According to John’s Gospel, “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book” (John 20:30). These signs are miracles, and we learn from John that he has given us a selective, not exhaustive, account.
Looking at the miracles that the Gospel writers do report, we can put them in four categories. Jesus performed nature miracles, exorcisms, healings, and resurrections.
Nature Miracles
In the nature miracles, we are watching the Son of Man exercise dominion over creation. Such miracles include when he stilled a storm upon the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35–41), when he fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Mark 6:30-44), when he fed four thousand people with seven loaves of bread (Mark 8:1–10), when he walked on water (Mark 6:45–52), when he enabled the disciples to catch a net-breaking number of fish (Luke 5:1–11), and when he changed the Cana wedding water to wine (John 2:1–11).
Exorcisms
The demonic powers were subjected to the authority of Jesus. The Gospel narratives give a variety of locations for the exorcisms, but the outcome is the same: Jesus sets the possessed person free. These exorcisms include the story of the man in the synagogue (Mark 1:21–28), the man in the Gerasenes who lived among the tombs (Mark 5:1–20), the man who was afflicted by both demon possession and muteness (Matt. 9:32–34), the man who was afflicted by demon possession as well as muteness and blindness (Matt. 12:22), the Canaanite woman’s daughter who was severely oppressed by a demon (Matt. 15:21–28), and the boy whose demon possession was causing him terrible physical suffering (Matt. 17:14–20).
Healings
The “healing” miracles are those where the person had some sort of malady, either from birth or that developed later, and Jesus brings restoration. Jesus healed people such as lepers (Matt. 8:1–4; Luke 17:11–19), the blind (Matt. 9:27–31; John 9:1–41), paralytics (Mark 2:1–12; John 5:1–9), the deaf (Mark 7:31–37), an official’s sick son (John 4:46–54), Peter’s fever-ridden mother-in-law (Mark 1:29–31), the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25–34), the mute (Matt. 9:32–33; Matt. 12:22; Mark 7:32–37), the man with the withered hand (Mark 3:1–6), the man who had dropsy (Luke 14:1–6), and the severed ear of the high priest’s servant (Luke 22:50–51).
Resurrections
The earthly ministry of Jesus included miracles by which he overcame death. Those whom he raised would die again at some point, because they did not receive a glorified body. But these resurrections, even if temporal, were glimpses of the coming hope of death’s defeat. The Gospel accounts report that Jesus raised a young boy from the dead (Luke 7:11–17), a young girl (Mark 5:21–24), and his friend Lazarus (John 11:38–44). According to Matthew, at the death of Jesus, “tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many” (Matt. 27:52–53).
All Four Categories In a Row
After considering the four kinds of miracles Jesus performed, we can notice a section of Mark’s Gospel where each category is represented.
In Mark 4:35–5:43, we see a nature miracle (Mark 4:35–41), an exorcism (Mark 5:1–20), a physical healing (Mark 5:25–34), and a resurrection (Mark 5:35–43). I love how Mark has given us that series of stories so that we can see, all in a row, the various and mighty deeds our Savior has performed.