Miracles of healing abound throughout the scriptures. Such miracles never stand alone. They are always expressions of the Kingdom of God breaking into our world. Thus the prophets, heralds of that kingdom, frequently performed miracles of healing. The leper Namaan, a prominent Syrian general, was cleansed by Elisha as a sign of God’s presence with his chosen people. The Gospel miracles, such as the healing of the 10 lepers, demonstrated that in Jesus the Kingdom of God had come among us.
Healing and salvation cannot be separated. We long for a wholeness that embraces both body and spirit. Modern medicine can relieve most, if not all, physical maladies. Such medicine cannot heal broken spirits and disappointed lives. Sinful humanity bears within itself the wounds of past sin and is fearful for the future. Only in Christ do we encounter the healing, the salvation that brings wholeness and peace.
