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Bible truth examined: The miracles of Jesus
Mike Fletcher
For about the last 100 years, including groups like the Jesus Seminar most recently, intellectual debate about the miracles of Christ has made its way into the mainstream media based on the supposed goal of “separating historical fact from mythology.”
Nowhere is that more put in play than when these modern skeptics question the legitimacy of the miracles of Jesus as recorded in the Bible.
Like all other historical events, the credibility of a Biblical miracle should be viewed in accordance with standard rules of evidence, weighing factors such as the veracity of the recorded account and the credibility of the eyewitnesses to the miracle event.
First, many of the witnesses were still alive when the written accounts were published and distributed. We now know that a fairly short period elapsed between Jesus' miracles and the writing of the gospel accounts. This period was not long enough to allow for the development of myths. Many eyewitnesses were still alive to correct any untrue or legendary miracle accounts.
Second, the eyewitnesses to the miracles were simple men of great character. The historical record shows that the apostles and many disciples were considered credible and reliable witnesses. More dramatically, all of these eyewitnesses were willing to give up their lives rather than deny their testimony.
Third, there were many hostile witnesses to the life and miracles of Jesus. The record shows that none of the Jewish religious leaders disputed the miracles they saw. Rather, they saw Jesus' miracles as a threat, and focused on stopping Jesus' miraculous public ministry.
There are people today who would still like to discredit the story of the miracles. But there were people much more anxious to do so in the years when it was first preached. If they failed then when it would have been easy to establish their point if truth had been on their side, are today’s skeptics and unbelievers going to succeed?
Jesus himself told us He performed miracles so we would know who he really is – our savior, God in human form come to save us from our sins. He said in John 14:11: "Believe 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."
Amazing miracles cannot be dismissed if we establish that the existence of a supernatural Creator is possible. Once we accept the possibility of God, each miracle event must be judged like any other historical event, based on standard rules of evidence and eyewitness testimony.
The suspension (or violation) of natural laws involved in Biblical miracles is really no different than what we witness on a day-to-day basis.
For instance, the laws of gravity that holds things to the ground are not suspended when we counteracts gravity by applying a greater physical force to pick up and throw a rock. Or how about when pilot uses a jet engine to overcome the force of gravity.
The same concept is true when we witness Jesus walking on water or turning water to wine. He merely applies a greater force that what we know as the natural laws within our four material dimensions.
All right, the skeptics here may be saying, I’ll give you the fact that he lived. That he did some things we could call miracles. But does that mean He is really God?
To answer that, all we have to do is examine what He thought. And he was very clear.
He was asked directly at trial, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus left no room for ambiguity – His first two words were “I am.”
The Bible makes clear that the miracles of Jesus are indeed true.
Mike Fletcher is a former journalist who is now a teaching pastor and publisher of the Online Christian Shopper, which specializes in lifestyle evangelism tools like Christian T-Shirts and Christian jewelry. |