When something amazing happens, we often say, “It’s a miracle!”  But more than likely that is not technically correct.  It was not a true miracle.  It was amazing, it was abnormal, etc., but was it a miracle?

What is a miracle?

A scientist gave the following definition of a miracle on an April 14, 1995 PBS program.  He said, “A miracle is nothing more than a natural law not discovered.” So, he doesn’t believe in miracles. He thinks everything can be explained scientifically.  This is an attitude which at the least denies any intervention into our world by God, and more than likely means that scientist denies the existence of God.[1] I don’t see how raising someone from the dead, restoring a blind man’s sight, etc. are natural laws not yet discovered.  This is obviously a bad definition. The fact that anyone would take this guy seriously is a sad commentary on our society.

A computer magazine had the following definition in its word-for-the-day section: “Coincidence is a miracle where God chooses to remain anonymous.”  In other words, there is no such thing as coincidence.   This elevates almost everything to the status of being a miracle. I would have to go along with the idea that there is no such thing as coincidence or chance.  If there is such a thing as chance, then God has an equal out there in the universe, against which He is competing. Think about that statement for a minute. If there is such a thing as chance, then God has an equal out there in the universe that He is competing against. In other words, God is not in control.  So, although I think that God is control and is involved in our lives, does that mean that these events are miracles?  No.

These two illustrations represent opposite extremes. The truth is somewhere in the middle. What is a miracle?

If we look at the words the New Testament uses for miracles we see the following:

(1) It is an act of a supernatural being. The word dunamis has the idea of a supernatural power.  It speaks primarily of the agent of the act.  That power may be delegated to a human agent.  The question is where did Jesus’ power to do the miracle come from.  There are two options – either from God or from Satan.  Obviously, Jesus’ power came from God.  Some suggest that Satan only imitates miracles. I think Satan can perform miracles.  He does not have divine power, but he does have supernatural power. So the idea from the word dunamis is that there is supernatural power involved.

(2) Another word – terasa – speaks of the effect.  A miracle is an unusual event. Terasa speaks of the wonderment of the event – as in signs and wonders. As a matter of fact, terasa is always used with semeion.

(3) The Greek word semeion means sign.  A miracle is a significant event.  It has purpose. Matthew, Mark and Luke uses the first two more.  John uses the word semion, because he is focused on the purpose of Jesus in performing the miracles.

Therefore, in our search for a definition, if we combine the ideas of these words used in the New Testament, we might come up with the following definition:

Definition: A miracle is an unusual and significant event (terasa) which requires the working of a supernatural agent (dunamis) and is performed for the purpose of authenticating the message or the messenger (semeion).

I don’t want to imply that God can’t do a miracle without a miracle worker or that He can only do miracles when He needs to authenticate His message.  But, examination of Old Testament and New Testament miracles shows that when a human is the agent performing a miracle, the purpose is authentication of the person and his message.

For example: Moses, Elijah, Jesus, Apostles…  That is the norm.  It is a little oxymoronic to use the words norm and miracles in the same sentence, but I think it is important to establish what the norm is if possible because of what various people teach concerning miracles.

Miracles in the bible fall into several categories:

There are supernatural acts of creation, God spoke everything into existence (Heb. 11:3). No one even trying to produce this type of miracle.

Miracles that involved a temporary and localized suspension of laws of regulating nature. Jesus walked on the water (John 6:16-21). Jesus stilled the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Matt. 8:23-27).

Healing of the physical body. Jesus heals the blind man (John 9:1-7) Peter and John heal lame man (Acts 3:1-10).

Raising the dead. Jesus raises Lazarus (John 11:43-44). God raising Christ from the dead is the very foundation of Christianity (1 Cor. 15:16-19).

Casting out demons that had entered the bodies of people (Matt. 12:22ff).

The manipulation of certain material things. Turning water to wine (John 2:1-11). Feeding multitude with few loaves and fishes (John 6:1-14).

Miraculous power was demonstrated in both the plant and animal kingdoms. Balaam’s donkey spoke with a man’s voice (Num. 22:28). Jesus destroyed a fig tree with but a word from his mouth (Matt 21:19).

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GENUINE MIRACLE!

A supernatural display of divine power is not something to argue about, they either happened or they did not.  A miracle is a fact that has been demonstrated. When Jesus performed a miracle, no one could deny what was done. Biblical miracles always had a worthy motive, not done for “self” glorification. First century miracle workers did not do so for financial gain.

Most miracles in the bible era were done in the presence of a multitude of credible witnesses – even hostile observers. Genuine miracles were not slow, progressive processes; rather they produced instantaneous effects. You do not read in the N.T. such statements as, “Paul prayed for him, and within three weeks he was cured.” Jesus healed a forty year old man who had never walked, and he immediately arose and walked.

True miracles must be subject to sense perception, i.e. the water Jesus turned to wine could be tasted. True miracles cannot be explained in a natural fashion.  (It could not have happened if it were not a miracle). A genuine miracle will generate more than a superficial and temporary interest.  Miracles performed in the N.T. still have a positive affect on people today.

WHY MIRACES WERE PERFROMED IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES!

The function of miracles was to confirm the revelation of God’s word to the human race (Heb. 2:3-4). The supernatural gifts of the primitive age, therefore, had as their design the establishment of the credibility of Christ and his spokesmen, and so ultimately, the validation of their message, namely, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world!

How observe this very important point.  If it can be established that those early miracles do corroborate the testimony of Christ, and those commissioned by him; and further, that the recording of these events in the New Testament was designed to perpetually accomplish that function, then it stands as demonstrated that the repetition of such signs is not needed today.

CESSATION OF MIRACLES!

In 1 Cor. 12-14 Paul gives a good discussion of the Gifts of the Spirit and their purpose. He illustrated how the gifts were in “parts”, many gifts distributed among many people to be used for the building of the kingdom. 1 Cor. 13:8ff Paul says that when the “perfect” has come, that which is in part will be done away. The “perfect” referred to the revealed will of God that we have as the bible. Miracles are not needed today to teach the gospel as it can be proven by the bible.