A Bible lesson on miracles by Ivor Jefferies
1. We can define a miracle as follows:
A miracle is a supernatural and uncommon work of God by which He reveals his glory and power to the amazement of those who witness it.1
2. What is God’s providence and how are miracles different from it? Look up and compare the following verses.
- Ps. 104:14-15 vs John 2:1-11, 6:5-13.
- 2 Kings 20:7, Lev. 13-14 vs Matt. 8-9.
- Gen. 30:1-2, 22, Ps. 139:13-15 vs Gen. 17:17, 18:10-14, 21:2, Luke 1:31, 34-35, 37.
3. Why does God do miracles?
Read Matt. 12:28, Luke 7:13-15, John 2:11, 9:3, 3:2, Acts 13:6-12.
4. Some people would say that only Jesus, the prophets, and the apostles did miracles. Is this true or false?
Read Luke 9:49-50, 10:9, John 14:12, Acts 6:8, 8:13, 1 Cor. 12:10, Gal. 3:5.
After the apostles Justin Martyr (100-65),2 Irenaeus (130-202),3 and Origen (185-254)4 all testify to the presence of the gift of miracles in their day. Can you cite any recent examples of miracles according to the above definition? Make sure that these are well-documented, and that you do not repeat them by hearsay.
5. How should believers respond to the reality of miracles? Read the following passages:
- John 14:12-13, Acts 4:29-30.
- Matt. 12:38-39, 1 Cor. 1:22-24, Luke 16:30-31.5
- Exo. 7:9-12, 20-22, 8:6-7, Matt. 24:24, Acts 8:6-13, 2 Thess. 2:9-12, Rev. 13:11-15.
6. How can you identify false miracles?
Read Deut. 13:1-3, 1 John 4:1-6.
7. Can you give specific examples of false miracles in our day and age?
8. Apart from the virgin birth of Christ, what is the greatest miracle in the Bible?
Read Eph. 1:19-21, 2:1, 4-6. Thomas Watson says:
“Great was the work of creation, but greater the work of redemption; it cost more to redeem us than to make us; in the one there was but the speaking of a word, in the other the shedding of blood. The creation was but the work of God’s fingers. Psa viii 3. Redemption is the work of his arm. Luke i 51.”6
1 By this definition it is false to say that every work of God is a miracle. If this were true then every work is the same, thus making miracles ordinary and not supernatural.
2 Justin Martyr, Second Apology, 6
3 Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies, 2.31.2 & 2.32.4-5
4 Origen of Alexandria, Contra Celsum, 3.24, 1.6, 8.58, 7.4
5 Miracles can draw attention to the gospel, but without the miracle of regeneration they cannot save anyone. With his staff Moses performed many miracles, but it could not break Pharaoh’s hardened heart.
6 Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1958, 1965 [1692, 1890]), 209.