“According to the Gospels, Jesus received His following precisely because of the miracles and not by preaching Moses. If He didn’t perform the miracles why would anyone have believed Him?”
They didn’t believe him even with the miracles until the only miracle that mattered; the resurrection. It authenticated who he was and what he said. All the other miracles were just, in the words of Mel Brooks’ Frankenstein, “doo-doo”, if the resurrection had not taken place.
The world looked on the miracles selfishly for personal satisfaction, entertainment and financial well being. It did not occur to them that they were manifestations of the proximity of the kingdom.
Jhn 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
Luk 23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long [season], because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
Act 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Without the resurrection how does Peter gain acceptance after denying Jesus three times. Without the resurrection why would the Apostles who fled come back to preach THE GOSPEL knowing that crucifixion was a possibility for them. It is more likely that without the resurrection the Apostles would have stayed home and gone back to their old lives.
Human action tells the truth.
Jews were always looking for a sign/miracles. Even when He performed them, they didn’t believe He was their Messiah (the Messiah was supposed to perform miracles). They attributed some of it to the devil. Jesus couldn’t win with them no matter what (LOL)!