Jesus' MiraclesSample

The Miracle on Ice

When something amazing or unusual happens, it is common to hear someone call it a miracle. For example, when the U.S. Olympic hockey team, comprised of college players, defeated the four-time gold medalist Soviet team despite incredible odds before defeating Finland for the gold medal in 1980, it was called the “Miracle on Ice.” However, as incredible as that was, it was probably not a miracle.

Before we can know if a miracle has happened, we need to first define what a miracle is. Philosophers say that “a miracle (from the Latin mirari, to wonder) [is] an event that is not explicable by natural causes alone. A reported miracle excites wonder because it appears to require, as its cause, something beyond the reach of human action and natural causes.” (1)

To keep things simple, we will use the following definition: A miracle is an event where a spiritual being supersedes the laws of nature. In this definition, there is the possibility that not only God but also angels and other divine beings (e.g., divine council, sons of God, the gods, the assembly of the holy ones, the council of the holy ones, hosts, the seat of the gods, the mount of assembly, the watchers, the court in judgment, and the Heavenly host) can do miracles. This definition also recognizes that fallen, sinful divine beings like Satan and demons can also perform counterfeit miracles. Simply stated, a miracle is extraordinary, unlike the rest of life, which is ordinary.

Based on our established definition of what a miracle is, have you experienced a miracle in your own life?

(1) https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/miracles/