But miracle is specific to time, space, and situation. In the world of miracle, we give thanks for this particular event, and we expect not its replication, but the replication of the sense of God's presence again in another situation as the specific realities of the situation are made pregnant by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Magic is abstracted. Miracle is specific to time, space, and situation. Magic relates to the personal power of one.
Miracle relates to the collective power of the holy spirit.
They wanted to seize Jesus and make him king, the text says. Some of the people thought that this power was some kind of magical power which he possessed. We must be very careful. In the desire to honor Jesus, we often act as if we believed the same thing. This power for community was all over the hillside that day.