I. Explanations for the “Miraculous”
A. A “Scientific” Explanation
“Miracle” = Extraordinary work of Natural Law.
Michael Ruse, Darwinism Defended, “Miracles live outside of Science, which by definition deals with the natural, the repeatable, that which is grounded by law.”
Christian Response: Miracles are not a violation of the Laws of Nature, they are God working within these Laws.
B. A “Mythological” Explanation
“Miracle” = Legend.
Rudolf Bultmann, Kerygma and Myth – Given our scientific advancements it is “no longer possible for anyone seriously to hold to the New Testament view.”
August Reinhold – “We only describe an apparent miracle as ‘miraculous’ due to our own misunderstanding of the laws of nature.”
Christian Response: The rational mind is limited in its ability to explain the extraordinary power and person of God.
C. A “Pantheistic” Explanation
“Miracle” = a Manipulation of the Universe
Illustration: The “Force” in Star Wars
David Spangler, Reflection on the Christ – “Christ is the same force as Lucifer but moving in seemingly the opposite direction.”
Christian Response: If miracles are simply human manipulation, there would be more miracles.
D. A “Metaphysical” Explanation
“Miracle” = Something we cannot explain it through reason.
Immanuel Kant – “All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason. Nothing is divine but what is agreeable to reason.”
Unknown: “Metaphysics is not religion because religion involves act of faith, faith guiding reason. In case of metaphysics, it limits its certitude on reason alone.”
Christian Response: Our ability to reason is limited. Therefore, we cannot explain things though we can verifythem.
E. A “Biblical” Explanation
“Miracles” = God’s supernatural interventions.
Gary Habermas, In Defense of Miracles – Miracles are a “testimony to the compassion of God for human beings benighted by sin and circumstances.”
Note: If God does not exist, miracles cannot be real.
Point: Miracles confirm God’s continued presence in the world and in your life.
John 14:11 – Jesus said, “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”
II. Why You Can Believe that God does Miracles
1. God wants the best for you.
John 10:10 – Jesus said, “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.”
Point: When you truly need a miracle, God will provide it.
2. Miracles attract us to God.
Miracles drive us to consider: “WHY did that happen?” ...as much as “How did that happen?”
The Answer: Why? God was pleased to bless his own.
Philippians 2:13 – “For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.” (NLT)
3. Miracles build faith.
John 14:12 – “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
2 Corinthians 9:8 – “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Point: Faith frees us to not only ask for a miracle, but to trust God’s response.
Raises the Question: Is it only “miraculous” when God does the extraordinary... or is the natural course also part of his intervention?
4. God is generous with his Beloved.
Augustine – “God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 14:13-14 – “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
Ephesians 3:20 – “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us...” (ESV)
Point: Miracles are God’s unexpected gifts for his family.
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