Abstract: Jesus performed miraculous healings not primarily for sick believers—as is the primary context for healing in the Church today—but rather as evidence to the lost that he had authority to forgive sin and grant eternal life as the promised Messiah.

Mark 2:10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11“ I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” 

Sickness and infirmities are ultimately the consequence of our basic sin nature with which we were born as descendants of Adam and Eve. If sin had not come into the world as a result of their sin, today there would be neither disease nor death.

Jesus showed that he had authority to destroy the power of sin over us through his authority on earth to forgive our sins through his death on the cross and his resurrection. The outward and visible evidence of his authority to forgive sin was his authority to destroy the consequence of sin—that is, sickness and disease.

In Mark 2 when Jesus miraculously healed the paralytic by commanding him with authority to “rise, pick up your bed, and go home” he was in fact demonstrating with visible evidence that he had authority to forgive sin. 

The One who has authority to heal the sick miraculously is the One who has authority on earth to forgive sin and grant eternal life. He is the Son of the One True God in heaven who has all authority.

In today’s Church climate when many saved believers seek the Lord for miraculous healing from their infirmities, it is important to keep in mind exactly why Jesus performed so many miraculous healings in Scripture. It was not only to demonstrate his compassion on the sheep who needed healing from physical sicknesses, but far more importantly to prove that he was and is the Messiah, the only Savior from sin and death and the only way to the Father in heaven.

John 20:30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Sick believers who are miraculously healed in this life by the Lord will nevertheless someday die physically. But if they believe in Jesus they will live, even though they die. That of course is the most important consideration.

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”