Just as every natural event is the manifestation at a particular place and moment of Nature's total character, so every particular Christian miracle manifests at a particular place and moment the character and significance of the Incarnation.
~ C.S. Lewis, Miracles, p143
Do you believe in miracles? Jesus did. He purposefully initiated miracles throughout his ministry in the villages and winding roads of Judea. The first miracle of Jesus recorded by the Apostle John is at the wedding in the village of Cana, where he turned water into wine. The effect of this miracle on the disciples was astounding - the glory of God shone through this act, and the men and women who witnessed it put their faith in Jesus. That's the power of a miracle.
"Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host," Jesus said, and they did.
When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn't know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, "Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you've saved the best till now!"
This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
John 2v8-11 (The Message)
Does God still do miracles? Sure he does. Just because they don't make it to the 6 o'clock news doesn't mean they don't happen. It takes eyes of faith to see a miracle. And it takes a humble heart to receive a miracle. For those with hard hearts and proud eyes, miracles are few and far between. To receive a miracle is not like being the recipient of a magic trick. The point of miracles was to point to our Father in Heaven - grace and forgiveness and healing and hope were why Jesus intervened in a person's life.
What do miracles look like today? Well, since Jesus isn't walking around the countryside, miracles are not as obvious as they used to be! But the Church is supposed to be the Hands and Feet of Christ - so do miracles occur through the Words and Works of Christians? Sure they do. Grace is a miracle. Forgiveness is a miracle. Life Transformation is a miracle. Love is a miracle. Healing of souls and hearts is a miracle. Enough food for the hungry is a miracle. Helpful hands to the diseased and disabled is a miracle. Welcoming hearts to the disgusting is a miracle.
Too many times miracles get pigeon-holed to great signs and wonders, confusing events that are hard to explain. They lead to arguments and doubt and desires for God to do the fantastic. Jesus refused to do miracles in order to make for a good show. His miracles flowed out of his mission, his identity - he was born out of a miracle, his life was a miracle, and he intended to be a blessing and a sign to everyone he touched. His miracles revealed the glory of God, it prompted people to discover God to be trustworthy, believable, worth putting their faith in.
When the family discovered the need for more wine, they didn't expect a miracle. You rarely get a miracle when you plan for it. Miracles are a gift. From God. Through us. Be open to God. Become a generous gifter. Follow the way of Jesus in loving the unlovable and untouched. It's this kind of life that is able to see and accept miracles.
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