Why Did Jesus Perform Miracles?
Open Your Bible
Matthew 11:2-5, Isaiah 61:1-3, John 2:11, Matthew 12:28-42
BY Guest Writer
Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:2-5, Isaiah 61:1-3, John 2:11, Matthew 12:28-42
Most of us have been there. It’s not just painful, but confusingly painful.
Didn’t God hear?
Doesn’t He love me?
Did I not have enough faith?
Why wasn’t it a yes?
These are the questions we ask when the miracle doesn’t come.
Perhaps it was the cancer that wasn’t cured, the chronic illness that never healed, the marriage that couldn’t be saved, or the money that didn’t come through. In the absence of a miracle, these stories about Jesus can be tough to swallow. They can even feel cruel. Why are they here, if not to tease us?
God knows we feel this tension, which is perhaps why He included Matthew 11:2-5 in His perfect Word. Here, John the Baptist asks Jesus if He is, in fact, the “one who is to come”—the Messiah. Jesus answers with a clear allusion to Isaiah 61: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up” (Matthew 11:4-5). He’s essentially saying, “Yes. All the things that were foretold, I am fulfilling them.”
Jesus’ answer to John tells us a lot about the purpose of His miracles: They are a sign of the prophecies fulfilled, a sign that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. They are a sign of His authority, His power, and His glory. And they are a sign of God’s love for us, a sign that we can trust Him.
But here’s what we shouldn’t miss about Jesus’ answer, because John certainly wouldn’t have. Isaiah 61 also says this of the coming Messiah: He will “proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (v.1). It’s a message of hope for prisoners, which is exactly what John was; John received Jesus’ message while sitting in a prison cell. And yet, John the Baptist was never set free. Three chapters later, he’s beheaded. Scripture tells us that when Jesus got word of John the Baptist’s death, “he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself” (Matthew 14:13).
Our God is not indifferent to our pain.
Matthew 11:2-5 contains all the power and the glory and the complexity and confusion of Jesus’ miracles. It attests to Jesus’ divine identity, but it also attests to the reality that miracles don’t always come. In this tension, we learn more about what Jesus’ miracles mean.
Jesus’ miracles weren’t only about Him, but about the Kingdom to come. Tucked into every miracle we can almost hear God whisper, “This is what the Kingdom is like. It’s complete healing, total wholeness, freedom, awe, and joy.” Miracles provide a foretaste of this in-breaking Kingdom, but they were never meant to replace it.
We’ll never have the perfect peace and restoration we desire this side of eternity, but miracles point to the place where we will.
Whenever we read stories of miracles, and grapple with their surpassing mystery, we can do so knowing our God is not casual or removed from our pain. Jesus’ very presence on earth reminds us that He entered into it, experiencing the pain along with us. Jesus joined us in waiting for the Kingdom, longing for the day when the need for miracles will be no more.
Sharon Hodde Miller is a writer, speaker, pastor’s wife, and mom of two boys. She is a regular contributor to Christianity Today and recently completed her Ph.D, which focused on cultivating the gifts of women in the church.
134 thoughts on "Why Did Jesus Perform Miracles?"
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The lame walk.
I’ve been highlighting this particular miracle in my Bible for the past year, since I learned that my son may never walk. I don’t pray that God will perform this miracle for him, though it would be lovely. There are other things that are much more important. But the promise of the Kingdom to come…It gets me every time.
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This is such a wonderful message Bonnie. Sending love to you and your sweet son.
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Bonnie,
What a great hope for your son! Praying for you both as you navigate this struggle. It is amazing to serve a God that gives us hope for a better future than this broken world!
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Just added my prayer!
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28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Jesus was heaven breaking through on earth. His miracles show his Kingdom power. It is the already/not yet paradox of Christian hope. The Kingdom is here, but it’s fulfillment is not complete. And now, as a disciple, I am ushered in to work along side him in bringing his Kingdom out into the open here on earth. Such a humbling and exciting gift to participate with him! -
I’ve never thought about the fact that John was wrongly imprisoned and Jesus, his own cousin, did not get him out. What must Elizabeth have thought? Mary? Come on, Jesus – he’s your cousin. Just a little miracle, please? And I never noticed that Jesus went away by himself after John died. Wow. He must have grieved to lose John. As a man. On the earth. Jesus probably had desires and urges (earthly) that He needed to overcome in favor of God’s will. I hadn’t seen this one before. He didn’t go around saving and healing his best friends – for the pure joy of it. He healed where it would give God the best glory, and when there were people who needed to hear the Truth and see the Way. I never before considered that because Jesus came to do the will of the Father, maybe He didn’t get every miracle He wanted either. wow.
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Me either! It was new to me as well….thankful for this revelation this morning!
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Very insightful!
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I never saw it that way so insightful!
Thank you!
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Wow, Jennifer! Thank you for such a wonderful insight.
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Love what you said about Jesus submitting to the will of His Father. Thanks for sharing!
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persoective is truly amazing. i have never thought about the fact that Jesus had the power to perform the miracles he wanted, but had to choose not to fulfill them. thank you!
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Love your thoughts!
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I have a question, is it possible that maybe we have become “miracle-blind?” when we do witness one, do we just say “oh that’s a God-thing”……have we watered down miracles to where getting a great parking spot when shopping is the looked upon the same – “a God-thing.” I guess what I’m getting at is there ARE miracles happening everyday (just as we have read in Tina’s experience) almost every miracle Jesus did was a renewal of a fallen creation – miracles show his power over nature and a fallen world…..believing in Christ not because he is a superman but because he is God who continues to love us enough to embrace us from this fallen place……I believe miracles do happen around us everyday, maybe it’s the poor, the weak, the lame, crippled, the orphaned, blind,deaf, or with someone with another desperate need that are able to see them more clearly. Open my eyes God to Your Kingdom pointing miracles.
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Interesting thoughts, Wendy. Thanks for sharing.
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Day 2 and already such a profound blessing! Thank you SRT for the study guide with the questions – helps me to not just read the Scriptures and move on, but really ponder them. I am listening and He is speaking through you all. And yes the devotion on John being set free, though it hardly looked like freedom, impacted me this morning. I’m so often way too earthbound. The devotion reminds me to keep that heavenbound focus. Thank you!
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We’ll never have the perfect peace and restoration we desire this side of eternity, but miracles point to the place where we will.
Not to go on about my journey to and with Jesus… I would like to share with those not knowing how I got here… to this point, this day.. this place..
When my daughter was poorly, I prayed. Healing for her. I prayed grace upon her. I prayed God be in the sad, sorry, heart breaking situation we found ourselves…
God called her home … still
I cannot begin to tell you the hurt in my heart, or the sorrow I felt, or the anger I had for God, to the point where I would go to my local church and stand at the altar and rant and rave at Him.. I would shout accusations and use words of injustice… And of lost hope at God..
But God…
When I thought He was punishing me for my wrongs, when I thought he had closed his ears to the cry of a heartbroken mother, when I thought I was not worthy of His attention… took me, one day, exhausted from my rantings, in His arms, and showed me in a dream where my daughter was, she was running through a beautiful, beautiful meadow, looking towards me, shouting..’ I’m alright mum, and I’m happy…’ God showed me she had been healed.. For 1), she was running, something she struggled with, 2). She stood at least 2/3 inches taller, she was always hunched in pain.. 3) she truly was happy… a from the heart kind of happy…
I knew, I did not think that thought. I couldn’t have in my anger, but I also didn’t work out that she had been healed until some time later, when of sound mind, I thought about that dream.. You know, for me, my daughter dying wasn’t the answer I wanted for my prayers…
But God.. He also knew the pain she would continue to suffer if he gave me my Yes, I realise now how fleeting this life is.. how so hang on by a piece of thread it is… how delicate. How precious…
Jesus answered my prayers long before I prayed them.. He gave his life that my daughter would live, in eternity, that i would have and live in Hope.. that I would sing forever and always of His great Love, His most amazing gift of life everlasting…to come…
Thank you Jesus. Thank you…♡
Forever I will praise Him.. Amen..
Amen..Sisters. Sending each and every one love and hugs. May your days be totally and absolutely be blessed..xx
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Sending you so much love and so many prayers , Tina. <3 I'm so very sorry for your loss. xx
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Oh Tina. Thank you for this. I so need this study and your comment today. Love and blessings to you.
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Wow what a testimony. Thank you for sharing. Praying for you xx
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Much love and many hugs, dear sister. Your words definitely spoke to me today.
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“He also knew the pain would continue if he gave me my Yes”.
Wow! What a realization! Sending you my love and prayers. Thank you for the opening of your heart and sharing with us your journey. I have so much to learn. -
Thank you, thank you for this beautiful vulnerability. Praise God that He still comes to us in visions and dreams and whispers – I don’t know where I would be without the Spirit showing up in that way for me. Blessing to you, sister!
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I’m always encouraged by your comments and thoughts, Tina. Now I’m thankful to know this part of your story. What grace and truth you shared today. I’ve know the anger, ranting and raving at God. I’ve also found the peace in the even though. No, He didn’t save. For me, it was my Daddy. He didn’t give my Daddy new life. But through my Daddy’s death, He gave me life. And Hope. Thanks for sharing today, Tina.
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Thank you so very much for sharing your story. Prayers & love to you, Tina.
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Tina, I love reading your comments. Your faith is so encouraging. Thank you for sharing. God bless you and keep you.
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My tears are added to yours today – for the sadness of your loss and for the joyful realization of your daughters peace. Hugs.
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Tina, your words are so beautiful and timely. While my heart aches for your loss, I am so grateful that the lord is using your story to speak truth into the lives of others. Thank you for sharing today.
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Tina, thank you for sharing. Love to you.
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Sending you so much love and prayers Tina! Such a strong woman ❤xo
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Tina, I have read your testimony many times. I have ached in the thought of your pain. But you have to know, your words are such a blessing. For this reason alone, your daughter’s passing and your vision has helped heal and comfort many broken hearts, including mine. That in and of itself has been a far and wide reaching miracle! Tina, I don’t think you really know how loved and respected you are on this SRT forum. When you are not here, and maybe taking a needed break of your own, you are greatly missed. I seek out your comments, thoughts, and personal devotional every day. Lord, bless Tina and her open heart! Thank you for your love and honesty. Much love from me and this beautiful SRT community ❤️.
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I second this 1,000%!!! Tina, you are LOVED!
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Tina thank you so much for sharing today! Praising God for your daughters ultimate peace and restoration. You have a beautiful testimony.
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Tina, I know it may be difficult for you, but I love your story. God is so amazing. Prayers for your continued peace my friend. From Pennsylvania, USA. Tricia ❤
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Please don’t ever stop sharing your story. It is always such a blessing!
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I never, ever comment here but your post moved me to tears. Thank you for being vulnerable and for sharing such a heartbreaking, beautiful picture of God’s faithfulness. Your story will stick with me for a very long time.
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It’s only day two of this study, and I am already finding myself looking at miracles of today, and the miracles Jesus performed here on earth in a completely different way. I often overlook how truly amazing the miracles we read about in scripture are, and how each one gives us a glimpse into God’s character. I guess I’ve always read about them and continued on without really giving them an extra thought, or would hear about them in a group study or at church, and think “that’s nice, that’s pretty amazing what He was able to do for them at the time..” but never before had I really thought about that the miracles of Jesus give us more insight on who He is, rather than just what He did. I really loved too how today’s study focused on one little paragraph in Matthew, but showed just how powerful four verses can be. Again, thank you so much to the ladies who put these studies together! :)
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I never noticed that this message from Jesus goes to John the Baptist while he is literally a prisoner, that’s so powerful – Jesus letting John know he is being set free even though he never experiences earthly freedom again. Thank you for showing me something new in this passage!
[I love SRT and even though I hardly ever comment, I am so thankful to God for the knowledge of this community of women reading God’s word alongside me every day]
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