General Information

The miracle is a supernatural event and is called supernatural, because the effect is beyond the productive power of nature and implies an intervention outside of the naturally possible.

The miracles performed by Jesus were of six different types as revealed in the Holy Gospels. These six types are:

• the changing of one substance into another,
  
• the creation of something out of nothing,
  
• the resurrection of the dead,
  
• the healing of the sick,
  
• the exorcism of evil spirits,
  
• the direct control of natural phenomena.

The Resurrection

The greatest miracle of all, the one that does not really fit the six categories but surpasses them by many orders of magnitude, is the resurrection of Jesus Christ Himself by His own powers, proving beyond doubt that Jesus is indeed God.

Naturally, this statement is most significant to Christians, since this belief only applies to those who are believers in Christ.

The Wedding at Cana

Mary, her son Jesus and His disciples were all invited to a wedding at Cana. The wine ran short and Marie brings this fact to the attention of Jesus, who says: “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers: “Do whatever he tells you.”

Now there were six stone water jars for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them: “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them: “Draw some out now and bring it to the headwaiter.” So they brought some to him. Tasting the wine, he was astonished at its quality, and brought word of his pleasure to the groom. Only Mary, Jesus, His disciples and the servants knew whence it had come.

We notice here in the Holy Gospel according to Saint John the Apostle, chapter 2, verses 1 to 12, that Jesus had somehow changed water into wine, something that could never happen naturally. Yet here, in the first of many miracles to come, Jesus showed his mastery over nature. But, more than anything else, Jesus showed God's solicitude for his creatures, in that even in material things, he is prepared to help when properly requested to do so.

Other Reported Examples

• The multiplication of bread and fish, including the fish catch of Saint Peter and his crew.
  
• Resuscitation of the dead, including Jaires daughter, the boy on the bier and Lazarus.
  
• Healing of the sick, including the woman with a flow of blood, the lepers and the man born blind.
  
• Exorcism of evil spirits in many cases.
  
• Direct control of natural phenomena, such as walking on water and calming the storm at sea.