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Articles
Modern Day Miracles?
A lot of religious people believe that miracles brought about by the power of God are being performed today just as they were in Bible times. Others claim that the days of miracles ended when the last of the New Testament apostles and prophets died and that miracles are no longer happening. Which is correct?
If one is observant, one will quickly realize that these two groups aren’t using the word miracle in the same way. Those who believe that miracles still happen today tend to use the word miracle in a way that is more inclusive of the events in question than those who don’t think miracles still occur. For that matter, people in general tend to use the word miracle too loosely. For example, the birth of a baby is said by some to be a miracle. It certainly is wondrous how God has equipped the human body to reproduce after its own kind, but is it really a miracle?
If the truth is ever to be determined, we all must set aside how the word is used in general everyday speech and turn to the Scriptures to determine exactly what it means there. In addition to defining what a miracle is, does the Bible give any clues as to the traits of real miracles?
Acts 4 is an excellent passage of scripture to help sort this question out. Peter and John are being called into question by the Jewish rulers because they had “taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (vs. 2). They had healed a man (in chapter 3) who had been lame since birth. The man couldn’t walk but had to be carried everywhere he went. God miraculously healed the man through Peter and John and he immediately leapt up having received strength in his feet and ankle bones. All the people present saw this man whom they knew to be lame now walking and leaping and so they eagerly listened to the preaching of Peter and John (Acts 3:1-10).
The council hears Peter and John’s answers regarding their actions and then puts them outside so that they can confer among themselves privately. In Acts 4:16 the rulers make an astounding statement, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.” This verse is rich with clues that will help us understand the traits and characteristics of a true miracle.
The first clue is in the definition of the word miracle itself. The Greek word used in Acts 4:16 that is translated into English as miracle is “semeion” (Strong’s number 4592). In the context of the miraculous, the word is defined in Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon as “a sign, prodigy, portent, i.e. an unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature”. So, in order to qualify as a miracle, an event must be unusual and transcend the common course of nature.
Qualifying trait number one:
A miracle is a supernatural event that violates or supersedes the laws of nature.
Next, notice in the passage that even those who opposed Jesus and His followers could not honestly deny that a miracle had taken place “a notable miracle has been done… and we cannot deny it”. When they were honest amongst themselves, even the enemies of the Lord admitted that miracles were being performed through His followers.
Qualifying trait number two:
True miracles cannot honestly be denied even by those in opposition.
The miracle that God’s followers had performed was “evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem”. Miracles that were performed in the Bible weren’t hidden away for just a few people to see. They weren’t known of only through hearsay but were evident to all.
Qualifying trait number three:
Real miracles are evident to everyone and they pass the test of public scrutiny.
Many times it is claimed that a miracle has occurred when the circumstances surrounding the event are perhaps not well understood. For example, sometimes people will undergo a medical procedure and be given what at first appears to be bad news. After a more thorough medical examination it turns out that all is well and the initial diagnosis was faulty. Another example could be the oft heard of situation where someone has positively been diagnosed with a disease that later goes into remission.
In both examples, it often happens that those who have been praying for the person will conclude that a miracle has taken place. In the first case there was never a real problem to begin with and thus no miracle. In the second either the body’s immune system has defeated the illness or remission is typical of the disease itself. Again, no miracle has taken place.
Certainly we want to give God the credit when someone recovers from an illness. God is the one who gave our body the power to heal itself. Through His providence, and through ways we may not understand, He can certainly bring marvelous things to pass. However, if we are going to speak as the Bible speaks, we should take care in calling such events miracles.
If a modern day event cannot meet the three qualifications that are found in Acts 4:16, it cannot be called a miracle in the same sense that the word is used in the Holy Scriptures.
