Miracles as signs.

Miracles as signs.

Talking always about the Koran not only the disciples of Jesus would have been liars if Jesus was not resurrected but the fourty days period between the resurrection and the ascension would have been only folklore with Jesus going trough walls and going in Heaven in a cloud. Leaving aside this strange and blasphemous idea let's take a look at the signs that Jesus said would have followed His followers and Muhammad is supposed to be one of them because He believed in Jesus, no totally but he said that Jesus was the greatest prophet until his time.

From the book "The New Testament, its background, growth, and content" by Bruce M. Metzger pag 132

The Gospels report that Jesus wrought many wonderfoul cures on men's bodies and exercised on occasion an extraordinary control over what we cal "inanimate nature"." These deeds are not regarded as interferences with so called laws of nature, but as tokens of a new order of life inaugurated by the coming of Christ.

Accounts of 37 miraclers of Jesus are included in the 4 Gospels. Of this number 18 are narrated in one Gospel only, six in two Gospels, 12 in three Gospels and one ( the feeding of the 5.000) in all 4 Gospels.

Luke 7:19
19 ¶ And John calling [unto him] two of his disciples sent [them] to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

Luke 7:20
20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

Luke 7:21
21 And in that same hour he cured many of [their] infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many [that were] blind he gave sight.

Luke 7:22
22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

Luke 7:23
23 And blessed is [he], whosoever shall not be offended in me.

The implication of these words is that the miracles are not a mere addendum to the Messianic work of Jesus, but are an integral part of it.

They attest the beginning of the era of salvation in which, according to Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 35:3-6) illness and misery are to cease and liberation from sin is to become a reality.

Other passages in the Gospels also preserve Jesus' own testimony concerning his powers of healing and exorcism. For example, both Matthew and Luke record Jesus' reply to those who had charged that His ability to effect exorcism was derived from Beelzebub (Satan)

Matthew 12:24
24 But when the Pharisees heard [it], they said, This [fellow] doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

Matthew 12:25
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Matthew 12:26
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

Matthew 12:27
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast [them] out? therefore they shall be your judges.

Matthew 12:28
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

Then the Kingdom of God is come unto you!!!!!!

Luke 13:32
32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third [day] I shall be perfected.

Likewise, when Jesus sends out his disciples on a mission, he commands them to heal the sick and cast out evil spirits (Mark 3:14-15, Luke 10:9) clearly a further confirmation of his having performed such thing himself.

Even Jesus' enemies acknowledged that he possessed more than human power. Though they attributed it to his being in league with the Devil ( Matthew 12:24 Luke 11:18), or to his utilizing black magic , they did not deny the reality of His power.

All the strata of the Gospels identified by literary criticism testify to Jesus' ability to work miracles. Even the narratives of Jesus' temptations (Matthew 4:1 -11 Luke 4:2-17) presuppose that he had thi power. We are not tempted to change stones into bred, because we cannot change them. Such a proposal can be a temptation only to one who has the possibility to do it. It is incredible that anyone should have told such a story about Himslef to persons who knew that he had never done a mighty work; it is equally incredible that anyone should invent such a story about a person who had never been known to do anything miraculous.

Finally, it should be observed that to the Gospel writers the miracles have a close connction with Jesus' announcing the coming of God's kingdom. Jesus' works of healing were not merely acts of compassion, though he was certainly concerned about human suffering. The deepest meaning of the miracles lies in their testimony to the reality of God's love and power that Jesus brings into human life.

Luke 11:20
20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

Because his miracles were signs through which the kingdom was revealed, in its preaching the early church recounted the deeds as well as the works of Jesus in order to awaken saving faith in Hin as the true Messiah of God.

Muhammad had anything to do with miracles because he was not a follower of Jesus because Jesus declared

Matthew 10:7
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 10:8
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

and they saw the results.

Mark 6:7
7 ¶ And he called [unto him] the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

Mark 6:13
13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed [them].

so it is very easy to see that  the followers of Jesus had His power. Muhammad didn't work any miracle and his followers too, conclusion they are not real followers of Jesus, in fact they deny His divinity, His atonement and His resurrection.