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JESUS THE MIRACLE WORKER
The four gospels describe Jesus performing around thirty-six specific miracles and mention that he did many more. The miracles are of different types. Jesus healed people: he is described as restoring sight, healing contagious skin disorders, healing the lame, curing fevers, putting back a severed ear, stopping a haemorrhage and restoring a withered hand. The most extreme form of healing is provided by three records of Jesus bringing people back to life: Jairus’ daughter, a widow’s son and Lazarus of Bethany.
Jesus had an extraordinary power over nature: he miraculously multiplied bread and fish, changed water into wine, calmed a storm, walked on water and gave fishermen miraculous catches of fish. Jesus had miraculous knowledge and was aware of hidden facts and attitudes. Jesus also performed exorcisms of people oppressed by demonic powers.
The way in which Jesus did miracles is distinctive:
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Jesus often performed miracles in a quiet and unspectacular way. Sometimes he turned bystanders away in order to perform miracles; on other occasions he asked that his healings not be reported. There was nothing of the showman about Jesus.
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Jesus performed miracles with the minimum of actions and words, generally healing with no more than a few words and sometimes a gesture.
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The basis of Jesus’ miracles was his own personal authority. He is never recorded as praying for God to do a miracle, or even doing a miracle in God’s name: he did them himself.
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Jesus refused to do miracles on demand to prove who he was and he had little time for sensation seekers. He never did miracles for profit or publicity or even to save himself. Jesus’ motive in doing miracles is given as compassion.
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