The Miracles of Jesus

Who is Jesus?

Mark's Gospel answers one big question through what Jesus does: who is he? His miracles are central evidence, and Christians read them as revealing his identity and authority. You are studying this academically: the exam asks you to explain what Christians believe each account shows (AO1), why it matters to Christians today (AO2), and how non-religious people respond. (All the accounts here are summarised in our own words with the Mark reference given - no copyrighted Bible translation is reproduced.)

Miracle and Messiah words

A few terms recur across every "Who is Jesus?" question.

What does each miracle show?

Nature or healing?

Which of these is a nature miracle rather than a healing miracle?

• Walking on the water
• Healing the man called Legion
• Raising Jairus' daughter
• Healing the paralysed man

Two kinds of miracle

Grouping the miracles helps you say what they reveal. Both kinds point to Jesus' identity, but in different ways.

Spot the nature miracles

Select the TWO nature miracles.

• Calming the storm
• Walking on the water
• Healing of Legion
• Raising Jairus' daughter

Answer both sides

Two habits are marked in the exam: - Pair AO1 (what the account shows Christians about Jesus) with AO2 (why it still matters to Christians today). Do not just retell the story. - For the nature miracles and the Transfiguration, you must give a named non-religious argument - for example, that a storm calming was a natural coincidence or an exaggeration, or that a vision is subjective and proves nothing - and the Christian response to it. A balanced answer presents both sides without declaring either simply right.

The Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-10)

At Caesarea Philippi

At Caesarea Philippi (Mark 8:27-33), Peter declares his belief about who Jesus is. What does he say?

• That Jesus is the Messiah, the promised Christ
• That Jesus is only an ordinary prophet like the others
• That Jesus is simply a wise teacher
• That Jesus is Elijah returned

The unfolding answer

Mark reveals who Jesus is step by step. Put these moments into the order they happen in the Gospel.

• At his baptism, a voice declares Jesus God's Son (Mark 1)
• His miracles reveal authority over nature, evil and death
• Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah at Caesarea Philippi (Mark 8)
• The Transfiguration confirms him as God's Son (Mark 9)

Answer an Evaluate question

Three "evaluate" moments. Pick the response that a balanced, top-mark answer would give.

• A non-religious person argues the calming of the storm was just a natural change in the weather that happened to coincide. In an evaluate answer, what should you do?
• On the Transfiguration, a secular argument says a vision is subjective and proves nothing about Jesus being the Messiah. The strongest response is to...
• You are asked what the feeding of the 5000 shows about Jesus AND its significance for Christians today. A grade-9 answer...

Your turn: evaluate

Choose ONE miracle from Mark's Gospel (for example the calming of the storm, or the feeding of the 5000). Explain what Christians believe it shows about Jesus, why it matters to Christians today, and how a non-religious person might respond.

• AO1: state clearly what the account shows Christians about Jesus (e.g. authority, compassion)
• AO2: explain its significance for Christians today
• Give a NAMED non-religious argument (e.g. a natural explanation, exaggeration, or that it proves nothing)
• Reach a balanced judgement without simply declaring one side right

Raising Jairus' daughter

Put the events of the raising of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:21-43) into order.

• Jairus, a synagogue leader, begs Jesus to heal his dying daughter
• On the way, a suffering woman is healed by touching Jesus' cloak
• Messengers arrive to say the daughter has died
• Jesus tells the mourners the girl is only sleeping
• Jesus raises the girl and tells them to keep it quiet

Say what it reveals

Strong answers on "Who is Jesus?" never just retell a miracle. They say what Christians believe it reveals about Jesus - authority over nature, power over evil and death, compassion - and then push into why it still matters to Christians today. And on the nature miracles and the Transfiguration, they always weigh a named non-religious argument - a natural explanation, an exaggeration, or the claim that a vision proves nothing - against the Christian response, and reach a balanced judgement. Presenting both sides fairly, not just your own, is what the evaluate marks reward.