Page 396 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

MIRE - MIRIAM

the dead man on touching Elisha’s bones (2 Ki. 13:21), 9:18-26; Mk. 5:22-43; Lk. 8:41-56), woman’s issue of
return of the shadow on the dial (2 Ki. 20:9-11), blood healed (Mt. 9:20-22; Mk. 5:25-34; Lk. 8:43-48),
deliverance of the three Hebrew children (Da. 3:19-27), man’s withered hand cured (Mt. 12:10-13; Mk. 3:1-5;
Daniel from the lions (Da. 6:16-23), Jonah saved from Lk. 6:6-11), demon cast out of boy (Mt. 17:14-18; Mk.
the great fish (Jon. 2:1-10)” (Concise Bible Dictionary). 9:14-27; Lk. 9:37-42), blind men cured (Mt. 20:30-34;
New Testament Words Translated Miracles: In the N.T. Mk. 10:46-52; Lk. 18:35-43), Jesus walks on the sea
three Greek words are used in reference to miracles. (1) (Mt. 14:24-33; Mk. 6:47-51; Jn. 6:16-21), 5,000 fed
SEMEION is translated “sign” (Mt. 12:38-39; 16:1-4; (Mt. 14:15-21; Mk. 6:35-44; Lk. 9:12-17; Jn. 6:5-14).
24:3, 24, 30; 26:48; Mk. 16:20; Jn. 20:30; Ac. 2:19, 22, The Purpose of Christ’s Miracles: Christ’s miracles were
43; 4:30; 5:12; 7:36; 8:13; 14:3; Ro. 4:11; 15:19; 1 Co. to demonstrate that He was the Messiah. It is taught in
1:22; 14:22; 2 Co. 12:12; 2 Th. 2:9; He. 2:4; Re. 15:1), some circles that Jesus performed miracles as an
“miracle” (Lk. 23:8; Jn. 2:11, 23; 3:2; 4:54; 6:2, 14, 26; example for Christians to follow. Jesus’ healing ministry,
7:31; 9:16; 10:41; 11:47; 12:18, 37; Ac. 4:16, 22; 6:8; for example, is held forth as an example of what healers
8:6; 15:12; Re. 13:14; 16:14; 19:20), “token” (2 Th. today are doing. This idea ignores the fact that Jesus
3:17), and “wonder” (Re. 12:1, 3; 13:3). (2) TERAS is healed as a sign that He was the Messiah, the promised
translated “wonder” (Mt. 24:24; Jn. 4:48; Ac. 2:19, 22, Saviour, the Son of God. Jesus’ healing ministry was not
43;4, 9 an example for us to follow, but was part of His unique
4:30; 5:12; 6:8; 7:36; 14:3; 14:12; Ro. 15:19; 2 Co. credentials as the Christ. This is plainly what the Bible
12:12; 2 Th. 2:9; He. 2:4). (3) DUNAMIS is translated teaches. Consider the following Scriptures: Jn. 5:36;
“power” (Mt. 6:13; 22:29; 24:29-30; 26:64; Lk. 1:17, 10:25, 37-38; 14:11; 15:24; 20:30-31.
35; 4:14, 36; 5:17; 9:1; 10:19; 24:49; Ac. 1:8; 4:7, 33; The Purpose of the Apostles’ Miracles: The healing
6:8; 8:10; 10:38; Ro. 1:4, 16, 20; 9:17; 15:13; 1 Co. ministry of the apostles was unique and was for the
1:18, 24; 2:4; 4:20; 5:4; 6:14; 15:43; 2 Co. 12:9; 13:4; purpose of authenticating their work (2 Co. 12:12; Mk.
Ep. 1:19; 3:7, 20; Ph. 3:10; 1 Th. 1:5; 2 Th. 2:9; 2 Ti. 3:14-15; Ac. 2:43; 4:33; 5:12, 15; 19:12). Note that the
1:8; He. 1:3; 6:5; 7:16; 1 Pe. 1:5; 2 Pe. 1:3, 16; Re. miracles of the Apostles were special and were for the
4:11; 5:12; 7:12; 11:17; 13:2; 15:8; 17:13; 19:1), purpose of marking them as the Apostles of Christ. They
“miracles” (Mk. 9:39; Ac. 2:22; 8:13; 19:11; 1 Co. had miracle-working power to authenticate their unique
12:10, 28, 29; Ga. 3:5; He. 2:4), and “mighty ministries. That is what Scripture says. All Christians
works” (Mt. 11:20, 21, 23; 13:54, 58; 14:2; Mk. 6:2, 5, could not do the sign miracles of the Apostles. The only
14; Lk. 10:13; 19:37; 2 Co. 12:12). exceptions were a few men upon whom the Apostles
Principal N.T. Miracles: Blind men given sight (Mt. had laid hands. There was no general miracle-working
9:27-31), dumb spirit cast out (Mt. 9:32, 33), tribute experience among the first churches. If there had been,
money in mouth of the fish (Mt. 17:24-27), deaf and Paul could not have pointed to his miracle-working
dumb man healed (Mk. 7:31-37), blind man healed ability as a special sign. His merely would have been
(Mk. 8:22-26), draught of fishes (Lk. 5:1-11), widow’s another miracle-working Christian ministry if all could
son raised (Lk. 7:11-17), woman loosed from infirmity have performed such things. But all could not. If all
(Lk. 13:11-17), dropsy healed (Lk. 14:1-6), ten lepers could have performed miracles as a matter of course,
cleansed (Lk. 17:11-19), Malchus’ ear healed (Lk. the Christians would not have called for Peter to come
22:50,51), water made wine (Jn. 2:1-11), nobleman’s and raise Dorcas from the dead (Ac. 9:36-42). Peter’s
son healed (Jn. 4:46-54), impotent man healed (Jn. miracle that day was the “sign of an apostle.”
5:1-9), man born blind healed (Jn. 9:1-7), Lazarus False Miracles in the Last Days: The signs and
raised from the dead (Jn. 11:38-44), draught of 153 wonders spoken of for the last hours are deceiving signs
fishes (Jn. 21:1-14), woman’s daughter healed (Mt. (Mt. 24:24; 2 Th. 2:7-9; Re. 13:13-14). In light of these
15:21:28; Mk. 7:24-30), 4,000 fed (Mt. 15:32-38; Mk. warnings it is crucial that the Christian be wary of any
8:1-9), fig tree withered (Mt. 21:18-22; 11:12-24), signs or wonders movement in these last hours. The
centurion’s servant cured (Mt. 8:5-13; Lk. 7:1-10), blind signs and wonders movement prophesied in Scripture
and dumb demoniac cured (Mt. 12:22; Lk. 11:14), for the hours prior to Christ’s return is one of demonic
demoniac in the synagogue cured (Mk. 1:23-28; Lk. deception. [See Charismatic, Healing, Jesus Christ, Sign,
4:33-37), Peter’s wife’s mother cured (Mt. 8:14-15; Tares.]
1:30-31; 4:38-39), leper cured (Mt. 8:2-4; Mk. 1:40-45; MIRE, MIRY. Clay; mud; filth (2 Sa. 22:43; Job 8:11;
Lk. 5:12-15), paralytic cured (Mt. 9:2-7; Mk. 2:3-12; Lk. 30:19; Je. 38:22; 2 Pe. 2:22).
5:18-26), tempest stilled (Mt. 8:23-27; Mk. 4:36-41; Lk. MIRIAM (bitterness, rebellion, exalted). Sister of
8:22-25), demoniacs cured at Gadara (Mt. 8:28-34; Mk. Moses and Aaron (Ex. 15:20-21; Nu. 12:1-15; 20:1;
5:1-20; Lk. 8:26-39), Jairus’ daughter raised (Mt. 26:59; De. 24:9; Mi. 6:4). Miriam is possibly the sister

396 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity