E.g.
- Being cured from cancer, regaining sight or good health;
- Winning the lottery.
A miracle may mean differently to people. It is not a matter of disagreement but of belief. From the above comments, it is clear that many people have their views about miracle. Whatever one’s belief, the overriding belief is that ‘with God all things are possible’. However one interprets it becomes either semantic or dialectical.
Jesus is the ‘Word’ and how powerful are his words.
Describe how Jesus was presented as a worker of miracles, giving examples from Luke’s Gospel.
The category of Jesus as miracle worker overlaps with the category of Jesus as healer, since Jesus' healings would be classified as miracles. For the sake of clarity we shall distinguish between the two, since not every miracle that Jesus performed was a healing and because Jesus gives an interpretation to his healings that would not be applicable to his other "miracles." (Appropriately, as we shall see, the etymology of the English word "miracle" derives from the Latin, miraculum, "that which is to be wondered or marveled at.")
The miracles of Jesus range from changing water into wine to healing the lame and the blind raising from the dead:
Luke uses his Gospel to make it apparent to people that Jesus was not just an ordinary man and that he was extraordinary. The main aim of the Gospel was to show that Jesus was the Messiah that all the prophets had prophesized (Isaiah 9: 6 and Isaiah 7: 14).
From the very beginning of Jesus’ birth Luke makes it apparent that there was greatness about him. Luke makes sure he includes Mary the Virgin mother of God and enhances the virgin to show that she was pure, but then this could have two meanings – that she was pure and clean or that she had not slept with Joseph but was still pregnant. He also made sure that everyone who read the nativity knew that Mary was faithful to God.
“I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to mea s you have said”
Luke 1: 38
Luke has included that even as a baby Jesus was declared a saviour by including the ‘Presentation in the Temple’ in which Simeon says ‘that he had seen God’s salvation..’ (Luke 2:30)
As Luke starts describing the miracles and works of Jesus he makes sure the reader knows exactly how ill or disturbed the victim is and how what Jesus was doing was no ordinary thing. A thing that only somebody sent by God could achieve. A supernatural achievement.
In Luke’s Gospel four kinds of supernatural miracles are mentioned;
- Healing people
- Bringing the dead to life again
- Setting free people who were oppressed by evil spirits
- Showing is power over nature
This four different kinds of miracles are very unique in each’s own way because today really nothing like this is proven to have taken place by any man. Jesus healing can often be misinterpreted and be seen as a daily routine for doctors but it is clear from Like’s gospel that Jesus healed in a powerful way that no doctor modern day or to come can do. Bring dead to life and showing power over nature is inspeakable in our modern lives. But setting people who are oppressed by evil spirits is something that people living today reckon that they can relate to.
Jesus performed many miracles throughtout his ministry here is a list for his miracles and their bible references:
Healing People
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A man who had a skin disease (called leprosy in some translations) - , ,
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The servant of a Roman soldier, ,
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The mother in law of Peter, a follower of Jesus, , ,
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A paralyzed man, , ,
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A woman with internal bleeding, , ,
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Two blind men,
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A man with a shrivelled hand, , ,
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A young girl, ,
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Two more blind men, , ,
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A man who could not hear or speak,
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A blind man,
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A crippled man,
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A man with dropsy,
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Ten men with skin disease (called leprosy in older translations),
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The servant of the high priest,
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The son of an official,
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A paralysed man,
Bringing the dead to life again
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A young girl, , ,
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A young man,
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A man called Lazarus,
Setting free people who were oppressed by evil spirits
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Two men from the town of Gadara, , ,
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A man who could not talk,
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A man who was blind and could not talk, ,
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A demon-possessed boy, , ,
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A demon-possessed man, ,
Showing his power over nature
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Stopping a storm, , ,
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Walking on water, , ,
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Feeding vast crowds of people (on two different occasions), and , and , ,
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A coin in the mouth of a fish,
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Making a tree wither and die, ,
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An amazing catch of fish,
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Turning water into wine,
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Another amazing catch of fish,
- A man who had a skin disease Luke chapter 5 verses 12-13
In this passage Luke has clearly shown the faith of the man with leprosy because the man has fallen to the ground he, the man already knows that Jesus has the power to heal people and with that his faith is there, therefore his belief aided Jesus to heal him. Luke specifically shows that the man has a lot of respect for Jesus. Also the words spoken by Jesus prove that he was a worker of miracles ‘ be healed’ sows that Jesus knew he was a healer and could make people better.
- A man with a shriveled hand Luke chapter 6 verses 6-10
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
6On another Sabbath day, a man with a deformed right hand was in the synagogue while Jesus was teaching. 7The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees watched closely to see whether Jesus would heal the man on the Sabbath, because they were eager to find some legal charge to bring against him. 8But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand here where everyone can see.” So the man came forward. 9Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Is it legal to do good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing harm? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” 10He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Reach out your hand.” The man reached out his hand, and it became normal again!
Luke here has shown that even though Jesus had many enemies he was not afraid to heal the man with the deformed hand, he states ‘But Jesus knew their thoughts.’ Meaning that Jesus was extravagant knew what was deep inside everyone’s hearts. He knew that the Pharisees wanted to question him curing someone on the Sabbath so Jesus asked the man before. This shows that Jesus was ahead of the Pharisees and teachers and one them at their own game, when most people would not have. Luke wrote this especially to show exactly this and from this extract it showed that Pharisees did not have clearnhearts
: Jesus calms the storm that came up suddenly during a nocturnal crossing of the Sea of Galilee. The disciples had to awaken Jesus during the storm because he was sleeping in the stern of the boat. Jesus spoke and the storm ceased: "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm."
This passage shows Jesus’ power over nature and how he was the Messiah and a worker of miracles, this is shown especially with the words used in the passage; the word rebuke can mean to scold and demand, this shows that Jesus had an important place and that he was to be obeyed.
Throughout Luke’s gospel, he has written it so it is apparent that Jesus is a worker of miracles and the messiah not no mere normal human being like the rest. The words he used and the way he describes the events let the reader know this.