Why did Jesus perform miracles—and do they still happen today?
Introduction
The miracles of Jesus are some of the most famous stories in the Bible: walking on water, healing the sick, raising the dead, and feeding thousands. For a new Christian, it's natural to wonder: Why did Jesus perform these amazing feats? Were they just a way to impress people, or was there a deeper, divine purpose?
The Gospel writers clearly demonstrate that Jesus' miracles were never for show. They were powerful, intentional acts designed to reveal four crucial truths about Himself and the Kingdom of God. The question of whether they still happen today is rooted in whether those purposes are still relevant.
The Four Divine Purposes of Jesus' Miracles
Jesus’ miracles served as a compelling multi-faceted testimony, authenticating His mission and message.
1. To Prove His Identity as the Messiah
The primary reason Jesus performed miracles was to provide undeniable evidence that He was the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of God. The Old Testament prophets foretold that when the Messiah arrived, specific miraculous signs would accompany Him.
Fulfilling Prophecy: When John the Baptist's disciples asked if Jesus was "the one," Jesus simply pointed to the signs He was performing: “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them” (Luke 7:22). These were direct fulfillments of prophecies about the Messianic age (e.g., Isaiah 35:5-6).
Authenticating His Authority: His power over nature, sickness, and even death proved that He was God in the flesh and possessed divine authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:10-11).
2. To Announce the Arrival of God's Kingdom
Every miracle Jesus performed was a mini-picture of what the world will look like when God's Kingdom fully arrives. Sickness, death, hunger, and natural chaos are all effects of the Fall (Genesis 3). By reversing these effects, Jesus was showing that the King (Himself) had arrived and was beginning to undo the curse.
When the sick were healed, it showed that suffering would not last forever.
When the demons were cast out, it showed that Satan's power was being defeated.
When the dead were raised, it showed that death itself would be ultimately conquered.
3. To Confirm the Truth of His Teachings
In the first century, people often judged a teacher by the works they performed. Jesus’ miracles were proof that His teachings—about God's love, the need for repentance, and eternal life—were not merely human opinions but divine truth.
Jesus himself said, “Even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father” (John 10:38). The miraculous works gave weight and credibility to the miraculous words.
4. To Demonstrate His Compassion
Beyond theological necessity, Jesus' miracles were acts of profound love and mercy. Time and again, the Gospels tell us that Jesus performed a miracle because He was "moved with compassion" (Matthew 14:14).
Healing the blind man, feeding the five thousand, or weeping before raising Lazarus all displayed a God who deeply cares about the pain, suffering, and brokenness of His people. The miracles were a physical demonstration of God’s tenderness toward humanity.
Do Miracles Still Happen Today?
Yes, absolutely. While the era of the Apostles performing foundational, authenticating miracles (like Jesus') to launch the Church has passed, the God who performs miracles has not changed.
The Primary Miracle: The greatest miracle that happens every day is the spiritual transformation of a human heart through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ—the "dead" person is made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:5).
The Ongoing Purpose: Today's miracles—physical healing, supernatural provision, powerful deliverance, and specific guidance—still occur to achieve the remaining purposes: to build faith and glorify God. The Apostle John wrote that the purpose of recording Jesus' signs was: "but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31).
God is still sovereign over all things, and He answers prayers for the impossible as He wills, often showing compassion and prompting awe in the Church and the world.
Conclusion
Jesus’ miracles in the Bible were necessary signs to prove who He was and what the Kingdom of God is like. Today, the need for proof of His identity is met by the reliable testimony of Scripture.
However, the need for God’s power, compassion, and glory to be displayed is an ongoing reality. As a Christian, you should live with a joyful expectation that the God who parted the Red Sea, healed the leper, and raised the dead is the same God who is working in your life and the world today.
Pray with boldness, believing that He is able to do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20).
