Miracles!

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man, this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God. Mark 10:27

A miracle is defined as an extraordinary and astounding happening that is attributed to the presence and action of an ultimate or divine power. My research indicates that the four gospels recount thirty seven miracles performed by Jesus in His short ministry on this earth. Miracles such as turning the water into wine, feeding the 5000, walking on the water, healing the paralytic at Bethesda, raising Lazarus from the dead, and of course, the resurrection. He performed these miracles by touching, healing, and transforming countless lives.

Miracles still happen today, and they happen in the most unexpected places and times. The path to a miracle often goes through uncomfortable territory, but miracles happen when things are uncomfortable. Maybe God needs us to feel uncomfortable in order to appreciate just how amazing His miracles can be!

Just a couple of months ago, my neighbor shared a struggle that she and her family were facing. It seems their son, a young husband and father of two, had just been diagnosed with a hereditary type of kidney disease, and he needed a kidney transplant. I’ve done some research on kidney transplants, and although, they are very successful these days, there are many factors involved to make a transplant happen. The biggest factor is finding a match between the recipient and the donor.

My neighbor’s family was quickly disqualified because the disease is hereditary and none of their kidneys could be used. In cases like this, the recipient goes on a donor list which means it could be years before a kidney becomes available. This miracle is that his wife stepped up to see if by any chance she could be a donor. Miracle of miracles, she was a perfect match! The surgery is over and both are recuperating. Their family can celebrate this together because, I believe God gave them a miracle.

The source of a miracle is always unexpected. It is strange to me that Jesus chose the wedding in Cana to perform His first miracle, why not use feeding 5000 with two loaves and five fish be first? He performed the miracle of turning water into wine to bring happiness and joy to the celebration of the union of a man and a woman. That shows me that God can and does intervene in our lives at exactly the right moment, and He provides us with exactly what we need. It also says our way of making things happen is always second to God’s way.

If Jesus can do something so spectacular, then what situation in our lives could possibly be too hard for Him? He is able to see our problems, failures, strengths, and weaknesses in greater depth and in much greater detail than we ever could. He is the master of every imaginable problem.

We probably don’t need our water turned into wine at this particular moment, and perhaps, everything in our life is pretty good right now, but imagine those who do need a miracle! Almost every day I hear the expression, “We are just praying for a miracle.” It is comforting to know that Jesus showed us God’s unlimited power to offer us help when things do happen. Things like a job loss, a call from the doctor’s office, an unexpected bill, or any other challenge can give God a chance to perform a miracle. It’s God’s blessing to us to be able to tap into His strength and wisdom.

Jesus always had witnesses at His miracles so that they could tell others of what they had seen and heard. He wanted people to say, “Here’s what happened or it was just this way.” It was not for His own glory, but to show the power, might, and love of God. People all around these happenings were changed. Some people fear miracles because they don’t want to be changed, but ignoring their existence will change us also.

I’ve seen quite a few miracles in these past few months, and it is proof to me that God is alive and working in this world and in our lives. The miracles such as the gentleness in the touch of a child’s hand, the generous loving care of others, the power of God in the fury of a storm, or the hum of a hummingbird’s wings next to you, is a chance to experience a power much greater than ourselves. To believe in miracles is to believe that God is there pouring out His love for us, revealing His majesty and glory, and inviting us to have a closer walk with Him.

Oh Lord, my God, the Majesty and Glory of your name, Transcends the earth and fills the heavens. Tom Fettke