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Miracles of Jesus: Matt. 8, 9,14; Mk. 4, 6; Jn. 6; Lk. 8, 9
“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). Those were Peter’s words to Cornelius. Earlier, in preaching to the Jews on Pentecost, Peter said, “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know...” (Acts 2:22). The preaching of the miracles of Jesus was a significant part of the message of Christ.
The miracles performed by Jesus had a purpose behind them. Ultimately, the import is that they demonstrated that He was truely the Son of God -- God manifested in the flesh. Nicodemus came to Jesus and recognized, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God, as a teacher, for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (Jn. 3:2). Jesus pointed to His works to establish His identity: “the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish -- the very works that I do -- testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me” (Jn. 5:36). When John was in prison, he sent disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Expected One, to which Jesus replied: “Go and report to John what you hear and see; the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matt. 11:4-5).
The miracles of Jesus serve to help us develop faith in Him. “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (Jn. 20:30-31).
Discussion
1. What is a miracle? Why are miracles so important in the Bible?
2. What purpose did the miracles of Jesus have?
3. Discuss some of the miracles Jesus performed. Why were they important? What did they demonstrate about Him?
4. How do the miracles of Jesus help us have faith in Him?