THIRTY-SEVEN/EIGHT MIRACLES OF JESUS

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By Akin Ojumu

Most people hold the view that there are thirty-seven distinct miracles performed by the Lord Jesus Christ recorded in the Bible. While that’s definitely accurate, I’m one of those who believe there are actually thirty-eight of them; if you consider the fact that Christ, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, raised Himself from the dead. And there are several Scriptures that support that position.

John 2:18-19
“So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.””

John 5:21-23
“For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.”

John 10:17-18
“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

While there are many other miracles that Christ did that were not recorded in the Bible, Apostle John tells us the reason why these thirty-eight miracles are documented.

John 20:30-31
“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.”

This commentary is simply a catalog of all the miracles in the order of their occurrence. All we’ve done here is to list, chronologically, all the signs and wonders as recorded in the Bible.

In reviewing these miracles and how they are recorded in the Bible, there are a lot of ways to dissect them. But the focus of this commentary will be limited to a few of the things that jump out.

Miracles that are recorded in all the four Gospels
1) Only 2 of the miracles are recorded in all the 4 Gospel Books. These are the Feeding of the 5,000 plus women and Children and the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Miracles that are recorded in only one of the four Gospels
1) The Book of Matthew records 3 miracles not found in the other 3 Gospels
2) The Book of Mark records 2 miracles not found in the other 3 Gospels
3) The Book of Luke records 2 miracles not found in the other 3 Gospels
4) The Book John records 6 miracles not found in the other 3 Gospels

Total number of miracles recorded in each of the four Gospels
1) Matthew records 23 miracles
2) Mark records 21 miracles
3) Luke records 22 miracles
4) John records 9 miracles

Jesus Turns Water into Wine at the Wedding in Cana
John 2:1-11

Jesus Heals an Official’s Son at Capernaum in Galilee
John 4:43-54

Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit from a Man in Capernaum
Mark 1:21-27
Luke 4:31-36

Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-Law Sick with Fever
Matthew 8:14-15
Mark 1:29-31
Luke 4:38-39

Jesus Heals Many Sick and Oppressed at Evening
Matthew 8:16-17
Mark 1:32-34
Luke 4:40-41

First Miraculous Catch of Fish on the Lake of Gennesaret
Luke 5:1-11

Jesus Cleanses a Man with Leprosy
Matthew 8:1-4
Mark 1:40-45
Luke 5:12-14

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Paralyzed Servant in Capernaum
Matthew 8:5-13
Luke 7:1-10

Jesus Heals a Paralytic Who was Let Down from the Roof
Matthew 9:1-8
Mark 2:1-12
Luke 5:17-26

Jesus Heals a Man’s Withered Hand on the Sabbath
Matthew 12:9-14
Mark 3:1-6
Luke 6:6-11

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son from the Dead in Nain
Luke 7:11-17

Jesus Calms a Storm on the Sea
Matthew 8:23-27
Mark 4:35-41
Luke 8:22-25

Jesus Casts Demons into a Herd of Pigs
Mathew 8:28-33
Mark 5:1-20
Luke 8:26-39

Jesus Heals a Woman in the Crowd with an Issue of Blood
Matthew 9:20-22
Mark 5:25-34
Luke 8:42-48

Jesus Raises Jairus’ Daughter Back to Life
Matthew 9:18, 23-26
Mark 5:21-24, 35-43
Luke 8:40-42, 49-56

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
Matthew 9:27-31

Jesus Heals a Man Who Was Unable to Speak
Matthew 9:32-34

Jesus Heals an Invalid at Bethesda
John 5:1-15

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Plus Women and Children
Matthew 14:13-21
Mark 6:30-44
Luke 9:10-17
John 6:1-15

Jesus Walks on Water
Matthew 14:22-33
Mark 6:45-52
John 6:16-21

Jesus Heals Many Sick People in Gennesaret as they Touch His Garment
Matthew 14:34-36
Mark 6:53-56

Jesus Heals a Gentile Woman’s Demon-Possessed Daughter
Matthew 15:21-28
Mark 7:24-30

Jesus Heals a Deaf and Dumb Man
Luke 7:31-37

Jesus Feeds Four Thousand Plus Women and Children
Matthew 15:32-39
Mark 8:1-13

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida
Mark 8:22-26

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind by the Pool of Siloam by Spitting in His Eyes
John 9:1-12

Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit
Matthew 17:14-20
Mark 9:14-29
Luke 9:37-43

Jesus Pays Temple Tax from Money Plucked Out of a Fish’s Mouth
Matthew 17:24-27

Jesus Heals a Blind and Mute Demoniac
Matthew 12:22-23
Luke 11:14-23

Jesus Heals a Woman Who Had Been Crippled for 18 Years
Luke 13:10-17

Jesus Heals a Man with Dropsy on the Sabbath
Luke 14:1-6

Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers on the Way to Jerusalem
Luke 17:11-19

Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead in Bethany
John 11:1-45

Jesus Restores Sight to Blind Bartimaeus in Jericho
Matthew 20:29-34
Mark 10:46-52
Luke 18:35-43

Jesus Withers the Fig Tree on the Road from Bethany
Matthew 21:18-22
Mark 11:12-14

Jesus Heals a Servant’s Severed Ear While He is Being Arrested
Luke 22:50-51

The Second Miraculous Catch of Fish at the Sea of Tiberias
John 21:4-11

Jesus is Raised from the Dead
Matthew 28:1-15
Mark 16:1-12
Luke 24:1-12
John 20:1-29

To some, this review of the miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ may seem like nothing more than a mere exercise in scratching an intellectual itch. Nothing can be further from the truth. What I’ve found incredibly useful in my own personal study of the Bible is a systematic approach.

For example, when you know the themes and outlines of Bible Books, it becomes a whole lot easier to study them and properly exegete Scriptural texts. Having a picture of the layout of a Bible Book has a way of stimulating the brain cells when studying the Bible. It’s like following a map that leads to a hidden treasure in a treasure hunt.

Take for instance the Book of Genesis. It’s extremely helpful to know that Genesis is a book about the beginnings. It contains historical events in chapters 1 through 11, and then four key historical people in chapter 12 through 50.

Genesis 1 through 11: Historical Events
Chapters 1 and 2 – The Creation
Chapter 3 through 5 – The Fall
Chapter 6 through 9 – The Great Flood
Chapter 9 through 11 – The Confusion of the Nations

Genesis 12 through 50: Four Key Historical People
Chapter 12 through 24 – Story of Abraham
Chapter 25 through 26 – Story of Isaac
Chapter 27 through 36 – Story of Jacob
Chapter 37 through 50 – Story of Joseph

While this systematic approach to Bible study is boring, tedious, and exerting, I do find it greatly rewarding. It has enriched my understanding of Scriptures. I hope you find it helpful as you strive to rightly divide the Word of Truth.

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