A Miracle?

A miracle is a sign, an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.

by Michael Corthell

What the heck are miracles anyway? And why do so many people believe in them (and not believe)?

What do they tell us about ourselves, our society, and our civilizations?  What do we think about, and do with experiences that we just can't explain? 

''Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which
is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.''
― C.S. Lewis

As a Christian, your writer will address miracles from the Christian perspective. Christianity is founded on the greatest of miracles, resurrection from the dead. One of the most famous resurrections is the reanimation of Lazarus by Jesus(God incarnate).

According to John 11:1-44, Jesus is told that Lazarus is very sick. Lazarus' two sisters are seeking His help. Jesus tells his followers that he intends to wait for Lazarus to die, in order that God may be glorified. He says, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Jesus then waits for two days. The disciples are afraid of returning to Judea, but Jesus commands them to go with him, saying, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe."

When they get to Bethany, Lazarus has been dead for four days and is in his tomb. Lazarus' sister Martha comes to meet Jesus and says to Him: "if you had been here, my brother would not be dead". Jesus assures Martha that her brother will live again and then says, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Martha's says that she does indeed believe, "Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world". It is only the second time  that someone declares Jesus as Son of God and the first time someone equates him as 'Messiah' and 'Son of God' together.

Jesus then goes to the grave(tomb). Mary has doubts when they open the grave, ''there will be a smell'' (Lazarus has been dead for days). He states to the crowd with Him, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God''?  He looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." After He said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped in burial linen. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." This is a miracle. From death to reanimation, back to life.

One of the most profound miracles is the Resurrection of Jesus (the most profound miracle is, without any doubt, is God incarnating Himself as Jesus Christ). If these two miracles can be admitted, and truly believed, all other miracles cease to be impossible or improbable.

Miracles should not be regarded as deviations from the ordinary laws of nature, so much as manifestations of God's spiritual power. Some lower law was in each case superseded by the action of God's own purpose. (the superseding of these laws was accomplished by something allowed in the quantum laws involving time and co-location ).

The raising of Lazarus' rotting body from the dead is a turning point in the Gospel which starts a chain of events that leads to the Cross. It leads directly to the decision of religious leader Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin to have Jesus murdered, which in turn will reveal the true Glory of God.

It is important to note another name by which miracles are described. They are called 'signs', as being visible tokens of an invisible, (Quantum) power. Miracles are powers or mighty works, because they are the acts of God who is all omnipotent. They were the natural results of the God's (Jesus) presence among men. Miracles are wonders, (or marvels) because of the effect produced on the people who saw them.

True miracles as seen above require FAITH. Our existence in the Universe is a partnership of faith in God. He is in us and in all things.

He came to earth to accomplish the miracles. He manifested his power not to show off, but to show what FAITH in Him will do. He showed us that we are all, indeed important. That we are all immortal and that we are with Him for All Eternity and that we just have to BELIEVE.

________________

How to Perceive Miracles | Pauline Siebers

Miracles are often perceived as huge happenings. The kind of stuff that doesn’t happen to the ordinary Jane or Joe. Pauline Siebers disagrees, and shares how a change in perception can turn everyday situations into miracles.