John 14:8-14 (New International Version)
8Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Are Miracles possible?
Often to establish the credibility of a single miracle is not enough for the sceptic. The real problem for the sceptic is not with the miracle but with the whole concept of God. This is a question that Jesus discuses with His disciples in John 14.
Our concept of God
The God of the Bible, the God of the Christian, is by definition all-powerful, therefore the concept of miracles for a Christian should not be difficult to understand or grasp.
In the absence of belief in an all-powerful God the possibility or existence of miracles is difficult for the sceptic or unbeliever to accept.
The sceptic has many questions, questions about the credibility of miracles, questions about the validity of predictive prophecy, questions about any supernatural act. It is difficult to understand and comprehend God from a human perspective.
Many questions that arise, stem from man assuming that the nature of God (if He exists) is the same as the person asking the question. How often do you hear people describing ‘the God they believe in’ a concept of God that a person has conceived based on the human rather than the divine.
When you have read about Miracles in the Bible what reactions have you had?
Are there specific Miracles that really amaze or surprise you? Which and Why?
Is God bound by natural law?
The question is this “If an all-powerful God, who created the universe, exists why do we have difficulty in believing that he transcends the natural laws He created ?”
As Christians our view, our belief is in a God who is alive, active, powerful, loving and caring today. The 18th Century philosopher David Hume defined a miracle as “a violation of natural law.” God would not be God if He were prisoner of natural laws.
In a modern scientific age, it is common to personify science and natural laws. The Christian views natural law as behaving in an observable cause-and-effect way, all the time - day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, century after century.
God is outside, over and above natural law, He is not bound by it. God has the right and the power to intervene when and how He chooses.
When is a Miracle not a Miracle?
Miracle is a loosely used word today. If a student passes a difficult exam with a high mark they may say “It was a miracle”. In a recent newspaper article, people who queued for ages outside Next to be the first into the store on a sale day, said in an interview that it was ‘a miracle the prices were so low”. Contestants selected for the ‘live’ shows of X-Factor described their appearance as “a miracle beyond belief”.
Today the term miracle can mean anything that is unusual or unexpected. Today when people talk about miracles it is often in a context that does not involve God being at work.
In the New Testament four Greek words are principally used to designate miracles:
1. Semeion, (s?µe???)a “sign”, i.e., an evidence of a divine commission; an attestation of a divine message (Matt. 12:38,39; 16:1, 4; Mark 8:11; Luke 11:16; 23:8; John 2:11, 18, 23; Acts 6:8, etc.); a token of the presence and working of God; the seal of a higher power.
2. Terata, (t??ata)“wonders;” wonder-causing events; portents; producing astonishment in the beholder (Acts 2:19).
3. Dunameis, (????µe??)“might works;” works of superhuman power (Acts 2:22; Rom. 15:19; 2 Thess. 2:9); of a new and higher power.
4. Erga, (???a)“works;” the works of Him who is “wonderful in working” (John 5:20, 36).
Do you know of any ‘real’ modern miracles?
What are ‘true’ miracles?
Miracles as recorded in the Bible, are acts of God. These are events, actions or circumstances entirely different to the common use of the word today.
The biblical use of the word describes an act of God breaking into, changing or interrupting the ordinary course of things.
The Bible records various kinds of miracles. Some of them could have a natural explanation with miraculous timing. There are also many miracles that have no natural explanation and occur outside the realm of so called natural law.
Some sceptics attempt to explain the miraculous healing performed by Jesus on many occasions simply as psychosomatic responses.
Some health professionals believe that 85 percent of all illnesses are psychosomatic.
Do you think that Jesus only healed psychosomatic illnesses?
Psychosomatic response can not explain the healing of leprosy, a disease that arises from a bacterial invasion of the body. Lepers who were healed by Jesus experienced the direct power of God in a supernatural way.
Psychosomatic response also can not explain the cases of congenital diseases being healed by Jesus for example the man born blind who received his sight in John 9.
Were people in Bible times ignorant, gullible or superstitious?
Another notion commonly expressed is that people in ancient times were exceedingly ignorant, gullible or superstitious. Perhaps some things they thought were miracles, were not miracles at all but simply phenomena they did not understand.
Our understanding has expanded exponentially thanks to the benefits of modern science. If we flew a modern jet over a primitive tribe today, they may fall to the ground and worship the ‘silver bird in the sky’. They may think the sight they observed was a miraculous phenomenon, a miracle.
In the case of the blind man, there was a realistic view of his situation. The people observed that since the beginning of time it had not been known for a man born blind to receive his sight.
The people of the time were not stupid, today we have no more natural explanation of Jesus healing him than they did. Today who has more explanation, in a natural sense, of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead than when it happened? No one! We simply can not ignore the supernatural aspects of the Biblical record.
Do Miracles conflict with natural law?
Generally speaking there are two views among ‘Christians’ about the relationship between miracles and natural law.
First, miracles employ a “higher” natural law, which at present is unknown to us.
It is quite obvious that despite all of the impressive discoveries of modern science, we are still ‘standing on the seashore of an ocean of ignorance’. If our knowledge increases sufficiently, the belief is that we will realise that things we thought of as miracles are merely the working of the higher laws of the universe. Miracles are not contrary to nature, only contrary to what we know about nature.
The second view is that Biblical miracles are an act of creation - a sovereign, transcendent act of God’s supernatural power. This is the more appropriate view for a Christian to hold.
What was the purpose of Biblical miracles?
In contrast to miracle stories recorded in the writings of other religions or pagan literature, the Bible records miracles with a clear order and purpose to them. In the Bible they were never performed as entertainment, they were never performed for personal prestige. In the Biblical recordings of miracles there is a consistent purpose: to confirm faith.
Miracles do not appear in the Bible without rhyme or reason, they authenticated the message and the messenger, or they demonstrate God’s love by relieving suffering.
Biblical miracles cluster around three periods of Biblical history:
- the exodus
- the prophets who led Israel
- the time of Christ and the early church
Israel was brought into existence by a series of miracles. The first five books of the Bible list many supernatural wonders. Many of the prophets were identified as God’s spokesmen by their power to perform miracles.
Jesus came not only preaching but also performing miracles Compared to other religions the New Testament miracles of Jesus are extraordinarily unique. They are part of an entire, authentic message: His birth, His message of forgiveness, His death, His resurrection.
What can science say about miracles?
Science can only state miracles do not occur in the ordinary course of nature. Science can not forbid miracles because natural laws do not cause and therefore cannot forbid anything. Natural laws, as we see them, are merely descriptions of what happens.
The difference between the Christian and the scientist is philosophical, each have distinctive presuppositions, the base of all opinions. The possibility of seeing something as a miracle depends on our point of view or our worldview.
What is the presupposition of the Christian?
God exists, has created natural law, can make or break it, can intervene or not. The supernatural, personal God is at the base of all phenomena, natural and spiritual. G.K. Chesterton said, “A miracle is startling; but it is simple. It is simple because it is a miracle. It is power coming directly from God instead of indirectly through nature or human wills”
What is the presupposition of the agnostic or atheistic scientist?
God does not, cannot exist. Scientists (unless they are Christians) generally make judgements and opinions based on naturalistic, materialistic observations, believing there is no other option. The supernatural does not intrude and would not be considered. The scientist can only ask, “are the records of miracles historically reliable?” He or she will not go further.
What about the Miracles Jesus performed?
Jesus performed His miracles in public. They were not performed in secret before only one or two people who then announced them to others. There was every opportunity for people to investigate the miracles on the spot. It is impressive to note that the opponents of Jesus never denied the fact that He performed miracles but they did try to suppress the evidence, or attributed them to the power of Satan.
Jesus performed miracles in the presence of unbelievers. Today miracles claimed by cults or sects never seem to happen when the sceptic is present to observe them. This was not so with Jesus. The miracles of Jesus displayed His power over a variety of things. He had power over nature, demonstrated when He turned water to wine. He had power over disease, the healing of the lepers. He had power over demons - shown when He cast them out. He had supernatural knowledge - knowing Nathaniel was under a fig tree. He demonstrated His power to create when He fed five thousand from a few loaves and fish. He had power over natural forces demonstrated when the wind and waves obeyed His command during the storm. He demonstrated His power over death in the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
There is a testimony in those Jesus healed, Lazarus was not a psychosomatic healing or a result of an inaccurate diagnosis. An embalmed body, bound in grave clothes does not get up on its own and walk!
What about now?
People often say, “If God performed miracles then, why does he not do them now? If I saw a miracle I could believe!” Jesus himself answered this question, he told of a rich man who was in the torment of Hell, who lifted up his eyes and pleaded with Abraham that someone should warn his five brothers lest they should also come into that awful place.
The rich man was told that his brothers had the Scriptures. The rich man protested that if someone should rise from the dead, they would be shaken by the miracle and would turn from their present lifestyle and follow Jesus.
The reply given applies as much today as then: “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31). It’s the same attitude today.
Today, there are expected cultural norms. Today, there are rationalistic presuppositions. Today, our post modernistic thinking tells us miracles are impossible. Today, for some people, no amount of evidence would ever persuade them that a miracle could, would or has taken place.
Jesus repeatedly asserted that His sole purpose was to teach spiritual truth, to demonstrate His character and His Father’s power. His self-definition was to give life, abundant life and to reveal God.
For the Christian today, miracles do happen but they are not necessary for us as a basis of faith.
What can we conclude?
Miracles in the Bible are an inherent part of God’s communication to us - not an aside of little significance. Miracles also take us back to the ultimate question, does God exist? Settle this question and miracles cease to be a problem. God is not bound by the natural laws He has created.
Miracles still happen today!
A call to action
Verses 13-14 tell us that Jesus will do whatever we ask in His name. What do you hesitate to ask from Jesus? Take some time to honestly make your requests known to God.
FOR FURTHER PERSONAL STUDY
John 14:8-14
What verbs do you notice in this passage?
What do they emphasise?
When in your own life have you felt the need to ask God for a sign in order to believe or understand?
What eye-opening fact about himself does Jesus want Philip and the disciples to understand (v9)?
How would you have reacted in this situation?
What do the miracles of Jesus (the Son) tell us about His relationship to God (the Father) (v10-11)?
What are the “greater things” Jesus is referring to in verse 12?
What purposes do Biblical miracles fulfil?
Many times doubts about miracles expose a deeper problem underneath - usually about the nature of God. What questions do you have about God?
C.S. Lewis wrote in his book Miracles that Christianity is “the story of a great Miracle.” In what ways would Jesus miracles authenticate His message?
In what ways do the Miracles of Jesus demonstrate God’s love for us?
