Philip Yancey wrote the following in The Jesus I Never Knew:
"As he strode through life Jesus used supernatural power to set right what was wrong. Every physical healing pointed back to a time in Eden when physical bodies did not go blind, get crippled, or bleed nonstop for twelve years - and also pointed forward to a time of recreation to come. The miracles he did perform, breaking as they did the chains of sickness and death, give me a glimpse of what the world was meant to be and instill hope that one day God will right its wrongs. To put it mildly, God is no more satisfied with this earth than we are Jesus' miracles offer a hint of what God intends to do about it.
Some see miracles as an implausible suspension of the laws of the physical universe. As signs, though, they serve just the opposte function. Death, decay, entropy, and destruction are the true suspensions of God's laws miracles are the early glimpses of restoration. In the words of Jurgen Moltmann, 'Jesus' healings are not supernatural miracles in a natural world. They are the only true natural things in a world that is unnatural, demonized and wounded.'"
Jesus' miracles have been such a mystery to me. Why did He only heal some peple instead of removing all sickness and death from the world? Why did He tell people to keep quiet about His great works? Why did Jesus do so few miracles in his own home town? Why did so many struggle to believe Him even though He did so many incredible miracles right in front of their eyes? Jesus seemingly broke religious rules while healing people and touching those who were sick. Many people avoided the sick. Jesus seemed to seek them out. Why don't we see many visible miracles today? Where has the power gone?
The more I examine how Jesus lived, the more questions I have. It was never fame or notoriety that Jesus sought. Strangely, it was never really about the miracles as much as the messsage behind each interaction. Jesus painted a picture for us in how He lived. His natural lifestyle restored the brokenness around Him. His faith revealed God to a hopeless people. I believe that Moltmann is right Jesus' miracles reveal how God always intended life to be. Each new day is a miracle for those who choose to believe.
