According to Les Feldick, Jesus performed miracles to validate who He was and to prove to the nation of Israel that He was the promised Messiah.
Les Feldick says the whole reason for Christ's signs and wonders was to show Israel that Jesus was the Christ. Compassion was real, but the main thrust was identity. Israel should have recognized that no one but the Messiah could perform such miracles, yet they rejected Him.
Matthew 11:4-5 — Jesus Himself cites His miracles as evidence to John the Baptist that He is the One who was promised.
1 Corinthians 1:22 — Paul explains that the Jews require a sign, showing why miracles were the expected proof of the Messiah.
When John the Baptist asked whether Jesus was the One to come, Jesus answered by pointing to His works: "Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them" (Matthew 11:4-5). These miracles were presented as visible proof of identity. The Apostle Paul later explained that "the Jews require a sign" (1 Corinthians 1:22), indicating that signs were exactly the evidence Israel expected for the Messiah.
Les Feldick is emphatic that the purpose of Jesus' miracles was to validate who He was. In one class, when he asked why Jesus performed all these miracles, a student answered, "to validate who He was." Les adopted that phrase as the perfect answer. He says the whole reason for all of Christ's signs and miracles was to prove to the nation of Israel that He was the Christ, the promised Messiah. While compassion was certainly present, it was not the main thrust. Israel should have understood that only the Messiah could do these works, yet their unbelief led them to reject Him.
Les Feldick says many people miss the purpose of the miracles because they think Jesus performed them only out of compassion for the sick and blind. He acknowledges compassion was certainly true, but he insists the main thrust of the signs and wonders was to prove to the nation of Israel who He was.
Les explains that Israel could not comprehend that a carpenter's son from Nazareth was the promised Messiah. Nathanael's question—"Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?"—shows this skepticism. Yet they should have understood that no one but the Messiah could perform the miracles He was doing. Les parallels this with Moses, who "supposed his brethren would have understood" that God had sent him to deliver them, but they did not.
When John the Baptist sent disciples to ask if Jesus was the One, Jesus answered, "Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them" (Matthew 11:4-5). Les says this was to prove to John who He was. The miracles served as visible credentials for the Messiah.
Moses Expected Israel to Understand
Les uses Moses to show that Israel should have recognized their God-appointed deliverer, just as they should have recognized Jesus through His miracles.
To Validate Who He Was
In Les's class, a student gave the answer that Jesus performed miracles "to validate who He was," and Les adopted it as the perfect expression.
Only the Messiah Could Perform These Miracles
Les says Israel should have understood that no one but the Messiah, the Son of God, could perform the miracles Jesus was doing.
Proof to the Nation of Israel
Les states that the whole reason for Christ's miracles and signs was to prove to Israel that He was the Christ, the promised Messiah.
Main Thrust Was Not Compassion
Les corrects the common notion that compassion was the primary reason; the main thrust was to prove to Israel who Jesus was.
Miracles as Proof to John
Les highlights that Jesus answered John the Baptist by citing the miracles—blind receive sight, lame walk, dead raised—as proof of who He was.
Miracles Fulfilled Prophecy
Les says Jesus' miracles, from the first to the resurrection, were to prove to Israel that He was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
Jews Require a Sign
Les notes that the Jews required a sign (1 Corinthians 1:22), and Jesus performed miracles to prove who He was, matching their expectation.
Matthew 11:4-5: Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Jesus uses His miracles as direct evidence of His identity as the promised One.
1 Corinthians 1:22: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
Paul explains why signs were the expected proof for the nation of Israel.
Acts 7:25: For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
Stephen's account of Moses shows the pattern of Israel failing to recognize their God-appointed deliverer.
Les Feldick says Jesus performed miracles to validate who He was—proving to the nation of Israel that He was the promised Messiah, the Christ. Compassion played a part, but the main purpose was identity.
Les acknowledges that Jesus certainly felt compassion, but he says the main thrust of the signs and wonders was to prove to the nation of Israel that Jesus was the Messiah. Compassion was true but not the primary purpose.
When John the Baptist asked if Jesus was the One, Jesus pointed to the miracles: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Les says this was to prove who He was.
Watch the Teaching: Moses, the Ark, and the Second Coming: Unlocking the Prophetic Pattern