What is the purpose of miracles?

Answer 1

A:Miracles often occur, according to the testimony of witnesses, when there is no possible purpose or reason for them. This includes appearances of the virgin Mary, religious icons that are reported to bleed real blood and relics with miraculous properties. Even in Mark's Gospel, Jesus is often reported to perform miracles but then warn his witnesses to tell no one, as if there had been no purpose in those miracles.

The miracle of our Lady of Guadalupe, in Mexico, was supposedly for no greater purpose than to encourage the local bishop to build a small shrine. Lourdes, in France, is a site for Catholic pilgrimage, receiving over 80,000 pilgrims a year, and is renowned for its cures. Approximately 7000 people have sought to have cures at Lourdes confirmed as miracles, but only 68 of these have been declared as scientifically inexplicable by both the Lourdes Medical Bureau and the Catholic Church. This number is so small as to suggest that these cases were likely to have been cured or gone into remission anyway. Even Protestants believe that prayer results in minor miracles, yet the evidence is that these 'miracles' occur no more often than by chance.

The view that miracles do not happen is a very serious possibility, but if they do happen, we can not say why they do.

Answer:

The purpose of "miracles"... whether they are false or real... is to "instill belief" in something or someone.

"AFTER He was raised from the dead, His disciples recalled what He had said. THEN THEY BELIEVED the Scripture and the Words that Jesus had spoken. Now while He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people SAW THE MIRACULOUS SIGNSHe was doing AND BELIEVED in His name. But Jesus would not entrust Himself to them, for He knew all men." (John 2:22-24 NIV)

In the coming "Great Tribulation" [Matt.24:21]... two men shall arise from the coming global economic collapse -- a satanic, charismatic, powerful political/military leader [the Beast] and a world-respected, "miracle-working" religious leader ['another beast' called the False Prophet], who shall be given the power by Satan, channeled through the Beast into the False Prophet, to cause a panicky and desperate world to "believe" in and worship the Beast:

"...he performed great and miraculous signs... in full view of men. BECAUSE OF THE SIGNS he was given power [by Satan - verse 2] to do on behalf of the first Beast, HE DECEIVED THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH..." (Rev.13:13-14 NIV).

"All the inhabitants of the earth will worship the Beast..." (verse 8).

Whether it's healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, causing the lame to walk... or pilgrimages to see sweating or bleeding statues, or burnt toast or some other object with Jesus' or Mary's supposed image displayed upon or in it -- the purpose of miracles is to "instill belief" in those witnessing it.

Roman Catholic AnswerThe purpose of a miracle, according to Fr. Hardon's "Modern Catholic Dictionary" is for God to witness to some truth or testify to someone's sanctity.

Answer 2

According to the Gospel of Mark, the miracles were apparently not an essential part of Jesus' ministry because, in this gospel, Jesus frequently commanded those he helped not to tell others. If Jesus did not want his miracles to be known, then they could scarcely have been intended either to show that he was the Son of God or to convert many to his teachings. Perhaps they were performed purely out of compassion, although Jesus seems to have been selective, arguing with the Gentile woman whether he should help 'dogs', and in other cases helping just one person when others around were left to suffer.

However, the reporting of the miracles must surely have been an essential part of the reporting of Jesus' ministry. The gospel authors certainly did not attempt to hide the stories of his miracles, and each succeeding gospel reported them as even more impressive than before.

Answer 3

Purpose of Jesus miracles