Every once in awhile, I’m going to attempt to tackle a tough topic and provide Biblically-based answers to “Five Burning Questions” on that issue. Keep in mind that even though I will do my best to use the whole canon of Scripture, these answers still reflect my interpretation, and to a lesser degree, my opinion. So, let’s talk about miracles.
- Are Miracles for Today?
Miracles are found throughout the Bible, often as signs of God’s favor and deliverance. The vast majority of miracles occur in the events related to Israel’s deliverance from the Egyptians, their survival in the desert, and their entrance into the Promise Land. Once they get into the Promise Land, miracles greatly diminish. They make a brief but dramatic reappearance in the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, but after that, miracles are few and far between.
Until Jesus shows up. From turning water into wine to opening deaf ears and blind eyes, raising the dead, making the lame walk, multiplying loaves and fish, walking on water, and casting out demons, Jesus’ ministry is laced with the miraculous. The disciples continue this trend with more of the same (healing the cripple), but also some “new” miracles: miraculous teleportation, speaking in languages they had never learned, and opening prison cells.
There is no indication that miracles were only for an age. Some make a case from Paul’s words about the imperfect passing when the perfect arrives to say that since the written Word of God is here, miracles are unnecessary. The problem is that the “Word” in Paul’s day was the Old Testament, which had already come, and was largely memorized by almost every good Jewish boy. Furthermore, it’s unlikely that Paul was referencing the New Testament, 2/3rds of which he wrote. Imagine referring to his writings as the “perfect”. Doubtful.
More likely, Paul was referring to the day that we are made perfect—the day that according to Phil. 1:6 comes when Christ returns. Until then, let there be miracles!
- Why Don’t More Miracles Occur?
There is no easy answer to this. There were some towns where Jesus “could not” perform many miracles because of their unbelief. There are other occasions where Jesus says to the one in need of a miracle that their faith has made them whole. In some instances, it’s their friends’ faith, or even, as in Mark 9, the individual’s partial faith. So, we know that faith has some part to play. By James’ words, we also know that sometimes we “have not because we ask not”.
But this is not the whole story. The book of Job is a compelling case that life with God does not easily fit in formulas and patterns. There is always more to every story that what we know. In Job’s case, the lack of miraculous protection, prevention or healing was not due to a weak faith; it was actually the proof of his strong faith. God knew that Job’s faith could be tested and that he would pass. (Satan asks God if Job “serves God for nothing”. The rest of the story is proof that Job does.)
We are simply told to ask, pray, and believe. What results is God’s to decide. The object of our faith is not an outcome; it’s a Person. And He is totally trustworthy.
- Will a Miracle Settle the Issue?
When I was in college, our university president/healing evangelist used to always say that a “miracle settles the issue”. The trouble is, that is rarely the case, both in Scripture and in real life. Consider that the same people who saw food fall from the sky, water gush from a rock, a huge sea part for them only to close moments later over their enemy, and 10 dramatic and terrible plagues befall the mighty Egyptians—these same people—murmured, grumbled, and worshipped a golden calf. The generation that saw arguably the most dramatic miracles—and the greatest volume of them—was the generation that died in the desert, forbidden to enter the Promise Land because of their hard hearts. Miracles did not “settle the issue” for them.
In Jesus’ ministry, the same crowds who witnessed his miraculous displays turned their back on him in a short span of time when he didn’t fit their other expectations of him (restore the kingdom to Israel). Remember, in the garden as Jesus is being arrested, he heals a man’s ear—which Peter had just cutoff—but they proceeded with the arrest. The miracle didn’t make them flinch.
From the overwhelming evidence of Scripture, miracles don’t automatically soften hearts, create faith, and convict the sinner.
- Are Miracles Our Right Because of the Cross?
“By his stripes, we are healed.” The context of Isaiah’s original proclamation implied reconciliation, but the Gospel writers do apply them to the physical healings Jesus performed.
But if the best result of the cross apart from the salvation of our souls is physical healing on earth, we’ve been kind of ripped off. After all, as C. S. Lewis pointed out, Lazarus was raised from the dead only to die again. What good is it if life on earth was extended as a result of the cross, but that’s as good as it gets?
The cross and the resurrection introduced an invasion of heaven into earth. Jesus announced that the Kingdom of God had come, not that we could now escape to heaven. The good news is that there is a “good infection” that is now at work in us; the “cure” has begun. Death has been swallowed up by life. We are being made new. One day, there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Everything miraculous now is a foretaste of what is to come. As Yancey wrote, it is a signpost for those who believe that they are on the right road.
So, are miracles our right, right now? Yes and no. Jesus’ work on the cross opened the way for the miraculous to be part of our lives. But it ultimately made the restoration of all creation an inevitable reality. The best is yet to come.
We are people of a Kingdom come, but not yet.
- How Did Jesus Use Miracles?
We are familiar with the many miracles Jesus performed. What is more interesting to note are all the miracles Jesus did not do. For instance, Yancey raises the question: if Jesus could heal the leper, why not heal leprosy, as in eradicate it from the earth? Why were some crowds of sick ignored while an individual was singled out to be healed? Even for all the miracles Jesus did, it was still limited to one relatively small geographic region of the world.
Jesus’ most stunning refusal to do miracles came in the desert, when Satan tempted him to turn stones to bread, or to throw himself down from the temple mount. The remarkable statement Jesus made by refusing to do miracles in the desert is that he would not use miracles as a shortcut for transformation. Dostoevsky insightfully observes that God would not use miracles to force a person’s hand, to override their freewill. He would not grow his Kingdom by a circus act.
In fact, at the height of Jesus’ popularity—ironically, after he multiplied bread for the masses—Jesus withdrew. He knew they wanted to make him king on earth. He retreated, they found him on the other side of the lake. So what does he do? He delivers his harshest, most offensive and obscure sermon—the “eat my flesh and drink my blood” talk. At this, the crowd quickly dissipates, and Jesus asks if his disciples will do the same. They don’t. But now, Jesus has his true followers, not the crowds who were after displays of power. (John 6)
In short, Jesus never used miracles a gimmick or a means to keep a crowd; he did miracles out of compassion and out of what he “saw the Father do”. In other words, love and sovereignty factored into Jesus’ choice of which miracles to do.
Great teaching on miracles Glenn. I wish that God would do more miracles in my life, but I know He is more concerned about my character than my happiness. So I wait for that time when He makes all things new. And in the meantime I will worship and love and serve Him knowing that at anytime He can do miracles for me if He so chooses. Thanks again!!
Posted by: Jeff | June 26, 2008 at 07:38 AM
Great thoughts. I have always thought of Miracles as being used to solidify the faith of the elect who already believe in Jesus. I know that we should not go seeking miracles to reaffirm our faith because we are using ourselves as the lens to view them through, but when you see them...man that is just cool.
Being in and around New Life for many years, and traveling on a few different continents with some great globe trotting faith filled friends I have seen a few miracles and all I have to say is "How great is our God, worthy of all praise and adoration"
Posted by: Carl Holmes | June 26, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Great insight Glenn! I think you hit the nail right on the head about miracles. Miracles demonstrate God's great love for us and His compassion for His people. We should always seek the giver of the gift more than the gift or another way of saying that is that we should seek the face of God more than His hands! Way to go...keep writing!
Posted by: Pastor Tom James | June 26, 2008 at 05:03 PM
to Jeff: thanks for the comment. I pray that you will see God break through on your behalf on the earth. You have a great perspective, bro, and the right approach.
to Carl: always good to hear from you. it is awesome to see God move miraculously overseas. though, it is also a mystery to me of why it seems to happen more overseas that here.
to Pastor Tom: thanks for the encouragement. i love the phrase of seeking his face more than his hand...intimacy over everything else. amen.
Posted by: Glenn Packiam | June 26, 2008 at 06:18 PM
great post my CO friend.
glad i found your site.
Godspeed.
Posted by: Chad Jarnagin | June 27, 2008 at 09:45 PM
this is an old subject between us... and this is very well said...
but i know that healing will probably be an issue between me and Jesus for some time... mostly because of my own shortsightedness, but also because of the absence of miracles and healing to me seems like a stumbling block to the unbeliever.
jesus very clearly says, 'whatever you ask in my name' and 'whatever two of you agree on', among others...
this is frustrating to me, not just because i have agonized over healings for loved ones and my own body, but because it honestly feels like a cop out to have to tell the non-believer that sometimes we don't know why God chooses not to heal...
i believe... help my unbelief.
Posted by: gregg | June 30, 2008 at 08:25 PM
Glenn it's great to see a guy who I can truly say I respected from ORU and doing great things for God! Keep it up Bro! Blessings, Arnie
Posted by: Arnie McCall | July 02, 2008 at 04:44 PM
to chad: dude! great to hear from you. we need to hang next time i'm in nash-vegas...or if you ever come out this way...
to gregg: i know, my friend. believe me when i say i am with you. this year, when the sterns went through their loss, i prayed for a miracle more than i ever have...life has questions that require wrestling...maybe jacob in the Bible became the father of God's chosen people (and their namesake) because of his willingness to wrestle...
to arnie: what up dude! great to "reconnect" and hear from you. hope all is well.
Posted by: Glenn | July 05, 2008 at 08:38 PM
Great insight! It's refreshing to read such a well thought out argument. My Presbyterian friends would be impressed. :)
Posted by: Terra Fisk | July 10, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Glenn,
This was really great for me to read right now. I'm very blessed by your candor and balanced views of an awesome, powerful, and active God, but also a God who doesn't fit into formulas or choose to primarily build His kingdom through overwhelming "shock and awe" displays of his physical power. Keep up the good teaching bro.
Posted by: Nick Lavezzo | July 21, 2008 at 03:40 PM