The miracles prove not only that Jesus is the One anointed and sent to earth by the Almighty God, but they also show who that One is: the One of compassion, care, enlightenment and power.
Christ's miracles bear witness to the fact that He was the One appointed by God to make a New Covenant between God and man: Thus says God the LORD . . . I . . . will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord: that is my name. (Isaiah 42:5-8) Let us now look at the spiritual significance of the miracles of Christ.
Jesus did many miracles, which are described in the four gospels, but not all His miracles have been recorded. One of His apostles writes: many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:30,31)
Jesus claimed of His miracles: the works which the Father hath given me to finish . . . bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. (John 5:36) When John the Baptist underwent much persecution, so much so that even the faith of even this great prophet started to waiver, he sent messengers to Jesus. Jesus then performed many miracles to reassure John: in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. (Luke 7:21-22)
Jesus did these miracles not by His own power, but by the power of His Father: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God (the Father) among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God (the Father) did by him. (Acts 2:22)
The Father performed these miracles in response to Jesus' prayers. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead: Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. (John 11:41) The action of the Father wrought all the miracles. We learn this from Jesus’ words: the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10)
The raising of Lazarus was perhaps Jesus' greatest miracle before the cross. It is recorded in John 11:43,44: he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. This miracle not only shows the power of God and the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. It also attests the spiritual truth which Jesus taught in conjunction with this miracle when He said: I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. (John 11:25)
Another spiritual truth to be taught by Jesus' miracles, is that He has the authority of the Father to forgive sins. Jesus says: But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way. (Mark 2:10,11)
Miracles of healing show Jesus' compassion: Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. (Matthew 14:14) I think that it is the devil rather than God who normally causes sickness, because it would seem somewhat self-defeating for God to undo what He had done in the first place by healing (unless it was a temporary punishment). Sickness is not necessarily related to sin or demon possession but it may be attributable to the devil as we read in the book of Job, where the devil brought sickness upon the best man on earth.
Some may wonder why God did not lock up the devil long ago and thus eliminate much suffering on earth. The answer to this is that if this world was complete utopia it would be more difficult to learn morals and faith. Nothing any person did would be able to add to or subtract from the complete utopia which God had created. Nothing anybody did wrong would matter. If anyone did something wrong like shoot and kill someone, God would raise them to life straight away so it wouldn't matter. Mothers would not have to watch out for their children because nothing could happen to them. In short, life would seem less meaningful and we would never learn the importance and meaning of loving and caring for one another.
We were made in the image of God to teach us of God and His ways, through our interactions with God and other people. If life on earth became a meaningless utopia, we would not be able to understand how to love and honour God, nor could we understand His love and care for us. How could God protect us from danger if there were no dangers? What need would there be for childlike faith in God for the future, if today was as perfect as the next world? Adversity can teach us things and can have a good effect upon our character. If it were removed, then we would not be able to be taught many lessons from God, and so might become stubborn and proud. We should also remember that sufferings in this world are only of very short duration compared with the time scale of eternity.
Christ's casting out of demons demonstrated that He, as King, had the power to overcome the kingdom of darkness. He said: if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. (Luke 11:20) Today wherever Christ's kingdom is, Satan is overpowered, and wherever Christ is, there is His Kingdom, and He said: where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I. (Matthew 18:20)
Jesus also possessed supernatural discernment. He was able to recognise the character of Nathanael, having never previously met him, saying to him: Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! (John 1:47) To demonstrate that this was not a guess Jesus told Nathanael where He was when he was told of Jesus: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. (John 1:48) Yet this was out of Jesus' natural sight. This miraculous knowledge so amazed Nathanael that he said to Christ: thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (John 1:49)
Jesus also gave sight to the blind: he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam . . . He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. (John 9:6,7) Jesus used this miracle to show that He has the power to give spiritual sight in the general sense, saying: I am the light of the world. (Verse 5) So Jesus is able to open our minds to understand the Scriptures and spiritual truths. This spiritual enlightenment delivers one from bondage to sin and legality.
God's care provides for our needs, such as our daily bread. Jesus illustrated this when He said: I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. (Matthew 15:32) This chapter of Matthew goes on to describe how God performed a miracle to multiply seven loaves and a few fishes until they fed 4,000 men, plus women and children, with seven large baskets left over. It is clear that this miraculous feeding and the similar one described in Matthew 14, are meant to teach us of God's provision for us. Jesus rebukes His disciples for worrying excessively about their shortage of food, saying: O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets ye took up? (Matthew 16:8-10)
These miracles also teach us a spiritual truth; that Jesus is the bread of life: the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. (John 6:33) This speaks of the spiritual satisfaction gained by doing the will of God as we follow Jesus. He said: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (Verse 35)
Some of the greater miracles were not for all people to see, but God chose enough witnesses for us to be convinced, if we honestly search the scriptures. The transfiguration (Matthew 17) and the raising of Jairus' daughter from the dead (Luke 8:51-55) were only for Peter, James and John to witness. This should give us an incentive to be faithful like Peter, James, and John, so we can receive greater illumination.
In the miracle of the calming of the storm, Jesus shows not only His power over the elements, but also His care for us and His willingness to protect us from danger until it is time for us to dwell with God: And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we are perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4:37-41)
Jesus' disciples had not yet understood who He was, but later they were to learn of His greatness and power; that He even had a part in the creation.