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

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 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 devils (demons), and those which were lunatick, 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 Jordan'.

A glance at the map shows that thus 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 narratives

says the same thing, `and they went forth, and PREACHED everywhere, 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 devils

(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 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 upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not'. The close

connection between miracles and the testimony is also indicated in Matthew 13:58, `He did not many mighty works

there because of their unbelief'. Matthew 9:35 presents a practical repetition of Matthew 4:23, as the reader can

observe, and should he read in connection with the commission of Matthew 10.

One of the characteristic accompaniments of the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom was the presence of

miracles. One of the characteristic features of the preaching of the mystery is the absence of miracles. We might

notice the extent of the miraculous healing given in Matthew 4:23,24, `healing all manner of sickness and all

manner of disease'; `all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were

possessed with devils (demons), and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them'.

The details are given more fully as the narrative advances, and when we see the complete list of the mighty works

that are recorded in the Gospels we shall begin to realise what a confirmation is given to His ministry; and when we

add to that the testimony of John 21:25, `there are also many other things which Jesus DID, the which, if they should