Semeion -- A sign.  Used chiefly by John.

Teras -- A wonder, a prodigy, something which strikes terror.

John 4:48 and Acts 2:22 are the only references to Christ, the

remaining fourteen occurrences are used of false Christs, the apostles

and Moses.

Ergon -- A work.  The miracles are spoken of as the work of God, good

works, and works which none other man did.

Eudoxia -- Glorious things (Luke 13:17).

Paradoxia -- Strange things (Luke 5:26).

Thaumasia -- Wonderful things (Matt. 21:15).

Many of the miracles of Christ were miracles of healing.  Never did He

work a miracle of judgment upon a son of man.  The withered fig -tree and the

destruction of the herd of swine are the nearest approaches to miracles of

judgment, but in neither case did they touch a human being.  On the contrary,

the blind receive their sight, the dumb speak, the deaf hear, lepers are

cleansed, and infirmities are cured.  Even the dead are brought back to life

again, thousands are fed with a few loaves and fishes, and the marriage at

Cana is graced by His miraculous provision.  The winds and the waves obey the

voice of the Lord, the fish of the sea yield themselves to the net, or to pay

the tribute at His command; demons and evil spirits are cast out and the

possessed set free.  On two occasions the Lord passed through a crowd unseen.

The first record of miracles in the Gospels is that of Matthew 4:23,24:

`And Jesus went about all Galilee, Teaching in their synagogues, and

Preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and Healing all manner of sickness

and all manner of disease among the people.  And His fame went

throughout all Syria: and they brought unto Him all sick people that

were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were

possessed with demons, and those which were lunatic, and those that had

the palsy; And He Healed Them'.

The result of these mighty works was that:

`there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from

Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond

A glance at the map shows that early in the Lord's ministry His mighty

works were known through the length and breadth of the land.  It is important

to observe the setting in which these miracles were wrought.  The miracles

were not mere exhibitions of power, neither were they performed to strike

terror into the observers, for they were all of one character, viz., miracles

of healing, and attracted followers from all parts of the country.

The miracles formed a supplement, to Teaching and Preaching.  The last

reference to miracles in the Gospel narrative says the same thing, `and they

went forth and Preached every where, the Lord Working with them, and

confirming the Word with signs following' (Mark 16:20).

Again in Matthew 10 we find the same connection, `As ye go, Preach,

saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers,

raise the dead, cast out demons'.  Yet again the necessary association of

preaching and miracles is implied in Matthew 11.  `He departed thence to

Teach and to Preach in their cities.  Now when John had heard in the prison

the Works of Christ'.  The object (or at least a prominent object) with which

the miracles were wrought is given in Matthew 11:20, `Then began He to