“When the crowds saw it,…they glorified God, Who had given such authority to men.” Matthew 9:8
I once read a true story about a brilliant 19th Century French artist by the name of Paul Dore. He lost his passport while he was in a foreign country. When he got to the border, he explained his problem to the immigration official and told him who he was…the brilliant French painter. The official handed him a piece of paper and a pencil and said, “Draw a picture of Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background.” Within a few minutes, he produced an exact replica of the city and convinced the official he was exactly who he claimed to be just by what he drew.
This story illustrates what the miracles of Jesus were for – to reveal that He was exactly who He said He was. And the ultimate purpose of everything Jesus said and did was to glorify His Father in heaven. It is important to understand this truth. Doing so will help us to discern the difference between true miracle workers, and false miracle workers…between miracles and black magic. Jesus Himself warned that not all miracles are from God, even if the one performing them does so calling Him “Lord” (Matthew 7:21-23). If someone is performing miracles in Jesus’ name, yet preaching or teaching things that are unbiblical, this is not from God. He will never contradict His Word.
If we use this measuring stick to discern true miracles from God, much of what we see today won’t make the cut. Why is this? Why were miracles so common in biblical days and not as much today? It is because two of the main reasons for miracles – to authenticate and reveal Jesus as Messiah – have been accomplished through the cross and resurrection of Jesus, and through the written Word of God that we now have. This does not mean God no longer performs miracles. He does still glorify Himself in this way.
As followers of Jesus, we should believe that God is still in the miracle-working business, and He always will be. We can be confident that God still performs miracles because God will always glorify Himself.
Father, thank You for revealing Your glory in my life through Your miraculous ways. The miracle of salvation is the greatest revelation of all. Help me to never take the cross and resurrection for granted. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Topics: Salvation
