A theme of many Bible studies has been the miracles of Jesus. This ought to be done periodically, since his miracles were a great part of his work. Lessons are taught, and hopefully learned, from those great moments in the life of the Savior. Yet, often neglected is a study of the terms which are used to describe those great works. Our purpose here is to briefly set forth the meaning behind the words that are commonly used to % scribe those mighty acts; i.e. "signs, wonders, miracles." The only place they are found in a common verse is Hebrews 2:4, and yet they are found individually in many places in the New Testament. Too often we have improperly general­ized all of them under the most common of the terms (miracles), and have sort of "lumped them all together." But let us look at them individually, referring you, in the interest of space, to your concor­dance for locations of the words.

First we consider the word "sign." It is semeion, and is defined as "a sign, mark, indication, token" (W. E. Vine). Signs were usually intended to demonstrate to the observer something more than the sign itself. Their value was in displaying and confirming the power of the one who would do the sign as evidence that he was something out of the ordinary. For exam­ple, the Jews came asking Jesus for a "sign" (Matt. 12:38). They would take such a sign to mean that Jesus was indeed extraordinary, with the emphasis being upon Jesus and not the sign itself. He then said they would receive but one sign, that of "the prophet Jonah." When they saw that, they would know that he indeed was who he claimed to be. So signs were sort of a "pointer" looking to demonstrate something outside of themselves.

Next we look at the term "wonders" (teras). Here is "something strange, caus­ing the beholder to marvel" (Vine). In the New Testament this word is always in the plural, and is used almost exclusively in connection with "signs." In "wonders," the supernatural act itself is looked upon as something that startles and produces amazement. The "wonder" itself is the center of attention, and not necessarily that to which it points. Herein is the fun­damental difference between a "sign" and a "wonder." The thought conveyed by this word is often blended with the idea of "to marvel," from the verb thaumazo. This is the word Paul used in Galatians 1:6 in speaking of his amazement at the rapid departure of the Galatians from the gospel. Teras "denotes terrible ap­pearances which elicit fright and horror, and which contradict the ordered unity of nature" (Dictionary of New Testa­ment Theology, Brown, p. 633).

Finally we consider "miracles" (duna­mis). Here is "power, inherent ability, used of works of a supernatural origin and character, such as could not be pro­duced by natural agents and means" (Vine). The idea of power predominates in this term. In fact, the noun "power" (Matt. 26:64), or "ability" (Matt. 25:15) are both derived from this same word, as is the word "might" or "mighty." Without this power, such great works could not be called the "power (du­namin) of God." Hence, when we use the word "miracle" the thought should have to do with the power behind the act itself.

"But," one may ask, "do not all these refer to the same thing?" We might an­swer affirmatively, if we do so in a broad sense. Yet we must also under­stand that they never refer to different kinds of miracles, but miracles as they are viewed from various perspectives. They all stress supernatural works done by Jesus and his apostles. A proper un­derstanding of these things will help us when dealing with the miracles of Je­sus. Consider each miracle done by the Lord along with the thoughts here pre­sented; perhaps they will mean more to us.- Bill Moseley

 

 

 

The annual Gospel Meeting was in full swing; the preaching was good and the singing was rousing. It was everything the good folks in the congregation could hope for. One night a fellow "came for­ward" to confess his error. He had been baptized years before, and every year during the summer meeting he was "re­stored" - and promptly backslid every winter!

This year he asked if he could "word his own prayer," and when the elders gave him the go ahead, he prayed with much gusto and zeal. Seemingly desiring to be more active for the Lord, he prayed to the Lord, "Lord, fill me full; fill me full!" Whereupon a disgusted sounding voice from the back of the building said, "Be careful there Lord - he leaks!"

All of which ought to remind us all to check ourselves for holes once in awhile. Do we retain our spirituality all the time - or at just certain seasons? Do we have the age-old problem of "run­ning hot and cold" spiritually, depend­ing on any number of things? Well, no one is perfect, as the old saying goes, but there is no reason to flop in an out of the Lord's service either! As Paul put it, we need to be "instant in season and out of season" (read that, "be faith­ful all the time").

The Lord is coming one of these days ­isn't it worth it to see that we have all the leaks patched by that time - even if he should come today? - Bill Moseley