Chapter 12 — The Miracles of Jesus Flashcards
In terms of the fact of miracles, we have seen that
Jesus’ enemies acknowledged His miracles but attributed them to satanic power.
In this study, we divide Christ’s miracles into the two general headings of
Those that involve healing and those that involve nature.
We may define miracle most accurately as
“Any event that would not normally occur without the intervention of an outside force.”
Concerning miracles recorded in the Gospels, it is true that they
Involve impossible situations, the intervention of an external power, and are usually associated with the spiritual realm.
About Jesus’ recorded miracles, we can say most accurately that He
Worked a great number of miracles, but the writers chose to describe thirty-six.
All four Gospels present Christ’s miracle of
Feeding the five thousand.
According to our study, one inconsistency among some scholars who deny Jesus’ miracles concerns their willingness to accept
Christ’s virgin birth and resurrection.
Which statement about the harmony of miracles in the Gospels is true?
The Gospel accounts of miracles generally complement and verify each other, but in some cases they differ in terms of specific details.
Jesus used miracles in His earthly ministry primarily to
Show that he was Messiah and Lord.
Christ used restraint in working miracles primarily because of His
Desire to do the Father’s will.
Do historical sources outside the Bible refer to Jesus’ miracles?
Yes. External (that is, non-Christian) sources both refer to the miraculous works of Jesus and state that Jesus performed miracles by using satanic power.
Bible scholars commonly use the word miracle to translate several Greek words. Lis the meanings of several of these words.
The notion of mighty works (the power of supernatural acts); the idea of effects produced by mighty acts (wonders); the element of signs that indicates their purpose.
On the basis of our study in this section, briefly define the term miracle.
A miracle refers to the occurrence of any event that would not normally happen without the intervention of an outside force or power.
How many miracles are recorded in the Gospels, and which miracle appears in all four Gospels?
The Gospel writers recorded thirty-six different miracles. The only miracle common to all four Gospels is Five Thousand Fed.
What can be said about accounts of the same miracles in different Gospels?
The Gospel accounts of miracles generally seem to complement and verify each other in many cases, but in other they seem to differ in terms of the specific details. The agreement of the Gospel accounts of miracles gives strong evidence that the Scriptures are reliable and that they have a divine Author.
Discuss briefly what we discover when we try to harmonize the Gospel accounts of the miracles.
In general, the Gospel accounts complement each other. The differences that do exist lie in the details each writer gives. Each writer tends to emphasize the details that help him best convey to his audience what impressed him most. In this way, the three writers give us a more complete picture than if we had only one perspective.
According to our discussion in this section, what can we say is the purpose of miracles?
Establishing the credentials and authority of Jesus as Messiah as well as presenting truth.
To what can we attribute Christ’s restraint in using miracles in His ministry?
To His subjection to the will of the Father.
