Claim ID: HIS-IS27

Claim: Jesus' Miracles were Attested by Multiple Witnesses

Summary: Even though miracles are beyond the laws of nature and cannot be proven empirically using scientific methods, their effects are observable and therefore can be authenticated. This is the case of the thousands of miracles Jesus performed.

Description: Miracles clearly violate the laws of nature. As such, they cannot be validated empirically using scientific methods in terms of how they occur. We cannot understand HOW they were done because they are beyond the laws of natural. As such, miracles are considered extraordinary, not ordinary.

However, we do not need empirical proof, because they can be validated by eyewitnesses as having occurred. The outcome of miracles is every bit as observable as any other cause and effect. Therefore, we can regard miracles as authenticate. If we establish that God created the universe from nothing [COS-DS01], then it's reasonable to assume that miracles are possible. Simply put, a miracle is the supernatural intervention of God where God operates outside the laws of nature he created.

Those that witnessed Jesus' teaching and miracles were astonished and amazed. This was the normal reaction of people who encountered Jesus. When Jesus healed the paralytic in Mark 2, the people were beside themselves with amazement and wonder.

And he (the paralytic) rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" (Mark 2:12).

This is most clearly evidenced by the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44). In this account, Martha states Lazarus has been dead for four days. Her family and neighbors certainly knew this to be true. Yet, in spite of this fact that Lazarus was certifiably dead, Jesus raised him to life. His walking out of the tomb was witnessed by the same people who confirmed he was dead days earlier. His resurrection was sufficient proof that Jesus performed a miracle. They did not need to fully understand HOW it was done.

Essentially, the effects of miracles are observable and therefore irrefutable. Because Jesus' miracles numbered in the thousands (Matthew 4:23-24, John 20:30), they were witnessed by thousands of people.

Resources:

Copyright@2025 Mainstream Apologetics