 12:3)
¹³And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, (Revelation 13:13) it is " wonder ";. in chapters 13:14; 16:14; 19:20, it is "miracles." In all other places it is " signs." It would have been better had it been always so translated.

3. POWERS, δύναμις. This is sometimes translated "miracles,"1 but at other times "mighty works," "powers," showing that such works cannot be accomplished by ordinary means or by mere man. Our Lord claimed to do works which "none other man did." (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).)

These three words are used by God to point out what are called " miracles." They were " wonders," and thus arrested the attention of the spectators as being something above the ordinary course of events. They were " signs " that God had visited His people in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. They were " powers " or mighty works that proclaimed them to be supernatural.

In three places the three words are associated together. In Acts 2:22,²²Ye 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) where Peter declares that the miracles, wonders, and signs were what God did by Jesus of Nazareth; and this his hearers knew. In 2 Cor. 12:12,¹²Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. (2 Corinthians 12:12) where Paul reminds the Corinthians that the signs of an apostle had been found in him, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. In 2 Thess. 2:9,⁹Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (2 Thessalonians 2:9) where it is foretold that the man of sin will come after the working of Satan with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, deceiving those who, as we have seen, will not now believe the truth.

The miracles wrought by Christ are often referred to as his " works." (See Matt. 11:2²Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, (Matthew 11:2); John 5:36;7: 21; 10:32, 38,³⁶But 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)
³²Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? (John 10:32)
³⁸But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. (John 10:38) &c) His works which He did in His Father's name bore witness of Him (John 10:25²⁵Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. (John 10:25)) that He came from God. Therefore it will he more tolerable in the day of judgment for Sodom and Gomorrah than for those places where He did His works, and they repented not.

We see therefore that the working of miracles was a test to the people. It must have been so when we regard them as the works of God. We read that " 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 7:31³¹And 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).) But when the Pharisees heard this saying, they, with the chief priests, sent officers to seize him. For all such the same miracles will be to their condemnation. They acknowledged that miracles were being wrought by Christ and by His apostles; but they rejected both the word preached, and the works wrought. Indeed a special condemnation is connected with the miracles. They said our Lord cast out demons by Beelzebub the prince of demons, which amounted to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit-for it was by the Spirit that the Lord cast out the demons -and such blasphemy should not he forgiven in the present age or the age to come.

A favorite modern objection to miracles is that the laws of nature are irrevocable, and nothing contrary to those laws could possibly have taken place: there must have been some deception somewhere, though it cannot now he discovered; or there must have been some unknown law of nature brought into action in each case, and then the thing would he simply a natural event, and no miracle at all. Persons unacquainted with the new law would look upon such things as miracles, but this was all

All this is based upon the fallacy that there are such things as " laws of nature," and all who talk thus have one end in view-to shut out God. Bring in God as Creator, and all is changed. There are what may be called laws iv nature; such, for instance, as iron sinking in water. But who made those laws? God surely: and if He made those laws, cannot He alter them, or suspend them in any particular case? Surely He can, or He is no longer God. He did this in the case of the ax-head falling into the water: " the iron did swim." (2 Kings 6:6⁶And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. (2 Kings 6:6).) Nothing is simpler for faith when God is given His true place; but Satan's effort ever is to shut out God; and then men are left only to the wanderings of their own mind and the leadings of Satan.

The miracles of the Lord and of His apostles were almost all wrought for man's relief-delivering him from the sufferings of the mind and body, as well as healing all who were immediately oppressed of the devil, and delivering those who were possessed by demons. Only a part-and perhaps a small part-of the miracles which were wrought are recorded. Thus we read that multitudes brought their sick and those vexed with unclean spirits, without the cases being given in detail, and every one was healed. (Mark 6:55,56⁵⁵And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. ⁵⁶And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole. (Mark 6:55‑56); Acts 5:16¹⁶There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. (Acts 5:16).)

One miracle differs in character from these, namely, the cursing of the fig-tree. (Matt. 21:19,¹⁹And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. (Matthew 21:19) &c.) There is in this a pointed allusion to Israel. Our Lord had spoken unto them a parable: a certain man had planted a fig-tree; and when he came for three years to gather fruit he found none, and ordered the tree to he cut down. But he was asked to spare it yet another year, to see if it would bear fruit, and if not, then it should be cut down. (Luke 13:6-9⁶He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. ⁷Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? ⁸And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: ⁹And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. (Luke 13:6‑9)). This is somewhat different from the Lord cursing the fig-tree, though both refer to Israel. He came hungry to the fig tree, hut finding only leaves, cursed it. There stood that withered tree by the side of the road from Jerusalem to Bethany, a striking witness of the judgment which awaited that guilty nation if they persisted in the refusal of their Messiah, who, though He came seeking fruit, was ready to become the Sower, to sow the word of God, by which they might be saved. Alas! it was all in vain. The fig-tree perished: Jerusalem was destroyed, and the people slain or scattered. Compare the things that Jeremiah was hid to do as signs to Israel. (Chaps. 13:1-11; 19: 1-10.)

A further question on the subject of miracles has been raised, namely, how far the value of the evidence by miracles in the time of our Lord is lessened by the assertion that miracles have always been and are still wrought in the church.

In the Gospel by Mark (16:17, 18) we read, " These signs shall follow them that believe: in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." It will be observed that this was said at the close of our Lord's sojourn on earth, and that it did not apply to His apostles, hut to those who should believe when the apostles preached the gospel that was for every creature.

It is an interesting question as to whether we have any authenticated records of such miracles being wrought in the early ages of the church. We must not forget the tests by which to judge if the reputed miracles were real. They must have been done more or less in public; they must be such things as any one can judge of; and they must he recorded while the witnesses are alive.

Justin Martyr said to the Romans, who were persecuting the Christians, that the name of Jesus was powerful for the destruction of the demons. He declared, " You can learn this from what is under your own observation. For numberless demoniacs throughout the whole world, and in your city many of our christian men exorcising them in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, have healed and do heal, rendering helpless and driving the possessing devils out of the men."2

Irenæus says what was done in his day: " Some do certainly and truly drive out devils, so that those who have thus been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe and join themselves to the church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come: they see visions, and utter prophetic expressions. Others still heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are made whole. Yea, moreover, as I have said, the dead even have been raised up and remained among us for many years.... As she [the church] has received freely from God, freely also does she minister. Nor does she perform anything by means of angelic invocations, or by incantations, or by any other wicked curious art; but by directing her prayers to the Lord who made all things, in a pure, sincere, and straightforward spirit, and calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, she has been accustomed to work miracles for the advantage of mankind, and not to lead them into error."3

Tertullian also appeals to known facts concerning the cure of some: as the clerk of one of the advocates, " who was liable to be thrown upon the ground by an evil spirit, was set free from his affliction; as was the relative of another, and the little boy of a third. And how many men of rank, to say nothing of common people, have been delivered from devils, and healed of diseases!4

Again he appeals to the emperor thus: " Place some assuredly possessed person before your tribunals; a follower of Christ shall command that spirit to speak, who shall as surely confess himself to be a demon as elsewhere he will falsely call himself a god."5

It will be seen that these things were said while the persons were living on whom the miracles were wrought, and while those were living who witnessed them: so that the events could be fully tested at the time.

Many of the professed miracles said to be wrought in the church in later times were attended with very different circumstances. Some were not named till all who could be called as witnesses were dead; others were said to have been done in private when there were no witnesses, and many were proved to be false by the trickery being discovered by which the effects were wrought, or by the persons confessing the deception.

There can be no reasonable doubt that God made good His promise in Mark 16:17, 18¹⁷And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17‑18) (cf. also Acts 8:7;16:18; 19:12; 28:5, 8⁷For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. (Acts 8:7)
¹⁸And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. (Acts 16:18)
¹²So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. (Acts 19:12)
⁵And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. (Acts 28:5)
⁸And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. (Acts 28:8)), though there are no trustworthy evidences that there are miracles now in the church. Satan in the days of the apostles had his counterfeits, as he certainly has had since (cf. Acts 8:9;13⁹But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: (Acts 8:9)
⁹Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, (Acts 13:9). 6-8; 19:19), and will yet be permitted to deceive with real delusions, as we have said. (Matt. 24:24²⁴For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24:24); 2 Thess. 2:9,10⁹Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, ¹⁰And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9‑10); Rev. 13:13,14¹³And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, ¹⁴And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (Revelation 13:13‑14).)

It will be seen that some of the miracles are recorded in me gospel only; and that each of the four gospels has miracles that are not recorded in the other gospels. Without doubt there is a divine reason for this, and that the character of each gospel may give the key to the selection that has been made by each of the inspired evangelists. A few miracles are found in Matthew and Mark only; and a good many in Matthew, Mark, and Luke: only one is found in all the four gospels. John 21:25²⁵And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. (John 21:25) expressly tells us that Jesus did many things which he, the evangelist, had not recorded. Who could possibly have guided John and the other writers of the books of the Bible in the selection but He whose book it is? This stamps the whole as THE WORD (W GOD.

LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL MIRACLES.