Many religions claim to have miracles. Many say that their miracles show that God is with them, proving their teaching is true. The problem is that these religions are different and oppose each other. People are confused. They ask, “Is God giving teachings that are working against each other?” They also ask, “What is a true sign from God?”
Anyone who wants the answer to this question should study the miracles in the Bible. Some people call almost anything good or amazing a “miracle.” Because God is who He is, everything He does is powerful, wonderful and good (James 1:17). However, in the Bible God does not call everything He does a “miracle” or a “sign.” Think about God’s work through Jesus. Jesus did important things before He went to the wedding at Cana. He gathered His first disciples, gave Simon a new name, and knew Nathaniel before they met (John 1:40-51). After these things, Jesus changed water into wine in Cana. Yet John clearly says, “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested (showed) his glory. And his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11).
When John called the event at Cana “the first,” he showed that only events of the most unusual power were called “miraculous signs.” Such power stands out clearly. Why? Because it acts far above normal laws of nature. By normal laws of nature man cannot turn water into wine, walk on water, or change weather. Humans cannot raise the dead.
Natural laws never change, and so some people forget the most important fact about them: God Himself created the laws of nature. When we understand this fact, it is easy to understand that the same God who made nature’s laws can also control them. He can do this for His own special reasons, such as when He wants to prove (“confirm”) that a message is from Him (Mark 16:17-20; Hebrews 2:1-4).
Think, for example, about healing. Sick people often get well. God usually works this healing through natural means that are slow. But when God healed through His Son, He always healed instantly, not slowly. He immediately healed every kind of illness, even sicknesses that no doctor on earth could ever heal. This proved that God was with Jesus (Acts 2:22; 10:38).
Many people of many different religions claim to do “miracles” like Jesus did. You can test these claims. Just compare them with the true miracles in the Bible. Are all the healings instantly successful? Do they heal every kind of illness, even the ones that doctors never can cure? Do they show the different kinds of complete power over nature that Jesus showed?
On the other hand, Satan does speak against God’s word. Satan even tries to use “miracles” to lead people astray (Matthew 7:21-23; 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:13; 16:14; 19:20). That is why the Bible commands us to test those who claim to use great powers from God (1 John 4:1; Revelation 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). Their teachings can easily be tested because God has already spoken clearly and fully through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2; 2:1; 2 Peter 1:3; Jude 3). Their miracles can easily be tested because God has already given clear descriptions of His true miracles.
Remember that the greatest sign from God to the human race was this: Jesus was crucified and died on a cross, was buried, but came back to life again by God’s power. All of biblical prophecy shows this truest miracle to anyone who has eyes to see.