Jesus performed somewhere around 37 recorded miracles during His earthly ministry, and John tells us many more went unrecorded. Picking just five feels almost unfair—like trying to choose the most important stars in the sky.
But some miracles stand out because they demonstrate different dimensions of Jesus' authority. These five don't just show Jesus performing spectacular acts. They reveal who He claimed to be: God in flesh, with complete authority over death, nature, physical laws, and ultimately sin itself.
Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
Among all the miracles Jesus performed, raising Lazarus from the dead might be the most dramatic. This wasn't someone who had just died moments before—Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. Jewish tradition held that the soul lingered near the body for three days before departing permanently. By the fourth day, there was absolutely no hope left.
Martha, Lazarus' sister, made this painfully clear when Jesus asked for the tomb to be opened. "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days" (John 11:39).
What Happened
Jesus had delayed coming to Bethany even after hearing that Lazarus was sick. When He finally arrived, both Martha and Mary told Him separately, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Their grief was mixed with confusion—why had Jesus waited?
Standing at the tomb, Jesus gave a short, direct prayer: "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me" (John 11:41-42).
Then Jesus called out: "Lazarus, come out."
John 11:44 records what happened next: "The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth."
Why This Miracle Matters
Death is humanity's ultimate enemy. We can cure diseases, perform surgeries, extend life—but we can't reverse death. Jesus proved He has authority over what defeats everyone else.
This miracle also connects directly to Jesus' own resurrection. He told Martha before raising Lazarus, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). Jesus wasn't just capable of bringing others back from death—He would conquer it permanently through His own resurrection.
The raising of Lazarus so threatened the religious leaders that John 11:53 says, "So from that day on they made plans to put him to death." They recognized that this miracle was too significant to ignore or explain away.
Jesus Feeds the 5,000
The feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels besides the resurrection. That alone suggests its significance.
What Happened
Jesus had tried to withdraw to a desolate place after hearing about John the Baptist's execution. But crowds followed Him on foot from the towns. Matthew 14:14 says, "When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick."
As evening approached, the disciples suggested sending the crowds away to buy food in nearby villages. Jesus responded, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."
The disciples only had five loaves and two fish—a boy's small lunch, according to John's account. Jesus took the food, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples to distribute. Matthew 14:20 records the result: "And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over."
About 5,000 men were fed, not counting women and children. The actual crowd may have been 10,000 to 15,000 people.
Why This Miracle Matters
This miracle demonstrates Jesus' creative power. He didn't just redistribute existing food or find a hidden supply. He created new matter from almost nothing—multiplication on a massive scale.
The twelve baskets of leftovers weren't an accident. They showed that Jesus doesn't provide barely enough to scrape by. He gives abundance. There was more left over than they started with.
Jesus later explained the spiritual meaning in John 6:35: "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." Physical bread satisfies temporarily. Jesus offers permanent spiritual satisfaction.
The crowd was so impressed they wanted to make Jesus king by force. They had seen someone who could solve all their physical problems. But Jesus withdrew because they missed the point—He came to address a deeper hunger than physical need.
Jesus Calms the Storm
After teaching beside the Sea of Galilee all day, Jesus told His disciples to cross to the other side. Mark 4:36 notes that Jesus got into the boat "just as he was," suggesting He was exhausted.
What Happened
A violent storm developed suddenly, as often happened on this body of water surrounded by hills. Waves crashed over the boat, filling it with water. The disciples—several of whom were experienced fishermen who knew these waters—were terrified they would drown.
Jesus was asleep on a cushion in the stern.
They woke Him with panic in their voices: "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"
Jesus stood up and spoke directly to the storm. Mark 4:39 records His words: "Peace! Be still!"
The wind ceased immediately. The waves calmed completely. The sea became perfectly still.
Then Jesus turned to His disciples and asked, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"
Mark 4:41 captures their stunned response: "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
Why This Miracle Matters
The Old Testament repeatedly describes God as the one who controls the sea. Psalm 107:29 says, "He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed." By calming the storm, Jesus claimed divine authority.
Nature doesn't negotiate or consider requests. Wind doesn't listen to commands. Yet when Jesus spoke, the wind and waves obeyed instantly. Creation recognized its Creator's voice.
This miracle also shows Jesus' concern for His followers even when it looks like He's not paying attention. Jesus was asleep during the storm, but He wasn't unaware or uncaring. When the disciples called out, He responded immediately.
The same Jesus who commanded physical storms has authority over the storms in our lives—whether those involve finances, relationships, health, or circumstances that feel overwhelming.
Jesus Walks on Water
This miracle occurred immediately after the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus made His disciples get into a boat and go ahead of Him while He dismissed the crowd and went up on a mountain to pray.
What Happened
During the night, the disciples were straining at the oars against a strong headwind. Between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m., Jesus came to them—walking on the surface of the water.
When they saw Him, they thought He was a ghost and cried out in fear. Jesus immediately said, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid" (Matthew 14:27).
Peter called out, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."
Jesus said, "Come."
Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he became afraid and began to sink. He cried out, "Lord, save me."
Matthew 14:31 says, "Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'"
When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And the disciples worshiped Jesus, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God" (Matthew 14:33).
Why This Miracle Matters
Walking on water defies every physical law we understand. Water doesn't support human weight. Gravity pulls us down. Jesus ignored both principles completely.
This miracle shows that Jesus isn't bound by the natural laws He created. He has authority over the physical world in ways we don't.
Peter's attempt to walk on water teaches something important too. When he focused on Jesus, he did the impossible. When he looked at the circumstances—the wind and waves—he sank. Faith in Jesus enables what seems impossible. Fear of circumstances causes failure.
Jesus' immediate response to Peter's cry is also significant. He didn't wait or hesitate. He reached out and caught Peter right away. When we're sinking, Jesus doesn't stand back and lecture us. He reaches out and saves us first.
Jesus' Resurrection
Without question, the resurrection is the most important miracle in history. All of Christianity stands or falls on whether Jesus actually rose from the dead.
What Happened
Jesus was crucified on Friday afternoon. He died around 3:00 p.m. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took His body, wrapped it in linen cloths with spices, and placed it in a new tomb. A large stone was rolled in front of the entrance.
Because Jesus had predicted He would rise on the third day, the religious leaders asked Pilate to secure the tomb. Guards were posted, and a Roman seal was placed on the stone. Breaking that seal meant death.
Early Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and other women went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty except for the linen cloths lying there.
An angel told them, "He is not here, for he has risen, as he said" (Matthew 28:6).
Over the next 40 days, Jesus appeared to His followers multiple times—to Mary Magdalene, to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, to Peter, to the eleven disciples together, to more than 500 people at once, and to His brother James. Thomas, who had doubted, touched Jesus' wounds and declared, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28).
Why This Miracle Matters Most
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:17, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins."
The resurrection proves everything Jesus claimed about Himself. He said He was God's Son. He said He had authority to forgive sins. He said He would rise from the dead. The resurrection confirms all of it.
Death is the consequence of sin. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death." By conquering death, Jesus proved He had conquered sin. His resurrection makes our resurrection possible too.
Every other religious leader is dead. Their tombs can be visited. Jesus' tomb is empty because He's alive.
The disciples were completely transformed after seeing the risen Jesus. They had hidden in fear after the crucifixion. After the resurrection, they boldly proclaimed Jesus even when threatened with death. People don't die for what they know is a lie.
The resurrection isn't just another miracle in a list. It's the miracle that makes sense of all the others. Jesus raised Lazarus to show He had power over death, but Lazarus died again eventually. Jesus rose permanently, conquering death once and for all.
Why These Five Miracles Matter Together
These five miracles cover Jesus' complete authority:
Authority over death: Raising Lazarus showed Jesus could bring back someone who had been dead for days.
Authority over provision: Feeding 5,000 showed Jesus could create what was needed from almost nothing.
Authority over nature: Calming the storm showed creation obeyed His voice.
Authority over physical laws: Walking on water showed natural limitations didn't apply to Him.
Authority over sin and death permanently: The resurrection proved His power wasn't temporary—He defeated humanity's ultimate enemies.
Each miracle also serves as evidence for Jesus' claims. He didn't just say He was God's Son. He backed up His words with actions that only God could perform.
John explained why he wrote about Jesus' miracles: "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:30-31).
These miracles weren't performed to impress crowds or gain followers. They revealed who Jesus is and what He came to do—save people from sin and death.
The same Jesus who performed these miracles is alive today. He still has authority over death, provision, nature, physical laws, and sin. What seemed impossible to the disciples—catching fish after failing all night, feeding thousands with almost nothing, walking on water—became possible when Jesus was involved.
That hasn't changed. The impossible becomes possible when Jesus is in it.
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