miracle account interpretations

hume:

• argued that coz we have no present day/direct experience of miracles ourselves, we can’t trust miracle accounts eg Jesus walking on water

• ppl don’t walk on water today

• either Gospel account must be taken on trust or rejected

• if accepted, points to Jesus’ amazing power over nature

schillebeeckx:

• identified 2nd way in which Jesus’ miracles can be interpreted:

  • as having spiritual/metaphorical meaning for today rather than just a literal one of a past remarkable event

• perhaps Jesus is the source of calm in daily life n ppl need to allow Him to step into their lives n not live in fear of troubles

• not necessarily scientific/easy to comprehend

N T wright:

• discusses what we think the Gospel writers are doing in reporting miracles, in terms of Jesus’ healings

• Jesus not only cures a lot of ppl but ppl from excluded groups

• Jesus reunites the social excluded, ritually unclean n separated with God eg the blind, deaf n dumb, lepers, woman w blood issue, tax collectors, sinners, etc

• Wright suggest we gotta think about ordinary ppl who experienced turmoil in their life

• in Wright’s interpretation, Jesus’ miracles show a greater authority than simply a power to alter the way the universe usually works

john 9:1-41:

• contains miraculous account that is then discussed

• Jesus heals a man who has been blind from birth

• this action could be read as a sign of Jesus’ power/or giving hope to the sick today

• discussion around the action is about sin

• focus on those whose circumstances can’t be caused by their own action, in contrast w ancient idea that sin caused illness + can any sin justify someone being born blind?