The Power to Heal

There are so many stories in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon of Jesus Christ healing the sick and afflicted. I chose one to share on the blog tonight. I'll have to condense it a little. But you should probably read the whole story in John 9. I'm going to share my thoughts about the principles we can learn from this story.

"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

"And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

"Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him" (John 9:1-3).

This short conversation teaches us some very important principles. First, physical afflictions do not come as a consequence of sin. Physical challenges are part of the purpose of mortality. They are a way to help us progress as children of God. The second is that physical afflictions are given that the works of God can be made manifest. In other words, sometimes we suffer so that we (or others) can learn of the miraculous healing power of the Lord. However, sometimes the works of God are made manifest in other ways, as those around the afflicted person learn to serve and allow God to work through them on behalf of the person who is sick.

"When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

"And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam... He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing" (John 9:6-7).

Jesus Christ could have laid his hands on the head of this man and healed him through the power of the priesthood. He did that many times during His ministry. However, in this instance, He chose to require the man to do a little work. The same is true for us. We sometimes find help through modern medicine, exercise, diet, etc. That doesn't change the fact that the Lord is the source of our healing. He works through means to perform His miracles in our lives.

"The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

"Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he" (John 9:8-9).

"They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind" (John 9:13).

"Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day" (John 9:16).

"But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

"And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

"His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

"But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself" (John 9:18-21).

The next several verses show that neighbors, Pharisees, and other Jews had trouble understanding how the man received sight. They first suggested that it was a different man who just looked like the blind man. And then they dismissed the miracle to focus on the faults they found (i.e. that the healing took place on the Sabbath) and thus, declare the man and his healer to be sinners. And then they questioned whether he had ever been blind. They even questioned his parents. His parents avoided answering the questions in order to distance themselves from Jesus Christ, who was controversial. When miracles take place in our own lives, we can be sure that others who are not close to the situation will do whatever they can to explain away the miraculous. We need to be careful to recognize miracles, acknowledge them, and always express gratitude.

"...and when [Jesus] had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

"He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

"And Jesus said unto him, Thou has both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

"And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him" (John 9:35-38).

This man knew that the miracle of sight was brought to him through the power of God, and by no other way. When he was taught who the Son of God is, he immediately believed. It is through belief on Jesus Christ that the best miracles occur in our lives: the healing of our souls. We are made whole through our faith and through Christ's power to heal.

I have witnessed in my own life the healing power of Jesus Christ. I am especially touched by the simple faith of my children who ask God to help them feel better, and then when they do, simply say, "Well, I prayed." Jesus Christ truely heals us. He still performs miracles in the lives of those who love Him.