Why did Jesus Christ work Miracles? - F.B.A. (Triumphs of faith 6.2)

WHY DID JESUS CHRIST WORK MIRACLES?

BY F. B. A.

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The answer which naturally arises in one’s mind to this question is, “To prove that He was sent by God.” We have been accustomed to look upon the miracles of Christ as the credentials which He bore from God to attest to the divinity of His mission. “Rabbi,” said Nicodemus, “we know that thou art a teacher sent from God, for no man can do these miracles that thou dost except God be with him.” His works provided whence He came. Jesus said to the unbelieving Jesus, “If ye believe not me, believe the works.” The man born blind replied to the caviling Pharisees, “Herein is a marvelous things, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.” When Moses, the servant of the Lord, unfolded his mission of deliverance to enslaved Israel, signs were demanded from and exhibited by him, as evidence that the Lord had sent him. So many others specially intrusted with messages from the Lord, indorsed their claims with signs from Heaven. Was it not with that same purpose and object in view that Jesus Christ and his immediate followers wrought miracles of healing, etc.? And after the religion of Jesus became firmly rooted in the hearts of men, did not necessity cease, and with the necessity miracles themselves? So says the world; the Christian says so too. “The age of miracles is passed,” they say, and dismiss the subject without further thought. Does God’s Word teach this? Does it teach that Christ wrought miracles as signs?

A few days ago, when teaching a class of young girls in Sunday School, the lesson being the occasion of the Pharisees asking from Jesus a sign from heaven, the question at the head of this article was asked, “Why did Jesus Christ work miracles?” The answer expected was “To prove that He was the Son of God.” The answer received from a bright young girl was, “He worked miracles because He was the Son of God, and loved the people and wanted to make them happy.” I was delighted with the answer. How much there is in that reply! Jesus wrought deeds of healing, not to prove that He was Divine, but because He was Divine. To say His miracles were wrought to attest to His Divinity – although they were gracious deeds – deprives them of a beauty, a grace, a fragrance, which rightly belongs to them as the spontaneous, gracious manifestations o His gracious heart. The sun dispenses light because it is the sun; its function is to shine, to diffuse light whenever its beams fall. So might we speak of the all-glorious Son of Righteousness, whose brighter beams fall upon the soul, illuminating its hitherto dark chambers, who arises with healing in His wings. His function (if we be permitted so to speak of the Divine One) is to dispense light and life, health and gladness to the soul and body. “He was manifested to destroy the works of the devil.” What are these works? Sin in the soul and suffering in the body-spiritual and physical ailment. There is the most intimate relation between the two. Sin and suffering are ever linked together. Jesus Christ came to destroy both by bearing both. “The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all”-the soul’s burden; “Himself…. Bare our sickness”-the body’s burden. All was “finished” on the cross; in anticipation of which He said to the sick of the palsy, “Thy sins be forgiven thee,” thus liberating the soul; while He set the body free in the words, “Arise, take up thy bed and walk.” Was this to prove that He was from God No; He was but fulfilling the functions of His being.

One condition is necessary before the Sun’s brightest rays can illuminate the world for us. Our eyes must be open. So one condition was attached to participation in the benefit result of the operation of Christ’s healing function-open eyes, or, in a word, faith. He did not heal in order to beget faith, but on account of faith. Where the faith was lacking, so were the works. “He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” No amount of miracles would convince the skeptical. “They will not believe, though one rose from the dead.” Raised Lazarus was a living sign which the chief priests sought to remove. Christ avoided rather than courted the popularity which these miracles accorded Him. They were the natural outflow of a heart full of compassion and sympathy. The hunger of the eager, earnest multitude moved Him with compassion and He fed them. The falling tears of the beavered sister caused the fountains of his own eyes to burst forth. “Jesus wept,” and restored the dead brother to his vacant seat in the home at Bethany. The full heart of Jesus is ever overflowing, and wherever the droppings fall souls are blessed. Wherever His footsteps trod, He could be traced by the blessings in His train. We trace the comet’s course through the trackless sky by the effulgence which it scatters by the way. So, blind eyes, silent tongues, closed ears, bowed forms, crossed His pathway, and, like night’s flight at dawn’s approach, the shackles of physical bondage melted away; and heart and voice were instinct with praise and thanksgiving. He wrought these miracles, not as signs, but as the legitimate function of His manifestation-the destruction of the devil’s works.

And not to that, nor to any age, was this manifestation confined. The devil’s works-sing and suffering-are still rampant and still need to be destroyed. Jesus Christ is still the health-bestowing as well as the life-giving Son of God. The same healing power is at our command now as when the woman touched the hem of His garment; but, as in her case, it requires the touch of faith to open up the healing stream. And the record still reads, “As many touched him were made whole.”