Introduction
The miracles of Jesus are the extraordinary acts recorded in the four Gospels: healings, deliverances, mastery over nature and resurrections. The apostle John calls them signs, because they point to the identity of Jesus. Some thirty distinct accounts can be counted.
The Gospels tell of a Jesus who heals, feeds people, calms the storm and raises the dead to life. This page offers a clear list, sorted by category, with references so you can find each account. It also explains what these acts reveal about him, beyond a simple display of power.
How Many Miracles Did Jesus Perform?
The Gospels describe about thirty-five detailed miracles, depending on how you count them. But they make clear that there were many others: entire crowds were healed. The Gospel of John even admits that it recorded only a selection.
John does not use the word miracle but “sign.” A sign is a signpost: it has no value in itself, it points in a direction. Each miracle of Jesus shows who he is and what God is doing. The first takes place at a wedding in Cana, where water becomes wine (John 2).
John 2:11
"This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him."
This verse names the first sign and gives its effect: Jesus' glory is revealed, and his disciples believe. The miracle serves faith, not amazement. It echoes the purpose the author states at the end of his book. Read all of John 2.
John 20:30-31
"Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name."
The author explains why he wrote: among many signs, he chose a few so that the reader might believe. The goal is life in his name. These accounts therefore do not try to tell everything, but to lead to trust. Read all of John 20.
What Healings Did Jesus Perform?
Healings are the most numerous of the miracles. Jesus heals a leper by touching him (Matthew 8), the servant of a Roman officer from a distance (Matthew 8 and Luke 7), the mother-in-law of one of his disciples (Mark 1), a paralytic lowered through the roof (Mark 2), the man with a withered hand (Mark 3), and the woman who had suffered bleeding for twelve years (Mark 5).
He also restores sight to the blind: two men in Capernaum (Matthew 9), a blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8), Bartimaeus at Jericho (Mark 10) and a man born blind (John 9). Other accounts include a deaf and mute man (Mark 7), ten lepers (Luke 17), a paralyzed man near a pool (John 5), a bent-over woman (Luke 13), a man swollen with disease (Luke 14) and the ear of a servant (Luke 22).
Mark 5:34
"He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease."
Jesus speaks to a woman who had touched him discreetly, sick for a long time and kept at the margins. He calls her daughter and restores her dignity in public. The miracle is not limited to the body: it restores a person. Read all of Mark 5.
What Deliverances Did Jesus Accomplish?
The Gospels also recount deliverances, that is, the freeing of people described as tormented by evil spiritual forces. In the synagogue at Capernaum, a man is set free (Mark 1). In the region of the Gerasenes, a man who lived among the tombs finds peace again (Mark 5).
Other accounts mention the daughter of a foreign woman (Mark 7), an epileptic boy whom the disciples had not been able to help (Mark 9), a mute man (Matthew 9) and a man who was both blind and mute (Matthew 12). In these scenes, Jesus acts with authority and calm, and returns the person to their family and community.
What Miracles Did Jesus Perform Over Nature?
Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding (John 2). He calms a storm on the Sea of Galilee, which startles his disciples (Mark 4). He feeds five thousand people with five loaves and two fish (John 6), then four thousand others with seven loaves (Mark 8).
He walks on the water to reach his disciples (Matthew 14), helps them make an abundant catch of fish (Luke 5 and John 21), has a coin found in a fish's mouth to pay a tax (Matthew 17) and withers a fig tree (Mark 11). These miracles show that creation obeys the one who made it.
Mark 4:39
"He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm."
Jesus speaks to the wind and the sea as one speaks to someone, and calm returns. This passage echoes the Psalms, where God alone calms the waves. The disciples then ask who he really is. Read all of Mark 4.
John 6:11
"Jesus took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down; likewise also of the fish as much as they desired."
Jesus takes the loaves, gives thanks, then distributes them. The gesture of gratitude comes before the abundance. The text stresses that everyone eats as much as they want, an image of God's generosity. Read all of John 6.
What Resurrections Did Jesus Perform?
The Gospels report three resurrections before that of Jesus. The first is the son of a widow at Nain, whom Jesus meets during a funeral procession (Luke 7). The second is the daughter of a synagogue leader, twelve years old (Mark 5 and Luke 8).
The third is that of Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, who had been dead for four days (John 11). Each time, Jesus commands death with a simple word and returns the person to those who love them. These signs prepare for the greatest of all, his own resurrection on Easter morning.
Luke 7:14-15
"He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother."
Jesus touches the coffin, which was regarded as unclean, and then speaks to the dead man. The young man sits up and begins to speak. The verse ends with a gesture of tenderness: he gives him back to his mother. The miracle is first of all an act of compassion. Read all of Luke 7.
John 11:43-44
"When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Free him, and let him go."
Jesus calls Lazarus by name, and he comes out still wrapped in strips of cloth. The final command, to unbind him, involves those around. The life given calls for a community that sets free and accompanies. Read all of John 11.
What Do Jesus' Miracles Reveal About Him?
The miracles first reveal his identity. He heals, he feeds, he calms the waters, he restores life: all acts that the Scriptures attribute to God himself. The Gospels present them as proof that the kingdom of God is drawing near.
They also reveal his character. Jesus acts out of compassion, looks at people who have been set aside, and does not seek spectacle. He often asks for silence after a miracle. Finally, they invite trust: these are not displays, but calls to believe in him.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jesus' first miracle?
According to the Gospel of John, Jesus' first sign is the transformation of water into wine at a wedding in Cana, in Galilee (John 2). The other Gospels do not record it. They begin with healings and deliverances, as in Capernaum.
What was Jesus' last miracle before his death?
The Gospels report that before his arrest, Jesus healed the ear of a servant who was wounded in the confusion (Luke 22). Before that, he had brought Lazarus back to life (John 11). After his death, his resurrection is presented as the greatest sign.
Why did Jesus perform miracles?
The Gospels give several reasons: compassion for those who suffer, the announcement of God's kingdom and the revelation of his identity. John stresses the purpose: to lead people to believe. A miracle is never presented as an end in itself.
Are the miracles of Jesus historical?
All four Gospels report them as real events, witnessed by eyewitnesses. Christian faith receives them as historical, while inviting each person to read the texts for themselves and to examine the questions honestly, without fear of voicing doubts.