A Reader Wonders!

I received this complex, circular conversation, from an inquiring mind:

“This HOT morning I am pondering Mystery.  Sometimes when reading the Bible one is told to realize that the message rather than the literal truth is the important point.  

Here’s my ponder about your July 11 blog on Miracles.  Are the miracles related to Jesus meant to be taken as literal truth or as a message or insight with deeper meaning?  Asked another way: How does someone decide a story is a literal truth?  How do we know when to set aside the ‘oh wow’ or ‘I wish that would happen to me’ of a miraculous story to look for a deeper message?  

A related question:  It’s clear some people seem to need to believe in miracles as a reason something happened.  Cultures (especially in the past) have relied on miracles for explanation when they come to the edge of their experience or understanding. But, as time goes on, these miracles are explained with a deeper understanding of how things actually work under the laws of nature or biology. 

My take away on the notion on this pondering:  

Perhaps miracles are welcomed to calm the fears or answer complex questions; handy for those who need firm or final answers. Some accept answers of the miraculous as ‘enough’.  No more questions needed.  Faith is as far as some need to go.

For others, Miracles spur some to ask more questions.  Miracles are expressions at the source of the wisdom to keep asking questions; to go deeper into the intricacies of life. So many claimed miracles turn out to have explanations, beautiful and exquisite to discover.  The human mind is a miracle waiting to be explored.”

My response:

I am not exactly sure how to approach your thoughts.  What I think of first is that the word “miracle.”  The term, miracle, is not used in the Bible.  The only translation that used the actual word, miracle, is the  King James.  However, most Bible scholars agree that the King James Bible it not an actual translation but more of a paraphrase.

The English word, miracle, is used to describe the “wonders,” and “signs” that occurred in books of the Bibile.

“Wonders,” is the word used mostly in the Old Testament.  They were omens in the form of natural phenomena, or unusual manifestations. 

Phenomena is an extraordinary happening, or event. That made an impression, and the knowledge they mediate. 

The author of these extraordinary manifestations is God.  And it is his historical power displayed as he made decisions, for the present, that also determine the future. (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament pages 1170 and 1171)

These “wonders” are not always named.  They were used to get people’s attention.  Their attention, to remind them, of God and God’s importance, authority, and mighty power in their  midst.  

Some wonders were small and, almost, not noticeable.  Like: God speaking out of a burning and the bush was not on fire(Ex.3).  Or when Elisha healed Naaman by simply having him wash in the River Jordan seven time(2Kings 5).   Or God raining manna down from heaven on the Hebrew people wondering in the wilderness.(Ex. 16)

Some wonders were huge like: the Plaques that God, through Moses, brought upon Pharaoh (Ex. 5-11).  Or the crossing of the Red Sea (Ex.14).   Just to name a few.  

In the New Testament the word used, for what we call a miracle, is “sign” or “signs.”

A sign is a “a mark,” an indication, an impression that conveys insight and/or clarity.  A “sign” often goes together with a “wonder.”

Example:

3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." 4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”…. "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him." 12 The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right." 13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. 15 For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.(Jn. 11)

These signs, like the one above, were many in Jesus day.  From healing a skin disease, to feeding thousands with very little fish and bread, to raising people from death, to Jesus coming back from the dead.  All indications that offered insight into God’s active presence on this earth.

All meant to help people believe in God’s almighty and merciful power and authority. 

All conveyed through analogy, metaphor, story or actual happening.  

One long, and detailed, book up for interpretation, discussion.  A place for us to ponder and debate. 

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1)

And, we can believe it, or Not.

I’ll have to address your questions below at another time.

 “How does someone decide a story is a literal truth?  How do we know when to set aside the ‘oh wow’ or ‘I wish that would happen to me’ of a miraculous story to look for a deeper message?”