Jesus did many miracles while upon the earth, the greatest of which was His own resurrection from the grave in three days, as He prophesied. Prior to the cross He performed miracles related to mankind and nature. The apostle John stated:

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)

Concerning miracles of healing, the Bibles says that He healed them all, referring to all those who were present at a particular time. For example:

“Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.” (Matthew 12:15 emphasis mine)

He healed many types of physically related maladies. For example:

“News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.” (Matthew 4:24)

“Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.” (Matthew 15:30)

“The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.” (Matthew 21:14)

As we read through the Gospels, we see many such acts the people of that day received from their Messiah, who by the way, most did not recognize as their Messiah.

Jesus healed the dying, the demon possessed, those with fever, those with leprosy, those who were paralyzed, those with withered hands, the one with an issue of blood (discharge), the blind, the deaf-mute, those with epilepsy, those with a spirit of infirmity (bent over), the one with dropsy (swelling from accumulation of excess water), the one who lost his ear, and He raised to life some who had died. All of these may be found throughout the Gospels, and as John said, there were many other things Jesus did that are not recorded.

Why did Jesus perform so many miracles in that day? The number one reason was to prove to them His authenticity as Israel’s promised Messiah.

“For the Jews require a sign …” (1 Corinthians 1:22)

As we have noted, He gave them many signs, many more I haven’t mentioned and many more not recorded in the Bible. However, Jesus came to earth to be our sacrifice for sins. It wasn’t to perform miracles, but to die on our behalf so that all who call upon Him to be saved may live eternally with Him.

Unfortunately, man in the first century was more interested in the flesh (as Paul would say) than the spirit. We are no different today. We still, as a whole, seek after the flesh and have little to no interest in the spirit.

Parenthetically, does that mean we should not seek physical healing from God? Of course not. I have seen God heal many folks because of the earnest prayers of His children. Also, I have seen God move in the lives of people in other ways than just physical healing, and so have you. So let us continue to pray for each other.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16 emphasis mine)

Going back to Jesus’ miracles of healing for the folks in that day, note that in most cases He simply spoke and the individual was healed. Whether the person was a leper, blind, dying, or whatever the case, Jesus simply said the word and they were healed. Sometimes He would cure the person’s problem a little differently, but in every case He could have just said the word and they would be healed. That was proven over and over.

Now I get to my point. Why have I brought all this up about Jesus performing miracles of healing? Why have I emphasized that He could just say, “Be healed” for example and they would immediately be healed? All of these healings concern the flesh, but what about the spirit? Jesus wants to see us saved, but He can’t say on our behalf, “Be saved.” We must be the one to open our mouth and confess Him.

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

Jesus has done everything Godly possible to provide the only way to be saved so that any who come to Him can have eternal life. All that remains now is for each one of us to decide if we want to be saved. Probably all of us would wish to be healed from our physical problems. Our bodies are being constantly attacked, but so is our spirit. Our bodies will live a short time then die. However, our soul will live on forever either in Heaven or hell with a new body.

People are suffering today from many different types of fleshly problems. They are suffering from addictions, failures, rejections, and troubles of all kinds. As a Christian we can pray about all these issues and turn them over to Him, but especially if we are not a Christian, our greatest problem isn’t physical. It is spiritual. Jesus is the answer.

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

“This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.

“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37-40)

Now He waits for our response.

 

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

It is said that, “Home is where the heart is.” With the exception perhaps of those who have experienced a horrible home life, that is certainly true. On the other hand, I have seen children begging to go home, even though their home life was pitiful, to say the least. Tears of sadness escape the eyes when witnessing such heartbreaking times, especially for the innocent little ones.

I personally have never been homesick as I recall, but I’ve witnessed others who after one night are ready to return home (if they make it through the night). I was eager to leave home as a young man, and never looked back. I have always enjoyed making my own nest and being on my own. I have no desire to visit the old home place of my youth. It wasn’t because I had a bad childhood. I didn’t. That’s just me. I have a sister, who is just like me in that respect, and then another sister and a brother who are our opposites. Neither is wrong. We’re just all different.

However, all this talk of “home,” up to this point, is of earthly matters. On a geographical map we may have been born at point A and now live at point B. We may long for both point A and point B, or even one over the other. It doesn’t matter, because there is also a point C that lies upward of our map. It is called Heaven. Point A is where we lived a short time as a child. Point B is where we live a short time as an adult. Point C is the eternal home with Jesus Christ where we will live forever if we are His.

There are many factors that comprise our home. Family, house, activities (sports, music, etc.), jobs, schools, and much more all go together to make that special environment we call home, whether it is good or bad. We are just as attached to all these things as a baby is to the womb yet to be born. In other words, we are comfortable in our world around us, again good or bad, and we don’t like change.

However, the Bible often speaks of the world as a negative influence upon man. Why? Maybe it is because the god of this world is Satan, and anytime Satan gets involved nothing good can come from it. I’ll provide some examples.

Music is a joy to man. We will make music in Heaven along with the angels. However, not all music is wholesome. While Handel’s Messiah is a blessing to the ears, in-your-face vulgarity rides the notes of much music today.

Sports are physically healthy for young and old. Sports teach respect, hard work, teamwork, and friendly competitiveness. Then Satan’s crowd brings in betting, cheating, anger, fighting, and other negative issues.

Romance is a beautiful thing between a male and female. God designed us this way to wed, have families and procreate. However Satan brings along homosexuality, adultery, spousal abuse, child abuse, and the list goes on.

Local churches are a product of those who are committed to Jesus Christ where the Bible is taught, joyful music is made before the Lord, people are saved and worship is given to our God. But Satan includes false gospels, church splits, his own followers behind the pulpits, etc.

So what on earth does all this have to do with “home” you say? Home is where we desire to be. God calls every person to come to Him through His Son Jesus Christ to be saved. He desires that all are saved, but we must decide where we want to be.

When my wife and I are away on vacation or even a short trip, there is nothing like pulling in the driveway, walking in the door and being home. So the question remains. What do we really want? Where is home? Dave Hunt once stated, “The choice we face is not, as many imagine, between heaven and hell. Rather, the choice is between heaven and this world. Even a fool would exchange hell for heaven, but only the wise will exchange this world for heaven.”

Are we so wrapped up in this world Heaven holds no interest? Is this world really what we want? Unfortunately, there are many people so in love with the things of this world; they would take it all with them at death if they could. Only an idiot would choose hell over Heaven, but millions upon millions will not give up the things of this world. The call of this world rings so loud in the ears of most the words from Heaven are drowned out. To most folks this world is their home.

Even many Christians will have few, if any rewards, because they have listened to the siren call of this world. John MacArthur said, “The Christian life is not adding Jesus to one’s own way of life but renouncing that personal way of life for His and being willing to pay whatever cost that may require.”

Those who are saved have a new desire that grows within, a desire for Heaven. The things of this world don’t seem to matter as they once did. Some things that we once cherished aren’t as important anymore, because we desire to please our Savior and be with Him when we leave this world behind in death.

To the Christian; can you imagine the joy when entering Heaven, and “pulling in the driveway, walking in the door and being home?” Even though we have never been there physically, we will be home thanks to Jesus.

This World Is Not My Home by Jim Reeves
This world is not my home I’m just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore
Oh lord you know I have no friend like you|
If heaven’s not my home then lord what will I do
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore

If we are of Christ, His Spirit is within us, and we are at home in Christ. This world is not our home. Our home awaits us. Soon He will come and take us Home.

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html