“Miracle.” It’s a loaded word. Most of us imagine a paralyzed person jumping for joy, the dead coming back to life, fire coming down from heaven, or an open parking spot close to the door at the grocery store. We crave the bigger than life miracles that look more like a magic trick from David Blaine than the supernatural work of a personal God.
Looking for massive miracles from above can make us miss the supernatural happening all around us. Look at this example in Mark chapter eight. Jesus pulled into a little town called Bethsaida where some people “brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him” (8:22). So far this story is pretty ordinary. Someone in need comes to Jesus for a healing touch. Everyone expected a miracle from Christ. This was what He had become known for across the nation. Jesus would say something wise, touch the person, and everyone would watch the power of God move through a mortal man. Cheers would erupt. The person would dance. God would be glorified.
Jesus flips the script with this particular person. They take a little road trip “outside of the village.” Then Jesus “spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him” (8:23). Weird, right? Just you wait. Jesus asks if the man can see anything, he stutters, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” (8:24). This is one of the only times in scripture we see a partial healing. Jesus presses his palms onto the man’s eyes once more. Finally, after a few steps, the man sees vivid colors and the face of Jesus.
You’ve heard it said that “the Lord works in mysterious ways.” This scripture suggests that He also works in weird ways. We crave big, dramatic miracles, but God also moves quietly or even strangely.
Don’t be blind to a miracle just because it’s small, strange, private, or unexpected. Vision restored is a miracle, but so is hope restored. Walking on water is a miracle, but so is walking with Jesus through depression. A demon leaving a possessed person is a miracle, but so is bitterness leaving a healing heart. A dead man dancing is a miracle, but so is a person discovering new life in Christ.
There are miracles all around you. You just might have to look twice.