HEALING

By virtue of man's transgression, death and all its attendant evils (sicknesses) have become a part of the human experience. It is not surprising, therefore, that "healing" is a biblical theme. Healing is spoken of in several senses in Scripture. (a) In the inspired Scriptures, many regulations and principles were designed to promote healing in a natural way. The law of Moses has been called "a model of sanitary and hygienic insight." It contains dietary laws, procedures for isolation from infections, etc. (cf. Dt. 23:12-13). The Bible encourages mental attitudes that facilitate healing (Psa. 42:11; Prov. 16:24; Jer. 30:12-17). God wants us to be healthy in body and soul (3 Jn. 2). (b) During those special times when Jehovah was using miracles as a confirmation method in connection with the revelation of divine truth, healing was effected supernaturally. Jesus healed blindness (Jn. 9:1ff), deafness (Mk. 7:31-37), hemorrhaging (Lk. 8:43-48), leprosy (Lk. 17:11-19), and numerous other maladies. Supernatural healing, however, like other miracles, was a temporary phenomenon (see 1 Cor. 13:8ff), and one cannot expect such signs in the modern world. See MIRACLES. (c) There is also the process of healing as a part of the body's marvelous design (Psa. 139:14). Even skeptics have marveled at the ability of the human body to heal wounds and fight disease. Dr. William Beck of Harvard, in a book titled Human Design, described wound healing as "among the most complex and interesting self-regulating processes in physiology." The body's immune system, and the work of antibodies, absolutely defy understanding to this very day. (d) The Bible uses the term "healing" of spiritual sicknesses as well. Jesus spoke of the hardness of heart characteristic of the Jewish leaders of his day; yet they would not come to him for soul healing (Mt. 13:15; Jn. 12;40; cf. Heb. 12:13). It is by means of Christ's atoning death that one is "healed" from the disease of sin (Isa. 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:24). How desperately we need the healing of the Great Physician (Lk. 5:30-32).