“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know

Acts 2:22*

When the Apostle Peter stood up on the southern steps of the Temple and began to speak of Yeshua, there would have been a very large assembly. That area of the Temple mount housed the mikvah baths. When the people wanted to ascend the steps to the Temple, they would first bathe themselves. It was a requirement dating back to Mount Sinai when God instructed the people to bathe before God met with the people to give them the Ten Commandments. Going to the Temple was going up to the LORD to come before Him. There was a very large assembly of thousands around Peter that day because they were observing Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks). (Shavuot is one of the three pilgrimage feasts that God required of all Israel.)

It is reasonable to believe that those who were gathered that day had heard of Yeshua of Nazareth. They most likely had heard of His miracle healings and some of His teachings. This was the first holiday after the events of Passover when Yeshua had been arrested and executed. They may have also heard the reports of His resurrection! This would have been the talk of everyone in Jerusalem.

But now, something just as strange was happening for them. They were observing the followers of Yeshua after receiving the Holy Spirit. Their exuberance and excitement must have been perplexing and certainly not normal. At first, they thought they were crazy or drunk. This is when Peter stood and explained what was happening.

Peter’s oration dealt directly with the previous events of Yeshua’s ministry and resurrection. Peter testified to the FACT that Yeshua of Nazareth was the long-awaited Messiah of Israel. He drew their attention to what Yeshua had done—His miracles, the wonders, and the signs shown.

The Scriptures tell us that Peter’s speech was effective. Three thousand persons responded to his message, entered the mikvah, and received the Holy Spirit that day.

But let us think for a few moments about what Peter said as his proof that Yeshua of Nazareth was the Messiah. Let us review the miracles, wonders, and signs that Yeshua performed. Peter did not go into detail on these because they were fresh on everyone’s minds.

The miracles that Yeshua did primarily dealt with personal healings. They included giving sight to a blind man and a very sick person was brought back to health. He cleansed lepers from the incurable disease that required full quarantine from all other persons. He helped the lame to have full use of their limbs. He healed both acute and chronic types of ailments, such as the woman with the issue of blood which had lasted twelve years. Besides helping the people, He demonstrated that He had the power of God to perform true miracles. He was also demonstrating His authority over sin. Sin is a leading cause of personal ailments in this world, though not in every ailment. Yeshua healed a very ill man who was lowered from the roof to where He was teaching. When He healed him, He did so by saying his sins were forgiven.

“Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”

Mark 2:4–5*

There were some who criticized His proclamation of forgiving sin, because only God can do that. This miracle testified to them, although they did not believe, that God was in Him.

When John the Baptist was in prison, near the day of his execution, he dispatched two of his friends to question Yeshua. He needed some assurance of belief that he had fulfilled his calling to be the “voice in the wilderness” and prepare the way of the Messiah. Yeshua responded to the friends of John this way:

“Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent [word] by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: [the] BLIND RECEIVE 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. “And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

Matthew 11:2–6*

Those of Israel who were looking for the Messiah understood that the miracles of the Messiah would be greater than the works of a man. For example, a doctor can help you heal from many ailments, such as blindness, being crippled, and an assortment of diseases. But the expectation of the Messiah was that the blind man would be born blind—he never had sight to begin with. The lame man had to be one who was born that way; he never had the bone ligament structure to begin with—his deformity was from birth. The same was said for the deaf person—from birth.

This was the message of assurance for John. He had preached in the wilderness calling the people to repentance and He performed the priestly duty of publicly proclaimed the “Lamb of God.” He had also helped prepare Yeshua at His mikvah.

There is one more type of miracle that needs to be addressed. Yeshua cast demons out of people. Demonic oppression manifests itself by causing the person to be insane or act in an insane manner. This insanity can exhibit itself by making disruptive outbursts, harming themselves, and violent acts against others. In my opinion, psychotic persons are probably oppressed by demons. Demons still exist today and can be found in people and places. They can only be dealt with by spiritual authority—authority that comes from God.

There is one dramatic story of Yeshua casting out the demons from the Gadarene:

They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones. Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” For He had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” And he [began] to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. [The demons] implored Him, saying, “Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.” Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand [of them;] and they were drowned in the sea.

Mark 5:1–13*

There was not just one unclean spirit; there were thousands of them. The word Legion at that time meant a number in excess of five thousand. A Roman Legion consisted of approximately 5200 men with another 300 auxiliary men.

This miracle not only helped the man but also confronted the enemies of God. This was an amazing kind of miracle for the people.

They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”

Mark 1:27*

Let us consider the wonders that Yeshua did and how they differ from “miracles.” Wonders are visible events that cause true amazement. They command your attention and leave you asking, “Did that just happen? Is that really happening?”

Let us consider some of the wonders that Yeshua did.

The feeding of the 5,000 and later the 4,000 would have to be defined as a wonder. Yeshua took some fish and loaves of bread that He had requested from a person, blessed them, and then distributed enough food to feed the thousands of people who had come to hear Him teach. Not only that, He instructed that the extra food be gathered up in baskets.

After that event, the disciples were traveling north by boat to Capernaum when Yeshua came walking on top of the water to them. Even the disciples were afraid, thinking He was a ghost. After Yeshua convinced them of who He was, Peter wanted to experience the wonder himself. He, too, stepped out of the boat onto the water and promptly dropped into the water, which only revealed the weakness of his faith. There is no question that the disciples saw and experienced a wonder.

There is another wonder that they experienced similar to the last one. The disciples were in the boat on the sea. Yeshua was sleeping in the boat when a storm started rocking the boat roughly, so much so that the disciples were concerned that the boat would be swamped and they would all drown. Yeshua was awakened and He commanded the storm and the sea to be calm. For me, I can assure you I rank this as a wonder. I have been to sea on aircraft carriers, the biggest ships in the sea, and have seen the storms that happen. I have experienced the anxiety of how rough the waves can be. I have always remembered the words, “Oh God, Your sea is so great and my boat is so small.”

On Mount Tavor Peter, James, and John saw what must be classified as a wonder. We call it the “transfiguration.” Yeshua had invited the three to accompany Him up the mountain and Moses and Elijah appeared to stand with Him.

Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.

Mark 9:2–4*

This wonder was so awesome that Peter proposed building three tabernacles atop the mountain promoting them above the Temple in Jerusalem! He was corrected by God from heaven directing them to follow Yeshua. Yeshua then told them not to share with anyone about the wonder until later.

Towards the final days of Yeshua’s ministry, when His life was threatened if He would go to Jerusalem, He received news that Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, had died. Yeshua purposely delayed His arrival until Lazarus had been dead for four days. At that time the Jews believed that person’s spirit remained for up to three days after he passed, but he was dead and gone after three days.

Yeshua raised Lazarus from the dead, which was beyond what Mary and Martha could imagine. Unlike other miracles, this wonder was so great that the other mourners rushed to Jerusalem with the news. This news spread fast. Even the religious leaders heard about and saw the people believing in Yeshua. Instead of also believing Yeshua was the Messiah, they conspired to kill Lazarus and Yeshua to stop the number of people believing in Him.

The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.

John 12:9–11*

But I think there is one wonder that is greater than all the others and we get to be a part of it. Yeshua Himself was resurrected from the grave. He was seen by many. At the shores of the Galilee, He helped the disciples bring in a large catch of 153 fish and ate breakfast with them. Finally, Peter and John saw Yeshua ascend into the clouds from the Mount of Olives. They had experienced numerous and diverse wonders of God; their lives were completely changed.

Let us now consider the signs that Yeshua executed. Signs are given by God to show what is happening or going to happen. This usually occurs in dreams and visions. Joseph had dreams foretelling of his rulership in Egypt. Ezekiel saw visions that explained the judgment of God on Jerusalem at the Babylonian captivity. Daniel had a whole series of visions explaining much of world history and the Great Tribulation. The Apostle John was shown events detailing the Great Tribulation and return of the Messiah which he recorded in the book of The Revelation.

Yet signs also confirm that someone has been sent by God. This was the case of Moses when God sent him to Egypt to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt back to the mountain. At that time, Moses was concerned how the people would receive him when he went to carry out God’s direction. He posed a serious question to God at the burning bush.

Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’” The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.” Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. But the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grasp [it] by its tail”--so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand-- “that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

The LORD furthermore said to him, “Now put your hand into your bosom.” So he put his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. Then He said, “Put your hand into your bosom again.” So he put his hand into his bosom again, and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it was restored like [the rest of] his flesh. “If they will not believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe the witness of the last sign. “But if they will not believe even these two signs or heed what you say, then you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”

Exodus 4:1–9*

God gave three signs to Moses so the children of Israel would believe that God sent him. The first was his staff; it would turn into a serpent. The second was to put his hand into his cloak causing it to become leprous, then put it back inside and be instantly healed and clean. The third sign was turning water into blood. These signs were given to confirm that Moses had been sent from God.

Yeshua did these same signs in reverse. First, He turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana. Water and blood represent the same imagery to Hebrews. They mean life. Then, Yeshua did the second sign of instant healing at Cana later. A distraught father living in Capernaum heard about the miracles of healing that Yeshua was doing and heard He was a day’s journey away in Cana. Yeshua did not travel to Capernaum to heal the man’s son; He just spoke, “Your son lives.” When the father was heading home, he was met by his servants on the way announcing with joy that his son was well. When he inquired when exactly did his son become well, they reported ‘the seventh hour,’ (the same time Yeshua spoke His words the day before).

This is defined as a sign more than just another miracle of healing because John wrote that it was received as a sign just as Moses had done. John recorded this as Yeshua’s second sign in his gospel.

The third sign of Yeshua was at the cross. They put a sign on the cross above Him. It gave His name and the crime He had committed, “Yeshua of Nazareth, and King of the Jews” in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. In the Hebrew, there are four words to say this. The first letter of those four words is Yod, Hey, Vav, Hey. That spells the name of God announced to Moses at the burning bush. God said that was His memorial name that was not be taken in vain. God also told Moses that he was to declare “I AM” had sent him to the children of Israel.

When Yeshua spoke of His future death, He said that when He was lifted up (the crucifixion) that they would see I AM. Yeshua was saying that He was the God who spoke to and sent Moses to Egypt.

During my ministry when God has given me opportunity to speak with my Jewish brethren, I would ask them if they believe that God sent Moses—do they believe that God gave him signs to confirm him being sent. When they answer yes, I then ask why don’t they believe in Yeshua then; He did the same signs.

During Yeshua’s ministry there were those who asked Him for a sign to confirm Himself. Yeshua answered them by saying that no sign would be given to them except the sign of Jonah. The sign of Jonah was the sign of the fish and how he came out of the belly of the whale after three days. Yeshua said He would come out of the earth after three days and three nights.

Here is the weird part of all that for us. Guess what symbol we use among us believers that speaks to the Messiahship of Yeshua? It is the fish symbol. Truly this is a sign of Yeshua to us. We use it frequently on bumper stickers and other public displays.

It It may be coincidence, but the last wonder, miracle, and sign Yeshua did was His breakfast on the shores of the Galilee. This was after the resurrection when the disciples had returned to go fishing.

We read in John 21:4–14 that after a night of fishing with no success, Yeshua called out to them from the shore to cast their net again on the right side of the boat. They complied and the net was filled. According to John, they caught 153 fish. Yeshua then invited to His campfire to enjoy the fish for breakfast.

Was this a wonder? You could argue that because He made the abundance to come forth. Was it a miracle? Most people would say yes without hesitation. But, was it a sign? The number of 153 fish is a very compelling sign.

Why does the Scripture explicitly say that it was exactly 153 fish? It did say the net was filled and many had to assist in bringing in the net. The Hebrew Gematria of the expression, “I am God” is 153.

It was Yeshua’s last wonder, miracle, and sign before ascending into the clouds later in Jerusalem.

Let us conclude. The Scriptures give us much evidence for the numerous miracles, wonders, and signs that Yeshua of Nazareth is in fact the Messiah of Israel sent by God from Heaven. The reason I believe He is the Messiah is not because others have told me, nor that I have presumed it to be. I believe in Yeshua because His words and deeds come with miracles, wonders, and signs. The evidence is overwhelming and I have no choice but to conclude that it is the TRUTH. ■

Shalom