Jesus Christ, miracles of

Supernatural acts of Jesus Christ, revealing and confirming his Messianic credentials, and the coming of God's kingdom. The miracles of Christ are to be seen as an integral part of his ministry.

Examples of the kind of miracles Jesus Christ performed

Authority over natural forces

Matthew 8:27 parallels Mark 4:41, Luke 8:25 See also Matthew 14:19–20 parallels Mark 6:41–43, Luke 9:16–17, John 6:11–13 the feeding of 5,000; Matthew 14:25 parallels Mark 6:48, John 6:19 Jesus Christ walks on water; Matthew 17:27; Luke 5:4, Luke 5:6; John 2:9 Jesus Christ turns water into wine.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!”

Healing the sick

Matthew 4:24 See also Matthew 8:13 parallel Luke 7:10; Matthew 8:15 parallels Mark 1:31, Luke 4:39 Simon's mother-in-law; Matthew 9:22 parallels Mark 5:29, Luke 8:44 the woman with the issue of blood; Matthew 9:29–30, Matthew 12:13 parallels Mark 3:5, Luke 6:10 the man with a shrivelled hand; Mark 7:35; Luke 17:14; John 4:52–53, John 5:8–9, John 9:6–7

News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them.

Casting out demons

Mark 1:34 parallels Matthew 8:16, Luke 4:41 See also Matthew 9:33, Matthew 12:22 parallel Luke 11:14; Matthew 17:18 parallels Mark 9:25–26, Luke 9:42

And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

Raising the dead

Luke 7:14–15 See also Matthew 9:25 parallels Mark 5:41–42, Luke 8:54–55; John 11:43–44

Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!” And the dead man sat up and began to speak! Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.

The purpose of Jesus Christ's miracles

To bring healing and wholeness

Luke 8:35 See also Matthew 15:28; Luke 17:14–15; John 9:38

So the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

To reveal God's kingdom

Matthew 12:28 parallel Luke 11:20 See also Matthew 11:4–5 parallel Luke 7:22

But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

To fulfil God's word

Matthew 8:16–17 See also Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 12:15–17; Luke 4:18–19; Isaiah 61:1–2; Luke 4:21

When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Jesus, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”

To bring glory to God

John 11:4 See also Matthew 15:31; John 2:11

When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

To show Jesus to be the Messiah

Acts 2:22 See also Matthew 11:3–5 parallel Luke 7:19–22; John 5:36, John 10:25, John 10:37–38, John 11:42

Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.

Varying responses to Jesus Christ's miracles

Terror and fear

Mark 4:41 parallel Luke 8:25 See also Matthew 8:34; Mark 5:15 parallel Luke 8:35

Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Wonder and amazement

Luke 4:36 parallel Mark 1:27 See also Matthew 9:33, Matthew 12:23; Luke 9:43, Luke 11:14

All the people were overcome with amazement and asked one another, “What is this message? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”

Faith and gratitude

Luke 19:37 See also Mark 5:18–20 parallel Luke 8:38–39; Luke 17:15–16; John 9:38, John 14:11, John 20:30–31

And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:

Opposition and hatred

John 15:24 See also Matthew 11:20–21 parallel Luke 10:13; Matthew 12:24 parallels Mark 3:22, Luke 11:15; John 12:10–11, John 12:37–38

If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father.

Limitations on Jesus Christ's miracles

Jesus Christ restricted his miracles because of superficial faith

John 2:23–24 See also Matthew 12:38–39 parallel Luke 11:29; Matthew 16:1–4 parallel Mark 8:11–12; John 2:18, John 6:30

While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the signs He was doing and believed in His name. But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all.

Miracles require faith

Matthew 13:58 parallel Mark 6:5 See also Matthew 14:28–31, Matthew 17:14–20

And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.

Jesus Christ's miracles performed through others

Through the disciples during Jesus Christ's lifetime

Matthew 10:1 parallels Mark 3:14–15, Luke 9:1–2; Mark 9:38 parallel Luke 9:49; Luke 10:17

Through the apostles after Jesus Christ's ascension

Acts 3:6, Acts 3:16, Acts 4:10, Acts 5:12, Acts 6:8, Acts 8:6–7, Acts 16:18, Acts 19:11; 2 Corinthians 12:12

Through the church

1 Corinthians 12:10, 1 Corinthians 12:28–29