Jesus performed signs and miracles primarily to prove to the nation of Israel that He was the promised Messiah.
According to Les Feldick's teaching, the main thrust of Jesus' signs and miracles was to demonstrate His identity as the Christ to the Jewish people. While He had compassion, the core purpose was evidential — to convince Israel that He was who He claimed to be.
Matthew 16:15-16 — Jesus asks His disciples who they say He is, and Peter confesses He is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Matthew 11:4-5 — Jesus sends word to John the Baptist that the blind receive sight and the dead are raised, as proof that He is the One.
The Gospels record that Jesus performed many miracles, such as healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, and raising the dead (Matthew 11:5). These acts were signs pointing to His identity as the Messiah. In Matthew 16, Jesus asks His disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" and Peter answers, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:13-16). The Bible shows that these miracles were performed before the people of Israel as evidence of who Jesus was.
Les Feldick emphasizes that throughout Jesus' earthly ministry, His signs and miracles were primarily to prove to the nation of Israel that He was the promised Messiah. He notes that while compassion was a factor, the main thrust was evidential. Les points to the pattern of signs in Israel's history, such as Moses' rod becoming a serpent, as a precedent for God using miracles to authenticate His messengers. He also stresses that the Jewish people looked for signs, and Jesus provided them to show He was the Son of God.
Les Feldick explains that God performed signs and miracles for the benefit of the Jew throughout their history, and this continued in Jesus' earthly ministry. He cites Moses' rod turning into a serpent as an example of God using supernatural signs to authenticate His messenger and prove His power (Clip 3). This pattern set the stage for Jesus' miracles, which served the same purpose.
Les Feldick mentions that the Gospel of John records seven signs (or eight, as he says in one clip), each with a trainload of truth for Israel. These signs were designed to show that Jesus was not only the Son of God and the Messiah but also the answer to every need of Israel (Clip 4).
When John the Baptist sent messengers to ask if Jesus was the One, Jesus pointed to His miracles: the blind receive sight, the dead are raised, the deaf hear. Les Feldick highlights this as proof that miracles were intended to confirm Jesus' identity to Israel (Clip 5).
Les Feldick explains that Jews demanded signs, while Greeks sought intellectual philosophy. Paul chose to preach Christ crucified rather than rely on signs or wisdom, showing a shift after Christ's ministry (Clip 6).
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Main Purpose of Miracles
Les teaches that the primary purpose of all Jesus' signs and miracles was to prove to Israel that He was the Messiah, not just out of compassion.
Proof of Messiahship
Les reiterates that the whole reason for Christ's miracles was to prove He was the Christ, the promised Messiah, and that Israel only needed to believe.
Signs Throughout History
Les connects Jesus' miracles to the pattern of signs in Israel's history, like Moses' rod, emphasizing their purpose to authenticate God's messenger.
What Peter Really Said at Pentecost — Acts 2 Explained
To prove that He was the Son of God. That was the whole purpose in them. And of course they also had ramifications on the nation of Israel. We looked at that throughout the 8 signs in the book of John. All of those signs were given to show Israel that not only was He the Son of God, not only was He the Messiah, but He was the answer to their every need.
Proof to John the Baptist
Les uses Jesus' response to John the Baptist—pointing to miracles as proof of His identity—to show that signs were intended to convince Israel.
Jews Require Signs
Les explains that the Jewish mentality was 'show me a sign,' and Jesus' miracles directly addressed that requirement.
Scope of Ministry
Les stresses that the reason for all of Jesus' miracles and teaching was to prove to the Jew of His day that He was the promised Messiah.
Matthew 16:15-16: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus asks His disciples who they believe He is, and Peter affirms His identity as the Messiah.
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 points to His miracles as evidence that He is the promised One.
John 20:30-31: And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John states explicitly that the signs were written to lead to belief that Jesus is the Christ.
No, according to Les Feldick, while compassion was certainly true, the main thrust of His signs and miracles was to prove to Israel that He was the Messiah. (Clip 1)
Les Feldick notes that the Gospel of John records seven signs (or eight as he says in one clip), each with deep truth for Israel, showing that Jesus was the Son of God and the answer to their every need. (Clips 3, 4)
Les Feldick explains that the Jewish mentality was 'show me a sign, and maybe I'll believe,' which Jesus addressed by performing miracles to prove His identity. (Clip 6)
Watch the Teaching: Why God Chooses the Weak: Lessons from Moses and the Cross