Why didn't Jesus perform miracles?

[Jesi]

Why didn't Jesus perform REAL miracles? I know the Bible says he turned water into wine and made a few loaves of bread and fish feed a bunch of people. I know the Bible says that he raised Lazerus from the dead and healed the sick. And I know the Bible says he died and rose again 3 days later.

But each and every one of these miracles are disputtable. If they cannot be performed by a clever magician, they can be fabricated in some other way.

So why didn't he do something we couldn't argue with? Like moving a mountain. I mean, he said that if you have even the faith of a mustard seed, you can move mountains...seems to me like that would've been a perfect time for a demonstration.

If Jesus had moved a mountain from one place to another, there would be no denying his power and divinity. Moving a mountain would've validated everything he claimed to be.

Some might say that if he had done this, then it would leave no room for free will, because we would not be able to question whether or not he was genuine with such hard evidence.

If that is so, why did he bother doing any miracles at all? If he was not trying to prove who he was, then why turn water into wine? Just to keep the party going? Why heal a few sick people when were thousands of sick people who could've used a helping hand?

He just did it to show off? But he couldn't do anything of real significance, like move a mountain?

Please, explain this to me. I really cannot get passed this one.

 

[Tavita]

Why didn't Jesus perform REAL miracles? I know the Bible says he turned water into wine and made a few loaves of bread and fish feed a bunch of people. I know the Bible says that he raised Lazerus from the dead and healed the sick. And I know the Bible says he died and rose again 3 days later.

But each and every one of these miracles are disputtable. If they cannot be performed by a clever magician, they can be fabricated in some other way.

So why didn't he do something we couldn't argue with? Like moving a mountain. I mean, he said that if you have even the faith of a mustard seed, you can move mountains...seems to me like that would've been a perfect time for a demonstration.

If Jesus had moved a mountain from one place to another, there would be no denying his power and divinity. Moving a mountain would've validated everything he claimed to be.

Some might say that if he had done this, then it would leave no room for free will, because we would not be able to question whether or not he was genuine with such hard evidence.

If that is so, why did he bother doing any miracles at all? If he was not trying to prove who he was, then why turn water into wine? Just to keep the party going? Why heal a few sick people when were thousands of sick people who could've used a helping hand?

He just did it to show off? But he couldn't do anything of real significance, like move a mountain?

Please, explain this to me. I really cannot get passed this one.

You don't see raising a person who was dead for three days (and who was 'stinketh'.. already decaying) to life as not a real miracle? Who else can do such things? How can this be disputable? Many people marvelled at Jesus and his disciples in those times as they hadn't seen any magicians do things like this. Take for example, a conjurer called Simon in the book of Acts...

(Act 8:9) But a certain man called Simon had long been conjuring in the city, and amazing the nation of Samaria, claiming himself to be some great one.
(Act 8:10) All gave heed to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, This one is the great power of God.
(Act 8:11) And they were paying attention to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with conjuring.


Then Simon believed and observed the Apostles with amazement the miracles that were happening..

(Act 8:13) Then Simon himself believed also, and being baptized, he continued with Philip. And seeing miracles and mighty works happening, he was amazed.


Then out of the wickness of his own heart wanted to buy this power with money, so great was the power of the Holy Spirit (which is the Spirit of Christ) that Simon wanted it at all costs..

(Act 8:18) And when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
(Act 8:19) saying, Give me this power also, that on whomever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.


Jesus wasn't talking about moving mountains made of soil, he was talking about moving mountains of obstacles and the many problems that people face, with faith, and that it would only take faith the size of a mustard seed to do it... how lacking in real faith we are! And even if Jesus did move a real mountain, people would still not believe it, or believe in Him.


But you are right in one way... Jesus did say that his signs and wonders would be performed by false Christs and false prophets.

(Mat 24:24) For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders; so much so that, if it were possible, they would deceive even the elect.


But mostly signs and wonders were to confirm the Word when salvation was preached..

(Mar 16:20) And going out, they proclaimed everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word by miraculous signs following. Amen.
(Heb 2:4) God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with different kinds of miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

 

[Johnnz]

The accounts of actual eye witnesses should not be overturned without justifiable reasons. Have you actually read the gospels and noted all the miracles Jesus did. Your comments suggest you haven't.

The resurrection of Jesus is the major NT miracle. That is an important event in its own right.

John
NZ

 

[Rafael]

The Jews who were taught in the scriptures knew what to look for in Messiah by te words of the prophets. Jesus came doing those things to identify Himself to them, the house of Judah, first and then saying He would go to the lost sheep of the house of israel (Mat.15:24). See what Jesus said to John the Baptist when he asked who He was:

Luke 7:19 ¶ Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?"
20 When the men came to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’"
21 At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.
22 And He answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.
23 "Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me."

Ps 146:8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises up those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous;

Isa 29:18 On that day the deaf will hear words of a book, And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.
19 The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the LORD, And the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Isa 32:3 Then the eyes of those who see will not be blinded, And the ears of those who hear will listen.
4 The mind of the hasty will discern the truth, And the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak clearly.
5 ¶ Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah.

Isa 42:6 "I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.

Isa 42:16 "I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, In paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them And rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, And I will not leave them undone."

Isa 61:1 ¶ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Jer 31:8 "Behold, I am bringing them from the north country, And I will gather them from the remote parts of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together; A great company, they will return here.

 

[calidog]

Why didn't Jesus perform REAL miracles? I know the Bible says he turned water into wine and made a few loaves of bread and fish feed a bunch of people. I know the Bible says that he raised Lazerus from the dead and healed the sick. And I know the Bible says he died and rose again 3 days later.

But each and every one of these miracles are disputtable. If they cannot be performed by a clever magician, they can be fabricated in some other way.

So why didn't he do something we couldn't argue with? Like moving a mountain. I mean, he said that if you have even the faith of a mustard seed, you can move mountains...seems to me like that would've been a perfect time for a demonstration.

If Jesus had moved a mountain from one place to another, there would be no denying his power and divinity. Moving a mountain would've validated everything he claimed to be.

Some might say that if he had done this, then it would leave no room for free will, because we would not be able to question whether or not he was genuine with such hard evidence.

If that is so, why did he bother doing any miracles at all? If he was not trying to prove who he was, then why turn water into wine? Just to keep the party going? Why heal a few sick people when were thousands of sick people who could've used a helping hand?

He just did it to show off? But he couldn't do anything of real significance, like move a mountain?

Please, explain this to me. I really cannot get passed this one.

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 

[Bespin]

Dear Jesi:

• So why didn't he do something we couldn't argue with? Like moving a mountain. I mean, he said that if you have even the faith of a mustard seed, you can move mountains...seems to me like that would've been a perfect time for a demonstration.

I was recently reading pastor Greg Laurie's book called Why Believe? and in it he has a section devoted to answering the question "What does Jesus' cross mean to me?" In a part of it he quotes from Dr Truman Davis who gave the following description of what took place at the crucifixion in an article entitled The Crucifixion Of Jesus From A Medical Point Of View:

As the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles knotting them in deep relentless throbbing pain. When these cramps come, there is the inability to push Himself upward, so hanging by His arms, the pectoral muscles are paralyzed and the intercostal muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs but it cannot be exhaled. So Jesus fights to raise Himself in order to get one short breath. Finally carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the bloodstream and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically He is able to push Himself upward to exhale and bring in life giving oxygen. Hours of this limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rendering cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from His lacerated back as He pushes up and down against the rough timber. A deep crushing pain in the chest as the heart fills with serum and begins to compress, it is almost over. The compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissue. The tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air.
​

I personally find that pretty heavy stuff and very hard to fabricate. Added onto this is the fact that Jesus had a Roman spear shoved into His side which caused blood and water to flow, which most likely this penetrated His heart and one of His lungs. This was just to make sure that Jesus was already dead, which they suspected (which is why they didn't break His legs). There is no possible way that Jesus could have survived the crucifixion, let alone survive having a Roman spear thrust up in His side.

Rising from the dead three days later is a true miracle because Jesus was as dead as dead can be dead.

Other miracles that He performed include walking on water, commanding the storm to be still, multiplying several loathes of bread and a few fish to feed five thousand people, among many others. I don't see how these can be explained in any other way. Even healing people from their illnesses with just a word, or driving out demons are very hard to fabricate now, let alone without modern science and medical technology.

• Moving a mountain would've validated everything he claimed to be.

So did His resurrection. By raising again from the dead, Jesus proved that He is the Son of God as St John said in 1 John 5:6-12. His death, along with His resurrection, stand as testimony that He is the Son of God.

 

[MikeMcK]

So why didn't he do something we couldn't argue with? Like moving a mountain. I mean, he said that if you have even the faith of a mustard seed, you can move mountains...seems to me like that would've been a perfect time for a demonstration.

If Jesus had moved a mountain from one place to another, there would be no denying his power and divinity. Moving a mountain would've validated everything he claimed to be.

Jesus created the mountains in the first place. If that doesn't convince you, then how can you say that moving them would?

 

[Ravn]

If Jesus had moved a mountain from one place to another, there would be no denying his power and divinity. Moving a mountain would've validated everything he claimed to be.


If Jesus had moverd mountains or done anything majorly drastic perhaps even i could be converted . . .

However surely if Jesus' other "miracles" can be discredited that is a good thing. If there is doubt then to believe something takes real faith. maybe it was intentional or maybe Jesus simply couldn't move mountains.

 

[prophecystudent]

Why didn't Jesus perform REAL miracles? I know the Bible says he turned water into wine and made a few loaves of bread and fish feed a bunch of people.

My first response is, ARE YOU KIDDING?

Feeding 5000 men (not counting the women who were there) with the contents of one young boy's lunch is not a REAL miracle?


I know the Bible says that he raised Lazerus from the dead and healed the sick.

Christ raised Lazarus from the dead after the body had been buried and had been dead for at least 4 days.

See scripture below:

John 11: 14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin,[c] said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.” 17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days.

As scripture also say, the body had already begun to decay and "stink". By anyone's measure that is dead.

You do not seem to think raising this dead man from the dead is not a REAL miracle.

And I know the Bible says he died and rose again 3 days later.

Again, being resurrected from the dead does not impress you as a REAL miracle.

In the first place there is some pretty substantial history to support Christ's life and His miracles. Christ appeared to 500 people after His resurrection (at one time) and appeared to smaller groups at other times over a period of some 40 days.

But each and every one of these miracles are disputtable. If they cannot be performed by a clever magician, they can be fabricated in some other way.

I challenge you to find anyone, clever magician or not, to change water to wine, to feed 5000 people with a couple of loaves of bread and a couple of fish, and have several baskets of leftovers, to raise anyone from the dead (especially after the body has begun to stink). I am not talking about some on-stage show but out in the open with unbiased, independent, witnesses. For example, let me bring the water, pour it into a container that I provide, then have the "magician" turn it into wine.

Let's go to a mortuary, pick out a body that has been decaying for at least 4 days, and then have the magician restore that decaying corpse to life, having it walk out of the mortuary and return to its normal life.

So why didn't he do something we couldn't argue with? Like moving a mountain. I mean, he said that if you have even the faith of a mustard seed, you can move mountains...seems to me like that would've been a perfect time for a demonstration.

Christ performed more than enough REAL MIRACLES to convince billions of people that He was who He said He was/is. For those who choose not to believe there will never be enough "evidence", and for those who believe no more evidence is necessary.

If Jesus had moved a mountain from one place to another, there would be no denying his power and divinity. Moving a mountain would've validated everything he claimed to be.

Some might say that if he had done this, then it would leave no room for free will, because we would not be able to question whether or not he was genuine with such hard evidence.

If that is so, why did he bother doing any miracles at all? If he was not trying to prove who he was, then why turn water into wine? Just to keep the party going? Why heal a few sick people when were thousands of sick people who could've used a helping hand?

He just did it to show off? But he couldn't do anything of real significance, like move a mountain?

Please, explain this to me. I really cannot get passed this one.

My explanation is above. Anything further would not convince you. I suggest you dig into the HISTORY of the time and place where Christ lived and died. History proves much of what the bible has stated, and more of the bible is proven as more and more information comes to light from archeological digs, et.

Consider what happened when Moses' staff was converted into a snake. The Pharoah's magicians repliecated that miracle. The only problem was that then Moses' snake ate all the others. Proving his "snake" was a genuine miracle.

We are saved by faith, through the grace of God. Our faith is based on the absolute accuracy of the bible, but most securely on Christ's resurrection from the dead. For us, that is the greatest MIRACLE of all time. That God sent His Son to pay, once for all, the price of mankind's rebellion and sin.

That applies just as much to you as to anyone else on the planet. There is only one thing we have to do to receive that gift, and that is to BELIEVE.

Consider it a test. The second great test given to mankind by God. The first was in the garden and involved eating fruit of a tree, which God had forbidden. Mankind failed.

The second test is the challenge to accept, or reject, God's offer of eternity with Him, and Jesus, or spend it in the eternal lake of fire. Our choice.

It is a test of our faith. Pass the test spend eternity in unspeakable joy and love, or fail the test and spend that same eternity in unspeakable torment.

Fred

 

[dvd_holc]

Why didn't Jesus perform REAL miracles? I know the Bible says he turned water into wine and made a few loaves of bread and fish feed a bunch of people. I know the Bible says that he raised Lazerus from the dead and healed the sick. And I know the Bible says he died and rose again 3 days later.

But each and every one of these miracles are disputtable. If they cannot be performed by a clever magician, they can be fabricated in some other way.

So why didn't he do something we couldn't argue with? Like moving a mountain. I mean, he said that if you have even the faith of a mustard seed, you can move mountains...seems to me like that would've been a perfect time for a demonstration.

If Jesus had moved a mountain from one place to another, there would be no denying his power and divinity. Moving a mountain would've validated everything he claimed to be.

Some might say that if he had done this, then it would leave no room for free will, because we would not be able to question whether or not he was genuine with such hard evidence.

If that is so, why did he bother doing any miracles at all? If he was not trying to prove who he was, then why turn water into wine? Just to keep the party going? Why heal a few sick people when were thousands of sick people who could've used a helping hand?

He just did it to show off? But he couldn't do anything of real significance, like move a mountain?

Please, explain this to me. I really cannot get passed this one.

The ways of the world is to show the biggest muscle possible to make things right that the person with the strongest force possible would have the ability to make everything right, but God set out after the fall in work of developing the world through the things already created in doing so those who cling to the show of the biggest force would be shamed. And whether you like it or not, history points to Jesus performing many great deeds...for even his contemporaries thought He did amazing feats. So then, how you to dispute that curing leprosy, feeding the hungry, and raising the dead was not a real miracle?

 

[Jesi]

Ok, after reading all of the explainations and talking to a few of my Christian friends about, I can understand now why you would believe he did, in fact, do miracles.

Thank you for all your responces

 

[Jesi]

The ways of the world is to show the biggest muscle possible to make things right that the person with the strongest force possible would have the ability to make everything right, but God set out after the fall in work of developing the world through the things already created in doing so those who cling to the show of the biggest force would be shamed. And whether you like it or not, history points to Jesus performing many great deeds...for even his contemporaries thought He did amazing feats. So then, how you to dispute that curing leprosy, feeding the hungry, and raising the dead was not a real miracle?

all of those things could have been faked, is all I am saying. I see preachers on the tv all the time claiming to cure people just by touching them....doesn't mean they are actually doing it.

 

[dvd_holc]

all of those things could have been faked, is all I am saying. I see preachers on the tv all the time claiming to cure people just by touching them....doesn't mean they are actually doing it.

Have you seen a person with leprosy? Do you know that a person with leprosy was required to go to the high priest (or another priest if the high priest was disposed) at temple in order to allowed back into society? Did you know that the priest would keep records? They knew and did not contest the miracles, but can you?

 

[Jesi]

Have you seen a person with leprosy? Do you know that a person with leprosy was required to go to the high priest (or another priest if the high priest was disposed) at temple in order to allowed back into society? Did you know that the priest would keep records? They knew and did not contest the miracles, but can you?

It isn't even slightly possible that someone made that stuff up? No one could have said "Hey, curing leprosy sounds pretty savior-like. Let's add that in there." Maybe all Jesus did was show kindness to lepers, and someone else embellished it to say he cured them completely.

I know that faith leaves no room for doubt, because I used to be a Christian and I never doubted those things. But once I took a step back and tried to look at the whole thing in an unbiased way, I couldn't help but doubt most of it.

 

[dvd_holc]

It isn't even slightly possible that someone made that stuff up? No one could have said "Hey, curing leprosy sounds pretty savior-like. Let's add that in there." Maybe all Jesus did was show kindness to lepers, and someone else embellished it to say he cured them completely.

I know that faith leaves no room for doubt, because I used to be a Christian and I never doubted those things. But once I took a step back and tried to look at the whole thing in an unbiased way, I couldn't help but doubt most of it.

You want to take a step back and saw that with your un-baised opinion...but when you do you go back to rely truths you draw upon your accepted truths of what the world is like and more importantly what it is like right now.

But the simple facts are that those people who opposed Jesus and had Him killed where people who knew and accepted that He did miracles. Even historians of this day of "un-baised viewpoints" repeat what the data specifically says that Jesus was known by the people and the temple authorities to have done many great deeds. If the temple authorities could have put the proof to the people weren't cured they, themselves, would have put it to the people, but they choose to slander Jesus by saying it was work of demons and sorcery. So then, if it did not happen...why the slander?

 

[prophecystudent]

all of those things could have been faked, is all I am saying. I see preachers on the tv all the time claiming to cure people just by touching them....doesn't mean they are actually doing it.

No, those "preachers" on TV claiming they healed somebody does not make it so. If the person says they were healed and can provide medical evidence to that fact, then it is indeed a miracle.

However, I fail to understand how you simply choose to discount what Christ did based on what you perceive to take place on TV today.

I see no logical connection between the two. In your first post you question that Christ performed "real" miracles. Now you, apparently, base that original statement on what you see happening today on tv.

Can you explain how you arrived at your current conclusion, based on your original post?

Fred

 

[Jesi]

No, those "preachers" on TV claiming they healed somebody does not make it so. If the person says they were healed and can provide medical evidence to that fact, then it is indeed a miracle.

However, I fail to understand how you simply choose to discount what Christ did based on what you perceive to take place on TV today.

I see no logical connection between the two. In your first post you question that Christ performed "real" miracles. Now you, apparently, base that original statement on what you see happening today on tv.

Can you explain how you arrived at your current conclusion, based on your original post?

Fred

I'm not trying to base my original statement on what I see on tv, I am saying that they fake miracles every day. Why couldn't Christ have faked them as well?

My point with the "moving a mountain" miracle was, if there was geographical evidence that a mountain in Israel existed, then Jesus moved it to Egypt, that would've been substantial proof of his power and divinity.

 

[solarwave]

I'm not trying to base my original statement on what I see on tv, I am saying that they fake miracles every day. Why couldn't Christ have faked them as well?

Or maybe they arn't faked.

My point with the "moving a mountain" miracle was, if there was geographical evidence that a mountain in Israel existed, then Jesus moved it to Egypt, that would've been substantial proof of his power and divinity.

What would be the point of moving a moutain?? God does miracles for reasons not to show that He's big and strong, as He doesn't have to prove Himself to us. Also where would the faith be if it were like that. There's enough evidence that there is a God and well just from what I have seen the summber just gone is proof enough.

It isn't even slightly possible that someone made that stuff up? No one could have said "Hey, curing leprosy sounds pretty savior-like. Let's add that in there." Maybe all Jesus did was show kindness to lepers, and someone else embellished it to say he cured them completely.

The bible is one of the best historical books around, as in it hasn't been changed through the ages.

 

[MikeMcK]

I'm not trying to base my original statement on what I see on tv, I am saying that they fake miracles every day. Why couldn't Christ have faked them as well?

My point with the "moving a mountain" miracle was, if there was geographical evidence that a mountain in Israel existed, then Jesus moved it to Egypt, that would've been substantial proof of his power and divinity.

Again, if Christ creating the mountain out of nothing in the first place doesn't convince you, then why would moving the mountain convince you?

 

[prophecystudent]

Again, if Christ creating the mountain out of nothing in the first place doesn't convince you, then why would moving the mountain?

Great point.

Some folks will never believe. They just continue to find "reasons" why they should not.

Fred