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Christ's Miracles |
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The miracles that Christ worked when here on earth were samples of what will be done when he comes to reign over the earth. "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf be unstopped; then shall the lame [man] leap as a hart, and the tougue of the dumb sing" (Isaiah 35:6). Scripture speaks of miracles now as the "works of power of [the] age to come" (Hebrews 6:5). From these we can see that not only will evil be put away when Christ comes in a future day, but also the effects |
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of evil. |
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It should also be noted that Christ when here did not work miracles to alleviate his own sufferings, whether that was hunger (Matthew 4:1-4) or crucifixion (Matthew 27:39-44). He avoided being killed before the time so that he might finish his ministry (Luke 4:28-32; John 8:59), and he pronounced judgement on the fig tree (Mark 11:12-23) but otherwise all his miracles were worked for the benefit of others. |
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Although most of Christ's miracles were of a healing nature, there was in fact great variety in the cures effected, and in the way in which Christ worked in each case. We find that He healed every disease and every bodily weakness (Matthew 4:23; 9:35). As to examples He cured: |
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Apart from these things Christ dealt with an ear injury (Luke 22:49-51). Normally those cured were dealt with individually or no more than two at a time. This would show that each one of us must have spiritual needs met by Christ individually and not as a body (Acts 2:38). However, this does not mean that Christ cannot deal with more than one or two at a time because he cured ten men with leprosy all at the same time (Luke 17:11-14). |
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Christ also cast out demons and healed mental illness (lunatics). Thus we have it said that he dealt with these things as well as those with diseases or in pain (Matthew 4:24). As to examples he dealt with: |
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In some cases Christ cured by a touch. The unclean lepers were touched. He was not contaminated, but the leprosy fled (Matthew 8:1-4). In other cases, particularly cases of demon possession, he simply spoke a word (Matthew 8:16). In some cases Christ cured at a distance (Matthew 8:5-13; John 4:46-54), showing that he did not have to be physically present. Many of Christ's miracles of healing were carried out instantaneously (e.g. Matthew 8:3; Luke 13:13), but in one case the restoration of sight was carried out in two stages (Mark 8:22-26). In another case the person who had his sight restored had to go to the pool of Siloam and wash (John 9:1-12). In yet another case of a deaf man with a speech problem Christ carried out the miracle with apparent difficulty (Mark 7:31-35). We must not suppose that it was an easy thing for Christ to perform miracles. "Himself took our infirmities and bore our diseases" (Matthew 8:17). In one case the person was healed because she touched the hem of his garment without Christ doing anything. However, Christ knew the woman had touched him because he said power had gone out of him (Luke 8:42-48). This would confirm that there was more to Christ's healing than was apparent to those who saw him effect cures or were the recipients of the healing. I think we can also safely say that there was more to the creation of the heavens and the earth and the things that are in them than what God has been pleased to tell us in the first chapter of Genesis. The psalmist could say: "When I see thy heavens, the work of thy fingers" (Psalm 8:3). He was pointing to more than simply power, which is covered by the words; " For he spoke, and it was [done]" (Psalm 33:9). |
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It may be noted that though we hear of Christ being hungry, thirsty and weary (Mark 11:12; John 19:28; John 4:6) we never hear of him being ill. He Himself was not in need of healing. Christ also dealt with death. He raised Jairus's daughter (Matthew 9:23-26), the widow of Nain's Son (Luke 7:11-17) and Lazarus (John 11:1-46). In the case of Lazarus he was not only dealing with death but also corruption (John 11:39). |