Key to discovery of nature’s truth is found in what is commonly called the scientific method. Begun with some issue (question), the searcher develops a theory (hypothesis), and begins procedures (research), to discover facts that are verifiable to attentive persons using proper processes. From this methodology an appropriate statement (conclusion) is made that focuses the project – as far as it has gone. The conclusion may introduce new questions which must be addressed by similar process, if final statements are to be made – statements both affirmative and negative. Miracles, if miracles are real, do not fit the scientific process as it is expressed in its current structure of the discovery of nature’s truth. Exclusively humanistic scientists likely do not believe there are miracles, so there are understandable differences among some seekers of truth in nature’s context. That tension can be treated in good spirit. Why not – nature’s life is temporary.
Jesus knew the tension. He likely would avoid miracles were it not that, without them, he would not have audiences of all persons needed to accomplish the transition to international emphasis, so to emerge from provincial context and focus on God’s offering for mankind, rather than mankind’s offerings to God. He asked them to seek me, not because ye saw the miracles. (John 6:26) One may note how reluctant Jesus was on occasion, as in the healing of the epileptic recorded in Mark 9:17-30. Jesus permitted the matter to drag on a bit. He was put under an obligation with an apparent failure registered by the disciples in their claims; in the great stress of the parents; in the growing crowd looking for success or failure; and, the follow-up in which Jesus: . . . was unwilling for anyone to know about it. Every sort of option was illustrated.
It is well to have a sound view of miracles, so to meet one of the most convincing evidences of God, and to weaken the interpretation of miracle as some magical event that may be illusory, may be a psychological achievement that misinterprets remissions, or some unchecked natural wonder. (The Grand Canyon is not a miracle but a product of erosion.) The fakery of some miracle oriented persons may be applied by doubters to all claims for miracles. Moses performed a series of miracles to gain Israel’s freedom from slavery, but so did his opponents perform miracles. It wasn’t miracles only that gained Pharaoh’s acquiescence, but that Moses out-miracled his Egyptian counterparts. God played the game. Moses’ serpents devoured the serpents conjured from Pharaoh’s men. In The Revelation written by the Apostle John, focusing on the end of the age, there will be miracles performed by demons – Revelation 16:14. The performance will be so dramatic as to attract nations to a battle, named Armageddon.
How can Christians and others know that this was not of God, but demonic? If miracles verified Jesus, why would not miracles verify the demons? Jesus surely knew the problem, and tried to put miracles in their place. You wanted something to entertain you, to relieve your suffering, to play upon God’s mercy and compassion, but the miracle is not the message. It is a miracle, so Jesus had their attention and holding power. The point was his message, and the conclusion was in his self-declaration of God. He was asking for their faith and trust in him, and to understand what that could be and do. The high point became prayer to prove faith. He made that clear to the disciples following the healing of the paralytic. The disciples could not cast out the force in the troubled child. The prayer of Jesus could do it. The people saw the miracle, they missed the prayer. The first prayer Jesus wants from us is: Be merciful unto me for I am a sinner. From that confession through to faith in Christ the purpose of Jesus in miracle is fulfilled. Every prayer of first concern to God invites miracle to our lives – the only miracle that counts is redemption. All is rooted in the will and mercy of God. God has his methods for remission. Those methods must befit his nature. His nature is related to love, so to give freedom to his created children to believe or doubt that mankind’s situation requires total forgiveness that God affirms is necessary for recovery. This life is given so that we can decide and prepare for the second. We can claim some human authority in this first, from the heritage of church and parents, but God is entirely responsible for the second option, life gifted by faith in appropriating what God has given in the redemptive suffering of Christ. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020