MIRACLES


     "An event or effect in the physical world deviating from the known
laws of nature, or transcending our knowledge of these laws; an extra-
ordinary or abnormal event brought about by superhuman agency."
                                                 (Webster's Dictionary)
     A miracle is the direct  intervention of God in the affairs of men,
an event that indicates the presence of Deity, an event not brought
about by the ordinary forces of nature or by ordinary men. A miracle
shows some power outside Nature, so supernatural power has intervened. A
supreme command over nature.
     Acknowledge the FACT of God and all things are possible to such an
omnipotent power. Believing the first verse in the Bible to be truth,
our faith should not waver at any miracle recorded therein.
     "There is one great purpose which is assigned to miracles, viz.,
the proof of a revelation, and certainly if it was the will of God to
give a revelation, there are plain and obvious reasons for asserting
that miracles are necessary as the guarantee and voucher for that
revelation. A revelation is, properly speaking, such only by virtue of
telling us something that we could not know without it. But how do we
know that communication of what is undiscoverable by human reason is
true? Our reason cannot prove the truth of it; for it is by the
supposition beyond our reason. There must be, then, some note or sign to
certify to it and to distinguish it as a true communication from God,
which note can be nothing else than a miracle."
                      (A. B. Bruce, Chief End of Revelation, p. 162)
     Jesus claimed the miracles He performed were God's stamp of ap-
proval upon Him as God's revelation to man. Note John 5:36; 10:25;
Matthew 11:2-6. In John 10:37-38, Christ states His works proved His
relationship with the Father.
     Did Jesus actually perform miracles?
          (1) He said that He did--John 5:36; 10:25.
          (2) His disciples said He did--Acts 2:22; John 3:2.
          (3) His enemies said that both He and His disciples did--
                Matthew 12:22-24; Acts 4:10, 16.
          (4) The Bible records them as facts. To deny miracles is to
              deny the inspiration of the Bible.
          (5) Historians say that He did. Josephus describes Jesus as "a
              doer of wonderful works."
          (6) It was better than 100 years after the death of Christ
              before there was any attempts to deny His miracles.

     The miracles of the Bible were not given to display power (though
they manifest power). They were given for a specific reason, a definite
purpose. John (20:30-31) tells us the purpose of the many signs
performed by Christ. Mark (16:20) states the word was confirmed by the
sings the apostles performed. Hebrews 2:4 agrees with these verses.
     In Matthew 9:1-8, Jesus asserts His authority to forgive sins. He
then confirms His power by the miracle of the healing of the Paralytic.
     Miracles attest to the truthfulness of the spoken word. One who can
do the work (miracles) of Deity surely has the right to reveal the
message of Deity. Miracles are a proof of Inspiration.

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