What Is a Miracle?
A miracle, by definition, is an extraordinary event that transcends natural laws and human understanding. It is an act of God that reveals His power, glory, and purpose. Miracles are not routine occurrences but are, by their very nature, supernatural interventions that defy explanation apart from the divine. As Jesus Himself said in Luke 18:27, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
The purpose of a miracle is to testify to God’s power, His authority, and His love. They are not random acts but intentional signs that point to God’s kingdom.
John 20:30–31:states: “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
How Many Miracles Did Jesus Perform?
The Gospels record at least 37 specific miracles performed by Jesus, ranging from healings to nature miracles, exorcisms, and even raising the dead. However, this number only scratches the surface of what He did.
John concludes his Gospel with this striking statement: “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25).
Nature Miracles
The miracles of Jesus over nature showcase His absolute authority as the Creator and Sustainer of all things. His very first miracle, turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1–11), was a sign of His divinity and compassion. This was not grape juice but real wine, as the master of the feast remarked on its quality. It also set the stage for His ministry, showing that He came to bring joy and abundance to those who trust Him.
Among His other nature miracles, we see Jesus feeding the five thousand with just five loaves and two fish (John 6:1–14) and later feeding four thousand with seven loaves and a few fish (Matthew 15:32–39). These miracles not only provided for the physical needs of the crowds but also demonstrated that He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35).
In the realm of the miraculous, Jesus allowed Peter to walk on water toward Him during a storm (Matthew 14:22–33) and then calmed the raging sea with a simple command, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39). These moments revealed not only His power over the elements but also His ability to bring peace to troubled hearts.
Jesus displayed His mastery over creation in other stunning ways. When He instructed Peter to find a coin in a fish’s mouth to pay the temple tax, the exact provision was found just as He said (Matthew 17:24–27). After His resurrection, Jesus walked through walls, appearing to His disciples even though the doors were locked (John 20:19, 26). And in a mysterious act of translation, Jesus seemingly moved supernaturally from one location to another, as seen when the disciples on the road to Emmaus realized who He was, and He vanished from their sight (Luke 24:31). All these miracles affirm His divine authority over time, space, and creation.
Healing Miracles
Jesus’ healing ministry is one of the most vivid demonstrations of His compassion and power. The Gospels overflow with accounts of Him healing all who came to Him. As Matthew 4:24 records, “Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.”
Some of His most memorable healings include restoring sight to the man born blind (John 9:1–7), cleansing ten lepers (Luke 17:11–19), and healing the paralytic lowered through the roof by his friends, declaring, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house” (Mark 2:11). The sheer volume of healings is staggering, as Matthew 12:15 says, “Great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.” The implication is that Jesus healed thousands upon thousands during His ministry, meeting physical needs while pointing to spiritual truths.
Exorcisms
Jesus demonstrated His authority over the spiritual realm by casting out demons. One of the most striking accounts is in Mark 5:1–20, where He delivered a man possessed by a legion of demons. The demons begged Jesus for permission to enter a herd of swine, which then rushed into the sea and drowned. This act not only freed the man but also declared Jesus’ dominion over the forces of darkness.
His exorcisms were both acts of compassion and visible proofs of the arrival of God’s kingdom. As He explained in Matthew 12:28, “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Raising the Dead
Perhaps the most astonishing of Jesus’ miracles were those where He restored life to the dead. To Jairus’ daughter, He simply said, “Little girl, I say to you, arise” (Mark 5:41), and she came back to life. In the town of Nain, He stopped a funeral procession and commanded, “Young man, I say to you, arise,” and the widow’s only son was raised (Luke 7:14).
The raising of Lazarus is perhaps the most well-known of these miracles. After four days in the tomb, Lazarus emerged alive at Jesus’ command, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43–44). This miracle not only demonstrated Jesus’ power over death but also pointed to His own resurrection.
Yet, the greatest of all resurrections was His own. Jesus not only died on the cross for our sins but also rose from the dead by His own authority. In John 10:17–18, He declared, “I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” His resurrection, unparalleled in history, is the foundation of our faith and the ultimate demonstration of His victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
These miracles collectively reveal that Jesus is not merely a teacher or prophet but the Son of God, who holds all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). Each act was a sign pointing to His divinity and His mission to redeem humanity. Through His miracles, we see both His unparalleled power and His deep compassion for those He came to save.
Why Did Jesus Perform Miracles?
Jesus performed miracles to reveal His identity, demonstrate the coming of God’s kingdom, and show His compassion for humanity.
Revealing His Identity
Jesus’ miracles were signs that He was the Messiah and the Son of God. As He declared in John 10:37–38, “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”
Demonstrating the Kingdom of God
Miracles were a foretaste of the restoration and healing that will come in God’s kingdom. In Luke 4:18–19, Jesus read from Isaiah and proclaimed His mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”
Showing Compassion
Many miracles arose from Jesus’ deep compassion. In Matthew 14:14, we read, “And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.” His heart was always toward the hurting and the lost.
The Ultimate Miracle: Forgiveness of Sins
While physical miracles amazed the crowds, Jesus emphasized the greater miracle of spiritual transformation. In the account of the paralyzed man lowered through the roof, Jesus first said:
“Son, your sins are forgiven you” (Mark 2:5). When the Pharisees questioned this, Jesus responded, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins—He said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house’” (Mark 2:9–11).
This demonstrates that forgiveness of sin and the transformation of the heart are the greatest miracles, surpassing even the most dramatic physical healings.
The Pharisees’ Demand for Signs
Despite witnessing His miracles, the Pharisees hardened their hearts and demanded more signs.
In Matthew 12:38–39, they said, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” Jesus rebuked them, saying, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”
He referred to His coming resurrection as the ultimate proof of His authority and divinity, paralleling Jonah’s three days in the belly of the fish with His three days in the tomb.
Their demand for signs underscores the reality that miracles alone cannot produce faith in a hardened heart. Faith comes through a receptive heart open to God’s truth.
My Final Thoughts
The miracles of Jesus were more than displays of divine power; they were signs pointing to who He is—God in the flesh. They reveal His authority, His compassion, and His ultimate mission to redeem humanity. While He healed countless people and performed wonders that defied natural explanation, His greatest miracle remains the forgiveness of sins and the transformation of hearts.
As we reflect on His miracles, let us remember that Jesus is still performing the ultimate miracle today—bringing sinners to repentance and offering eternal life to all who believe in Him. The same power that calmed the storm, healed the sick, and raised the dead is available to us through faith. May we, unlike the Pharisees, have hearts open to His truth and lives that reflect His glory.
