Part 1 - The meaning of a miracle
Origins
The origin of the english word ‘miracle.’
We have all most certainly at some point in time witnessed some event and said, “That was a miracle,” - Something that seemed impossible took place and we wondered ‘how?’ It is the word ‘wonder’ that is behind the English word ‘miracle’. The English word derives from a Latin word ‘miraculum’ - object of wonder from ‘mirus’ meaning ‘wonderful’.
Origin of the NT bible word.
The greek word ‘miracle’ is used many times in the NT. eg. “they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened”.
In John’s Gospel: “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him”.
The Greek word for miracle σημεῖον here means: “a sign, mark, token, that by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others and is known”
It is used in the NT in various contexts both good and bad. Eg. This word is used to describe the sign that Judas would give as he betrayed Jesus - a kiss! That kiss served to distinguish the one they were seeking. In Matt 24:3 the disciples ask for a sign as they realise the imminemcy of his coming.
Occurrances
The beginning of signs...
As we begin our study of the signs/miracles that Jesus did we must be aware of the reason give for these miracles. It was very specific and is given to us in John 2:11. “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”
They were done to make known and visible the gloriy and excellency of His person. It was to demonstrate who He was to those who saw him that they might believe on Him. The sign in John 1 was ‘the beginning’ so we are to expect more, a series and therefore each one pointing to something unique about Him. They were not magic tricks to entertain but that people might take Him seriously and more - His message as He preached the Gospel and told men and woman to repent.
Before we embark on our study we must distinguish between a number of things
1) The difference between miracle and magic
There are many who are masters of illusion and can make something look as if it is floating on air or someone looks as if they are sawed in half. However the audience knows there is a ‘trick’ or an illusion whereby what they saw was supplemented by something they didn’t see so assumed not to be there. A miracle however has no human intervention to explain the supernatural, it is wholly dependant on the one performing the miracle though he might use others to help during the miracle.
2) The difference between what is Satanic and of God. we know that in Exodus God enabled Moses to perform miracles that the wise men of Egypt could match. However they failed to reverse the miracle which only God could do. We need to test the Spirits and realise that the Devil is and Angel of light and capabale of supernatural events.
We are looking specifically at the miracles of Jesus and their significance particularly in John’s Gospel.
The origin of the english word ‘miracle.’
We have all most certainly at some point in time witnessed some event and said, “That was a miracle,” - Something that seemed impossible took place and we wondered ‘how?’ It is the word ‘wonder’ that is behind the English word ‘miracle’. The English word derives from a Latin word ‘miraculum’ - object of wonder from ‘mirus’ meaning ‘wonderful’.
Origin of the NT bible word.
The greek word ‘miracle’ is used many times in the NT. eg. “they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened”.
In John’s Gospel: “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him”.
The Greek word for miracle σημεῖον here means: “a sign, mark, token, that by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others and is known”
It is used in the NT in various contexts both good and bad. Eg. This word is used to describe the sign that Judas would give as he betrayed Jesus - a kiss! That kiss served to distinguish the one they were seeking. In Matt 24:3 the disciples ask for a sign as they realise the imminemcy of his coming.
Occurrances
The beginning of signs...
As we begin our study of the signs/miracles that Jesus did we must be aware of the reason give for these miracles. It was very specific and is given to us in John 2:11. “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”
They were done to make known and visible the gloriy and excellency of His person. It was to demonstrate who He was to those who saw him that they might believe on Him. The sign in John 1 was ‘the beginning’ so we are to expect more, a series and therefore each one pointing to something unique about Him. They were not magic tricks to entertain but that people might take Him seriously and more - His message as He preached the Gospel and told men and woman to repent.
Before we embark on our study we must distinguish between a number of things
1) The difference between miracle and magic
There are many who are masters of illusion and can make something look as if it is floating on air or someone looks as if they are sawed in half. However the audience knows there is a ‘trick’ or an illusion whereby what they saw was supplemented by something they didn’t see so assumed not to be there. A miracle however has no human intervention to explain the supernatural, it is wholly dependant on the one performing the miracle though he might use others to help during the miracle.
2) The difference between what is Satanic and of God. we know that in Exodus God enabled Moses to perform miracles that the wise men of Egypt could match. However they failed to reverse the miracle which only God could do. We need to test the Spirits and realise that the Devil is and Angel of light and capabale of supernatural events.
We are looking specifically at the miracles of Jesus and their significance particularly in John’s Gospel.