Jesus’ Miracles and Healings

If you are looking through the Gospels to glean what you see Jesus doing, it is hard not to notice all the incidences where he is performing some type of miracle or healing. In our modernist mindset, we might be a little embarrassed by this and play it down. But the Gospels do not shy away from telling these stories. Why?

One clue may be found in the incident where John the Baptist is in prison, and perhaps in a moment of doubt, sends a disciple to ask Jesus whether he is the Messiah or whether they should look for someone else. Jesus responds: “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news. And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed.” ^[1]

At a time when evil still seemed to prevail, Israel was still under Roman rule, prophets like John the Baptist were in prison, Jesus is undermined by the religious leadership, is there any proof that the words and actions of Jesus confirm his identity? Yes; the lame walk, the blind see, the lepers are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the poor are told the good news (fulfillment of prophecies such as Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6; 61:1-2). The miracles and healings are authenticating signs that Jesus is the promised Messiah. These “signs and wonders” serve to confirm the teachings of Jesus as well.

I’ll be honest, talking about Jesus’ miracles and healings makes me a little nervous. Not only do I have to battle a skeptical modern (Western) mindset that looks for natural explanations to everything, but I also find myself feeling a little uncomfortable with various Christian groups across the spectrum. Some place a great emphasis on Jesus’ miracles and healings and try to encourage and highlight these same manifestations today. On the other side of the spectrum, there are Christians who believe that these more miraculous manifestations have ceased now that we are pass the apostolic age.

I probably don’t fall into either of these two groups. Space will not allow me to communicate my loosely-held views adequately, but suffice it to say that I am not drawn to neither an “overly- fascinated” view of the miraculous, nor an attempt to deny that God may act in these ways today.

So do Jesus’ miracles help engender faith? The Bible gives us mixed views on this, but we certainly have a caution towards those who come to Jesus seeking for a sign (see Matthew 12:39; 16:4; Mark 8:12). On the positive side, however, John tells us he included his signs and miracles “so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.”^[2]

So what relevance do I find in Jesus’ miracles and healings?

• They remind me of Jesus’ power and sovereignty over all things (diseases, death, nature, etc.)
• They authenticate His claims of being the Messiah
• They demonstrate His love and compassion to bring healing and wholeness to others
• His casting out demons is testimony that Jesus is stronger than the devil and any evil
• They are a reminder that He is stronger than anything I will face today. If He chooses not to deliver me from disease or death, His ultimate healing is beyond the grave.

^[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Mt 11:4–6.
^[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Jn 20:31.