International Trade and United States free essay sample

Exports and imports constituted 14 percent and 11 percent of GAP respectively in 2009. These proportions have more than doubled since 1975. The United States trades more with industrially advanced economies although the U. S. Trade with Mexico is substantial. The U. S. s most important trading partner quantitatively is Canada, buying 20 percent Of our exports and providing 15 percent of our imports in 2009. China was the leading export country in 2009, surpassing Germany which used to hold that position.The order is: Belgium, Canada, Japan, United States. Improvement in transportation technology; Improvement in communication technology; and Decline in tariffs ; other trade impediments. Question 5 If the European Euro were to decline in value (depreciate) in the foreign exchange market, would it be easier or harder for the French to sell their wine in the United States? Suppose you were planning a trip to Paris. How would depreciation of the Euro change the dollar cost of your trip?ANSWER: If the European Euro declines in value, it means that Americans can receive more euros for each dollar. We will write a custom essay sample on International Trade and United States or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Therefore, they do not need as many dollars to pay the Euro price Of a bottle Of French wine, so the quantity demanded would rise and it should be easier to sell French wine in the U. S. Likewise, the Euro depreciation would make it less costly for Americans to travel in France, since the dollar would now buy more euros (assuming that prices inside France have not risen to entirely offset the depreciation of the Euro).Question 6 What measures do governments take to promote exports and restrict imports? Who benefits and who loses from protectionist policies? What is the net outcome for society? ANSWER: Governments promote exports by providing subsidies to export producers, which effectively lowers their costs and enables them to sell their products at lower prices on world markets. Subsidies enable export firms or Industries to compete against other nations, but the fact the subsidy was necessary for this competition means that the most efficient use of resources is not taking place.Restriction of imports can be accomplished by protective tariffs, by import quotas, and by non-tariff barriers such as licensing requirements, unreasonable quality standards, and unnecess ary import procedures. The benefits of protectionist policies are to the industry that has to compete on world markets either with its exports or against imports. Even this may be a short-run benefit, because industries that are protected may come so inefficient and outmoded that they are unable to stay afloat even with the protection in the long run.There may also be some political benefits as those protected groups have a strong self interest in this protection and are vocal opponents of free trade for their industries, whereas the benefits of free trade are more diffuse and the benefits to any single group of voters is less noticeable. The costs of protectionist policies are more widespread. The costs of protectionist policies arise because resources are not being used as efficiently as they might be under free trade.WTFO oversees trade agreements reached by member nations and arbitrates trade disputes among them. (b) The EX. is a trading bloc of 25 European countries who have agreed to abolish tariffs and import quotas on most products and have liberalized the movement of labor and capital within the EX.. (c) The Euro is the common currency that is used by 12 of the original 15 EX. countries. As of 2010, the number has grown to 16 countries. (d) NONFAT is a trade bloc made up of the United States, Canada, and Mexico whose purpose is to reduce tariffs and other trade barriers among the three countries.

Detention of Immigrants

Detention of Immigrants Introduction This paper aims at analyzing the plight of refugees in various detention camps in the US, and Australia. It is factual that refugees go through difficulties in the camps since immigration officials harass them to accept illegal pacts and raw deals (Bagshaw Paul 2004, p. 41).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Detention of Immigrants specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Immigration officials force refugees to accept their pleas such as extending sexual favors. Some immigrants report that immigration officials are unwelcoming and use unacceptable language when addressing them. This paper aims at uncovering the injustices meted out to refugees in the US and Australia. The main purpose of the paper is to expose the injustices that refugees face in their daily lives. In society, each person has the right to exercise his or her freedom. Detention facilities interfere with the rights of detainees because they force t hem to support illegal deals in the detention facilities. The detention facilities should support refugees emotionally while they solve their problems through legal means. However, the detention facilities go against the acceptable codes of conduct by taking advantage of the plight of refugees. Through this paper, the world will appreciate the fact that refugees have a right, just like other citizens. Background Immigrants face a number of challenges in the United States and Australia. Australia and the US are two countries preferred by refugees who run away from political and economic hardships (Cohen 2004, p. 467). Refugees fleeing to the US and Australia are mostly Africans who believe that economic conditions would favor them there. The two countries face serious challenges in ensuring that their borders are safe. On the other hand, the countries are expected to assist refugees in need of commodities such as food, water, shelter, and security. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees is an agency that was created to help displaced individuals in the third world and other parts of the world. In 1951, there were an approximated 1.5 billion refugees in the world. The figure went up in 2009 to 43.3 billion, including approximated 15.2 billion displaced individuals, 983000 refuge seekers, and 27.1 internally displaced people. People run away from their homes due to natural disasters, political insecurity, and harsh economic conditions. Current studies show that at least five factors encourage people to run away from their home countries to either Australia or the US. In Europe and Africa, individuals migrate to the two countries because of wage differences between the home countries and the two foreign countries.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These factors are commonly referred to as the pull factors because they attract people to migrate to the US or Australia. The US and Australia have experienced retarded growth implying in population to an extent that the two countries do not have sufficient labor. Hiking salaries and wages is one of the strategies employed to attract the global labor force (Evans 2007, p. 73). Another factor that forces people to move to greener pastures is the population growth in the home country. Some countries have witnessed a massive population growth in the recent past, which forces individuals to look for space elsewhere. The US and Australia are preferred because the standards of living are better in the two countries. This factor falls under the push factors because it puts pressure on an individual to move (Cernea 2006, p. 76). In the last twenty to thirty years, some countries have been forced to come up with policies aimed at discouraging population growth due to strained resources. China and India are some of the countries that discourage population growth because the government is unable to provide adequate services to the larger population. In such countries, individuals prefer shifting to foreign countries perceived to be having favorable conditions of living. The US and Australia are the first destinations for individuals. As people shift to Australia and the US, many are encouraged to do so after noticing that their friends and relatives do well in the foreign countries. However, they do not understand that foreigners are exposed to torture and unfair treatment in the detention facilities. Statistics show that about sixty percent of those migrating to the US and Australia are men while only forty percent are female. Seventy percent of immigrants are adults while twenty percent are children. This shows that people migrate to these two countries in search of jobs and business opportunities owing to the population pressure at home countries. In the detention facilities, young men are the majority implying that the types of abuses are mostly related to viola tion of employment acts (Klin 2006, p. 19). Issue Development Local Reaction A report by the American Civil Liberties Union observed that immigrants are subjected to unfair treatment in the detention facilities in Georgia. The organization undertook a study on four main detention facilities in the US. One of the detention facilities was Stewart Detention Center, which is one of the largest detention facilities in the US. The organization claimed that the facility violates immigration policies yet the government is reluctant to act. Immigrants are housed in a prisonlike facility whereby their human and civil rights are not provided.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Detention of Immigrants specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Through the report, the officials of Georgia came up with strict immigration policies that would allow the security forces to conduct frequent assessment of the detention facilities. The security agen cies would question immigrants regarding their living conditions in the detention facilities. The government has so far enacted policies allowing the department of homeland security to deport illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants are victims of unfair treatment in the detention facilities. Private organizations operate substantial detention facilities in the US. The human rights groups have urged the government to deregister the private organizations operating the detention facilities on grounds of abuse. The civil groups argue that most of the detention facilities are in the remote areas and the facilities are of poor quality (Klin 2000, p. 99). The American Civil Liberties Union conducted an extensive research that lasted for three years, managing to interview sixty-eight detainees and a sizeable number of relatives and friends. The study established that detainees face serious problems because their rights are violated. They are subjected to poor sanitation, inadequate medical a ttention, inappropriate mental healthcare, and instances of verbal abuse. It is established that those in authority use their power to exploit detainees in the camp. Some detainees claimed that officials used vulgar language and racial discrimination was rampant in the facilities. Some detainees are even subjected to physical violence, which is a violation of the right to life. At the Stewart detention facility, one detainee reported that a guard assaulted him one evening and injured him seriously. The detainee lost both eyes, but the officials of the detention facility are yet to take action against the guard (Lilly 2007, p. 101). Each person is entitled to free medical care, but detainees at Australian detention facilities are never allowed to undergo regular medical checkups. Detention facilities in the US rarely employ a doctor who would attend to emergencies at night. In government operated detention facilities, a doctor is usually provided, but medical facilities are not enoug h to cater for the medical needs of all detainees. In an interview with one female detainee, the report by the civil liberties groups claimed that the woman was left to suffer for hours before being taken to hospital. Even after identifying that the woman needed urgent medical care, the officials were reluctant to act deviously to prevent unnecessary suffering and pain. In the American detention camps, the mental status of individuals is never taken into consideration because a psychiatrist is never provided to interrogate the detainees.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Immigrants are people with various problems since some might have lost their properties before deciding to seek refuge in the foreign countries. It is logical to take such individuals through frequent mental checkups to prevent cases of mental illness and psychological trauma. However, the detention facilities in the US are reluctant to help immigrants in recovering from mental stress (Mooney 2003, p. 6). Just like in the US, detention facilities in Australia force immigrants to sign orders of removal that permit banishment without due process. Officials threaten detainees with severe punishment in case they fail to sign orders of removal. In Australia, detention facilities violate the rights of detainees because they fail to release them even after the orders of removal are ready. Some detainees are segregated for refusing to cooperate with officials at the detention camps. Detainees found leaking information to the media are punished severely. Detainees face a serious challenge re garding communication. The detention facilities do not provide interpreters who would help them in understanding instructions. Human and civil groups have pressurized the government to come up with laws that would guarantee the safety of individuals at the detention camps. The American Civil Liberties Union demands that the government should take over the responsibility of taking care of detainees while their cases are handled by the courts. The union demands that private organizations should not be given the chance of harboring detainees (Mooney Jarrah 2004, p. 18). International Reaction The United Nations High Commission for Refugees has been vocal in protecting the rights of detainees in the US and Australia. The commission argues that states should protect refugees. However, the commission has been keen on ensuring that immigrants are not subjected to unfair treatment. The agency intervenes through application of international laws and standards (Balikci 2004, p. 67). One of t he laws invoked whenever there is a conflict is the 1951 convention, which talks about the status of refugees. The 1951 law states that a refugee is someone with various problems because he or she is outside his or her country. Therefore, the foreign country should always ensure that such an individual is treated in a humane way. In this regard, the detention facilities in Australia and the US are compelled to provide basic needs to detainees. The agency has always urged the detention facilities to ensure that immigrants are given adequate medical attention. The 1967 protocol is another law that relates to the status of refugees. The 1967 law demands that refugees should not be forced to return to their home countries because doing so would be endangering their lives (Sohne 2006, p. 21). The law demands further that the receiving countries must cooperate with the agency in ensuring that refugees enjoy their rights. This shows that refugees have a number of rights contained in the 19 67 law. Stewart detention camp is frequently urged to respect the 1967 law by providing medical care to detainees. In fact, article II of the 1967 law demands that detention facilities must cooperate with the agency in ensuring that refugee laws are followed. In 1984, a principle of non-refoulement was enacted, which reinforced the 1951 law on forceful deportation (Weiss 2003, p. 21). Through the agency, detention facilities have been forced to comply in order to avoid international condemnation. This is the reason why detainees are subjected to pain and suffering whenever they are found discussing their plight with the media. The agency works closely with the hosting countries to ensure that detainees are not subjected to untold suffering (Stavropoulou 1998, p. 34). However, the agency should strengthen its surveillance capacity to ensure that private organizations such as Stewart in the US comply with the law. Conclusion Detainees in the US and Australia go through a number of cha llenges. However, international organizations such as the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and local civil groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union have played a critical role in ensuring that detainees are treated fairly. In the US, civil rights groups have gone a notch higher to interview detainees in order to find a solution to their problem. Australian civil groups are yet to take action. However, the activities of the local and international institutions have not been successful given the fact that the issue of immigration is considered high politics. List of References Bagshaw, S Paul, D 2004, Protect or Neglect Toward a More Effective United Nations Approach to the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons, Brookings-SAIS Project on Internal Displacement, Washington. Balikci, A 2004, IDPs in Baku: A Qualitative Approach,’ Report prepared for World Bank, Canada, University of Montreal. Cernea, M 2006, â€Å"Development-induced and conflict-induced IDPs: bridging the research divide†, Forced Migration Review Special Issue, Vol. 3, no. 3, pp 76-89 Cohen, R 2004, â€Å"The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement: An Innovation in International Standard Setting† Global Governance, Vol. 10, no. 1, pp 466-510 Evans, M 2007, â€Å"The Suffering is Too Great: Urban Internally Displaced Persons in the Casamance Conflict, Senegal†, Journal of Refugee Studies, Vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 60-85. Klin, W 2000 â€Å"Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement: Annotations†, Studies in Transnational Legal Policy, Vol. 1, no. 32, pp. 98-105 Klin, W 2006 â€Å"The future of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,† Forced Migration Review Special Issue, Vol. 2, no. 3, pp 19-54. Lilly, D 2007, Camp management in IDP Collective Centers: The development of best practice, London, Camp Coordination Camp Management. Mooney, E Jarrah, B 2004, The Voting Rights of Internally Displaced Persons: The OSCE Region, Brookings Institution, Washington. Mooney, E 2003 â€Å"Introduction,† Forced Migration Review, Vol. 17, no. 4, pp 5-6. Sohne, SI 2006, Coping with Displacement: The Case of Internally Displaced Persons in Jinja, Uganda, The Fletcher School, Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy Thesis. Stavropoulou, M 1998, â€Å"Will Peru’s displaced return? The forsaken people: Case studies of the internally displaced, The Brookings Institution, Washington. Weiss, FP 2003, â€Å"Looking beyond emergency response,† Forced Migration Review, Vol. 17, no. 3, pp 19-20.

How Millennials Can Save Millions for Retirement

How Millennials Can Save Millions for Retirement It’s not fun to have to think about retirement savings in your 20s, but boy is it necessary. As inflation rates change and pensions become more rare, thinking about the future now is mandatory if you want to live comfortably without working in your mid-60s and beyond. Figure Out Your NeedsHere are 4 things you can do to figure out how much you need and how much you’re going to need to save to get that much.1. Estimate your future spendingEstimating your future spending is very similar to estimating your current spending. But take into account what expenses you will and will not have in the next few years. Will your mortgage get paid off? Will you have any long term health costs? Will you want to travel? Find an online calculator that can help you with your numbers.2. Estimate your retirement costsFind an online calculator also to help you calculate your retirement needs: your monthly expenses, savings goals, retirement age, etc.3. Make a planWrite down- even if only on a single sheet of paper- the goals you’ve established to help hold yourself accountable.4. Keep at itThings change. Life changes. Keep revisiting your plan to make sure it’s up-to-date and stays relevant enough to actually deliver what you need.Aim Sky High- Think MillionaireSo we’ve covered  how to start thinking about saving and putting a solid plan in action. But we know you want to save lots. Millions, ideally, right? Here are 5 tips to get you started on the path to total financial comfort.1. Start ASAPThe earlier you start, the more you’ll end up with in your war chest. Imagine what would happen if you upped your monthly savings number over the course of your lifetime? The number really really adds up.2. Avoid debtBe smart by avoiding student loans and credit card debt. If you do accrue unavoidable debt, make sure to pay it off snappily as possible. You’ll save a massive amount of money without even noticing. And always think through the fi nancial repercussions of major life decisions.3. Invest slowlyDon’t dump all your excess money into high risk/reward ventures. Slow and steady wins the race. Think 401k.4. Generate multiple incomesThe more money you bring in, the more you’ll save and the faster you can pay down your debts and start pumping any extra funds into your wealth creation.  5. Live frugallyEvery time you go to spend money on something, rethink that cost in terms of other things. How many lattes turn into a trip to Paris? A new fall coat? How many fall coats turn into a Ferrari, over time? Cut as many corners as you can and you’ll be surprised at how quickly you gain financial control of your life and your future.

Decriminalizing Drugs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Decriminalizing Drugs - Essay Example Illegal drug use continues in the US despite numerous and aggressive enforcement strategies and legislation aimed at illegal drug sales and use (Reuter 512). In addition to illegal drugs, the rate of prescription drug misuse and addiction continues to rise, with Oxycontin being the most common of these drugs (Grau et al. 169). Regardless of whether the drugs are legal or illegal, drug use and addiction has many direct and indirect effects on society including health costs, crime rates, incarceration, rates, and high costs of enforcement and legislation (Reuter 514). However, as evidenced by the steady increase in drug use, current attempts at drug control do not seem to have any significant effect and are apparently not effective, making decriminalization a more effective alternative. An Argument against Decriminalizing or Legalizing Drugs In the article, â€Å"Against the Legalization of Heroin,† de Marneffe presents his argument as to why the United States should not legaliz e or decriminalize illegal drugs (34-40). The first reason he presents against the decriminalization or legalization of illegal drugs in the US is that it would surely lead to an increase in their use (34). While this premise is based solely on speculation and assumption, and not based on facts or evidence, it is the argument most commonly used by individuals opposing drug decriminalization or legalization in the US. De Marneffe continues the speculation by making the prediction that if drugs (i.e. heroin) were made legal in the US, all adolescents would begin their regular use which would have a detrimental effect on their achievement in the future and general wellbeing (36). This argument is based on the premise that life is especially difficult for adolescents and heroin use is pleasurable, so adolescents would use it regularly to deal with life in general (37). However, like the previously discussed argument, there are no facts or evidence to prove this. In the article, de Marneffe also argues that current drug laws and policies make using illegal drugs (i.e. heroin) more difficult and more expensive, make the drugs less available, reinforce the social norms against using them, and predictably reduce rates of illegal drug use (36). Again, as with his other arguments, there are no facts or evidence supporting this premise; and, the argument is based on speculation and assumption like the othe r arguments presented in the article (36-7). History of US Drug Laws Throughout the 19th century, illicit drugs such as opium, morphine, cocaine and heroin, were legal in the United States (Echegaray 1217). In 1914, the US Congress passed the first antinarcotics act, the Harrison Act, which was a law controlling the sale and distribution of certain drugs; however, the Harrison Act did not prohibit drugs entirely (1222). The Narcotic Drugs Importation and Export Act dealt with importing and exporting drugs and it was passed in 1922 (1223). By the 1950s, a number of laws were passed that prohibited or restricted using, selling or distributing drugs (i.e. cocaine, heroin) (1225). For example, the Boggs Amendment to the Harrison Act was passed in 1951, establishing a mandatory two-year sentence for convictions of first-time drug offenders; and, the Narcotics Control Act increased penalties for drug

Foreign Policy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Foreign Policy - Research Paper Example From there, as regards the incumbent, a voter will decide if that president really did all he could do to achieve his promises to the American people. There, of course, can be extenuating circumstances as to why one or more goals were not achieved and this factor, or factors, should also be taken into consideration for the overall summary. Barack Obama and his administration have delivered most of the promises made four years ago, and for not kept, there are certainly circumstances that affect the American people, and Obama as well, that no one can do anything about. In choosing to support Obama’s foreign policy, the reason is that he has done the most of any recent presidents to bring peace between America and the rest of world, in so much as he has been able to do so. OUTLINE OF BARACK OBAMA’S FOREIGN POLICY SUCCESSES The Obama/Biden website shows how he has ended the war in Iraq, returning control and security to the people of Iraq so that they can conduct their affa irs on their own. While there are certainly still problems on the ground between Muslim sects, these are issues that must be controlled and solved by the ruling party of Iraq. At this point, it is not up to America to rule this country or to provide more help in the way of troops and arms. Those that the Americans military have trained, are now fully sufficient to take care of matters on their own. Obama has kept his promise to bring home the troops in Iraq and this has brought peace to Iraq (Barack Obama web). Living in the Middle East, the consequences of his influence is plain to see in how he has helped to promote peace through several countries when he has supported the overthrow of dictators’ regimes, leaders who have terrorized their people for decades. He has gone out of his way to promote cordial relationships with new leaders and encourage and supported the new regimes put in place by each country’s people. From there, he does not interfere further with a cou ntry’s politics but instead, supports from afar, what new regimes are trying to do for their people (Barack Obama web). Governor Mitt Romney, however, while promoting peace also, would be more inclined to put troops on the ground should the occasion arise. This creates the potential for another possible war, which no one wants. Romney also stands very firmly on the position of the red line which is held on Iran, a potential spot for nuclear development, and Romney has indicated he would go to war should Iran bomb Israel. While Obama will be cutting defense expenditures, Romney intends to eliminate that action and instead, double the money to the military to make sure they have everything they need. It is not clear how he would get the money however (Arquilla web). Other points to be made here is that Obama has set the deadline for American troops in Afghanistan to come home in 2013 and currently has also had American troops teach local Afghan troops how to use and bear arms s o that they, too, will also be the peacekeepers in Afghanistan, much as those in Iraq currently are. Al-Qaeda has been significantly weakened in the Middle East since the beginning of the Iraqi war, allowing for the peoples here in many countries to experience freedom in living their daily lives. (Barack Obama web). Obama has also met with many of the leaders in the Middle East to help promote the end of nuclear weapons, particularly where Iran and North Korea are

Depression Essay -- essays research papers fc

DEPRESSION IN WOMAN Depression is the most common mood disorder; it is more than just temporary feelings of sadness. Then how come women are more prone to depression than men? Depression affects women emotionally, physically, and mentally in every aspect of their lives. Clinical depression does not only just cause suffering to individuals who are depressed, but it brings problems for their families and friends who seldom do not know how to help them. Experts say depression is a disorder that is colour blind and affects women in spite of race, ethnic backgrounds, or socio-economic standing. Women are said to be two to three times more prone than men to suffer from depression. Why is this the case? Is it because of the stress caused by society’s expectations of women? The following essay will provide a brief overview explaining why women are more prone to depression than men. There are emotional risk factors that make women especially are vulnerable from. Women who are unhappily married, divorced, or separated, have higher risks. They tend to undergo more stress, anger, frustration, and cause problems among her family. Nobody is predetermined to develop a mood disorder. Nevertheless, women who tend to be under more stress than normal and often have to handle a variety of conflicting roles in society may be susceptible to depression. Women who are biologically vulnerable to depression are more likely to develop the disease when they’re under chronic stress. Depression can cause mothers to be inconsistent with the way they care for their children. They may be loving one minute and withdrawn the next. They may not respond at all to their children’s behaviour or they may respond in a negative way. Babies who do not develop a secure attachment may have trouble interacting with their mother (they may not want to be with their mother, or may be upset when with them), causing them to develop skills later than other babies. Toddlers and preschoolers whose mothers are depressed may be less independent, less likely to interact with other people, have more trouble accepting discipline, be more aggressive and destructive or not do as well in school. School-age children may have behavioural problems, have learning difficulties, have a higher risk of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and not do as well in school. Adolescents whose mothers suffer from depression... ...dhood Depressive Symptoms, Physical Activity and Health Related Fitness.† Journal of Sports & Exercise Psychology. 34. 5 (2003): 419-421 Wolfgang, Linden. â€Å"Depression, Social Isolation, and Certain Life Events are Associated with the Development of Coronary Heart Disease.† ACP Journal Club. 52. 6 (2004): 81-85 Newspaper/Magazines: Carey, Elaine. â€Å"Therapy Works Like Drugs on Brain† Toronto Star. 9 Jan. 2004:E 45- 46 Ross, Marvin. â€Å"Can Faith Help the Aged?† Toronto Star 22 Jan. 2005: A8-9 Spencer, Maggie. â€Å"Depressed Children Show Altered Stress Response† Archives of General Psychiatry 16 Dec. 2003: 25-26 Electronic Resources: Autonuccio, David. Rumble in Reno: The Psychosocial Perspective Depression. 13 Feb. 2005. 1 Aug. 2000 Beardslee, William R. The Prevention of Depression in Youth. 29 Jan. 1995. 20 Jan. 2005 Canadian Health. James, Carol. Risk Factors For Depression in Canadian’s. 29 Feb. 1984. 9 Feb. 2005 James Nazroo Y. Exploring Gender Difference in Depression. 2 Mar. 2001. 2 Feb. 2005 Kenneth, Rogers. What is a depressive Disorder? 2 Mar. 2001. 12 Jan. 2005 Robinson, Robert. Canadian National Institute of Mental Health. 10 Sept. 2002. 4 Feb. 2005.

The Miracles of Jesus Christ

Table of Contents Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Miracles of Jesus Christ 1. Cures a. The Miracle of the Centurion’s Servant Healed†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. b. Jesus Cleanses a Leper†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ c. The Healing of Ten Lepers†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. d. Healing a man with dropsy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. e. Healing a woman With Internal Bleeding†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. f. Healing two Blind Men†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã ¢â‚¬ ¦. g. Blind bartmaeus Receives his sight†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 2. Exorcism a. Healing a Mute Demoniac†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 3. Power Over Death a. Raising Jairus’ Daughter†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ . Controlling Nature a. Water turned wine†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ b. The Miracle of Jesus Walking on the Sea†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. c. The Feeding of the Four Thousand†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã ¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Appendices†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Introduction According to the canonical Gospels, Jesus worked many miracles in the course of his ministry, which may be categorized into cures, exorcisms, control over nature, power over death and various others. Miracles may very well be considered a thing of the past, however, the miracles of Jesus Christ as illustrated in the Bible attest to the significance of His physical presence while on earth. The miracles He performed were not restricted to those who only needed His very special touch to be healed or desired to be fed but were used to teach His followers the love God had for his people. Today, those same miracles can be used as lessons from which our lives should be guided as God remains the perennial symbol of hope. MIRACLES OF JESUS CHRIST CURES The Miracle of The Centurion’s Servant Healed (Matt. 8:5-13) â€Å"And Jesus entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, go, and he goeth; and to my servant, do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Isreal. And I say unto you, that many shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom off heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, go they way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. † There is a spiritual palsy as well as a natural one. The spiritual palsy consists in some spiritual obstruction in the mind and life, whereby the free circulation of heavenly love and wisdom is impeded, so that the mental faculties are not able to perform their proper functions, which functions consist in opposing evil and false principles, and din cherishing such as are in agreement with the supreme good and the supreme truth. We are instructed further, that no radical cure is to be found for this spiritual palsy but the Incarnate God, or in the Great Saviour, Jesus Christ in His Divine Humanity, and not even, in this God and Saviour, unless he be approached in a right faith, that is to say, with a faith grounded in love and charity producing right arrangement in all subordinate power and principles of the natural mind. The miracle further shows that let the obstructions to heavenly life and love be ever so formidable, and the divine circulation of blessing be ever so much impeded, yet if Jesus Christ in His divine humanity be believed in and pproached with a sincere heart, and in the spirit of true repentance, every obstruction will be removed, which prevents free circulation of His blessed influence, until at length the whole mind and life be restored to their proper health and strength, by being enable to comply willingly and freely with the Divine Operation. It is prudent for us whenever we feel our mi nds affected with a spiritual palsy, to apply immediately, like the faithful Centurion, to our God and Saviour for his healing virtue, and to apply to him with that living faith in His Diviine Omnipotence, for which the Centurion was so eminently distinguished. Jesus Cleanses a Leper (Matthew 8: v. 1-5): â€Å"When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed Him. And behold, a Leper came to Him and knelt before Him, saying ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. ’ And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him saying, I will, be clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, see that you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the Priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded for proof to them† And the great crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan. Leprosy like all other bodily diseases was prevalent at the time. It was a representative figure of the spiritual disease called profanation of good and of truth which prevailed in the Jewish church at that time. Profanation means those acts that were not considered to be biblical and sacred, thus the Leper was guilty of profanation, because he had knowledge of what was true and good but acted contrary to this and he there, became a spiritual Leper. In the miracle, he is therefore, a representation of all those who once accepted Christ as their saviour, but were nonetheless allowed the temptation of the world to overcome them. The Lord in his merciful providence exercises care over mankind because He is always a forgiving God. The utterances of the Leper â€Å"Lord, if you will, you can make me clean†. This implies the acknowledgement of Christ’s Divinity. Such acknowledgement is the necessary qualification to draw from Him the operation of His Divine Virtue for the cure of disease whether mental or bodily. When Jesus touched Leper, this symbolizes His power and omnipotence, because the hand is formed to execute the determination of the will in which all power originates. In so doing, God our Father is demonstrating His love and care for His children. The Healing of Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19) â€Å"Now it happened as he went to Jerusalem that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as he entered a certain village, there met him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off† Leprosy was the most feared disease of its time. The closet emotional equivalent today would to be told that you have AIDS. The disease of leprosy was a painful disease but the physical pain was not the most terrible part of the disorder. It first meant they had to face isolation. They were shut off from their family. They were shut off from their friends. They were shut off from God, in the sense that they could no longer enter the temple to worship. Lepers were swept into isolated colonies and required that when anyone ventured too close to cry out in humiliation, â€Å"Unclean, Unclean!!! † Leprosy was an especially humiliating disease because; those who had leprosy were thought to be unclean, and incapable of having a right relationship with God. They made to feel that they were even isolated from God. Leprosy also meant a total loss of your way to life. You had been left to die. Which brings us to the final effect of a diagnosis of leprosy, you are dying, a slow and horrible death. They kept their distance as prescribed by law, but they certainly did not keep quiet. These lepers only hope is Jesus and his mercy does not let them down. In verse thirteen, we told, â€Å"And they lifted up their voices and said â€Å"Jesus, master, have mercy on us†! They asked for mercy. They were not asking for what they deserved they were pleading for mercy. The Old Testament law required that a person who was healed of leprosy was to go to the priest for inspection and proclamation that the person was healed. In fact it is the exact reversal of the way in which they were declared lepers in the first place. No healing words were spoken, yet the lepers apparently understood that when Jesus said â€Å"go to the priest† it is implied that they will be healed. By obediently making their way to the priest, the lepers were demonstrating that they had faith in the words of Jesus. All ten place faith in Jesus’ power to heal. Healing a man with dropsy (Luke 14:1-6) One Sabbath Day while Jesus was at the home of one of the chief Pharisee leader’s home to eat bread he noticed that there was a man there who had dropsy. Jesus then turned to the lawyers and Pharisees who were also having bread and asked â€Å"is it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? (Luke 14:3). To this neither the Lawyers nor the Pharisees answered. Jesus then took the man with the dropsy and healed him and let him go. Jesus then turned to them and asked â€Å"which of you would have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the Sabbath day? † (Luke 14:5) To this the y could not reply. Jesus did what any parent would do for their child or children should they find themselves in a dangerous situation. Therefore, I say this to say that regardless of the Sabbath day if we can render assistance to someone who is in need we should because even Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour did it. Healing a woman with internal bleeding (Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48) While Jesus was on his way to Jairus’ house a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years, and had spent all that she had on many physicians, and was no better, but rather grew worse, had heard about Jesus, and came up behind Him in a crowd and touched His cloak. For she said â€Å"If I but touch His clothes, I will be made well†. Immediately her hemorrhage stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Jesus was aware that power had gone forth from Him, turned around and asked â€Å"Who touched My clothes? The woman knowing what happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth. Jesus said to her â€Å"Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace, and be healed of your disease. † Healing two blind men (Matthew 9:27-31) After Jesus left Jairus’ house, two blind men followed Jesu s, crying loudly, â€Å"Have mercy on us, Son of David! † Jesus said to them â€Å"Do you believe I am able to do this? † They said to Him â€Å"Yes, Lord. † Then He touched their eyes and said â€Å"According to your faith let it be done to you. † And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them â€Å"See that no one knows of this. † But they went away and spread the news about Him throughout that district. Blind Bartimaeus Receives his sight (Mark 10: v. 46-52) â€Å"Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and His Disciples, together with a large crowd were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is the son of Timaeus) was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout â€Å"Jesus, son of David have mercy on me! † Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, son of David have mercy on me! Jesus stopped and said â€Å"Call him† so they called to the blind man â€Å"Cheer up! On your feet! He is calling you. Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus . â€Å"What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asked him. The blind man said,† Rabbi I want to see†. â€Å"Go†, said Jesus, â€Å"your faith has heale d you†. Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. It was the Passover season and may were travelling in the same direction with Jesus-that is toward Jerusalem. Bartimaeus, a blind beggar say by the wayside hoping to receive charity form passersby. Bartimaeus had heard that He was the reputed Messiah who, according to the Scriptures would eventually bless the whole world and do away with sin, sorrow and pain. He had heard already that Jesus was performing cures, healing the sick, casting out demons and opening the eyes of the blind. When heard that Jesus was passing, his faith and hope flamed and he shouted â€Å"Jesus thou Son of David, have mercy on me†. Despite attempts to keep him quiet, he persisted because he felt that it was now or never and so he lifted his voice above that of the multitude and shouted loudly. Jesus heard the voice and responded as he was ever ready to be gracious to those who call on him for mercy. He bade the blind man to come to Him. It showed Bartimaeus’ faith and thus signifies a more important lesson to the multitude. His request of Jesus to received his sight became a reality immediately and the blind became one of the followers of Jesus, praising his Divine power and acknowledging Him as the Messiah. â€Å"Jesus thou Son of David† had special significance to him and to the Jews of the his day. The Jews knew that Messiah as the great High Priest was in a measure prefigured by Aaron and as the great Law giver. EXORCISM Healing a mute demoniac (Matthew 9:32-33) After the two healed blind men in left, a demoniac who was mute was brought to Jesus. And when Jesus cast the demon out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed and said they had never seen anything like this in Israel. POWER OVER DEATH Raising Jairus' daughter (Matthew 9:18-19, 23-25; Mark 5:22-24, 35-43; Luke 8:41-42, 49-56) A leader of the Synagogue named Jairus came to Jesus, and begged Him to come and lay hands on his little daughter who was near death. As Jesus went, the crowds pressed in on Him and He felt power had gone forth from Him. It was at this point He healed the woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years . While He was still speaking to the woman, someone came from Jairus' house and told him his daughter had died. When Jesus heard about this He replied â€Å"Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved. † Jesus entered the house with Peter, John, James, and the child's father and mother. The people in the house were all weeping and wailing for her, but Jesus said â€Å"Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping. † He then took her by the hand and called out â€Å"Child get up. † Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then He directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astounded, but He ordered them to tell no one what happened. CONTROLLING NATURE Water turned wine (John 2:1-11) Jesus returned from Jordan to Galilee to attend a wedding for family members at Cana, a little town not far for Nazareth. The he would meet his mother who he had not seen in a while. This was a very joyous occasion for her as she found comfort in his sympathy had been very unhappy since the passing of Joseph. It was the custom of the times for marriage festivities to continue for several days. On this occasion, on the third day it was found that the supply of wind had failed. This discovery caused much perplexity and regret. As a relative of the parties, Mary had assisted in the arrangement for the feast, so she said to Jesus â€Å"they have no wine† To this Jesus answered, â€Å"Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come (St. John 2:4). † This answer, abrupt as it seems to us, expressed no coldness or discourtesy. Every act of Christ’s earthly life was in harmony with the precept He Himself had given, one of which is â€Å"honour they father and they mother. (Exodus 20:12). Mary then told the servants that â€Å"whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. † Jesus then ordered them to them to fill size (6) water pots that were there with water which they did to the brim. Jesus then told them to draw out of it and give to the governor. When the governor tasted it to his surprise it was wine. He then called the bridegroom and said unt o him â€Å"every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good win until now (St. John 2:11). This miracle manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. The Miracle Of Jesus Walking On The Sea This miracle illustrates additional proof of the divinity of Jesus Christ, confirmed by His walking on the sea, and calming its disturbed waters. The miracle further shows the great necessity of acquiring the knowledge of what is good and true from the Word of God, which necessity is made known by Jesus constraining His disciples to go into a ship. It also brings to the fore the impure principles of the natural mind, in exciting disturbance, trial and temptation, expressed in the history by the ship being tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary. However, of great consolation is that Jesus is ever present in the midst of such disturbance, compelling it to make more manifest His Fatherly Mercy and Divine Omnipotence. From the miracle, it is illustrated that the apostle Peter, was afraid when he saw the boisterous wind which shows the weakness of human faith. However, we can take comfort in the fact that if we believe I Jesus, all thins are possible to us and if human faith connects with omnipotence, it also can walk on the water, and go to Jesus. We also learn that the Great Redeemer is ever stretching forth the hand of His Divine Omnipotence to succour His children in all their dangers, and to relieve them in all their fears, whilst at the same time He leads tem to a diligent exploration of the causes of their alarms, by thee friendly expostulation, O you of little faith, wherefore did you doubt? Lastly, we observe in the ship, which contained the Blessed Saviour and His disciples, a figure of the true church, an of every individual of the church, tossed on the boisterous waves of trial and temptation, yet riding in perfect safety and security, under the rue and government of Him, who sits above the water-floods, and remains a King forever be thee earth never so unquiet. The Feeding of The Four Thousand The Feeding of the four thousand was not the only miracle of its kind Jesus performed, as being the teacher and preacher He was, it was the norm for him to officiate at many of these sermons where He provided refreshment for the people who came to listen to Him. However, the feeding of the four thousand was of great significance as Jesus used it not only to illustrate how great a miracle worker He was but also in a special way to explain the spiritual meaning of the miracle. St. Mark 8: 1-9 gave an account of the miracle in the wilderness when Jesus expressed His concerns to His disciples on the wellbeing of the people who followed Him to hear His words. They were with Him for three (3) days and had not eaten during that time and was worried that should they return home unfed, they would become ill on the journey. His disciples did not share Jesus’ compassion as they questioned Him on how He planned to satisfy the hunger of four thousand people. This of course was not new to Jesus as He was previously faced with a similar situation when He fed five thousand persons with five (5) loaves of bread and two (2) fishes. In that instance twelve (12) baskets were left over after the people were fed. On the occasion of the four thousand, Jesus once again enquired of the disciples on how many bread and fish they had and they handed him seven (7) loaves with some fish. Interestingly, among the people following Jesus were scribes and Pharisees who were only there to cast aspersions as they regarded every act of Jesus as suspicious. Their presence did not hindered Jesus from doing God’s will and so He ordered the four thousand to sit before He blessed the loaves and fish from which He fed them then sent them on their way. At the end seven (7) baskets remained uneaten. Feeding of the multitude on these two (2) occasions were not just miracleaous acts, but denotes important spiritual lessons Jesus sought to teach His people. The twelve (12) baskets of leftovers from the first miracle represent the twelve (12) tribes of Israel as well as the commandments which mankind were to be guided after Jesus left the earth. The basket of seven (7) loaves left over from the feeding of the four thousand, signified His seven (7) main attributes i. love, patience, meekness, forgiveness, perseverance, self-sacrifice and mercy. These attributes were to be used by men in the physical absence of Jesus to strengthen them and serve as their guiding principles. Jesus realized that some of His hearers only consumed the bread and fish to satisfy their physical hunger while their spiritual hunger remained un-sated. The essence of the miracle was lost on those who had not grasped the content of Jesus’ sermon, the attribute s representing Jesus’ teachings, parables and miracles were to open the eyes of the people. The essence of God’s teachings can be lost if we only grasp the contents superficially Conclusion In concluding, Jesus performed over thirty-five miracles while he traversed the earth in his human form. Miracles were performed on the rich and the poor alike. The common thread that ties these miracles together is the fact that most, if not all persons required a miracle exercised great faith; that is, they believed and as such they were able to receive. The lesson to be learnt is that through Christ all things are possible [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic]