Today in Sunday school we had a lesson about miracles in the New Testament. We went through the list, read many of them, and then made another list, of why Christ performed these miracles - compassion, faith, establishing his divinity, and so on. But then we had another question - why these and not others? Obviously he could only heal so many people during his earthly ministry, but what made him choose those particular people and their maladies and distresses?
I don't have an answer to that question. However, have you noticed that for just about any challenge you face in life, there is a New Testament story about Jesus Christ healing something close to that? He healed the blind, made the lame walk, caused the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak. He healed the woman with an issue of blood, which in modern-day terms could mean anything from diabetes to cancer to liver disease. He cast out devils, which could be related to any manner of psychological or neurological issue. He accepted, forgave, and counseled the woman who had had seven husbands and was living with a man outside of marriage. He cleansed the lepers. He gave love and guidance to people who were suffering relationship and financial issues. He protected the adulteress and gave her a second chance. When he raised the dead he also healed the grieving hearts of their loved ones.
This shows me that through Christ, all of our ills, pains, and trials can be lifted from us. His atonement can not only resurrect us, but it can give us the strength to get through anything that we have to face. The New Testament accounts of his ministry give me hope in that - I will never deal with a trial, or face a burden, that Christ cannot heal me from. So although I still don't know why he chose to heal those people at those times of those challenges, I know that their stories strengthen my testimony and faith. I believe they were carefully chosen and recorded to tell us a story of infinite love, compassion, and power to save. And maybe that is why. Each one of the healed people was chosen not only for his or her own sake, but also for ours, to inspire and uplift the rest of us.
I don't have an answer to that question. However, have you noticed that for just about any challenge you face in life, there is a New Testament story about Jesus Christ healing something close to that? He healed the blind, made the lame walk, caused the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak. He healed the woman with an issue of blood, which in modern-day terms could mean anything from diabetes to cancer to liver disease. He cast out devils, which could be related to any manner of psychological or neurological issue. He accepted, forgave, and counseled the woman who had had seven husbands and was living with a man outside of marriage. He cleansed the lepers. He gave love and guidance to people who were suffering relationship and financial issues. He protected the adulteress and gave her a second chance. When he raised the dead he also healed the grieving hearts of their loved ones.
This shows me that through Christ, all of our ills, pains, and trials can be lifted from us. His atonement can not only resurrect us, but it can give us the strength to get through anything that we have to face. The New Testament accounts of his ministry give me hope in that - I will never deal with a trial, or face a burden, that Christ cannot heal me from. So although I still don't know why he chose to heal those people at those times of those challenges, I know that their stories strengthen my testimony and faith. I believe they were carefully chosen and recorded to tell us a story of infinite love, compassion, and power to save. And maybe that is why. Each one of the healed people was chosen not only for his or her own sake, but also for ours, to inspire and uplift the rest of us.
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