Sunday School Lesson: Jesus' Miracles
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The Main Takeaway – Jesus’ miracles attest to His divinity, His glory, that He is the great Prophet promised in Deuteronomy 18:15, and is the Messiah promised through all the prophets.
The Lesson Objective – The children will see Jesus not only in the New Testament but in the Old Testament as well through His miracles and through the prophets. They will be able to match Old Testament prophecies and references to Jesus’ miracles.
Jesus’ Miracles and the Old Testament Shadows and Prophecies about Them
The Old Testament speaks of the coming Messiah and Prophet—Jesus Christ. But not only did the Old Testament predict Jesus would come, Jesus Himself performed miracles throughout ancient times before He put on flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).
Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines prophecy as, “miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future, beyond the power of human sagacity to foresee, discern, or conjecture." The greatest prophecy which threads its way through the entire Old Testament is that of the coming Messiah—Jesus Christ. But not only did the ancient people look forward to His coming, He also worked miracles within their midst as they waited. Jesus was prophesied in the Old Testament, and came in the flesh. He is all throughout the Bible.
An Old Testament biblical type is a prophetic symbol that foreshadows someone or something in the New Testament. Certain Old Testament saints are types of Christ (Moses, Joseph, etc.).
Jesus directly references all things in the Old Testament that testify to Him when He spoke to the disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection (Luke 24:13-27). In verse 27, we learn, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
John 6:30-51 and 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 refer to Christ as the One who led and fed the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. He worked miracles through Moses, including parting the Red Sea to allow the nation of Israel to cross on dry land (Exodus 13:21-14:31). It’s important to remember God is One—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 10:30). So, as we look into Jesus’ miracles as recorded in the New Testament, it’s good to remember He is God and He has worked in people’s lives throughout human history.
The above background helps us understand the purposes of Jesus’ miracles. The primary purpose of Jesus’ miracles was to demonstrate the fact that He was the Messiah promised by God to Israel through the prophets. Therefore, His miracles (signs) reveal His glory and, as John 20:30-31 tells us, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
Jesus’ Miracles and How They Testify of His Glory, that He is the Great Prophet, and the Messiah
Jesus performed many miracles while He walked on the earth. The following twelve miracles serve as highlights to Old Testament shadows and prophecies. When John the Baptist questioned who He was, Scripture tells us, “And He answered them, 'Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them'" (Luke 7:22).
Miracle 1: John 2:1-11 – Jesus turned the water into wine. “This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory. And His disciples believed in Him.”
Old Testament Reference: Amos 9:13, “Look, the days are coming —
this is the LORD’s declaration —
when the plowman will overtake the reaper
and the one who treads grapes,
the sower of seed.
The mountains will drip with sweet wine,
and all the hills will flow with it.”
This prophecy points forward to Jesus Christ the Messiah and the coming Messianic age, when Jesus makes all things new.
Miracle 2: Matthew 15:32-38 – Jesus Fed 4,000 people from seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. “He took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks He broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds” (Matthew 15:36).
Old Testament Reference: Exodus 16:4, “Then the LORD said to Moses, 'I am going to rain bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. This way I will test them to see whether or not they will follow my instructions.'”
The miracle echoes God’s provision for His people, which Jesus mirrors in both the feeding of the 4,000 and 5,000 (Mark 6:33-44).
Miracle 3: John 6:19-21 – Jesus walked on water. “When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened” (verse 19).
Old Testament Reference: Job 9:8, “He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.”
Jesus’ miraculous walk upon the waves of the Sea of Galilee is a direct reference to His divinity.
Miracle 4: John 11:1-44 – Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the dead. “When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go” (verses 43-44).
Old Testament Reference: Isaiah 26:19, “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.”
Jesus' resurrection of Lazarus affirms the promise of the coming kingdom, where all who believe in Jesus will be given eternal life.
Miracle 5: Luke 9:38-43 – Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy.
“While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father” (verse 42).
Old Testament Reference: Isaiah 61:1 –
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”
Jesus is the complete fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies about the coming messiah and all he would do.
Miracle 6: Matthew 17:1-8 – Jesus is transfigured.
“And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light” (verses 1-2).
Old Testament Reference: Exodus 34:29, “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.”
Jesus’ transfiguration is a direct reference to the shining face of Moses when he met with God atop Mt. Sinai. Jesus was not reflecting the glory. He is the glory. Jesus is the greater Moses as promised in Deuteronomy 18:15.
Miracle 7: Matthew 8:14-15 – Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law.
“And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve Him.”
Old Testament Reference: Isaiah 53:4, “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”
Not only will Jesus heal our physical ailments when He returns, but He has healed those who believe in Him spiritually—forever.
Miracle 8: Luke 8:22-25 – Jesus calms a storm.
“And they went and woke him, saying, 'Master, Master, we are perishing!' And He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm” (verse 24).
Old Testament Reference: Psalm 107:23-25,
“Others went to sea in ships,
conducting trade on the vast water.
They saw the LORD’s works,
his wondrous works in the deep.
He spoke and raised a stormy wind
that stirred up the waves of the sea.”
Jesus' works display His sovereignty over all creation. Another reference is Jonah in the boat with the sailors (Jonah 1).
Miracle 9: John 9:1-41 – Jesus heals a man born blind.
“Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (verses 3-5).
Old Testament Reference: Isaiah 35:5,
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;”
All the promises of the Old Testament are fulfilled in Christ and for Christ’s glory (Colossians 1:15-23).
Miracle 10: Luke 8:27-35 - Jesus casts out many demons from a man.
“For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert)” (verse 29)
Old Testament Reference: Isaiah 61:1b, “to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners;”
The demons know the Messiah and shudder at His presence, knowing their end is coming.
Miracle 11: Luke 22:50-51 – Jesus restores a centurion’s ear.
"And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And He touched his ear and healed him.”
Old Testament Reference: Hosea 6:1,
“Come, let us return to the LORD;
for He has torn us, that He may heal us;
He has struck us down, and He will bind us up.”
Once again, we see Jesus’ miracles point to our ultimate healing in Him.
Miracle 12: John 20:1-7 – Jesus is resurrected.
“But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here, for He has risen, as He said” Matthew 28:5-6a).
Old Testament Reference: Psalm 16:10,
“For You will not abandon My soul to Sheol,
or let Your holy one see corruption.”
Because Jesus lives, we who believe in Him will live forever in His presence.
Sunday School Activity about Jesus’ Miracles
Supplies:
- A large piece (12" x 18," for example) of cardstock, Bristol board, or other heavyweight paper
- Red yarn cut into 12” lengths
- Lined white index cards, cut in half via portrait fold
- Glue sticks (washable glue)
- Scissors (for the teacher to use to cut the yarn smaller if needed)
Preparation/Instructions:
- On the cardstock, draw an outline of an open Bible.
- Write the Old Testament prophecy on index cards (one for each student).
- Write Jesus’ miracle fulfillment passage on index cards (one for each student).
- Glue each OT index card onto the left side of the cardstock with space between
- On the right side of the cardstock, glue the miracle passages index cards.
The Outcome:
Children will connect the card that has the prophecy passage to the card that has the fulfillment passage using the red yarn. They will use the glue stick to attach the yarn to the index cards.
One child can read aloud what the prophecy is and another can read aloud the fulfillment in the passage that speaks of Jesus’ “matching” miracle.
The mass of yarn covering the students’ pages will give a visual illustration of how Jesus is present throughout the whole Bible.
Prayer for Sunday School Lessons about Jesus’ Miracles
Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing to us how You are the One that God promised would come. All the Old Testament prophets spoke of You. Thank You for revealing Yourself to us through Your creation and Your Word. Thank You for the miracles that reveal your divinity. Thank You for Who You are, for saving us to be with You forever. We praise Your holy name. Amen.
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