Of (christ's) Miracles Considered Specifically

Of (christ's) Miracles Considered Specifically — St. Thomas Aquinas asks: Whether those miracles were fitting which Christ worked in spiritual substances?; Whether it was fitting that Christ should work miracles in the heavenly bodies?; Whether Christ worked miracles fittingly on men?; Whether Christ worked miracles fittingly on irrational creatures?.

We have now to consider each kind of miracle:

(1) The miracles which He worked in spiritual substances;

(2) The miracles which He worked in heavenly bodies;

(3) The miracles which He worked in man;

(4) The miracles which He worked in irrational creatures.

Article 1: Whether those miracles were fitting which Christ worked in spiritual substances?

this was foretold (Zech. 13:2), where it is written: "I will take away . . . the unclean spirit out of the earth."

The miracles worked by Christ were arguments for the faith which He taught. Now, by the power of His Godhead He was to rescue those who would believe in Him, from the power of the demons; according to Jn. 12:31: "Now shall the prince of this world be cast out." Consequently it was fitting that, among other miracles, He should also deliver those who were obsessed by demons.

Article 2: Whether it was fitting that Christ should work miracles in the heavenly bodies?

It is written (Lk. 23:44,45): "There was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour; and the sun was darkened."

As stated above () it behooved Christ's miracles to be a sufficient proof of His Godhead. Now this is not so sufficiently proved by changes wrought in the lower bodies, which changes can be brought about by other causes, as it is by changes wrought in the course of the heavenly bodies, which have been established by God alone in an unchangeable order. This is what Dionysius says in his epistle to Polycarp: "We must recognize that no alteration can take place in the order end movement of the heavens that is not caused by Him who made all and changes all by His word." Therefore it was fitting that Christ should work miracles even in the heavenly bodies.

Article 3: Whether Christ worked miracles fittingly on men?

It is written (Mk. 7:37): "He hath done all things well: He hath made both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak."

The means should be proportionate to the end. Now Christ came into the world and taught in order to save man, according to Jn. 3:17: "For God sent not His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by Him." Therefore it was fitting that Christ, by miraculously healing men in particular, should prove Himself to be the universal and spiritual Saviour of all.

Article 4: Whether Christ worked miracles fittingly on irrational creatures?

Christ is "the wisdom of God" (1 Cor. 1:24), of whom it is said (Wis. 8:1) that "she ordereth all things sweetly."

As stated above, Christ's miracles were ordained to the end that He should be recognized as having Divine power, unto the salvation of mankind. Now it belongs to the Divine power that every creature be subject thereto. Consequently it behooved Him to work miracles on every kind of creature, not only on man, but also on irrational creatures.