...and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. - Lenten meditation 3

And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. (Act 2:43)

One of the characteristics of the early church, much like Jesus’ ministry, was the presence of miracles. Healings took place, demons were cast out, and even the dead were raised. Signs and wonders are now, and always have been a part of the life of the church of Christ.

Jesus performed miracles as proof that he was the messiah, “And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” (Mat 11:4-5) He did not do any of his miracles for the sake of miracles, let’s face it, anyone who healed of an illness, will eventually get sick again, and even those who are raised from the dead, like Lazarus, will eventually have to die again.

The greatest miracle that Jesus performed took place when he took on human flesh, then went to the cross on Calvary. The fact that God became flesh and dwelt among us is a thing about which we should be in awe and wonder, and the early church was. They never lost that sense of wonder, and that was what drew people to them, but there were still miracles.

The Apostles performed the same miracles that they had seen Jesus perform. Peter meeting the beggar at the beautiful gate said, "‘I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.”(Act 3:6-7) There were also accounts of the dead being raised given in the Acts of the Apostles. These are the signs and wonders of which Luke writes, but their purpose was the same as that Jesus’ miracles, they were proof that God had indwelt his church, and salvation had come into the world through Jesus Christ.

The greatest wonder that was taking place in the early church is that a band of disciples that had been cowering in an upper room the day before the Holy Spirit indwelt them on the Day of Pentecost, had been given the power to spread the Gospel to the Roman world that was extremely hostile to the message. And, of course, the greatest wonder of the early church was that people were accepting the message, and coming to faith in Jesus Christ.

The question arises, “Are miracles still present in the church today?” There are those who believe that miracles left the church at the end of the Apostolic Age. The fact is that miracles do still take place when the church comes together in prayer. The sick are healed. Demons are cast out, and even the dead are raised in many parts of the world, especially in the Global South. These signs and wonders, like those of Jesus, and the early church are performed by God for to bring people into his kingdom.

Of course the greatest wonder that the church performs on a regular basis is the wonder that takes place on the altar every time the Eucharist is celebrated. Every time simple bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, we are invited to participate in the greatest wonder. “So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’”(John 6:53-54) It is in the Eucharist where we are able to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus. When we receive the Sacrament, we are following the commandment of Christ, receiving him as a part of our own bodies and souls.

So, should we, like the early church, pray for signs and wonders? Absolutely. But, we should never seek miracles for the spectacle alone.  We should seek that everything that we do in the church be done to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that he offers salvation to all who will believe in him.