Why did Jesus perform miracles?

Did Jesus perform miracles because He was compassionate? This is the typical reason given by many. Possibly influenced by the popularity of the “social gospel” in modern Christianity, it’s often assumed that Jesus performed miracles purely as an act of compassion. Indeed, Matthew records at the feeding of the five thousand that Jesus “had compassion on them and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14¹). Of course, Jesus was compassionate! But did Jesus perform miracles during His time on earth due to compassion?

How Scripture answers "Why did Jesus perform miracles?"

Jesus did have compassion seeing the crowd¹, but it was because of their spiritual condition², not their physical plight. In fact, in the full accounting of the feeding of the 5,000^1,2,3, we see that Jesus refused to feed them a second time³ due to their unbelief.

Over and over again, we see Jesus perform miracles (or “signs and wonders”) for the express purpose of confirming the gospel message^4,5,6,11,12. Specifically, the miracles confirmed that Jesus was who He said He was (the Son of God)^{4,5,7,8,9,10,11}. When Jesus’ own explanations for His miracles don’t connect them to “healing the world“^7,11, or when He doesn’t do “many miracles” when belief isn’t happening^3,12, we must conclude Jesus didn’t do them based on any physical state. Rather, Jesus’ mission on earth was purely spiritual^2,3,6,12.

Answer built on scripture-blocks below

2 Mark 6:34

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

What does it say?

When He [Jesus] went ashore, He had compassion on them because they wandered like a sheep without a shepherd, so He began to teach them many things.

What is the context?

Jesus withdraws to be alone, no doubt to mourn the loss of His cousin, John the Baptist (vss 14-29), but His reputation and popularity have grown and the crowds seek Him out (vs 33). He proceeds to feed the 5,000 (vs 44 – counting men only) with five loaves and two fish (vs 38).

This miracle is repeated in all four gospels including Matthew 14:31-21, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:1-15.

How does it apply here?

Mark records the same as Matthew¹, but qualifies that the reason for Jesus’ compassion is “because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Furthermore, we know this was a spiritual concern since Jesus “began to teach them.”

3 John 6:62-63

Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

What does it say?

What is the context?

Jesus has just fed the large crowd (5,000 men) by performing a miracle and departed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee by walking on the water and calming the storm along the way. The next day, the crowd again finds him in order to be fed, and a discussion contrasting physical and spiritual food ensues.

How does it apply here?

John records “the rests of the story” – something Matthew¹ and Mark² (or Luke) don’t record. Jesus refuses to perform another miracle, making the point that even them seeing Him go back to heaven would not convince them. Rather than physical food, it is the Spirit that sustains life – specifically, His words.

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

The following day (Vs 22) of Him feeding the 5,000^1,2, the people seek Him out across the sea (vs 24), wanting to be fed again (another miracle), and Jesus refuses.

7

John 5:36

But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

What does it say?

The words I speak are greater than those of John [the Baptist]. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish I am doing and they testify to the fact that the Father sent me.

What is the context?

Jesus is in Jerusalem and healing on the Sabbath day and stating that He was the son of God. “This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” (vs 18)

Here Jesus is differentiating between the testimony of His work coming not only from John the Baptist (a man), but God Himself.

How does it apply here?

Jesus states that the works (miracles) He is doing testify (prove) who He is and that He is from God.

8

John 10:24-27

So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

What does it say?

The Jews gathered around Him [Jesus] asking Him to tell them plainly that He was the Christ. Instead, He says that the works that He does bear witness to the fact that he is the Son of God. He also says that they don’t believe because they are not part of His flock – His sheep that hear His voice and follow Him.

What is the context?

Jesus teaching the multitudes, including those that were seeking to harm him.

How does it apply here?

The miracles that Jesus did were to testify that He was the Son of God.

10 Luke 7:20-21

And when the men had come to him, they said, John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight.

What does it say?

When the men [the two disciples of John the Baptist] reached Jesus, they relayed John’s question about if Jesus was the one that was to come. In that same hour, Jesus performed many miracles of healings and casting out evil spirits, even healing the blind.

What is the context?

John the Baptist is in prison and soon to die at the hands of Herod (Matthew 14:3-12), when he begins to wonder if Jesus is really the Christ. He sends two of his disciples to Jesus to ask (vs 19), and Jesus tells them to report back what they “have seen and heard” (vs 22).

Matthew 11:2-6 is a parallel account.

How does it apply here?

Jesus performed miracles in order to prove He was who He said he was.

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

John the Baptist expressly asks if Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus responds with miracles (instead of just answering him), telling his messengers to report what they “have seen and heard” (vs 22).

11

Mark 2:9-11

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise, take up your bed and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—he said to the paralytic— I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.

What does it say?

What is easier to say to the paralytic – your sins are forgiven or rise and walk? In order that you know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, I have healed him by saying rise and walk.

What is the context?

Jesus has returned home (vs 1) and is brought a paralytic to heal. After witnessing their faith (vs 5), He tells him his sins are forgiven. This caused some to accuse him of blasphemy (vs 7), acknowledging that only God can forgive sins.

Parallel accounts are in Matthew 9:1-8 and Luke:5:17-26.

How does it apply here?

Jesus asks a rhetorical question and explicitly states that His healing of the paralytic was in order to prove the authority He had from God the Father.

end of scripture-blocks; go back to the answer

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