Are miracles Necessary to Vindicate a Ministry?
Jesus’ Ministry
The author of the gospel of John said that the first miracle that Jesus performed happened in Cana , when He turned the water into wine.
John 2:11 this beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
It may be that this was the first one that the author of John ever witnessed, but I believe that the scriptures indicate that Jesus may have performed one or more miracles prior to the day of this wedding.
Let us look at this from a reasonable point of view, instead of assuming that everything recorded in the Bible is correct. Now it would be great if we could accept the entire Bible as being true, but there is a reason that we can=t. As I have proven before, in translating the original scriptures into different languages down through the years, men have added to those scriptures, making them fit their own interpretation. That is why it was necessary for God to reveal to us what the original scriptures actually said. Just as we cannot take what this person says about this being the first miracle that Jesus ever performed being a fact, if there is something else in the scriptures that indicate otherwise.
Let us now look at what Mary, the mother of Jesus said. When they ran out of wine for the marriage feast, Mary spoke to Jesus about it as though He should do something about it. Jesus basically responded to her as saying: what do I have to do with this marriage. But Mary said to the servants to do whatever Jesus says to do. It was obvious that Mary knew that Jesus could come up with some wine. I believe that previous to this day, Mary had witnessed Jesus performing some kind of a miracle. And out of respect for His mother, Jesus turned the water into wine.
So, do you yet see that just because something is recorded in the Bible, it is not necessarily the complete truth? That is just the reason it becomes necessary to look at the big picture, considering all the scriptures.
John the Baptist’s Ministry
The question we want to look at here is, did John the Baptist perform any miracles?
In the Bible, specifically John 10:41, there is a statement that John the Baptist performed no miracles like Jesus did. But can we literally accept everything that is written in the Bible as being the truth of what happened?
The report of the ministry of John the Baptist, as it appears in the gospels, says that when John began preaching in the wilderness of Judaea , a multitude of people came out from the surrounding countries to hear him. I don=t believe that the preaching of any man, by itself, would be the determining factor to bring multitudes of people out into a wilderness to hear him. Only if signs and wonders were being performed, would the people be drawn out to hear John.
Let’s look at the ministry of Jesus for a minute. Even if Jesus would have started His ministry with preaching only, I don=t believe He would have achieved the fame that He did. The signs, wonders and miracles that were exhibited during the ministry of Jesus were the evidence that God had sent Him. And only because the people witnessed that He had been sent by God, was He able to draw the following that He had. Jesus said to the people: "if I don=t do the works of God, don=t believe me".
John 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. John 10:38 but if I do, though you believe not me, believe the works: that you may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
By the same token with the ministry of John, if the works of God were not being made manifest, they would not have believed that God had sent him. But the people did believe John and multitudes of them were baptized by him.
When the Angel of the Lord visited Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, the Angel told him that John would be sent to the people in the spirit and the power of Elijah. The power of Elijah was demonstrated by the miracles that he performed. Without the signs, wonders and miracles being exhibited in the ministry of Elijah, he would not have been effective either.
When Jesus asked His disciples: "Who do men say that I am?". They responded that the people say that he is "John the Baptist, or Elijah, or Jeremiah". Now why would some of the people think that Jesus was John the Baptist? I=ll tell you why. Because they witnessed some of the same signs and wonders being performed by Him as they witnessed with John.
Even Herod thought that Jesus was John the Baptist who had risen from the dead, because mighty works were being performed by Him, just as they were during the ministry of John.
Look at what they said about Jesus when he was healing the sick and casting devils out of people. They said that He had a devil in Him, and cast out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of the devils.
Mat 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, this fellow does not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Jesus also stated that the people charged that John the Baptist had a devil, just as they charged Him with having one. Why? Because John was doing the same works that Jesus was doing.
Mat 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a devil.
The scriptures do not plainly say that signs, wonders and miracles were being performed during the ministry of John, but I believe they clearly indicate that they were.
In addition, look at the ministries of others. The apostles, Peter, John and others such as Paul, Barnabas, Stephen and Philip. All of these had signs, wonders and miracles taking place during their ministries vindicating that God had sent them.
I knew at least one minister, when questioned about miracles, who said: we don’t need miracles now that we have the Bible”.
If Reverend (put any name here) does not have signs, wonders and miracles occurring during his ministry, can you be certain that he was sent by God to preach the gospel?
Jesus said: “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe”.(John 4:48) and “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.” (John 10:37)
Are miracles necessary for you to believe one has been sent by God?
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