Day 1

What Is a Miracle?

from the The Miracles of Jesus reading plan


1 Kings 18:20-40, Psalm 65:5-8, Exodus 12:40-42, Exodus 12:51, Exodus 14:21-31, Exodus 19:16-25, Exodus 7:3-5

BY Rebecca Faires

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 18:20-40; Psalm 65:5-8; Exodus 12:40-42,51; Exodus 14:21-31; Exodus 19:16-25; Exodus 7:3-5

Seeing is not believing.

I ask for miracles all the time. I implore God for snow days, chase after lost causes, and jockey for acclaim. I ask God to change people. I ask Him to change me. And most of all, I ask Him to heal.

The possibility of miracles is such lush fruit to my imagination. It means that anything is possible. God could pop down, give a little nudge, and fix any problem. And when He doesn’t, it’s confusing. If He could do a miracle, why doesn’t He do one for me?

In preparing for this study, I noticed that Jesus doesn’t do miracles on command. He isn’t anybody’s trick pony. In fact, He blesses those “who do not see, and yet believe” (John 20:29), and He rebukes a generation that “seeks for a sign” (Matthew 12:39). And, man, I do love a good sign.

It seems if Jesus were just willing to do a bit of skywriting, all would believe and the world would be saved. It’s so much easier to ask for a sign instead of looking to the person of Christ, to hunt after what He can do for us instead of who He is. His miracles aren’t His message, but rather a testament to who He is. And even those who witnessed His miracles did not necessarily believe.

This study focuses on miracles performed by Jesus. But for a big picture, let’s step back and look at all kinds of miracles in the Bible. When reading any scripture, I ask myself, “What is God doing in this passage?” These passages on miracles make it easy to answer that question and learn more about the character of God in the process.

He is supreme and omnipresent: God shows His unearthly power when He scorches the dripping-wet sacrifices for Elijah at Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18).

He is sovereign and omnipotent: He is the Master of nature and quiets the storms (Matthew 8:23-27).

He is merciful and good: He is the source of our salvation (John 3:16; Hebrews 5:7-10).

He is holy and omniscient: He is the thundering presence on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19).

Miracles are one of the ways God expresses His “otherness” to us. They reveal Him in His power, and show us He is not like us. The rules of nature that bind us do not bind Him. The laws of a created world are amendable by the One who created it.

As we read through this study, think about what Jesus’ miracles tell us about His character. Remember that these are nothing less than acts of God performed by Immanuel, “God with us.” Although signs and wonders may not accompany every moment of our lives, the One who makes them possible does.

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Post Comments (170)

170 thoughts on "What Is a Miracle?"

  1. Angela Greenwood says:

    Very excited to start this study

  2. Kay says:

    I often wonder if the things happening around us are miracles that we just can’t see. I don’t believe God is only about miracles, but if we could only see clearly, what astonishing feats would be revealed to us every moment? Our human brains likely could not comprehend or bear the beauty and majesty of God. The miracle of forgiveness is the greatest of all of these, and it is within the grasp of every one if us. Praise God and His precious son Jesus Christ!

  3. Kate S says:

    Such a good reminder to see who God is and not what he can do for us. Even though what he does for us he does in love. I was telling my little girls about how great he is good his power just last night and his goodness and how holy he is. It’s easy to forget that sometimes

    1. Kay says:

      The miracle of love! Praise God for you and your girls.

  4. Viola says:

    Blessed to call him my King.

  5. Shelby says:

    Sometimes I myself forget to look for Jesus in scripture. I read because it’s what I’m “supposed to know.” This reminded me to read to know Jesus’ character and know HIM. love love love already.

  6. Atalie Jones says:

    Lord, Your miracles aren’t Your message, but a testament of who You are. Help me find You in EVERY situation I am faced with. You are the great creator, the great deliverer. Sometimes I feel that I need to be delivered from myself. Draw me close to You.

  7. Merciergirl says:

    That’s how amazing He is.

  8. Merciergirl says:

    His miracles are beyond me and my thinking.

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