“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God
with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him in your midst…”
Acts 2:22 (ESV)
Miracle, a noun meaning “amazing or wonderful occurrence,” comes from the Latin miraculum “object of wonder.” A “miracle” is a wonder or marvel that defies rational explanation. It surpasses all known human or natural powers. Because of this, it has to be attributed to supernatural causes. In other words, a miracle thrusts itself into our world from somewhere beyond the boundaries of all that we are able to observe, measure, and understand.
Biblically speaking miracles involve God doing something uncommon and usually awe-inspiring in order to reveal Himself to mankind. Miracles surprise, shock, and excite people to believe there is more to life than only what is seen and known. They point to a power much greater than man’s mere understanding. Miracles reveal the reality of the living God.
Here are some of the awe-inspiring miracles recorded in the Bible: Changing water into wine at Cana in John 2:1-11; Healing of the official’s son in John 4: 46-53; Healing the paralytic at Bethesda in John 5:1-15; Feeding the 5000 in John 6:5-14; Jesus walking on water in John 6:16-2; Healing the man blind from birth in John 9:1-7; The raising of Lazarus in John 11:1-44. And, of course, the most extraordinary miracle of all is the Atonement of Jesus Christ—no miracle has ever been so far-reaching or powerful.
Life also has some very ordinary miracles. It is a miracle that the sun rises every day. It is a miracle that we can breathe. It is a miracle that our heart pumps without being commanded to do so. It is a miracle we can see. It is a miracle we can hear. It is a miracle that we can touch and feel and dream.
When you wake up everyday
Please don’t throw your dreams away
Hold them close to your heart
‘Cause we’re all a part
Of the ordinary miracle.
Ordinary Miracle, A Song by Sarah McLachlan
Thank You, Lord, for awe-inspiring miracles revealed in Your Word. Thank you also for ordinary miracles every day. I gratefully receive all the miracles, big and small, that You have ordained for me.