“When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.” – Luke 23:8
This encounter between Herod Antipas and Jesus is a perfect illustration of the limitations of miracles. Herod wasn’t seeking God. He wasn’t interested in salvation. He didn’t want to hear and understand the message of Jesus. He just wanted a show! Something to amuse and amaze him. Something he could talk about at parties.
This was a common reaction during the earthly ministry of Jesus. Crowds flocked to Him to see or benefit from His miracles. But few truly listened or believed with life-changing faith. Such is the surprisingly limited impact of miracles. Miracles certainly can draw a crowd. Those most directly touched by them may well come to believe. But they don’t tend to produce widespread faith. That typically comes through the teaching and proclamation of the good news. Jesus understood and lamented this reality during His time on earth.
In all likelihood, this is why God remains strategic about when He performs miracles. God is always present and always at work in the world. But bringing people to faith is primarily accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit in response to the sharing, teaching, and preaching of the Gospel. Miracles have their place, especially where God’s Kingdom is first breaking into an area. However, God knows that miracles are far less impactful from an eternal perspective than we imagine.
Can God work miracles? Absolutely! Does God work miracles? Certainly! Is it right to pray for and celebrate miracles? Of course! But never forget that it is the personal sharing of the Gospel that is God’s top way to bring people to the greatest miracle of all – becoming new creation as a gift of grace given through faith in Jesus Christ! #FollowJesus