How should we think of miracles? That is the question that has dominated this short series. Some define miracles by drawing a distinction between the natural and the supernatural. Others define miracles by identifying them as acts done by God directly, as opposed to acts God does through other means. We have seen, however, that neither of those definitions is really sufficient for characterizing miracles according to Scripture. Nor have such views been the only accepted ones throughout church history. Abraham Kuyper, for example, believed that the miraculous were part of man’s unfallen nature. So Adam, he taught, could have done miracles before his fall and Jesus performed them out of his unfallen human nature rather than out of his divinity. There is room, then, for another perspective on miracles and there is, I believe, a better way to define them. Miracles are extraordinary manifestations of God’s covenant lordship.
John Frame unpacks this beautifully in his book The Doctrine of God. There he argues that the three common features of God’s Covenant Lordship are control, authority, and presence. In each miraculous act we see some aspect of God’s covenant lordship manifested. So Frame writes:
As mighty acts, miracles display the great power of the Lord to control his creation. As signs, they authoritatively reveal him. As wonders, they created in the hearts of people a religious awe, as they bring people into the presence of the living God. (258)
The various words used in the Scriptures for the term “miracle” are easily seen to represent these three aspects of God’s covenant lordship. So the term translated as “power” or “mighty act” communicates God’s control. The term translated “sign” communicates his authority, and the term translated “wonder” communicates his presence. The Scriptures support Frame’s definition.
In Luke 6:19 we read that “the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.” His miracles testify to his power. The woman who touched Jesus’ garment and was instantly healed of this sickness she had suffered from years. When she touched the hem of his robe Jesus felt that “power had gone out from him” (Mark 5:30). Even in the Old Testament we see that God leads the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt by his “right hand” which was “majestic in power” (Ex 15:6). Miracles manifest God’s power.
Signs too are revelations of God’s authority. Frame writes:
Miracles not only accomplish great things, but they also display God to us. They teach us about him. So God feeds his people in the wilderness “to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Deut. 8:3). (259)
Jesus regularly reveals his authority by means of the miraculous signs. He heals the paralytic in order to reveal that he has authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:1-11). He turns water into wine in order to reveal his glory (John 2:11). John tells us that Jesus did many miracles to persuade us that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:30-31). His miracles reveal his identity, the tell us of his authority.
Finally, we can see that his miracles manifest his presence. The miracles in the Scriptures often draw a response of awe (though sometimes they draw a response of a hard-heart too). It’s the kind of awe given by those who encounter the presence of the living God. So we see in Luke 5:1-10 that upon the miraculous catch of fish Peter says to Jesus “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man” (v. 8). His response is right because he suddenly sees before whom he is standing, and particularly who he is in relation to Jesus. Exodus 15 too is a response to encountering the presence of God. After the exodus event Israel rejoices in praise. Often God’s mighty acts prompt the psalmists to compose their praises. The Covenant Lord is present in his miraculous deeds.
All of this points to a greater and more Biblical way of understanding miracles. They are manifestations of the Covenant Lord. They reveal God’s authority, control, and presence to us. Thinking about miracles rightly means thinking of them in this sort of way. God may sometimes use natural or supernatural means to manifest himself. He may sometimes communicate his deeds immediately or mediate them through other means. But however he does it he is revealing himself to us in them. The Covenant Lord is present. Thinking about miracles in this way can help us avoid some of the unbiblical presuppositions behind other definitions, and can help us to stay grounded in the Scriptures. Miracles are manifestations of our Covenant Lord.
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