Part 8: Jesus’ Miracles

Jesus performed many miracles, which show that He is the Son of God. Here are a few of them.
Just after the Sermon on the Mount, “When He came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed Him.
A man with leprosy came and knelt before Him and said, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’
Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man.
“‘I am willing,’ He said. ‘Be clean!’
“Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, ‘See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.'” (Matthew 8:1-4)
Another time, Jesus calmed a raging storm.
“He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’
“He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ He then got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
“The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!'” (Matthew 8:23-27)

Jesus refused to perform a miracle just to overwhelm unbelief.
He performed miracles to meet real needs. In fact, once when some Pharisees asked Him to do a miracle just to show His power, Jesus refused.
One time, “A ruler came and knelt before Him and said, ‘My daughter has just died. But come and put Your hand on her, and she will live.’ Jesus got up and went with him, and so did His disciples.
“Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak. She said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.’
“Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ He said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed from that moment.
“When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, He said, ‘Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.’ But they laughed at Him. After the crowd had been put outside, He went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region.” (Matthew 9:18-26)

God is the ruler over heaven and earth.
He set in place the physical laws that govern the universe. But God also has the power to override those laws if He wants. When Jesus showed that power, His motivation was always love. He healed the sick, raised the dead, walked on water, and fed thousands of people who did not have food. Crowds followed him often because of His miracles. But Jesus taught them by His life that there is something better than miracles — loving God and receiving His kingdom. Do you want Jesus for the health and wealth He could give you, or because you want to be in His presence forever?