Miracles and the Importance of Power

He (Jesus) came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” [Matthew 13:54]

I was reading scripture intently recently, and this (preceding) passage caught my eye. I had done word studies on various verses using the word power, particularly 1 Corinthians 4:20 (For the Kingdom of God does not consist in word but in power). This word is translated from dunamis. In my studies, I noticed that dunamis often appears as miracle, miracles, or miraculous throughout the New Testament. I didn’t really study any farther at this point. When I recently read this passage from Matthew, I remembered this finding. So I looked up the words miracle, miracles, and miraculous in the Strong’s Concordance. What I found was quite remarkable. With only two exceptions, every appearance of these words is translated from dunamis. Here they are:

Matthew 7:22, 11:20, 11:21, 11:23, 13:54, 13:58, 14:2 Mark 6:2, 6:5, 6:14, 9:39, Luke 10:13, 19:37, Acts 2:22, 8:13, 19:11, 1 Corinthians 12:10, 12:28, 12:29, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Galatians 3:5, Hebrews 2:4

The Strong’s definition of dunamis is force (literally or figuratively), specifically miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself), ability, abundance, meaning, might, (worker of) miracle(s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work. This is important because the Kingdom of God is important, and it consists in this miraculous power. Any power derived from dunamis could have easily been translated miraculous power or miracles. I’ll let scripture speak for itself:

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. [Matthew 6:33]

For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power. [1 Corinthians 4:20]

Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. [Ephesians 3:20]

And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. [1 Corinthians 2:4]

For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind. [James 4:7]

This gives me permission to make miracles an expectation in my pursuit of God and in the lives of my fellow believers. In fact, I infer that miracles are just as or more important than words (logos), i.e. our message. Our message without power is just a meaningless argument, but power can change a heart regardless of the message.