I’m headed back to Brazil in just a few weeks. I just had a conversation with a fellow about the supernatural activity that seems to occur while on trips there and that got us into a discussion on the relationship between miracles and faith.

As I tend to do, I began to ruminate on miracles and their ability to create faith in one who doesn’t believe.

…the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine,…This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. –John

I hear folks telling me all the time: “If I could only see a miracle, then I’d believe without hesitation!”

Experience tells me that it just isn’t so.

In the last few years I’ve seen far more than what would be my fair share. I’ve seen the recipients of the miracles and the audience assisting the miracles gasp in awe at the arrival of the supernatural. I’ve seen them thankful beyond all comprehension at how the maladies that had plagued them for years had suddenly disappeared. Their lives had been graduated to a higher plane of existence.

And that’s really cool.

But many of these same people, miracle recipient and spectator, still linger on the periphery of faith. So, is John’s account of Jesus’ first miracle, and it’s results, bogus?

I think it is an issue of context.

Remember your emotions on 9/11? What are your emotions now, today, when you think about 9/11. Not the same, are they?

Time and the Enemy have a way of lessening the impact of a significant event. Your memory and emotions of the event do not stay at the same high intensity that they were at when the event was occurring.

“You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” –John

Miracles are proof of what is being said; they aren’t the agent that creates faith. They are the means of engaging the Enemy and proving that the power behind them is greater than His. They are the vehicle that confirms the message and it is the message that carries the power to create faith.