In response to questions sent from prison by John the Baptist, Jesus summarized his ministry of healing and preaching as evidence that he was indeed the Messiah. “Art thou he that should come? Or look we for another? And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that 1) the blind see, 2) the lame walk, 3) the lepers are cleansed, 4) the deaf hear, 5) the dead are raised, 6) to the poor the gospel is preached. And 7) blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me [find no occasion of stumbling in me]” (Lk. 7:20-23 numbers added for ease of reference below). These healings were enacted parables of a more important “healing,” the forgiveness of sins. Although we must await the kingdom age to be physically healed by Christ, we need to be spiritually “healed” by Christ today.
Fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecies of the Messiah
Jesus proves he is “the one that should come” by fulfilling three of Isaiah’s Messianic prophecies. First, “1) The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and 4) the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall 2) the lame man leap as an hart, and 4) the tongue of the dumb sing: for 5) in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water…And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; 3) the unclean shall not pass over it” (Isa. 35:5-8). Jesus healed the blind, the deaf, the lame, and the dumb. He cleansed lepers so they could walk in the way of holiness. He gave life to the dead, like the desert, the parched ground gushing forth with water.
Second, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me 6) to preach good tidings unto the poor” (Isa. 61:1 RVm). Jesus was the Christ, the one who had been anointed by God to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God.
Third, “Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence [cp. warning to disciples of John not to be offended] to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem…Thus saith the LORD God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste [shall not be put to shame]” (Isa. 8:13-14; 28:16; cp. Rom. 9:33).
Jesus was the stone refused by the builders, that would become the head stone of the corner (Psa. 118:22; I Peter 2:6-8). Some stumble on this precious foundation stone and are put to shame; others believe on him and are blessed with everlasting life.
Comfort to John the Baptist
In addition to providing concrete proof that he was Christ, Jesus was also pointing John to passages that would comfort him in prison. Surely John would recall the context of the above passages, which include many exhortations. “Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not; behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you” (Isa. 35:3-4). “The LORD God…hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison [remember John was soon to be imprisoned by death] to them that are bound” (Isa. 61:1).
Healed by Christ
In fulfilling these prophecies, Jesus established he was the promised Messiah. He was giving those he healed, and those who witnessed these miracles, a taste of the future kingdom. This Jesus of Nazareth was a man approved of God unto them by miracles and wonders and signs which God did in the midst of them. Those who witnessed these mighty works of God testified both to John the Baptist and to us that Jesus is the one who would come, the one through whom the gospel would be fulfilled.
Bro. Harry Whittaker makes the following comment on these amazing events. “What a circumstantial tale these disciples would have to tell! They had seen blind men describing with astonished happiness the color and movement and loveliness they had not known. Lame men threw away their crutches and leaped with the exuberance and agility of schoolboys. Before their incredulous gaze, the foul and rotten flesh of lepers grew to the smooth firmness of robust health. They marked in the faces of those stone deaf the dramatic change from impassive woodenness to the wonder and ecstasy of suddenly experiencing a whole new world of sound. Even those in that vicinity who had died that day they now saw restored in perfect health to their families delirious with delight” (Studies in the Gospels, p. 240).
We all share in the utter weakness of our earthly origins. We look forward to the day when these weaknesses will be removed, when we will be healed of our physical infirmities, when we will share the heavenly nature with God, Christ, and the angels. We know that we must await Christ’s return for this blessing. Until then, we recall the miracles of old, knowing that, “This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psa. 118:23-24).
“Healed” by Christ
It is true the miracles foreshadow the kingdom age and we should look forward to being healed physically. But even more we need to be healed spiritually, and we need that “healing” now. The physical healings were enacted parables of a more important spiritual “healing,” the forgiveness of sins; this is made clear by the following passages.
At Peter’s house
At Peter’s house, after healing Peter’s mother-in-law, “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (Mt. 8:16-17).
Look at the context in Isaiah: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:4-5; cp. I Pet. 2:24). Jesus was healing the people, but he also could “heal” them.
The sick of the palsy
Jesus “heals” the man sick of the palsy, that is, he forgives his sins (Mt. 9:2). Then, to prove he has the power to forgive sins, he heals his physical ailment (Mt. 9:5-6).
In Matthew’s house
Jesus was eating with publicans and sinners in Matthew’s house. “When the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mt. 9:11-13). Jesus the physician came to “heal” the sick, that is, he came to forgive sinners of their “diseases.”
Physical terms for spiritual conditions
When God commissioned Isaiah, “He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed” (Isa. 6:9-10).
Jesus quotes this passage when he explains why he teaches in potables. “When he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable [of the sower]. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them” (W. 4:10-12). Note that in the above Isaiah quote, “Lest they…convert, and be healed” becomes Jesus’ “lest…they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven.”
Perhaps Isaiah says it plainest, “The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity” (Isa. 33:24).
The spiritual lessons of the healings
Luke 7:22-23 refers to seven kinds of healings performed initially by Jesus during his ministry. These healings were continued in the Acts of the Apostles. And they will be fulfilled in earnest in the kingdom age set up at Christ’s return. The spiritual lessons underlying these outward signs can be reflected in our lives today. God willing, this series of articles will highlight the underlying spiritual significance of these seven kinds of healings.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One