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Is Jesus God? Part 24: "God performed miracles and works through Jesus and others"
By: Shannon Abulnasr © 2017 Dawahmaterials.com
Return to the previous - Part 23: "Jesus wanted God’s will to be done, not his own"
Christians teach that Jesus was God, because he performed miracles. However, others did miracles as well in the Bible, so should we call them God too? Miracles were given to people as signs of God, BY God. God did miracles through them.
Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know.”
God gave Jesus miracles, wonders and signs…they didn’t come from Jesus himself. God performed the miracles THROUGH him, just as he did miracles through other prophets.
Acts 10:38 “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”
God ‘anointed’ Jesus. If he was already God he wouldn’t need to be anointed. It says God was with him, so if he is God, then who is this that is ‘with’ him?
Hebrews 1:2 “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”
Why would an all-powerful God need to create the universe through a man he created (Jesus)?
John 14:10 “Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”
Here Jesus states he is not speaking from himself, that he is speaking on behalf of God, and that God works ‘through’ him. If Jesus is God, then he would be speaking of his own authority, and wouldn’t bother to say such things.
1 Kings 17:22 “The LORD heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived.”
A boy was raised back from death by God.
2 Kings 4:34 “Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy's body grew warm.”
A boy was raised back from death.
2 Kings 13:21 “Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.”
Elijah’s dead bones even raised someone back to life! (By the will of God).
2 Kings 4:43-44 “His attendant said, “What, will I set this before a hundred men?” But he said, “Give them to the people that they may eat, for thus says the LORD, ‘They shall eat and have some left over.’” So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.”
God gave them a miracle of excess food.
2 Kings 5:14 “So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.”
Elisha told him to wash, and he was cured of leprosy, by God, as the prophet had taught.
2 Kings 6:17-20 “Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Strike this people with blindness, I pray.” So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria. When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.”
Elisha healed a blind man, by praying to God for it, not Jesus.
Mark 6:5 “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.”
This verse is saying that Jesus was limited in his ability to do miracles. Is God limited, and unable to do something?
Mark 8:22-25 “And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.”
He we see Jesus couldn’t heal him properly at the first attempt. Is God not able to get it right the first time? This is something done ‘through’ Jesus, not ‘by’ Jesus, but by God. Either way, it is suggesting that God couldn’t do it right the first time.
Matthew 9:8 “When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.”
Jesus was ‘given’ miracles by God.
Matthew 12:28 “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Jesus is not doing it by himself.
Qur’an 2:87 “And We did certainly give Moses the Torah and followed up after him with messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit. But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed.”
Allah gave Mary a miracle, a son (of mankind), to be a messenger and prophet of God, that he gave his message to, for him to share it with the Children of Israel.
Qur’an 2:253 “Those messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, the Son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the Pure Spirit. If Allah had willed, those [generations] succeeding them would not have fought each other after the clear proofs had come to them. But they differed, and some of them believed and some of them disbelieved. And if Allah had willed, they would not have fought each other, but Allah does what He intends.”
Allah sent messengers that he spoke to, a message and miracles and signs to share with others. All messengers are also prophets.
Qur’an 5:110 “[The Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from [killing] you when you came to them with clear proofs and those who disbelieved among them said, "This is not but obvious magic."
Allah tells here that miracles were given to Jesus, FROM God (Allah), same as the Bible taught (that they were from God, not Jesus himself.)
Qur’an 19:19-21 “He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy." She said, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?" He said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.' "
The angel Gabril (Jibril) (the messenger angel) told Mary, that God was giving her a son, through a miracle, that he would be a sign for people to believe he was a messenger and prophet of God. (Jesus was not God because of this miracle virgin birth.)
Qur’an 19:29-30 “So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?" [Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.”
Allah (God) has told us that Jesus was indeed a servant of God, a messenger and prophet.
Qur’an 21:91 “And [mention] the one who guarded her chastity, so We blew into her [garment] through Our angel [Gabriel], and We made her and her son a sign for the worlds.”
Jesus was created by a command, and through the Spirit (Angel Gabriel/Jibril), she was given a son while a virgin to be a miracle for those that knew him, that he was a messenger and prophet sent by God.
Qur’an 43:57-59 “And when the son of Mary was presented as an example, immediately your people laughed aloud. And they said, "Are our gods better, or is he?" They did not present the comparison except for [mere] argument. But, [in fact], they are a people prone to dispute. Jesus was not but a servant upon whom We bestowed favor, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.”
Allah is stating that Jesus was a servant that he anointed (chosen and blessed).
Muhammad pbuh also did miracles by the will of God too. You can read about his miracles here , here , and here .
Continue to the next Section – Part 25: "Jesus’ powers and authority were given to him"
Return to the Main Directory Listing Page for this Series
Recommended Reading:
Bible Corruption Series:
Part 1 – Intro to Bible Version Differences
Part 2 – 1 John 5:7, The Three That Bear Record in Heaven (Comma Johanneum)
Part 3 – John 7:53-8:11, Pericope of the Adulteress
Part 4 – Mark 16:9-20, Resurrection of Jesus
Part 5 – Conflicting Gospels on the Empty Tomb & Ascension of Jesus
Is the Crucifixion of Jesus Really Foretold in the Old Testament?