What was the purpose of Jesus' miracles and signs?
The miracles and signs were performed to prove to the nation of Israel who Jesus was—that He was the Christ, the promised Messiah. Israel was simply to believe that truth as their article of faith. The signs authenticated His identity so they could confess Him as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Les explains that the whole reason Christ performed all these miracles and signs was to prove to the nation of Israel who He was—that He was the Christ, the promised Messiah. Jesus asked the twelve whom men said He was, and they reported Elijah, John the Baptist, or one of the prophets. When He asked whom they said He was, Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Les stresses that this was their article of faith; that is all they were expected to believe. Martha likewise confessed the same at Lazarus’s death, even after Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” The nation was to believe and confess that He was the promised Messiah, because that is what He had revealed.